T
he weather over the past week has been a mixed bag, with some nice sunshine earlier in the week, but cooler and wetter weather over the past couple of days. Temperatures were more like June earlier in the week but definitely feel below normal now. The rain has brought a welcome rise in water levels on many spate rivers, where we hope to see an improvement in salmon fishing this week.
Salmon angling has improved further on the Moy this week, despite low water levels and reduced angling effort, with 272 fish reported throughout the system.
A sea trout competition on the Moy Estuary also produced some fine fishing, with 64 trout landed. The best fish of the week on Judd Ruane’s boat weighed just over 3lbs, a nice sea trout indeed.
In Kerry, a fine 12lbs salmon was reported caught (and released) from the Kerry Blackwater, with a few more fish off the Roughty near Kemare, and on Lough Currane, catches picked up slightly with 7 salmon and a number of sea trout reported.
Over on the Munster Blackwater, catches were described as sporadic but the quality of fish being caught was good, with most fish over 4kgs and not many grilse reported yet.
June to date has apparently been one of the drier Junes on record, but hopefully that drop of rain over the last couple of days will get fish moving and we will see a big improvement in fishing through July.
Trout angling on the lakes has been fairly quiet, with many fish feeding on coarse fish fry now, but Senan Stanley found fish in a feeding mood for his lures when he hit Lough Derg after a break.
Sea trout are scarce yet on the Bride, but brown trout angling was reported to be quite good. The River Whispers is fortnightly newsletter from fishing guide Dan O’Neill, and he has a few tips from himself, and other seasoned anglers, about tactics and flies for this time of year on the river.
Peter Driver reports on the fishing on the Nore, which he says can still improve a bit, as well as on the progress of the Irish team at the World Championships om France, where they started very well earlier in the week.
In Clare, tope fishing in the Shannon Estuary is producing some great sport, which helps when the weather is too rough to get out offshore.
Reef fishing is also producing well there, and guests on the Isle of Aran had some great sport with pollack, ling, coalies and spurdog coming aboard.
On the shore competition scene, JP Molloy was definitely not a surprise winner of the West Cork competition at Bantry airstrip with a fine catch of 22 dogfish. Thornback ray and bull huss also featured in the catch. In Clare, the Fanore club held a competition in slorious sunshine at Ballyreen, with some fine fish caught, including this conger for Tom Faley which is our Catch of the Week.
The Breffni Arms Hotel in Arva recently hosted its 5-day over-50s competition, which proved to be a smashing event. Over the course of the festival, there was some superb fishing, w with plenty of 10kg+ bags and some amazing bags, including Steve Canty’s 50.06kg on Day 1. Read on to see if this was enough to take the title for Stave.
We also have reports from the Tulla Anglers, who held a match at Silvergrove, and Oaklands Fishery, where the Athy Anglers had some very good bags for the second match of their summer league.
The NCFFI All Ireland Method Feeder Final will be held in Oaklands Lake this September, and the first of two qualifying rounds was held at Gaulmoylestown at the weekend. It was a close run thing at the top, as Karl Page with 64.48kg just pipped Johnny Bailey with 64.08kg to top the rankings on the day.
In other news
Inland Fisheries Ireland calls all sea anglers to participate in the 2024 IMREC Survey. The Irish Marine Recreational Angling (IMREC) Diary was launched in 2021 to help monitor recreational catches of marine species in our waters. A primary aim of the project is to collect data that will help all stakeholders to better manage, conserve and protect the fisheries resource, thereby providing benefits for recreational sea angling in Ireland and supporting those small businesses involved in the sea angling sector.
And now the weather…
Mainly dry today (Friday) but cloud increasing from the southwest. This evening, rain and drizzle will gradually spread over Munster and Connacht. Highest temperatures of 14 to 19 degrees, with light to moderate west to southwest winds. Rain and drizzle spreading countrywide tonight, and clearing slowly eastwards during the day on Saturday, followed by sunny spells. Highs of 15 to 20 degrees with light to moderate northwest breezes.
Sunday: Mostly dry with some showers in Ulster, and showery rain arriving into Atlantic counties during the late afternoon. Driest and mildest across the midlands, south and east with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 13 to 20 degrees, all in light to moderate westerly breezes.
Monday: Cloudy conditions with outbreaks of rain and drizzle will give way to sunny spells and well scattered showers. Breezy in moderate to fresh northwest winds. Highest temperatures of 13 to 20 degrees, mildest across the southeast.
Current indications suggest that Tuesday will be mostly cloudy and bring outbreaks of showers merging into longer spells of rain at times. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees, with moderate westerly breezes.
Don’t forget to 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
- Successful sea trout competition on the Moy Estuary
- Salmon catches on the up on the River Moy
- A few salmon reported from Currane
- 12lb salmon for Kerry Blackwater and more from the Roughty
- Salmon angling sporadic on Blackwater but good fish about
- Fourth draw for lower Lee brown tags opens on Sunday
Trout Fishing Reports
- Ireland On The Fly Podcast talks to fly fishing pro Stevie Munn
- Derg trout taking well as they move on from pin fry
- Trout fishing reported as good on the Bride
- Irish rivers teams do well in Scotland & France – Piscari-Fly update
- The River Whispers – Fortnightly Newsletter from Dan O’Neill
Coarse Angling Reports
- Roslea Lakes Festival round up
- Anglers compete for place in All Ireland Method Feeder Final
- Some good bags for Athy anglers in summer league at Oaklands
- Tulla Anglers enjoy a tight match at Silvergrove
- Over 50’s bag big at Breffni 5-Dayer
