Cold easterly winds are making for bitter conditions at present but at least the weather is dry, giving many rivers and lakes a chance to return to fishable levels. Unfortunately many anglers can’t bring themselves to fish in an easterly and it’s certainly not suited to sea fishing at the moment with gale warnings in effect. Luckily the conditions were more favourable for the start of the trout season on Loughs Corrib and Mask where some anglers enjoyed great sport.

Jacek Gorny with his cracking 21lbs trout from opening day
Jacek Gorny caught this 21lbs trout on opening day at Lough Corrib to win Catch of the Week

Mild spring-like conditions welcomed anglers back to Loughs Corrib and Mask on the opening day of the trout season in the west. On Corrib trolling accounted for most of the fish taken, though some fly anglers fishing wets were also rewarded for their efforts. Meanwhile, on Lough Mask shore anglers had some fine trout to 4.9lbs but some good trout were also landed by fly anglers fishing Minkies and other lures over the shallows.

Not many salmon were caught over the last week, with just a handful of fish reported from the Lee, the Bandon and Lough Currane in the south west. A few more fish were reported from Lough Melvin and the Drowses where some fine salmon were taken by anglers. On Friday, Davy Elliott recorded a 9lb salmon caught on a Willie Gunn tube fly from the Old Sea Pool. On Saturday, Owen McManus from Ballyshannon logged a 10lb salmon caught on a Rapala from the Money Hole. But the best salmon of season so far was caught on Sunday by Marty O’Hara; a lovely 17½lb salmon caught on Yellow Belly Devon Minnow from Briney’s.

Pike anglers have had some of the best fishing in recent weeks and the trend continues with double figure fish reported from a number of venues across the country. Sidney Kennedy and Dan Lynch had some great  fishing  on the Lee, with Sidney landing his fish during a night session.  Lough Rowan has seen a lot of big pike landed already this year and Peter Flatley had the catch of a lifetime during a trip there recently. Peter had a double hook up and successfully landed two huge pike of 24lb and 25lb12oz!

Coarse anglers report that the Barrow has been fishing well recently and several double figure bags were reported with roach-bream hybrids over 2lb, dace, perch and nice sized roach making up the catches. Also in coarse fishing news, Mark Carolan of the Drogheda Coarse Angling Club along with the other members of the club are currently promoting coarse angling in the Drogheda and surrounding area. The club is currently recruiting members and sharing information on how to fish its waters best.

Not much in the way of sea angling reports reached our offices this week, thought there are reports of good bass fishing in Kerry. Kevin Brain of Waterville enjoyed the experience of catching 4 bass in 4 casts as his son looked on fishless, on a recent outing.

In other news this week The Dodder Action group  is organizing a big clean up day on March 23rd of their favourite river (the Dodder) and are looking for volunteers to help out.

The dry cold weather will continue over the weekend and into the first half of next week at least and winds are to ease, backing to the east. As ever if you’re going fishing stay safe and don’t take risks, wear life jackets when on the water and keep an eye on weather forecasts and tide tables.

Tight lines,
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

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Sea trout fishing
Sea trout in saltwater - Courtesy of Jim Hendrick who is running mullet and sea trout workshops from March to May