It’s been a cold and very wet week, though strangely there were a couple of bright days in the mix. The unsettled conditions have impacted angling, many rivers and lakes are in flood, and the oftentimes poor conditions are no doubt putting off many from getting on the water. That solar eruption and geomagnetic storm probably had little impact, but it’s definitely useful as an excuse…

Thankfully, the solar eruption didn’t hit until a couple of days ago, so the weekend’s sport was largely unaffected, and there were some good results recorded at coarse fishing events up and down the country. The Athy Anglers found themselves back in the Marina after conditions underfoot forced a change of venue. The fishing was busy and David Locke took first place with 19lbs 12 oz. CM Lakelands Feeder Club were on Lough Garadice fishing the Grassy Bank and Houghton’s Shore. Nick Richards put on a brilliant display in challenging conditions to win the match with 4.025kg. The 6th round of the Ger Hennesy Winter League was fished on Sunday at Oaklands. The cold conditions saw the fish lie doggo and Adrian Browne did well to weigh in 5.650 kg for the win.

Nick Richards at Garadice

Brazilian angler Alex Souza enjoyed some fine pike fishing in the midlands at the weekend. Fishing with a friend they caught a good number of fish which were all safely released. Dirk and Florent of Pike Pro Ireland have written a great piece on winter perch fishing. It’s well worth the read, full of tips and hints that could see you catch your own 40cm perch. There’s €800 to be won by the winner of IFPAC’s boat fishing competition on 15th February. The event will be fished on Lough Gowna and there are still places available.

Alex Souza pike
Alex Souza with a good midlands pike

Brian Connaughton and Daniel Nesbitt are Team WildHunter, and they will be representing Ireland in Fly vs Jerk 17. Fly vs Jerk is one of Europe’s most exciting pike fishing challenges, now running for 17 years. It’s a boat-only competition, fly and lure fishing only, and everything is strictly catch-and-release. It’s presented as a series on YouTube with the first episode airing on Friday, 6 February.

On to sea angling now. There was steady fishing at Cobh SAC’s Light Lines competition at the weekend, where over 2,000 fish were caught and released. Jim Mellis, fishing on Deora De, was the winner. In Wexford, a favourable forecast and building tides set the scene for a highly successful Eddie Bermingham Open, which also marked the opening leg of the 2026 Leinster League on Kilgorman Strand. Noel Fogarty secured both a zone and overall win with a decisive final-cast double of dogfish and spurdog. Last Saturday night saw Northern Ireland’s Carrick Beach & Rockers SAC contest the first leg of their Masters competition at the Limerick Rover venue in Antrim. Despite the harsh weather, fishing proved productive with a wide variety of species landed.

Deora De
The Deora De coming to shore to collect her anglers on a foggy morning

Galway Bay Sea Angling Club, an active club running competitions and social angling session both in Galway and further afield, are looking to recruit interested anglers into their club. Find out more at Galway Bay SAC calling all anglers; both novice and experienced

We received our first salmon angling report of 2026 this week. The No Spin No Fly’s just Facts Department on Lough Currane reports that there have been no springers caught to date.

Charlie at Southern County Fishery
Charlie McGee at Southern County Fishing Resort

Trout anglers waiting for the season to open always have the option to fish through the closed season at one of the many rainbow trout fisheries around the country. Junior angler Charlie McGee enjoyed a great day out at Southern County Fishing Resort at the weekend, catching 8 fish on a selection of nymphs.

And now the weather

Saturday will be another dull and damp day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. These will be heaviest and most persistent over the southern half of the country with the best of any dry spells further north. Moderate to fresh easterly winds, stronger near eastern and southeastern coasts, but easing and becoming variable in the southwest through the day. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9ºC. Sunday morning will be generally cloudy with widespread outbreaks of rain and drizzle. These outbreaks will become less frequent and widespread through the day with some sunny spells developing in places. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9ºC, with moderate to fresh cyclonic variable winds becoming mostly easterly and easing. Next week starts cloudy, breezy, and wet with rain, heavy at times, spreading northeastwards across the country. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9ºC, with moderate to fresh southeasterly winds, stronger on eastern and southeastern coasts. Low pressure continuing to dominate the week, bringing further unsettled and mixed conditions.

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. 

All the angling news

Salmon Fishing Reports

Trout Fishing Reports

Coarse Angling Reports

Pike Fishing Reports

Sea Angling Reports