Orange weather warnings last weekend and Orange weather warnings this weekend. What a way to mark the transition from September to October. It comes as no surprise that it was wetter than average over the past week in the east and south, with rainfall amounts ranging between 120% and 240% of average, but oddly, once again the west and northwest were much drier with rainfall amounts there between 61% and 98% of average. What’s also odd is that despite all the rain and cloud that comes with it, it was actually sunnier than normal, though you could be forgiven for missing that as temperatures were up to 2°C cooler than normal. And then there was the wind. Not exactly a great time for anglers, with just a day here and a day there to take advantage of…
The salmon and sea trout season is all but closed now with just a few rivers left open to 12 October. On the subject of closed seasons, anglers in Cork are reminded that sea trout and trout fishing on the Lee also finishes on 30 September now. What rains came over the weekend didn’t make much of a difference to the poor season experienced on many rivers this year. But, anglers on the River Moy in Mayo and Lough Currane in Kerry both experienced good fishing in the final week. As bad as the season has been, a fresh perspective might make you appreciate what we still have to offer the salmon angler, if you’re not sure about that tune into this week’s Ireland on the Fly which talks to English angler George Kavanagh.
In trout angling we have a report from Lough O’Flynn where Connie Finnerty won the Maloney/Keady Cup. After that all the news is from the River Nore. Dan O’Neill returns with his River Whispers series and also gives an end of season report. Peter Driver also reports from the river where he caught some lovely trout on the last day.
Important news for pike and coarse anglers is that a new bye law closes fishing from Maganey Bridge to Graiguecullen Bridge on the River Barrow until 01 February. Only dead baiting is allowed in the closed section of the river.
Staying with coarse angling John Bijvoet won the Open at Inniscarra on 25.175kg ahead of the Celtic Masters Feeder Festival. The last day of the festival is today and we’ll have a full report for you next week. The VDE Baggers kicked off their winter league on the Newry Canal last weekend in weather more suited to windsurfing but the anglers did well given the conditions. The second match of the IASCaire 2024 Autumn League was fished at Lough Brackley. Again conditions were tough and the anglers worked hard for their weights. Finally good luck to the Irish teams competing in the Masters and Under 25 World Feeder Championships in Hungary.
Newbridge District Pike Anglers were out on the banks in force at the weekend. There were 72 pike caught but it was Eoin Mahoney, who only joined the club on the day of the event and was on his first trip out with his new clubmates, who made the biggest impression by landing the top fish of the day at 16.13lb. There was an even bigger competition fished on Lough Ree at the weekend. the famous King of the Lake. Ninety four teams took part to see who could catch the three longest pike, but it was Martyn Cusworth and Michael McKeown who took the win with 3 pike for 313cm. Before we leave the pike anglers good luck to everybody fishing the World Championships Predator Boat Angling with Lures on Lough Erne, but of course best of luck to the Irish team!
There was no shortage of tough conditions to overcome for sea anglers over the last week. But more than a few did just that and there were some great catches recorded. Starting on the east coast, anglers fishing from Wicklow had plenty of species on Saturday, including tope, bullhuss, spurdog, scad, gurnard whiting and doggies. Heading south a pair of Dutch journalists experienced some entertaining pollack fishing in Cork Harbour and mind blowing bass fishing at Youghal, and all on fly too! Also fishing out of Cork Harbour was Jim Clohessy who had some great ling and whiting on what he hopes won’t turn into his last day out this year. Heading west to Kerry we have a hearty congratulations for Dave Falk and Brett Cotter who the 2024 Daiwa Irish Pairs for a second year running. The Daiwa Pairs is a sea angling festival held in Dingle every September, and is one of the largest sea angling festivals on the British and Irish calendar, so this was no mean feat. We run up the coast now to the Shannon Estuary. A group of Moldovan anglers had some enjoyable ground fishing with Sean Maguire’s charter boat Fishing Adventures. Meanwhile the Clare Dragoon was over deeper water for bigger fish – the sixgill shark. On the second day at it their luck was in and they brought a 600lb sixgill to the boat, and followed it up with a shark estimated to weigh 900lb! Continuing north we head all the way to Donegal now where the Killybegs Mariners had good fishing and a few specimens to boot; two small eyed ray and a cuckoo wrasse. We finish up with a Bluefin Tuna report from the Fiona T, you win some you lose some…
Irish Fly Fair
The 12th annual Irish Fly Fair and International Angling Show is back in Fermanagh next month. This prestigious event will be held at the fabulous four-star Killyhevlin Hotel and grounds overlooking majestic Lough Erne. Dates are set for 16th and the 17th of November and doors open at 10am both days.
Agus anois an aimsir…
As we go to press there is a small craft warning in operation for all coasts of Ireland until Saturday night. There are also Yellow and Orange rain warnings for much of the south and west. Sunday will bring a respite from the wet, windy weather but it returns on Monday and it looks like next week will continue unsettled with rain, showers and possibly strong winds at times.
It looks like there’ll be no shortage of bláth bán ar gharraà an iascaire (white flowers on the fisherman’s garden, an old Galway saying from fadó, fadó).
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release
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All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Latest Ireland on the Fly Podcast: George Kavanagh and appreciating what you have on your doorstep
- Low water on Laune last week, 2 salmon reported
- Rains finally come to the Munster Blackwater, but too late
- Great fishing on Currane as salmon season closes
- A good last week for salmon anglers on the Moy
- Irish Fly Fair & International Angling Show 2024, Enniskillen, 16 & 17 November
- New byelaw closes brown and sea trout fishing early in the lower Lee
Trout Fishing Reports
- Irish Fly Fair & International Angling Show 2024, Enniskillen, 16 & 17 November
- Connie Finnerty wins Maloney/Keady Cup on Lough O’Flynn
- New byelaw closes brown and sea trout fishing early in the lower Lee
- Season wrap from the River Nore, by Dan O’Neill
- Piscari-Fly Newsletter – Last cast on the Nore
- The River Whispers – Episode 8
Coarse Angling Reports
- IASCaire Feeder Fishing Club fish 2024 Autumn League
- Irish teams fish Masters & U25 World Feeder Champs, Hungary
- Big winds blast Baggers at their first Winter League outing
- John Bijvoet wins Open on 25.175kg ahead of Celtic Masters Feeder Festival
- New bye laws closes fishing from Maganey Bridge to Graiguecullen Bridge on River Barrow until 01 February
Pike Fishing Reports
- Best of luck to Predator Team Ireland
- Irish Fly Fair & International Angling Show 2024, Enniskillen, 16 & 17 November
- 94 teams compete for the 👑 King of the Lake 👑 competition at Lanesborough
- New member wins first Newbridge District Pike Anglers winter event
Sea Angling Reports
- Great species fishing in west Clare
- Sixgill Shenanigans on the Clare Dragoon
- Impressive seabass on the fly for Dutch anglers
- Specimens aplenty for Killybegs Mariners
- 500lbs plus bluefin tuna for anglers aboard Fiona Tee
- Jim Clohessy makes most of last settled day in September for run offshore
- Howth SAC add some species to their cards with Wicklow Boat Charters
- 41st Daiwa Irish Pairs another great festival success