There’s been a feel of Spring in the air this week, Daffodils are everywhere, birds are already foraging for nesting materials, and the first buds are appearing on bushes and trees. Temperatures have been mild enough, although if the tabloids are to be believed another Beast from the East is just around the corner! We’ll stick to the official forecasts ourselves…

Predator

The milder weather has seen plenty of pike angling, and we have several reports of pike and perch action. Steve Gilbey was over in Longford for another visit from the UK, and he landed some lovely fish to 23.5lbs!

Newbridge & District Anglers, and one angler in particular, had a red letter day on a midlands lake venue. Danny McEvoy managed to double his previous PB with a cracking fish of 27.05lbs. That was only the start, however, as he went on to break that new PB with a fish of 29.02lbs, our Catch of the Week! Two fish for 56lbs in a short time, the kind of fishing one can only dream of. The other members also had great sport, with a number of other 20s  and doubles landed.

Catch of the Week

Dan O’Neill and his son Anthony had great sport with perch on the Barrow, young Anthony catching a number of pike as well.

A happy Anthony with one of his pike
Predator Fishing Reports

Salmon

Salmon angling is still slow on many rivers, with anglers biding their time, but Mike O’Shea landed the first salmon off the Upper Caragh fishery, a tide-fresh 8lbs fish. Well done Mike!

caragh salmon

Elsewhere fishing guide Dominic McGillicuddy landed his first of the year from Lough Currane.

Salmon Fishing Reports

Trout

Trout anglers are enjoying good early sport on Corrib, with fish taking flies in the shallows readily according to reports. Guide Tomi Kurman invested in a new boat over the winter, and christened it on Sunday with the first ferox trout of the year for one of his clients.

An innovative Transition Year group at Ballinrobe have been learning to tie flies over the last few weeks to sell for a business project, and they put their flies to the test when they visited Laois Angling Centre last week. Great sport was had, all caught fish, and they have been asking for a return visit since apparently!

Trout Fishing Reports

Sea

“I love it when a plan comes together”. Well, that certainly worked out for Cian Moriarty and his friends, who had a  solid day fishing on Sunday in Wexford. The target was spur dogs and between Cian and his four pals they had over 20 spurs between them! Great fishing!

In Youghal, a host of senior anglers competed for the coveted Master Angler trophy. All had qualified through their club master angler competitions, and fished 3 sessions in Youghal over 2 days. Fishing was tough, but that often separates the wheat from the chaff! At the end of 3 sessions, it was well-known coarse angler JP Molloy who was triumphant, with two zone wins and a second place sealing the win, and not for the first time taking home the MA trophy. Congratulations also to  the women’s winner Clóda Ni Cheócháin from Tralee. Clodagh and JP will captain the senior teams at next year’s World Championships in Spain, where we wish them the best of luck.

JP
Clóda Ni Cheócháin
Clóda Ni Cheócháin
Sea Angling Reports

Coarse

Coarse angling reports are sparse, but the Munster Teams league kicked off with the first leg this week on Coachford Greenway, Inniscarra Lake with 8 teams taking part. Oakland took the honours and a nice lead with 9 points, ahead of Polish Angling Team on 13.

Coarse Angling Reports

And now the weather

Overview: High pressure will be positioned near Ireland bringing mostly dry weather. Rather cold at times with the chance of some night time frost.

Cool over the weekend, with an easterly airflow bringing cool east/northeast winds, but staying mostly dry. Night time temperatures of -2 to 4C, and daytime highs of 5 to 8C, feeling cold in that east wind. Turning cloudier on Monday, but the outlook is for mostly dry if cold weather over the next few days.

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 [email protected].

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Trout Fishing Reports

Salmon Fishing Reports

      Predator Fishing Reports

      Coarse Angling Reports

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