Wet and windy. Not a phrase we’ve heard a lot of recently, but that’s the story of this week. A big change from the spring heatwave we have “enjoyed” recently, but a welcome one for many salmon fisheries around the country, where water temperatures have reduced to safer levels.
The State fisheries (Galway, Ballina, Erriff) are all open again, with some good fishing reported from Galway already, where Gerry Kelly had a cracking 15lbs salmon. Last week saw low fishing effort on the Moy, but still some good fish reported, with 9 fish to 12lbs reported from Foxford. The Blackwater was reported to be quiet, with some trout fishing in the evenings, but the recent rain should stir things up and hopefully bring some fresh fish in. Strong winds hampered fishing on Lough Currane, where some anglers decided to head for the River Inny instead, but no salmon were reported from either.
Trout anglers on the rivers were enjoying superb conditions in many places, with good hatches in the warm weather, but the change to wet and windy has certainly made things more challenging on the Nore, according to Peter Driver. Brenda Montgomery reports difficult fishing on Sheelin last week, despite a huge mayfly hatch, but wet fly anglers saw sport improve with the windier weather since the weekend.
Over on Conn, the mayfly hatch appears to be coming to an end, after a very good mayfly season. Lough Arrow Anglers report a superb mayfly hatch this year, but conditions of bright sunshine and no wind made fishing quite tricky.
Over on Corrib, the hot weather may have provided difficult mayfly fishing, but it did produce some spectacular dry fly fishing on early mornings to Caenis patterns, and since the change in weather, mayfly fishing is producing a lot of fish again.
A Corrib beauty of 5.5lbs for UK angler David Orsler
Sea anglers, and charter skippers in particular, will bemoan the change in weather, with the wind keeping many off the water. We have several good reports, however, both from the good spell of weather and since. While the weather was good (amazing!) skipper Kit Dunne made the most of it and brought a group further offshore to some Irish Sea wrecks, where they enjoyed great sport and landed some fine pollack.
Good charter fishing was reported aboard the Fiona Tee, out of Killybegs, both before and since the rain arrived, while in Clare, charter boats have made good use of the sheltered Shannon Estuary this week to stay on the fish. Kayak anglers in west Cork also enjoyed some great pollack fishing last week.
Pike fishing often takes a backseat in the summer months, but it is still technically springtime, so we’ll indulge. Limerick Pike Anglers wrapped up their spring league before taking a summer break, with a trip to the River Shannon. Fishing was good, with everyone landing fish, and a 19lbs8oz bag for the winner.
The Terry family from Seville, Spain were in Ireland recently and joined Chris Barry of Go Fishing Ireland for a fishing trip. The boys on the trip all landed pike to over 90cm on lures, but it was 9-year-old Anita who stole the show, with a big pike of 102cm, the best of the day, and our Catch of the Week.
There were plenty of small tench among the catches at Ticknevin, where Peter Nolan won the latest qualifier for the Irish Canal Masters with a nice bag of 9lbs 7oz. Fishing was described as tough for the Lurgan Anglers outing on the Argory water, but if a winning bag of 12.4kgs means tough conditions, we’d love to see what their description of easy fishing would produce!
Inniscarra also produced lots of fish for the 3-day Ottewill Trophy, which Gary Doyle claimed with a whoppping 39.4kgs
And now the weather…
Mainly dry for the evening, with just a few scattered showers, and temps of 16-22C, highest in the east. A band of rain will arrive on the west coast near dawn, with winds freshening there. The rain will track eastwards through tomorrow morning and early afternoon with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers following from the west, some heavy in the north and northwest. Towards nightfall, another band of showery rain will move in from the west. Highest temperatures 15 18C, warmest in the east, iandmoderate to fresh and gusty SW winds, strong at times in western areas.
A mix of cloud, sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday, some heavy in the north, becoming more isolated as they move eastwards. Highest temps 14 to 17 or 18C, highest in the east in fresh and gusty NW winds.
Changeable and unsettled conditions will continue for the rest of the week. Temperatures will generally be in the mid to high teens.
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
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All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Galway Fishery Reopens – Salmon Fishing Improving
- Munster Blackwater quiet, hopes change in weather brings run of fish
- A change in weather but no real change in fortunes on Currane
- Low effort on Moy following partial closure of fishery
- Inland Fisheries Ireland re-opens Erriff, Moy and Galway fisheries
Trout Fishing Reports
- Spectacular Caenis sport on Corrib before the rain, mayfly producing well now
- Ireland on the Fly: The 2025 Mayfly Review
- Low water on the Maigue but some relief in the tidal section
- Superb hatch but tough conditions – Lough Arrow Mayfly Report
- Two more clubs added to Onthewater.ie permit shop
- Mayfly coming to an end on Conn & Cullin
- Cooler conditions challenge trout anglers on the Nore – Piscari-Fly report
- Hanging on at Sheelin
Coarse Angling Reports
- Peter Nolan wins Irish Canal Masters qualifier at Ticknevin
- Lurgan Coarse Anglers fish the Argory for their mini league
- Andrei Pirchio wins 2nd leg of Oaklands Summer League
- Gary Doyle Claims the Ottewill Trophy with a Huge 39.40kg!
