while rivers on the northern and western seaboards have been regularly topped up with rain throughout August, those in the east and south have remained low for the most part. As the month draws to a close, heavy rain this week finally saw some fresh water for nearly all rivers, including those in the south and east, and an easing of the persistently strong winds that have hampered lough and offshore angling.

This coming weekend is forecast to be mainly dry and warm, with light southerly breezes – conditions that should suit most types of anglers from canal to coast and tench to tuna – so grab a rod and make the most of it before the season’s opportunities dwindle away…

It is off the coast that we begin this week, as Ireland’s young anglers battle it out against the top international anglers in the Under 21 World Boat Fishing Championships in Donegal. Strong winds kept the boats in the reserve area for the practice days and the first day of competition, and a strong Italian team lead after day two.

Killybegs Fishing Trips managed just one trip during the past week but were rewarded with a rare catch – a fine 52cm John Dory. In Galway Bay, pollack and wrasse fishing has been good for the Leaca Rua when conditions allowed. In Clare, the estuary was the saviour once again for Carrigaholt Sea Angling where shelter helped anglers land some nice tope and thornback ray, while the Isle of Aran had a family group from Dungarvan who enjoyed great fishing, with a range of species caught, and plenty of smiles all around.

There were smiles too on the east coast, where  Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters was able to leave the tope fishing for a short while to help the next generation find their sea legs with Wicklow Bay SAC, who have been running a series of youth coaching sessions. Also assisting up and coming anglers were Galway Bay SAC who held a family outing in Rossaveal and the Bannow Bay SAC in Wexford. Mini-species were the target for the kids in Galway, while the Wexford youngsters all received awards and certificates for completing their two month summer programme. For the bass anglers out there, the latest episode of the Lure Fishing Podcast, where host Cormac chats with east coast lure specialist Dawid Kop, is available now.

Salmon angling has been mixed again, with some rivers benefitting from the rain while others have been too high to fish. On the Moy, 157 salmon were reported caught for the week as intermittent heavy rain kept water levels up. Also fishing well in the north west was the Easkey River, with good number of fish landed in the 4lb-7lb size range. In the south west, the Laune and Lough Lein produced the odd salmon with the best of the fish caught on the troll, while over in Waterville, the lough was quiet as all attention was on the influx of fresh water in the Inny. Away from the water, Glenda Powell, who is well known in Ireland and abroad as a fly casting instructor and guide on the river Blackwater joins Daire & Tom on this week’s Ireland on the Fly.

On the trout rivers, the Piscari Fly newsletter reports that the Nore is fishing well at the moment, with a small rise in the water levels over the last couple of days improving things there. Paddy Dunworth of Celtic Angling has been making the most of the tides to counteract the low water on the Maigue. Paddy had his fly fishing beginner, John, casting a reasonable line after an hour of expert instruction – and the beginners luck had John catching trout soon thereafter. Also beginning their fly fishing journey are junior members of the Mallow Trout Anglers who, after completing their Bronze Gaia assessment, had a day out at Ardaire Springs to put their learning into practice.

Pike fishing has been quiet this week, so we would like to remind you of the upcoming  King Of The Lake International Pike Festival 2024, set to take place on September 28th and 29th on Lough Ree. Pike fishing was not quiet for one young man (and his mum) as Senan O’Reilly and mum, Dolores, managed a double hook up on Lough Derg. The dynamic duo win our Catch of the week this week for their super catch.

Double hook up for mum and son

In coarse angling, the CM Lakelands Feeder club will represent Ireland at the World Championships in Serbia in 2025. The club finished clear of the field at the qualifying event held on venues near Lough Allen and the River Shannon in Leitrim. The Leinster Coarse Fishing Federation held the latest round of their Leinster Open on Annaghierin Lake where the fishing didn’t disappoint. In Leitrim, the IASCaire Feeder Fishing Club celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the club’s existence with an Anniversary Charity Event 2024 on Lough Garadice, which was a huge success. In Offaly, the Monasterevin & Fishertown Match Anglers held a 2-day pairs festival last weekend, where some familiar faces topped the leaderboard and, down in Wexford, another familiar face won the the 8th match of Oakland’s summer league.

Regular contributor, Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge, reports that fishing has been excellent for his guests in Longford, but sadly Kevin also reports the loss of his long time guest, and friend, Dave Butler. Dave loved fishing in Ireland and came here every year since 1985, staying with Melview since 2006. Dave would have featured in many of our reports over the years, and we at the Irish Angling Update are sorry to hear of his passing.

And now the weather…

Dry and clear on Friday night with isolated mist and fog. Lows of 7°C to 11°C in light breezes.

Mainly dry on Saturday with plenty of sunshine, becoming cloudier in the south later in the day. Highs of 18°C to 22°C in moderate southeast winds. Mainly dry with good clear spells for Saturday night with patches of light rain. Lows of 11°C to 14°C in light southeasterly winds.

Dry weather in most areas to begin with on Sunday with rain moving in from the southwest later in the day. Highs of 18°C to 21°C in freshening winds. Lows of 9°C to 14°C overnight. Monday and Tuesday will bring some sunshine with showers. Highs of 15°C to 19°C in moderate to fresh southwest winds, stronger along the west coast.

Don’t forget to check the forecast before heading off and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.

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] and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.

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