The past week has generally been wetter than normal for most areas, indeed much wetter in the east and parts of the south. Rainfall amounts were between 128% and 535% of average for those areas, with the highest rainfall (68mm) recorded in Co. Dublin. Having said that, it was drier than normal in some parts of the north midlands and coastal parts of the northwest, and with the Azores high extending its influence over Ireland this coming week, there’ll be a good lot of dry weather overall.
After the downpours at the start of this week, the 26 visiting teams teams from all over the world who are competing at the 44th World Championship Coarse Angling for Clubs on Inniscarra Reservoir in Cork will be pleased to hear that they might not need their rain gear for the competition days this weekend, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th of July. Spectators are welcome to visit the Coachford Greenway to see the world’s best coarse anglers go head to head to fight for the title of club world champions!
In other coarse fishing news, the fifth round of the Oaklands Summer League was fished last weekend. There was a mixed bag of weather but that did not stop one angler running away with the result – well done Kieran Reeves, who bagged 106kg.
The rainfall from early in the week brought water levels up on a number of salmon fisheries, with some good fishing when conditions came right. On the Moy, all fisheries reported some decent fishing, with fish falling to all methods. On the Erriff, July has proved to be a difficult month of fishing with good water conditions for the most part but not a lot of salmon caught – 15-Year-old Aoibheann Lynch wins a belated Catch of the Week for catching a fine salmon on the Erriff where others failed!
In the south, the Lee saw 40 grilse caught last week to Sunday 20th July. The best was a 6lbs fish caught by a local angler at the Graveyard Pool on a Flying C. There was a good rise of water over the weekend on the Bandon, where fishing picked up and 20 salmon were reported caught. On the Munster Blackwater, levels have risen substantially and although a lot of fish are now present, they are on the move and proving difficult to catch. Lots of reports have been received that the salmon are small in size (2 kgs) but fresh and full of spirit. In Kerry, there were a handful of fish caught on the Laune and water levels in Kenmare are good all around after heavy rain during the week, so the rivers are finally producing Salmon there. In Waterville, six salmon and a few sea trout were caught on Currane during the week.
To trout fishing and the Lake O’Flynn Angling Association held its first ever Catch & Release evening competition on Saturday 19th of July – credit goes to Ryan Cummins for his initiative in proposing and running this event. On Lough Conn, fishing pressure still remains quite low but fish have been caught on wet flies for those venturing out. On the River Nore, Piscari Fly report great action on nymphs and dry hoppers, with some nice fishing also on the Avonmore, before the flood came. For dry fly anglers who want to hone their technique, Keith McDonnell has a new article that’s well worth a read. Finally for trout anglers, the Dublin Trout Anglers’ Association will be running the Annual Juvenile Angling Outing on Sunday, 24th August. It will be held at the Laois Angling Centre and promises to be a great day for young, budding anglers.
To the tides now, where some lovely fish have been caught from shore and boat this week. From the shore, first time angler Seán, at 13 years of age, caught a fish that many a bass angler can’t catch in a lifetime of fishing – a fantastic 76.5 cm fish. Markuss Urban, a 16 year old teenager over on holidays from Latvia, landed a massive conger eel fishing from a pier in West Cork – a moment he’ll never forget! On the club scene, the Ulster Krakens summer league saw them take their annual pilgrimage to Arklow South Beach, always a popular venue for their members. The fish of the match (and unfortunately the only fish of note) was a hound landed expertly by Pamela, measuring 90cm.
Offshore, John Fleming of Blue Shark Angling Galway had a group from Wicklow Bay SAC over for the weekend and all came good on Saturday, as the weather settled, allowing them to fish a more productive mark a bit further offshore. In Courtmacsherry, Mark Gannon and crew had super fishing with specimen skate up to 200lb, blue shark, porgies over the 100lb mark, and 3 wreck fish making an appearance both inshore and offshore.
For anglers who have caught sharks, skate or rays in Ireland, there is a new research project looking for angler feedback. Sharks le Chéile is a new initiative set up by researchers at Trinity College Dublin, in partnership with Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Marine Institute, to bring together members of the angling community and other public stakeholders with scientists studying sharks, skates and rays around Ireland. One of their main aims is to promote sustainable angling and better protect our unique shark and ray resources.  If you have ever caught a shark, skate or ray they want to hear your opinions. Complete their short survey and you could win an angling voucher worth €50.
Other news…
Finally this week, for those anglers who like to keep a track of their catches, there is a new Irish-developed app on the market that aims to make that job a lot easier. The app is called Tight Lines and it is a comprehensive fishing app designed to enhance your angling experience by providing tools to track, analyse, and optimise your fishing activities. Tight Lines empowers anglers to fish smarter and more successfully.
And now the weather…
Most areas will be dry Friday night with clear spells. Lows of 10°C to 14°C, in just light westerly breezes.
Saturday will bring a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, some heavy. Highs of 16°C to 21°C in a westerly wind. Rain is expected overnight in northern and western areas. Lows of 11°C to 14°C in light southwest winds.
Sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday, some heavy and prolonged for northern areas. Highs of 17°C to 21°C in moderate westerly winds. Largely dry and clear on Sunday night. Lows of 10°C to 14°C in a light westerly breeze.
Sunny spells with showers on Monday. Highs of 16°C to 20°C in a moderate westerly breeze.
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 and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.
All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Fluctuating waters on the Moy but rise in water levels leads to Moy Fishery & Cloongee repoening
- Kenmare rivers producing salmon and a few fish off Currane
- A small number of salmon reported from the Laune last week
- Blackwater running high at weekend but lots of salmon about
- Bandon rises and salmon caught
- 40 grilse reported from the Lee last week
- July proving to be tough on the Erriff
Trout Fishing Reports
- Angling pressure low on Conn but some fish moving to wets
- Read Keith McDonnell’s approach to dry fly fishing @ thefloatingfly.com
- Dublin Trout Anglers to host Juvenile Outing on 24th August
- Lots of water, lots of fishing for the PiscariFly crew
- Marcus Kennedy wins Lough O’Flynn Anglers Catch and Release competition
Coarse Angling Reports
- This weekend Inniscarra hosts 44th World Championship Coarse Fishing for Clubs
- Kieran Reeves wins 5th round of Oaklands Summer League with 106kg
Sea Angling Reports
- New research project into sharks, skates and rays looking for angler feedback
- Krakens make the trip south for round 7 of their league
- Porbeagle come good for Wicklow group fishing in Galway Bay
- Super 76.5cm bass for young first-time angler Seán
- Top class fishing with Courtmacsherry Angling Centre last week
- Massive conger makes holiday memory for young Latvian angler
