Well, it seems we went from spring to high summer overnight this week, as temperatures soared from the mid-teens to the high twenties earlier in the week. An intense high pressure zone spread westwards from Europe, bringing a very warm airmass and very light winds, and boy did it feel warm! The previous May high temperature record of 28.4C from 1997 was broken at several weather stations in the south and west of the country, as well as many stations recording their local May record highs.

High temperatures are not good for many of our fish species, and IFI has implemented its warm water protocol on several fisheries, which have closed due to water temperatures breaching 20C. The Galway, Erriff and Cloongee fisheries remain closed, while others are being monitored. Thankfully, the heat has broken since yesterday, with temperatures reaching just 17-23C today, and hopefully water temperatures will react accordingly.

Coarse fish are not as badly affected by the heat, and we have plenty of coarse angling reports to bring you. Festivals and competitions are in full swing. On Inniscarra, Dale Malpas weighed in over 34kg to take the three day Ottewill Trophy.

On the Grand Canal, Monasterevin Anglers faced tough conditions with heat and bright sunshine, but Colin Oliver still managed a very respectable 15lbs to take the win. Oaklands Fishery in Wexford is fishing very well, with John Browne weighing an incredible 86kgs to take the second leg of the summer league there. Back to the canal, and Athy Anglers had difficult fishing conditions, where just under 4lbs was enough to hand Willian Coughlan a win in the club match there.

VDE Baggers ventured to the (northern) Blackwater, but the skimmers were absent and scratching for ounces was the order of the day. Aaron Hutchman took the win with 1.48kgs. Lough Muckno also proved tough, with many fish away spawning, and Robert Nolan weighed 2.45kg for a win in the CM Lakelands match on Sunday.

Elsewhere, visiting UK anglers in Longford were not restricted to match pegs and took full advantage of prebaiting to land some great catches of bream and tench, while staying at Melview Lodge, showcasing some of the incredible wild coarse fishing that can be found in the Hidden Heartlands.

Sea angling really takes off at this time of year, with sea temperatures improving and more species showing up. Mark Gannon reports the first skate of the season for clients of Courtmacsherry Angling Centre, a lovely female flapper skate of 122cm.

Simon McLarnon won’t be forgetting a measuring mat next time, after catching and releasing what could have been a specimen ballan wrasse without measuring it while fishing out of Lough Swilly, in Co. Donegal. Measuring mats can be purchased from our online shop here, just saying… 😉

It looks the part, but was it a specimen? As Simon says “I suppose I will just have to go back and catch it again!”

Bass were plentiful for the Mick Kearney Open, hosted by South Shore SAC at Kilmuckridge, where Alby Allan had 13 bass to take a zone win, but 6 valuable dogfish in a haul of 17 fish gave James Ryan the overall win.

Richie Ryan reports good bass, and plenty of pollack on fly for visitors to Cork Harbour.

David Norman of Angling Adventures West Cork reports from West Cork on good pollack fishing on an introductory coaching trip with Graham.

Speaking of pollack, we have a reminder that from Monday June 1st there is a 3 fish catch limit of pollack per angler per day.

In Cork Harbour, Piotr Nowakowski won the Cobh SAC competition, with 38 fish, and fishing was reported as very good with nice rays and bull huss among 6 species and some potential specimen fish.

And in the Shannon Estuary and west Clare, charter boats reported good mixed fishing. Sean Maguire reported good pollack and coalfish, while Luke Aston says there are some nice mackerel about, and a run up the estuary for tope proved fruitless for tope, but did produce a beautiful, and rare, angel shark, which wins Catch of the Week.

And a late report, straight from skipper David Edwards from the boat (still at sea) of the first blue shark and porbeagle for the year. Well done David!

 

To pike angling now, and the Nations Cup was held on Lough Ree last Sunday, in glorious warm sunshine that made for difficult fishing. 84 anglers from various nationalities competed in pairs, with Ireland and Poland tied at the top. You can read more on the competition here.

Bodo Funke reports great pike fishing, both on fly and lure, for clients in the Boyle area over the past couple of weeks. Plenty of fish over the metre mark gave quite a few anglers some fine memories to take home.

Just south, in Co. Longford, Kevin Lyons reports great sport for visitors from Italy, with 29 pike to 90cm on lures for Diego and first timer Igor.

Salmon fishing has been pretty quiet this week, given the warm conditions. A few grilse were reported from the Flesk in Co. Kerry last week, as well as one spring salmon from the Laune. Lough Currane is very quiet in the heat, with no fish reported. There were fish reported from a number of fisheries along the Moy last week, with East Mayo the most productive with 14 salmon landed. However, the warm weather has resulted in a number of IFI fisheries being closed until water temperatures fall back.

Dan O’Neill reports that early and late fishing is the order of the day on rivers this week, given the high temperatures. Quite a few mayfly have been hatching on the Nore, as well as sedges, but trout are taking very small nymph patterns and small dries.

Over on Lough Conn, wet and dry mayfly patterns were working well for Padraic Traynor, while good fishing was reported from Loughs Fadda and Barfinnihy in Co. Kerry. On Lough Sheelin, the Kilbride Anglers endured tough conditions, and fishing, in a daytime competition on Saturday, where Conor Graham won with a trout of 20.8 inches in the catch-and-release event. Many competitors stayed on for the spent gnat going out in the evening, with perfect conditions, and reported some great catches for the evening rise.

Sport Ireland is delighted to invite children and teenagers with disabilities or additional needs to take part in a fun fishing experience this May. The event will take place at Tibbotstown Reservoir, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork on Saturday, May 30th, with sessions running from 10am–12pm and 2pm–4pm and open to ages 10–17 years. Further information and booking options are available here.

 

 

And now the weather

Cooler than earlier in the week, although mainly dry and bright for the rest of today.
Mostly cloudy conditions in the west to begin tomorrow, Saturday, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, gradually spreading eastwards as the day goes on. Some bright or hazy spells of sunshine will develop in the afternoon and evening but there’ll be some heavy showers around too, particularly across parts of Ulster, where there is a chance of an isolated thunderstorm. Highest temperatures of 15 to 21 degrees, with light to moderate southerly breezes.
Variable cloud, sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday. It’ll turn cloudier from the southwest later in the day, with patchy rain and drizzle developing along Atlantic coasts in the evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, warmest in the east, with light to moderate southwesterly winds.
Mostly cloudy and damp to begin on Bank Holiday Monday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, breaking up into showers and sunny spells as the day goes on. Some of the showers could turn heavy later. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, again warmest in the east, with moderate southwest to west winds.
Further Outlook: Changeable and at times unsettled with a mobile Atlantic regime dominating. Temperatures trending near average, with daytime highs in the mid-teens generally.

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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