It’s still #stayathome for most anglers across the country. And it’s not easy when the conditions are so good. For the past week, high pressure has dominated our weather for the most part. This has resulted in mainly dry conditions and weekly rainfall has been well below average countrywide. A number of stations recorded no rainfall at all, and most recorded less than 1mm. There was a change yesterday with showers returning. A friend who harvests rainfall for the garden filled a 1,000l tank in less than a day. We had a few lovely days last week but it’s supposed to get cooler again. Does it make a difference?
With the Bank Holiday imminent many are probably wondering if they should go fishing. The answer is once again, angling is not banned but #stayathome.
Even if you have a venue within 2km of your home, it may well be shut. The list of fully closed waters includes
- the Erne estuary
- the Erne system and Assaroe Lake.
- the Moy estuary
- the Moy fishery at Ballina, and Cloongee
- all the Shannon system, its rivers and lakes
- the Lee system
- the Liffey system
- the Killarney Lakes and all other NPWS water
- the Erriff
- the Galway fishery
- IFI’s community managed lakes in Cork and Kerry
- all Waterway Ireland’s canals and waterways
And bear in mind that this is not everything, as all IFI owned and managed fisheries are closed until further notice and many private fisheries, syndicates and clubs all across the country have also closed until the situation in Ireland improves. And there’s also all the beaches and other public areas closed at this time. More information at: Fisheries closures, suspension of licence and permit sales, angling guidelines
#stayathome
Stories from the Waterside
Do you know of a story with a water theme – a story that simply must be told? Here is your opportunity to tell it and to be in with a chance to win one of 20 great prizes totalling €4,000, which will support local businesses.
Your story can be from the past or the present day – that’s up to you. It might be about the wildlife that lives or once lived in or around a waterbody – your story might be about fishing, hunting or just watching nature.
Find out more at: Stories from the Waterside
Thank you
The last few weeks have been difficult for everyone, but to those who took time from their days to contact us about things that did not look right, whether it was an odd looking pipe at the riverside or what looked like a net tied to the shore; thank you.
As always in our society there are those who will take advantage of any situation and act only in selfishness and greed. These people have no concern for local communities, nature or fish. In this time of lockdown we have been busy seizing nets, set lines and more; investigating pollution incidents, unauthorised instream works – the list goes on… But in many cases we would not have been able to act without your help – so thank you.
Finally
Normally at this time of year; heading into a bank holiday weekend, we remind anglers of the importance of staying safe on or near the water. This year we’ll ask you to respect the work of the frontline workers and all those in our hospitals – the doctors, nurses, paramedics and all the others who are helping keep us safe at this time. So, stay inside your 2km, mind the social distancing and keep washing your hands.
Here’s to an action packed Irish Angling Update sometime soon.
Stay safe wherever you are,
Myles Kelly
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].
