Well, that’s the end of May. What can you say? The weather in May is rarely your friend. Even in the last week the winds conspired against anglers up and down the country. Temperatures were not too bad, but the wind often made things feel cooler, and often getting afloat was complicated or impossible. And the rain, well that was all about where you were during the week. Some people had hardly any, but the thunder storms and cloudbursts over other parts saw up to 260% of the average. So let’s welcome June and hopefully a bit of settled weather…

The previously mentioned rain saw the levels on the Moy shoot up last week and a total catch of eighty-four salmon was reported. Falling water and improving conditions saw a few springers landed on the Blackwater and grilse were also seen. Meanwhile low water in Killarney saw only a handful of fish landed on the Laune and Lough Leane. There was just one salmon reported on Lough Currane and the Owenmore Fishery is expecting sea trout fishing to improve.

As May draws to a close we still have plenty of Mayfly reports from rivers and lakes up and down the country. Hatches everywhere have slowed right down, in many places the Mayfly fishing is well finished for another year. Having said that Corrib had a sudden resurgence and some impressive catches were had – ask Tom Doc, more on that below. Keith McDonnell has a great write up on what Mayfly fishing means to river anglers. His trials and tribulations will be recognised by anglers of any code, and he captures the essence of this special season. Dan O’Neill reports from the Nore where nypmhs were the order of the day. It was more mayflys for Paddy Dunworth on the Deel where it was Greenwells and mayfly nymphs that tempted the trout. Mayfly nymphs were also the medicine for the Piscarifly lads and Sheelin trout, though we’re also hearing that the murrough hatch is underway there now. Finally anyone looking to hear more about the Mayfly on Corrib (Tom Doc), Arrow, Melvin, Key and Sheelin can tune into the Ireland on The Fly Podcast where they talk to Eamonn Ross and Jackie Mahon.

IASCaire Feeder Fishing Club held the last round of their Spring League on Lough Garadice. Catches were mainly made up of smaller roach but there were a few good hybrids sprinkled in amongst them. At the other end of the country anglers fishing the Ottewill Cup on Inniscarra had some super fishing with weights of over 17kg and a daily average of 9kg. Ger Power and his nephew Jamie enjoyed a great day in Cavan catching some lovely tench. The Newbridge Pike Anglers also took an opportunity to fish for tench, this time on a trip to Leitrim, and the early start was well rewarded with lovely looking tench to 5lb. Meanwhile in Longford visiting anglers from the UK had tremendous fishing with Melview Lodge. They had numerous bream over 7lb and one super fish of 9lb 3oz.

Igor PavloviÄ enjoyed a three hour session on the River Inny recently which produced two stunning pike ā one of which was Igorās new personal best at 17lb. Four anglers from Wigan fishing with Peadar O’Brein had 57 pike in the Carrickmacross area. Two Klaus’s fishing 4 days with Bodo Funke had lots of pike but the best were their 5 over 100cm including one magic fish of 108cm. It was big fish for first time pike angler from the USA, Chris, who had a 114cm beauty on Lough Derg. He’ll be a long time trying to break that PB but has already booked Damian Culliney for round 2 later this year. Also on Derg were the competitors in the Lough Derg Predator Challenge. Twenty-eight teams took part but only one could be victorious and the honours went to Team Catch&Release. In another competition on the Shannon system Jay Cooke of the Leinster Pike Anglers had 12 fish to over 18lb to take first place in their 2 day event.

Being confined to Killala Bay due to challenging weather further out to sea did not limit five anglers last Monday on board Leah who ended up catching 13 species including homlyn ray. Ā The Kent Stainless Fishing Society had a great day off the Saltees at Kilmore Quay last weekend fishing with skipper Walter Rankin. Wreck fishing off Wicklow has improved and skipper Kit Dunne made sure his anglers were stuck into some fine lumps of pollack and coalfish. To the southwest now and Mark Gannon reports that there is some really enjoyable fishing to be be had as family groups are getting some great species fishing, as well as landing specimen skate! Staying in Courtmacsherry, Dave Edwards got the first blue sharks of the season last Friday, which wins him catch of the week. Boats from Dingle and Caherciveen are getting good fishing too and the smiling faces tell their own stories. Finally, Troy Francis won the weekend’s West Cork and District SAC competition, which was fished in East Cork.
Other news…
TheĀ NCFFI is inviting young anglers to join a series of sessions covering a range of float fishing techniques and develop with them as they look to form a pool of anglers to progress to championship level. Find out more atĀ Join NCFFI to learn new angling skills on Saturday June 8th
And now the weatherā¦
Tomorrow will be dry with long spells of sunshine. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20Ā°C, a little cooler in the northwest, in light to moderate northwesterly winds. Turning cloudier on Sunday and Monday light rain or drizzle at times. Becoming cooler and more unsettled through next week.
We expect that there will be a lot anglers out this June Bank Holiday weekend, especially with a gorgeous Saturday on the way, so why not read over our Angler Safety Checklist here. Donāt forget to check theĀ forecastĀ before heading off and if youāre going to sea,Ā check the tides.
SafeĀ fishingĀ to allĀ and tight lines, especially here inĀ Ireland.
IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have anĀ anglingĀ story to share with theĀ IrishĀ AnglingĀ UpdateĀ please send it toĀ [email protected]Ā and donāt forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicatedĀ Angling Ireland Facebook page.
All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- One salmon to report from a quiet Currane
- Conditions improving and a run of fish expected on the Owenmore
- A few salmon last week on Lough Lein and the Laune
- Reports of grilse on Blackwater, springers also caught
- River Moy Angling ReportĀ Week ending 26-05-2024
- Did you apply for a River Lee brown tag? Round 3 Draw results here
Trout Fishing Reports
- Ireland on the Fly: Mayfly update from Lough Sheelin and Lough Arrow
- Still a few mayfly hatching on the Deel
- Eamon Kelly wins Presidentās Cup fished on Loughs Conn & Cullin
- Nymphs working well for trout on the Nore
- Nymphs work on Sheelin for Piscari-Fly lads
- The Ephemeral Dance: Triumph and Tribulation on an Irish River
Coarse Angling Reports
- UK Anglers Have Some Great Bream And Tench Fishing around Longford
- Join NCFFI to learn new angling skills on Saturday June 8th
- Good tench for father and son in Cavan
- Henk Roskam wins the Ottewill Trophy on Inniscarra
- Garadice paradise for Iascaire Spring League finale
Pike Fishing Reports
- Team Catch&Release win the Lough Derg Predator Challenge
- Leinster Pike Anglers 2-Dayer produces good bags of fish
- Pike a bit bite-shy, but tench on top form for Newbridge Anglers
- First ever pike will be hard to beat for American angler on Derg
- Moments of glory for Klaus & Klaus in Boyle!
- Carrickmacross comes good for Wigan pikers
- PB pike for River Inny angler
Sea Angling Reports
- Family fun on Courtmac charter boats, lots of species and big fish too
- Charter boats in Kerry report a good start to their season
- Troy Francis wins West Cork comp at Ballymacoda
- Dave Edwards gets the first blue shark of the year (again)
- Summer Species show up for South Shore SAC
- Wrecks producing fine pollack for Wicklow Boat Charters
- Plenty of fish at Kilmore Quay for group from Kent Stainless
- 13 Species for Anglers on Pleasure Trip to Killala Bay