We have enjoyed some lovely weather this week, with non-stop sunshine and blue skies here in the west of Ireland, and temperatures up to an unseasonable 19C! Met Eireann report that March was mild, dry and sunny, with average temperature 1.4 degrees above the long-term average. Rainfall was just 38% of normal, and sunshine was above average everywhere, particularly in the east. That dry weather has continued into April, with more dry weather in the forecast too. While spate rivers are very low as a result, the dry sunny weather has been good for anglers elsewhere, with sea anglers in particular enjoying the good weather.

Sea

And it’s to sea angling we turn first. Springtime and warming water brings mullet inshore, and David Norman of Angling Adventures West Cork, reports on some good mullet fishing on float and feeder tactics in west Cork. Charter boat skippers are getting their season underway, and there was good reef fishing on the Algerine out of Dungarvan, with a good mix of species caught. In Galway Bay, anglers on the Maighdean Mara enjoyed very good pollack and coalie fishing, with plenty of wrasse too.

wrasse
A good lucking Ballan Wrasse, but just short of specimen length

Many clubs are well into the competition season now, and the Munster Shore Lesague got off to a great start, with 54 anglers enjoying good fishing at Cheekpoint. Fish of the day went to Jim O’Brien who landed a super 61cm bass on his last cast!

Jim’s fine last cast bass

Galway Bay SAC anglers were put through their paces by a horde of dogfish at Renvyle, where the winner, Kevin O’Hara, had a great catch of 36 fish, and all the competitors were kept busy all night.

Renvyle sunset

We have two videos to watch, the first from Chris O’Sullivan which features a session in Tralee Bay after stingray, and the second from James Raymond, showing a long, tough fishing session on the Brandon beaches.

Salmon

Low water is not conducive to salmon angling on most rivers, but there was a nice fresh springer landed at Blackwater Salmon & Trout Fishery, a lovely fresh 9lbs fish that was safely returned.

salmon
Nice fresh Blackwater fish kept wet for release.

David McEvoy reported on some nice fish during March at the Delphi Fishery, including an early fish off Doolough, but low water is making fishing conditions difficult and they will be hoping for a drop of rain. It was another quiet week on Lough Currane, where Vincent Appleby surmises that salmon tariffs are in play!

Coarse

Portumna Coarse Angling Club‘s recent matches are showing some good catches ahead of the popular Portumna April Festival. The club fished the Salmon Run on March 23rd and the top 3 anglers all weighed in over 20lbs.

Bream tipped the balance at the VDE Irish Canal Masters, where Nicky Harrison bagged 4 to bulk up his 9lbs catch for the win.

It was the third and final round of the Ultimate Feeder League on Lough Muckno, and Lurgan AC took top honours, with their three-man team sharing a fine prize of €1,500.

Trout

River trout fishing is really picking up now, with Peter Driver reporting on good fishing from the Nore and Suir for some of his customers. Peter also reportrs on the Oughterard competition on Lough Corrib, where windy conditions made for difficult buzzer fishing.

Our correspondent, Brenda Montgomery, has another fantastic report from Lough Sheelin, where poor weather on Saturday produced the best fishing of the week, with all boats reporting fish. Trout are still taking around rocky shores and headlands, feeding in the shallows, and lures like the minkie were most successful. Check it out here for another great read from our resident wordsmith.

Fine weather made for a great day on the Dodder, where the Dodder Anglers held a family fun day, with IFI staff assisting to show novice anglers how to target the resident trout. Well done to all for a great day on the river!

Artur Sztejno was fishing on Sunday with his son Xavier, using small lures, but after several fruitless hours, Xavier switched to a slightly bigger bait, and was soon into a fantastic trout of 60cm+, a PB for Xavier and a deserved winner of Catch of the Week.

trout
Xavier Sztejno with his Catch of the Week

Pike

Regular Belgian visitors JP and Alain enjoyed a great week at Melview Lodge in Longford, boating 74 pike as well as a nice trout for Alain, his first Irish trout.

The Irish Federation of Pike Anglers held a boat competition on Garadice Lake in Leitrim on Sunday. There were plenty of pike caught throughout the day. Top angler at close of play was well known competition angler Joe McDermott who landed a fine pike of 103cm to take the prize.

Transition Year students Nikita Greidans and Jack Keenahan are working together at Blackwood Bait and Tackle. As part of this school programme they are supplying reports to the Irish Angling Update, and this week, Jack takes us through his setup for deadbait fishing for pike. Give it a read for some great tips.

Jack Keenahan pike

And now the weather

OVERVIEW: Dry through the period. Plenty of sunshine during the days with temperatures gradually increasing further. Chilly during the nights

A brief interlude in the dry spell today, as patchy rain and drizzle spreads westwards from the east coast, but rainfall amounts will be small and not enough to impact water levels. A return to dry and mostly sunny conditions over the weekend. Highest teps 11-18C, warmest in the west. Light to moderate E/SE breezes, fresher on Saturday. Next week sees the good weather continue. High pressure will continue to dominate our weather for the rest of the working week bringing dry conditions with plenty of sunshine. Temperatures in the mid to high teens.

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 [email protected].

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Trout Fishing Reports

Pike Fishing Reports

Coarse Angling Reports

Sea Angling Reports

Salmon Fishing Reports