Dave Harlow Had Some Quality Fish on His Recent Visit
Regular visitor to Ireland Dave Harlow has been in touch recently to let us know how he got on during his latest trip. Dave reports that fishing was very difficult at times because of severe weather but he eventually found some bream on Tawlagh lake near Killeshandra. Despite the tough conditions, Dave still managed to net weights up to 40lb. Sessions on Lough Ramor found the lake exceptionally clear to the extent where lillies are now growing way out in open water and lots of blanket weed on the bottom. However, Dave tells us that fishing in the evening was still producing nice hybrids and roach. Thanks for the report Dave we look forward to seeing you back soon.
Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae has criticised Inland Fisheries Ireland for “taking a monetary decision” in its move to exit rainbow and brown trout farming in Ireland.
The IFI’s fish stock management programmes rears brown and rainbow trout which is used to enhance the angling status of a fishery.
The body has recently extended for another month its public consultation process on freshwater trout production, “in recognition of the depth of stakeholders’ viewpoints on this issue”….
The River Liffey in Dublin is a major carrier of pollutants into seawater, scientists have warned.
Researchers at Dublin City University say the ongoing use of fossil fuels presents a serious problem.
The study also shows that untreated sewage disposal in the past has led to higher than recommended concentrations of chemicals in the water at Dublin Bay.
The data comes from samples collected at 30 locations in Dublin Bay in June of 2010.
Dr Brian Kelleher from the School of Chemical Sciences in DCU said that any traces of untreated sewage can be dealt with…. Breaking News 12/08/2016 Read the full article ‘River Liffey ‘a major carrier of pollutants’
Thomas O’Loughlin’s impressive 12-fish catch was more than enough to snag him the top prize at the World Cup Trout Fly Angling Championship on Lough Mask recently.
The Corofin, Co Clare native’s final bag of 13.43lbs was 50% larger than that of his closest rival Jonathan Craven of Connacht in the 60th running of the competition, which took place over five days ending on Monday 1 August, as the Clare Champion reports.
KILLESHANDRA, Ireland—When Sean O’Reilly, our host at Eonish Lodge on the shore of beautiful Lough (Lake) Oughter told me he had successfully lined up someone to introduce me to Irish fishing, he caveated: “He’s no guide, mind you, but he’s a regular fisherman and knows the fishing around here.”
“That’s even better,” I said.
Sean’s wife Geraldine said, “Paddy Murphy is his name,” adding with a smile, “That’s as Irish as you can get!”…
How DNA evidence could be a game-changer in monitoring freshwater fish
Water may well be everywhere, but freshwater lake ecosystems are among some of the most vulnerable on Earth. In recent decades, freshwater species have suffered double the rate of decline of land species. And nearly 50% of fresh water lakes, rivers and streams across Europe failed to meet the EU Water Framework Directive, which aimed to achieve “good ecological status” of freshwater in Europe by 2015… The Conversation, 09/08/16. Read the full article ‘How DNA evidence could be a game-changer in monitoring freshwater fish‘.
How DNA evidence could be a game-changer in monitoring freshwater fish
Variable weather continued last week and though it was not always sunny it was rarely wet enough to bring on a decent flood in any rivers that needed it. Windy weather reduced time at sea for some anglers but there were still some great catches reported. Overall it was not a bad week for anglers…
Parts of Donegal managed to get wetter weather than the rest of the country and the Owenea had a bit of a flood towards the end of last week. There was not a huge run of grilse however and less than a dozen fish were recorded. Water levels fell on the Drowes and only about 10 grilse were caught. Anglers on Glencar Lake had got sea trout and salmon on fly and reported seeing plenty of fish moving. Just 231 salmon were caught on the River Moy as fishing slowed down considerably during the past week due to fluctuating water levels. Anglers on the Erriff had 6 salmon and 9 sea trout. A flood midweek did not improve fishing much. The Owenmore fishery in Kerry is reporting some of the best fishing it’s had in years. Dry weather there has seen efforts focus on the night time fishing. Lough Currane has been quiet again for the most part though a 14lb salmon was landed earlier this week. In Cork, the Bandon is very low now but a small flood last week saw plenty of fish caught. There was good fishing at the Ballyduff Bridge Fishery on the Munster Blackwater particularly at the weekend.
Lough Sheelin had spates of good fishing this week and then dips of quiet. Weather was very mixed and at times the lake was too windy to fish safely. Large pods of trout in the 2lb class were reported moving and there was good fishing in general when the evening came. Fly fishing on Corrib was quite productive. Those anglers that did best fished with sedges, which are the dominant hatch of fly at this time, and some excellent catches were made. On Lough Mask good numbers of trout are to be found feeding on Daphnia in the deep. These fish are reported to be of better than average size and in great condition. On Friday evening Lough Lene Angling Association hosted their evening Green Peter competition which produced some cracking rainbow trout in the 4lb class. On Lough Ennell a similar event saw lovely brown trout to just short of 4lb landed. The Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland are running a free youth open day for those wanting to learn to fly fish on Sunday next 14th August from 10am till 5pm in the Laois Angling Centre. If you know anyone interested in learning fly fishing then bring them along for an enjoyable day out in the countryside. The event is open to everyone and all are welcome.
Junior anglers fishing the Bannow Bay Anglers competition at Duncannon had some good fishing in poor conditions and a number of flounder were caught. Fishing in Cork Harbour a group of Dutch small boat anglers enjoyed some excellent fishing catching 20 species during their stay. Other anglers in the area had some very good bass fishing with one angler managing 16 fish for just 4 hours fishing over 2 days. Good bass fishing was also reported from Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry. Charter boat anglers at Courtmacsherry reported a wide range of species in the last week. Anglers off the Clare coast endured a choppy week but when the weather settled on Friday the catches improved. Up in Donegal some really good fishing was enjoyed by boat anglers and on one trip 17 species, including black bream, were caught. This rarely reported species wins Stefan Martin Catch of the Week.
There are not many coarse anglers in the Cootehill area at present but those who are fishing report good bags up to 40/50lb including some skimmers, bream and tench. Fishing in the Killeshandra area is also very productive and tench and bream to 6lb are helping make up some very nice weights. One group of anglers fishing in Longford had excellent fishing with one day individual weights as high as 131lbs. Oaklands Fishery in New Ross continues to perform well and the carp there can very co-operative. Junior anglers had good fishing there at a weekend competition.
Members of the French predator fishing team fishing from Watermill Lodge on the shores of Lough Erne caught and released 70 pike to 95cm and literally 100’s of perch the best of which measured 35cm. Wet and windy conditions made fishing on Lough Ree a bit of a challenge over the weekend but anglers competing for selection on Ireland Predator team were still enthusiastic about the quality of the fishing on the lake.
The Department of Economics at the National University of Ireland, Galway, in association with Inland Fisheries Ireland, is conducting a survey of coarse anglers who fish in the Cavan and Leitrim area.
The survey is designed to examine three things:
the site characteristics that play an important role in the choice anglers make when choosing between fishing destinations,
the value an angler places on a day spent fishing
and to gather information that will facilitate better management of fisheries.
The survey should take approximately 15 minutes and participation give you a chance of winning a €200 tackle voucher. For more information see Irish Coarse Angler Survey.
Met Eireann are telling us that on Friday will be warm with fresh southwest winds but rain in the northwest will spread slowly southeastwards across Ulster and Connacht in the morning, spreading to the rest of the country through the afternoon and evening. Saturday will bring a good deal of dry weather with sunny spells, but a few scattered showers too, mainly in the west and north. Sunday will be warm and dry with good sunny spells. Monday will be dry with good sunshine and Tuesday will be even warmer and very humid with highest temperatures of 21 to 25C. It will be mainly dry. However, current indications suggest that later in the week weather will become wetter and cooler.
Last week Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge featured the guys from Blackpool who were still fishing at the time of writing. He tells us that these anglers have been fishing in Ireland for over 30 years now, and 10 of those years at Melview Fishing Lodge.
Team Blackpool finish the week on a high
Neil, Dave and father and son Allan and Martin this time treated 12 year old Connor along for the trip. Allan wanted to introduce his grandson Connor to fishing in Ireland, just as he did with his son Martin when he was 12 years old. What a cracking week it was for him and the rest of the guys. Both Allan and Martin had been showing Conner the basic fishing skills back home, and it showed while fishing the wild waters of Ireland.
12 year old Conner with his 64lb of Bream
The guys have a little match each day and have a weigh-in at the end of each session. Some of the top individual weights in a single day were 110lbs, 131lbs and one of young Connors was a cracking 64lbs. Kevin said the lads only fished 5 full days due to one of the days being unfishable due to bad weather, but still managed a total of 836lb for the 5 days fished. Prebaiting two venues and fishing mainly feeder along with a few hours on the float they had a great fishing holiday, here’s hoping young Connor returns with them next year.
Three generations of Burnetts now fishing Ireland
Roach and other species not pictured with Bream due to fish welfare,
All fish returned unharmed.
Conner with 28lb of Hybrids, Roach, Rudd and Perch
Kevin has over 30 years experience of fishing in Ireland and is happy to offer a guided tour on your arrival, and to advise where the on-form waters in the area are. We can arrange your bait order so it’s here when you arrive. Melview offers free use of 17ft lake boats with engines to our guests (pay fuel only) and Kevin is happy to assist with any pre-baiting requests. Maps and other information regarding fishing are also available.
Lough Owel anglers had to cancel the Dan Mullally Trophy, which was to take place on Wednesday night August 3rd. That evening it was blowing a Gale across Owel, and simply two dangerous to venture out. Not to worry we have a few very exciting few days coming up on Owel, with the Dan Mullally taking place this Thursday evening August 11th with fishing 7pm-11pm.
Murrough
On Sunday August 14th we will be lashing flies out across Owel once again with the popular Patti Doolin Perpetual Shield taking place. This competition will be fished from 11am-7pm, and if you need boat hire on Owel please contact Jack Doolin on 044-93-42085.
Midlands Angling provide a top class Guiding service covering many of the top coarse and game waters across the Midlands. Visiting fly anglers have landed some fine trout while out with Midland Angling Guides, pike anglers also recorded some net bursting catches including many pike over 20lbs. Top waters include Lough Ree, Ennell, Owel, Lene, Mount Dalton, and Glore Lake just to mention a few. Michael Flanagan Midland Angling
Pike and Trout angling guide.
Angling correspondent and photographer Michael Flanagan reports;
On Friday night July 29th Ennell anglers hosted the Jimmy NEA evening competition, and some nice wild brown trout turned up on the night. Pat Dunne produced a cracker of 3.72lbs to take home the Jimmy Nea Cup, in 2nd place was Conor Lynch with 3.69lbs, 3rd Noel Fitzpatrick with 2.51lbs, and 4th John Brennan 2.25lbs.
In the coming weeks we will have the Lough Ennel Perpetual Cup coming up on Ennell on August 28t hand its an 11am-7pm fly fishing competition. The Lough Ennel Perpetual Cup was sponsored by my old angling pal Con Hope and we will have more on this event in the coming weeks.
Midlands Angling provide a top class Guiding service covering many of the top coarse and game waters across the Midlands. Visiting fly anglers have landed some fine trout while out with Midland Angling Guides, pike anglers also recorded some net bursting catches including many pike over 20lbs. Top waters include Lough Ree, Ennell, Owel, Lene, Mount Dalton, and Glore Lake just to mention a few. Michael Flanagan Midland Angling
Pike and Trout angling guide.
