We’ve had all seasons of weather this week, with the mildest daytime highs up to 15°C and the bitterest overnight lows down to -3°C. The sun has made an appearance, but never for long and the occasional short, calm spells have been overpowered by strong winds and all kinds of rain. Not a great week for fishing, with low angling effort reflected in this week’s reports, but not bad weather for spawning trout, and thankfully there are plenty of redds being dug around the country as you read…

Somewhere in the midlands, a freshly dug redd

In pike news, the Newbridge and District Pike Anglers Open Competition had a staggering 51 juniors and 116 seniors take part last Sunday on Poulpahouca Reservoir. We’re not sure where they all fit, but in the end it was a 12lb pike for Paul Douglas that took the top prize. In Cavan, Norbert Renaud of L’ile Verte Pike Fishing Lodge has been busy fishing, making lures and upgrading his gear – with some sweet new float tubes for his guests to use. Norbert has been experimenting with how lunar cycles affect pike feeding times, there’s a lot to learn, but Norbert breaks it all down on his YouTube channel.

Jack Moran with his 111cm pike, cousin Sam got one of 112cm

Chris Barry of Go Fishing Ireland was in touch to let us know about some recent pike guiding trips in the Boyne Valley. Chris had three young anglers on his boat, and they managed to catch some mighty pike, ensuring that Catch of the Week is split three ways this week! Jack Moran and his cousin Sam Byrne (both 16) caught fish of 111 cm and 112 cm. Later in the week, Aaron Maguire (age 17) landed another beast of 112 cm. Amazing stuff; congrats to those young anglers.

Aaron Maguire (age 17) landed a beast of 112 cm

The coarse fishing winter matches are in full swing, and the usual busy clubs have been on the riverbanks and lakeshores once again. In the north, round four of the VDE Baggers Winter League took place over the weekend on the Erne, where conditions were ideal, with a dropping river. The Munster Coarse Anglers were back on Clondorney for the 3rd match of their league, with O’Briensbridge currently inaccessible. Twenty-two anglers fished round two of the CM Lakelands Lough Muckno Winter League; fishing was good considering the conditions and time of the year, with nearly everyone having plenty of bites. In Wexford, the 3rd round of the Ger Hennesy Winter League was fished on Sunday at Oaklands, where there had been a big drop in water temperature. The fish were off form and the conditions were difficult, but still there were a few carp caught.

To the coast, where James Raymond from Irish Angling Adventures is organising a series of monthly meet-ups to allow people to socialise and learn from other anglers in a no-pressure environment. James is a sea angling guide who just wants to see more people fishing, whether it be for pleasure or competition, so if you want to tag along, make sure and get in touch.

The shore competition scene will have anglers on the beaches this weekend, as the Ulster Krakens hold their Open Shore Competition on Waterfoot and the South Shore SAC host the Leinster League at Kilcoole. The Irish Federation of Sea Anglers announced their team to fish in World Championships in Italy next year after thirty-six of Ireland’s finest shore anglers fought for the honour at Killala – congratulations to those anglers who made the team. In Donegal, the Killybegs Mariners fished the 9th leg of their league in calm conditions on Mullaghmore, and charter boat Killybegs Fishing Trips had some decent fishing on the reefs, where they had pollack on the take all day long.

In Other News…

Every year we share a few Christmas gift ideas – for those looking for a little stocking filler for the angler in their life. Even better if it’s a guaranteed Irish product and you can support small Irish businesses along the way. Well, if the angler in your life is a sea angler, look no further! Ben Kinsella of www.tidecalendar.ie has produced a range of superb calendars with local tide times and heights for every day of the year. The tides are beautifully presented in an easy-to-understand graphic, along with beautiful photos of the local region that the tide table covers.

Salmon regs 2026

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has opened a public consultation on the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and Conservation Measures for 2026. Details of the proposed regulations and information on how to make a submission are available here: Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Regs and Conservation Measures for the 2026 Season announced.

And now the weather

Scattered showers for most areas tonight, with possible hail and thunder. More persistent rain later in the north and west. Cold, with lows of 0°C to 4°C.

A cloudy start on Saturday, with scattered heavy showers from the north, possibly with hail or isolated thunderstorms. Brighter spells later in the day before more showers move in. Cold, with highs of 5°C to 9°C in northerly winds.

Cold and mostly dry overnight and into Sunday, bringing frost and ice. Lows of -2°C to +2°C and daytime highs of 4°C to 8°C as cloud and patchy rain move in from the west later. Beyond this, the outlook is for cold, changeable and unsettled weather with plenty of rain.

Don’t forget to double-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 reports@fisheriesireland.ie. 

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