We certainly enjoyed some fine warm weather last week, but Autumn arrived with a bang this week, much coller temperatures, windy and at times wet weather being the story of the last few days. The mornings have certainly felt a lot colder, and it’s just about time to dig out the winter jackets and for fishing, perhaps the long johns!

The trout and salmon seasons come to an end shortly, with just a few fisheries remaining open into October. One of those is Lough O’Flynn in Co. Roscommon, where Mike Faherty and Martin Noone won the Baggett Perpetual Cup competition at the weekend with a fine catch of 6 trout for over 11lbs. Peter Driver also reports on some big competitions, including gold for Ireland at the 5 Nations Championship in France, and he also has an update on some great late season fishing on the River Nore. On this week’s Ireland On The Fly podcast, Daire and Tom chat with Irish international angler Joe Quinn, a Louth man now living in Mayo, about his love of game fishing.

Salmon fishing is also coming to an end for this year, but the River Moy had a good week last week as water levels dropped into good order. Some salmon and more sea trout were reported from Lough Currane, although the Laune was fairly quiet with low water.

The Kerry Blackwater produced some fish, including a fine 16lbs fish caught on a Willie Gunn by a local angler, who sportingly released the fish to carry on its journey.

Kerry Blackwater Salmon

In coarse angling, the final of the hotly-anticipated Feeder King competition was held over the weekend in Cavan, with young Charlie Richards weighing in an impressive bag of 23.99kg of skimmers on the second day to sweep the field, winning with over 30kgs overall and by a clear margin.

Elsewhere, fishing was decidedly tough for the Leinster Coarse Anglers on the Grand Canal at Daingean, while on the Barrow, Naas Anglers enjoyed good fishing as they battled it out for the John Prescott Memorial Cup.

Pike angling is in full swing with autumn underway and water temperatures dropping to more seasonal, and suitable levels. Returning US visitor Christopher May really enjoyed his visit to Lough Derg, boating pike up to a fantastic 112cm.

Big Derg pike, 112cm
Big Derg pike, 112cm

Young angler Cal was rewarded for his patience, when after a day of missed takes, he hooked up with a 102cm pike on Lough Ree, guided by Chris Scally. Cal gets our Catch of the Week for his sheer persistence and hard work.

Cal with his big pike

Sea angling had a real boost with the warm spell last week, and there were some great fish caught up and down the country. Small boat angler Jim Clohessy went wrasse bashing at the weekend, and had some cracking wrasse to the boat.

Lovely colourful fish for Andy. A fine chunky fish. Fiiish Black Minnow No3 25g doing the business again.
Lovely colourful fish for Andy. A fine chunky fish. Fiiish Black Minnow No3 25g doing the business again.

Some Dutch anglers enjoyed great fishing on Sea Otter in west Cork, back in the water after some minor maintenance and a beauty treatment.

In Clare, anglers on the Isle of Aran enjoyed some fine fishing with a good mix of species, and nearby, the Clare Dragoon had a mix of offshore fishing and targeting predators in the estuary, with plenty of tope and some lovely fish coming to the boat.

A beautiful tub gurnard on the Clare Dragoon

On the shore fishing front, Cormac Walsh reported slow bass fishing last week, but a change of tactics and retrieve speed saw him winkle out a few fish as the tide flooded in over rocky ground. Suir Estuary SAC reported good fishing at Woodstown, Co. Waterford for the Suir Estuary Open, won by Danny Byrnes

 

And now the weather

A mixed weekend in store, with Saturday looking the best day by far – mostly dry with scattered cloud and good sunny spells at times, and just a few light scattered showers. Light to moderate westerly winds will fall light later in the day and back southerly, with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees. Rain, heavy in parts, will spread up from the southwest, over much of the country during Saturday night and Sunday, reaching the north coast Sunday afternoon, and accompanied by fresh to strong and gusty easterly winds. Some spot flooding may occur in parts too. Highest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees.

Monday will see dry periods but with some scattered outbreaks of rain too. There will be some brighter spells with temperatures in the low to mid-teens, in a light to moderate northwest breeze. Tuesday looks set to bring good sunny spells and just a few scattered showers, especially near northern and northwestern coasts. Highs of 11 to 14 in a light to moderate north to northwest breeze.

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

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

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