While the hotter and sunnier than normal weather continued all last week, it was frequently interrupted by impressive displays of thunder and lightning. There was a lot of rain, but so localised that it did little to improve angling in most places and led to severe flooding where the water was not wanted. Not surprisingly, the majority of our reports this week are from the shore, or further out to sea, as anglers on our lakes and rivers struggled with bright days and low water conditions.

It was a quiet week for salmon anglers as low water and bright sunshine combined with thundery conditions. The Moy saw some salmon caught despite the unsuitable conditions and there was some fine sea trout fishing reported on the estuary, but elsewhere there was little to report.

Mick and his savage trout – Catch of the Week

The conditions were not best suited to trout anglers on our rivers or lakes either. Few were minded to hit Lough Conn or Cullin, and not many fish were reported for the week. On Lough Ree, a day of zero action was rescued by a single savage take which saw a super trout landed, but then the heavens suddenly opened, and it was all off the lake, and fast. There was just enough time to photo and release the 74cm trout before the weather hit. It makes a great Catch of the Week. In Co. Limerick, the Maigue and Deel did well from the rain, and both rivers were well up and coloured, but still fishable and a visiting angler from the USA had good sport fishing with Paddy Dunworth of Celtic Angling. Finally, we have a review of the Mayfly season on Lough Arrow from Jackie Mahon.

This bream helped Sid to the top of the leaderboard

The River Barrow fished well for the Athy Anglers who enjoyed catching some great tench, bream and hybrids in the second leg of their Summer League. Royal Enfield Coarse Angling Club held a two-day festival on the Royal Canal recently. Fishing was tough, particularly on day one. Congratulations to Sid Baldock from Leigh in the UK for toughing it out to take the win. Congratulations also go to Mark Theedom for his second day win at the Roslea Lakes festival. His catch of 17kg saw him weigh in over 26kg overall to win the 2-day event.

Good tope fishing was had off Wicklow

Two brothers from The Netherlands fishing with Wicklow Boat Charters enjoyed some top class tope fishing recently including a specimen. South Shore Sea Angling Club fished the latest round of their master angler at a Wicklow venue. The night-time event saw fish being caught from the get-go.  The Irish Kayak Angling Club recently held the second leg of their All-Ireland Kayak Angling Championships in Cahore, Co. Wexford. Tope also featured in their catches and a super time was had by all. Staying in Wexford the Menapia club had excellent wrasse fishing with the best catches coming from rocky ground and kelp beds. West Cork and district SAC also fished a night competition last week. They were on a Kinsale beach and had to make the most of the blustery conditions, but some bass, flounder and more showed up. Before the winds picked up David Norman was enjoying good bass fishing from the Kayak in West Cork, as water temperatures climbed in the area. Anglers on bigger boats are also doing well as the increased water temperatures have seen blue sharks, and all sorts of other marine visitors flock to the waters in the area. Bass fishing in Kerry is also reported to have picked up in the last couple of weeks. Guests at Thatch Cottage near Caherciveen have been enjoying great fishing with bass to 73cm landed.

Ballan Wrasse
Ballan wrasse – one of our most colourful fish

Charter boats fishing off the Clare coast have seen some great mixed fishing reported by the Clare Dragoon and anglers on Lady Gwen have also made the most superb weather and fishing on offer. Skipper John Brittain out of Clifden fished with a trio who have been visiting him since the early 1990s. They had great results, particularly over the deeper marks where well-fed pollack and cod were caught. Good pollack also featured in catches for anglers on board Ewings Sea Angling and Boat Charters fishing out of Rosses Point. Killybegs Mariners have been mixing it up with a wide range of species from shore and boat. From the shore, catches included smoothhounds, from the boats they had 18 species on Deep Blue and 15 species on Killybegs Fishing Trips.

And now the weather…

Going into the weekend we have a small boats warning on all coasts, and further warnings tomorrow and Sunday as Southerly and then Westerly winds will reach force 6 or higher. The weather is to stay warm, but unsettled with scattered showers. The rain will become more persistent on Monday and it will be a cooler day. Tuesday will see temperatures return to the low 20s and it should be mostly dry. Not a great forecast for anglers hoping to go afloat but there’s plenty of fishing to be done all the same…

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie.

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