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Irish Angling Update 30 May 2025

By
IFI Staff
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Wet and windy. Not a phrase we’ve heard a lot of recently, but that’s the story of this week. A big change from the spring heatwave we have “enjoyed” recently, but a welcome one for many salmon fisheries around the country, where water temperatures have reduced to safer levels.

The State fisheries (Galway, Ballina, Erriff) are all open again, with some good fishing reported from Galway already, where Gerry Kelly had a cracking 15lbs salmon. Last week saw low fishing effort on the Moy, but still some good fish reported, with 9 fish  to 12lbs reported from Foxford. The Blackwater was reported to be quiet, with some trout fishing in the evenings, but the recent rain should stir things up and hopefully bring some fresh fish in. Strong winds hampered fishing on Lough Currane, where some anglers decided to head for the River Inny instead, but no salmon were reported from either.

Gerry’s 15lbs salmon from Galway

Trout anglers on the rivers were enjoying superb conditions in many places, with good hatches in the warm weather, but the change to wet and windy has certainly made things more challenging on the Nore, according to Peter Driver. Brenda Montgomery reports difficult fishing on Sheelin last week, despite a huge mayfly hatch, but wet fly anglers saw sport improve with the windier weather since the weekend.

A Sheelin beauty for Gene Haran

Over on Conn, the mayfly hatch appears to be coming to an end, after a very good mayfly season. Lough Arrow Anglers report a superb mayfly hatch this year, but conditions of bright sunshine and no wind made fishing quite tricky.

Over on Corrib, the hot weather may have provided difficult mayfly fishing, but it did produce some spectacular dry fly fishing on early mornings to Caenis patterns, and since the change in weather, mayfly fishing is producing a lot of fish again.


A Corrib beauty of 5.5lbs for UK angler David Orsler

Sea anglers, and charter skippers in particular, will bemoan the change in weather, with the wind keeping many off the water. We have several good reports, however, both from the good spell of weather and since. While the weather was good (amazing!) skipper Kit Dunne made the most of it and brought a group further offshore to some Irish Sea wrecks, where they enjoyed great sport and landed some fine pollack.

Good charter fishing was reported aboard the Fiona Tee, out of Killybegs, both before and since the rain arrived, while in Clare, charter boats have made good use of the sheltered Shannon Estuary this week to stay on the fish. Kayak anglers in west Cork also enjoyed some great pollack fishing last week.

Pike fishing often takes a backseat in the summer months, but it is still technically springtime, so we’ll indulge. Limerick Pike Anglers wrapped up their spring league before taking a summer break, with a trip to the River Shannon. Fishing was good, with everyone landing fish, and a 19lbs8oz bag for the winner.

The Terry family from Seville, Spain were in Ireland recently and joined Chris Barry of Go Fishing Ireland for a fishing trip. The boys on the trip all landed pike to over 90cm on lures, but it was 9-year-old Anita who stole the show, with a big pike of 102cm, the best of the day, and our Catch of the Week.

Anita's 102cm pike
Catch of the Week – Anita’s 102cm pike

There were plenty of small tench among the catches at Ticknevin, where Peter Nolan won the latest qualifier for the Irish Canal Masters with a nice bag of 9lbs 7oz. Fishing was described as tough for the Lurgan Anglers outing on the Argory water, but if a winning bag of 12.4kgs means tough conditions, we’d love to see what their description of easy fishing would produce!

Inniscarra also produced lots of fish for the 3-day Ottewill Trophy, which Gary Doyle claimed with a whoppping 39.4kgs

 

And now the weather…

Mainly dry for the evening, with just a few scattered showers, and temps of 16-22C, highest in the east. A band of rain will arrive on the west coast near dawn, with winds freshening there. The  rain will track eastwards through tomorrow morning and early afternoon with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers following from the west, some heavy in the north and northwest. Towards nightfall, another band of showery rain will move in from the west. Highest temperatures 15 18C, warmest in the east, iandmoderate to fresh and gusty SW winds, strong at times in western areas.

A mix of cloud, sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday, some heavy in the north,  becoming more isolated as they move eastwards. Highest temps 14 to 17 or 18C, highest in the east in fresh and gusty NW winds.

Changeable and unsettled conditions will continue for the rest of the week. Temperatures will generally be in the mid to high teens.

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

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.

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Spectacular Caenis sport on Corrib before the rain, mayfly producing well now

By
IFI Staff
-
A Corrib beauty of 5.5lbs for UK angler David Orsler

The last 2 weeks have been like a game of Munster hurling – a game of two halves for sure! The weather up to last Friday was a spring heatwave – sweltering heat, high water temperatures, flat calm conditions. On Friday the weather finally broke, and we have had breezy, showery weather since, with heavy rain on a couple of days to really freshen up the lake. Water temperatures have fallen to 15 degrees, much more conducive to daytime fishing. The Factor 50 has given way to jumpers and jackets again.

The warm weather made for difficult mayfly fishing, despite the great hatch this year, although a breeze got up on a few afternoons and evenings and produced fish to wet and dry fly. Greg Forde from Camillaun Lodge reported great hatches in the Oughterard area, with flies all up Main Street in the town, and even on the golf course. Some of his guests had lovely fish, including this beautifully marked fish for John Ant, and a nice fish for Greg himself.

With the warm weather came a very early Caenis hatch, with early morning fishing from the 12th producing some spectacular dry fly action. Larry McCarthy from Corrib View Lodge and Angling Services reported 15 trout to his own rod on a rare morning out to himself, while he had 11-12 fish in the boat with a client on the next two mornings. Two US anglers had 13 fish over 2 mornings, and two UK rods landed 15 on another 2 outings.

UK angler Terry Lusby with a fine fish on Caenis

The weather changed significantly on the 23rd, with fresher conditions and rain, and by the end of May the water temperature was back down to 15 degrees, improving daytime sport hugely. Saturday saw a lot of fish caught in breezy conditions, most on wet mayfly patterns, with a mix of wet and dry mayfly producing a lot of fish over the next few days. Most fish were averaging 1.5-2lbs, with plenty more fish to 2.5lbs. John McCarthy guided 2 US anglers on Wednesday 28th and they had 5 trout to 5.2lbs on wet fly.

A Corrib beauty of 5.5lbs for UK angler David Orsler

Caenis anglers are awaiting another spell of calm weather to target trout on the tiny dries, but in the meantime the fishing is described as excellent.

 

Go fishing…

Lough Corrib

 

Galway Fishery Reopens – Salmon Fishing Improving

By
IFI Staff
-
Galway Weir on the Galway Fishery, which is now closed to angling

Following the break in the weather, water temperatures in Galway fell from above 20C to below 18C by Sunday 25th, allowing the fishery to reopen on Monday. And it was apparent immediately that fishing would be much improved, with fish showing in the river from the off.

Noel Quigley was first to score on Monday, with a fresh grilse of 4.5lbs on shrimp. Tuesday saw good sport, with 5 fish landed and a few more lost. Phil Donoghue landed 2 fresh grilse on the fly, while Pappy Cotter and Michael O’Kane both had fish on shrimp, the better fish of 7.2lbs going to Pappy. But it was Gerry Kelly who had the best fish, a cracking 15lbs spring salmon from near the bridge, taken on shrimp.

John McCarthy and Eamon Cusack both had grilse of ~5lbs on Wednesday, both on shrimp.

There are more fish showing in the river on every tide, the grilse are starting to arrive, water levels are perfect at one gate and we have nice cool water again. Things are finally looking up in Galway!

The fishery is pretty fully booked for the next few weeks, but evening fishing from 8.30pm until 11pm (flyfishing only) is available. See below for details. There is plenty of availability for day rods in August and September.

 

Go Fishing

To enquire about availability, contact the fishery at 091 562388 or email galwayfishery@fisheriesireland.ie

Good charter fishing in Donegal Bay

By
IFI Staff
-

Killybegs Fishing Trips report that the fishing before the weather broke was excellent, with beautiful weather enticing plenty of anglers out and they enjoyed some fantastic fishing.

The weather has made it much tougher this week, but a hardy crew got out and managed some nice pollack and some good ling too. The mackerel are back inside the harbour so bait is plentiful again.

Ling

 

Go Fishing…

Fiona Tee

Address: Moneygold, Grange, Co. Sligo.
Telephone: +353 (0)87 6224348
Email: keithclarkesligo@eircom.net  

Web: https://www.killybegsfishingcharters.ie/

Shannon Estuary gives sea anglers respite in west Clare

By
IFI Staff
-

It’s been a huge change in the weather this week, with much wetter and windier weather now in place, and the high pressure of the last few weeks a distant memory. Charter boat fishing is a fickle business, with weather often spoiling pans to get out, but at least in west Clare, charter skippers have the shelter of the Shannon Estuary to get afloat and give their crews a bit of sport.

Skipper Luke Aston of the Clare Dragoon found some nice steady fishing in the estuary on the ebb tide, with some nice thornback ray and doggies coming aboard.

Luke reports the fishing before the break in weatehr was very good, with plenty of coalfish and good catches of pollack too, and decent catches of mackerel for bait too. Fishing in under the cliffs of Loop  Head someone snapped this great photo of the Clare Dragoon…

 

Skipper Sean Maguire of the Isle of Aran also reports really good fishing before the rain came, with good pollack fishing in particular to bait and lure.  This week the shelter of the estuary proved useful, with plenty of dogfish providing sport, but no ray to show for their efforts.

Go Fishing

Isle of Aran

Fishing Adventures on Séan Maguire’s Isle of Aran, a Lochin 33   charterboat which operates 15 miles from Kilbaha, Carrigaholt, and Kilrush.

Whether you want to go to the Atlantic Ocean for a large selection of species, including different types of shark, or fish the estuary for ray conger tope etc, Fishing Adventures will cater for whatever fishing you desire.
Telephone: +353 (0) 877508758 or +353 (0) 894431182
Email: fishadven@gmail.com Web: www.fishingadventures.ie

Clare Dragoon

Clare Dragoon is a LOCHIN 366 powered by 650HP engine, skippered by Luke Aston and operating out of Carrigaholt Co. Clare…

I have some offers up on my web site www.fishandstay.com and if anybody is interested in putting a trip together please do get in touch. Also I Twitter from the boat on @fishandstay and try to update my face book page www.facebook.com/CarrigaholtSeaAngling fairly often!To experience some of the best deep sea fishing available in Ireland contact Luke.
Telephone: +353 65 9058209 or +353 87 6367544
Email: lukeaston@eircom.net Web: www.fishandstay.com

 

Sea angling in the Shannon Estuary and the Clare coast

 

 

Ireland on the Fly: The 2025 Mayfly Review

By
Myles Kelly
-

We’re nearly into June and the mayfly is finally petering out.  It’s hard to believe that it began at Easter time on Corrib, whilst recently, Sheelin has been described as being ‘polluted with fly’ where fly anglers have been left with pretty much only suntans this year.

So this week, to find out more, joining Tom & Daire for their annual mayfly season review is Jackie Mahon, fly tyer and guide on Lough Arrow, and Ronan McWilliams, who embarked on a month long road trip taking in Corrib, Arrow and Sheelin.

But all did not go to plan as you’ll find out in the episode.

Listen and follow on Apple or Spotify:

https://pod.fo/e/2dc329

Ireland on the Fly

Keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly on https://www.IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on https://Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

Munster Blackwater quiet, hopes change in weather brings run of fish

By
Eileen Carroll
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Munster Blackwater at Lismore
Munster Blackwater at Lismore

The recent flurry of salmon fishing activity has dissipated, and some have now turned to trout fishing in the late evenings due to the high temperatures, with varied results.

Water levels remained very low and high in temperature but with good clarity and a change in the weather was forecast heading into the weekend. This may encourage fish to run if any are present in the lower tidal reaches waiting on a rise to progress to the middle and upper reaches of the catchment.

Go fishing…

Guided fishing, clubs, private fisheries etc

Blackwater Salmon Fishery

Blackwater Salmon Fishery has 3 beats downstream of the weir and 2 upstream of the weir. Blackwater Salmon Fishery offers fishing on approximately 5 miles of the river Blackwater. The fishing is spread throughout the middle section of the river to offer good sport throughout the fishing season. Due to the location of the beats, fishing can still usually be offered in low or high water.
Contact Glenda Powell: Lismore, Co Waterford,
Email: info@blackwatersalmonfishery.com
Mobile: +353 (0) 872351260 Telephone: +353 (0) 5853929
Web: www.blackwatersalmonfishery.com

 

Blackwater Valley Fishery

Salmon, Sea trout and Brown trout fishing on prime fishing beats River Blackwater Co. Cork and Co. Waterford Ireland.

Email: blackwatervalleyfishery@gmail.com
Mobile: +353 (0) 87 690 5467
Web: facebook.com/Corkwaterfordfishery

Fortwilliam Fishery & Self-Catering Cottages

Fortwilliam Fishery offers two miles of double bank salmon and trout fishing over five beats on the river Blackwater.
Our salmon include – Springers, May Salmon, Grilse, Back End Salmon, and in Summer sea trout.
Our beats provide a wide variety of water, suitable for both beginners and the more experienced fishermen.
Fortwilliam Fishery, Glencairn, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland
Web: www.fortwilliamfishing.ie Email: fishing@fortwilliamireland.com
Tel: (00353) 87 8292077 or 058 75299

Blackwater Salmon and Trout Fishery

Blackwater Salmon and Trout Fishery control a number of beats of the Munster Blackwater.

Contact  Jason Corcoran:
Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.

Tel: +353 (0)586 0146
Mobile: +353 (0)87 720 5690
Web: www.blackwatertroutandsalmon.ie

Careysville Fishery

Careysville Fishery offers some of the best salmon fly fishing in Ireland and includes 26 named pools. It is considered by many to be one of premier beats for salmon fishing in Ireland. Wading is excellent and among the numerous streams, pools and glides there is a great variety of fly fishing to suit both complete novice and challenge the most competent of fly casters.

Careysville, Clondulane, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
Email:  fishing@careysville.com Mobile: +353 (0)86 2378788
Web: http://careysville.com/careysville-fishery/

Lismore Castle Fishery

At Lismore Castle & Golf Course Fishery, we offer nearly two miles of two inter-linked beats, the Castle Beat & the Golf Course Beat.

The legendary Castle Beat consistently ranks as one of the top Salmon beats on the River Blackwater, for the number of Atlantic Salmon caught per rod. The Golf Course Beat offers about 1.5 miles of fishable water through meandering majestic countryside. The Golf Course beat offers a number of bewildering pools suitable for unmatched spinning and bait fishing.

For bookings contact Joe Willoughby on Mobile no. 00353 87 8295449 or Email: info@lismorecastlefishery.com

Website: www.lismorecastlefishery.com

Blackwater Salmon Anglers, Mallow

We provide Day Tickets for some prime Salmon fishing in Mallow Co. Cork. We have excellent fly water, shrimping worming and spinning also. We also have very competitive Day rates and we have very recently upgraded our fishing.

Tickets available from “The Bridge House” and “Vincent Downes Menswear” Mallow.

Facebook: Blackwater Salmon Anglers

Upper Bridgetown Salmon Fishery

Located on the Munster Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Situated mid river between the towns of Fermoy and Mallow. A productive left bank beat in stunning surroundings.

For bookings contact Conor Arnold: +353 87 755 4682

Facebook: Upper Bridgetown Salmon Fishery

Loungueville House Salmon Fishery

For details on availability and conditions of fishing for salmon and trout on the Longueville House waters please contact them at
Contact : Longueville House Hotel, William O’Callaghan
Address : Mallow, Co. Cork.
Telephone : 00 353 22 47156
Email: info@longuevillehouse.ie
Website: www.longuevillehouse.ie

Low water on the Maigue but some relief in the tidal section

By
Myles Kelly
-

Paddy Dunworth of Celtic Angling reports from the Maigue:

Rob and Sue O’Meara are on their 4th May visit in as many years and staying at my local; Mustard Seed Country House and Restaurant. They now reside in Whitstable, Kent, UK and Rob likes to fly-fish whilst Sue likes Spas and sight-seeing.

It’s a lottery with weather and weather and river levels have a bearing on good fly-fishing, provided one can fly-fish that is. Rob struck silver this time last year with the rivers high after rain and the Mayfly hatch at it’s peak. He had 8 trout on his day with me and next day on his own had some more.

This year is the polar opposite. Spring is still with us and we’ve had chronically low river levels for over a month now, accompanied by a heat-wave in Irish terms. Sea-side rather than bankside conditions, but when you’ve booked your day you must sally forth and so it was that I introduced Rob to a new venue yesterday, Ballyallinan on Deel. Low clear water and rapid growth all round in the shape of overhanging bankside bushes and trees together with beds of mansize rushes and reeds gathered round you, tough for the advanced fly-man, never mind a man more used to reservoir boat fishing.

This is what I term micro fly-fishing, casting within very claustrophobic surrounds to fish who’ll detect the caster’s tiniest error. Shrunken, clear, bright and motionless water, wild easily-spooked trout, and in near jungle surrounds, make no mistake this is as difficult as it gets and is at the pinnacle of skill where fly-fishing is concerned. Those not in the know equate size of fish with difficulty of catching, balderdash… salmon can be notoriously easy to catch, provided they are there and are taking, they even hook themselves if you have the presence of mind not to strike.

The river Maigue this week-end with the type of drought-ridden conditions we don’t normally experience until July-August….and here was always a Plan B where the ebb tide offered a few hours of artificial high water when non-tidal reaches were down to the bones.

Needless to say we drew a blank at Ballyallinan on Deel and hurried to fish a leaving tide at Adare, we were an hour late perhaps as the Maigue had almost dropped back to low water. Rob is an understanding guy and of the same vintage as myself, so he does recognise how various variables impact on fishing prospects.

Rob O'Meara's fish at Adare (Safely released)
Rob O’Meara’s fish at Adare (Safely released)

The second day he goes it alone with gear provided by me, and he likes Adare, arrived in plenty of time today to avail of good ebbing water, for a couple of hours at most….if the bath is low it empties in no time. And Rob’s persistence was rewarded in the guise of a nice brown trout, just the one….but in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king, Slán Abhaile Rob and Sue, two Whitstable Pearls!

Go Fishing…

Celtic Angling

Address The Commons Ballingarry Adare Limerick Ireland Phone: +353 69 68202 Mobile Phone: +353 87 652 5687 Website: celticangling.com
More information
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Rob O’Meara dry fly fishing on the Maigue

Superb hatch but tough conditions – Lough Arrow Mayfly Report

By
IFI Staff
-

Lough Arrow Anglers report that the hatch has been fantastic this year, but like most of our lakes, the weather just didn’t suit mayfly fishing for most of the time…

 

Overall it must be said that this year’s mayfly has been very disappointing from a fishing point of view. The cuckoo, the swallow, the whitethorn and the lilac all arrived early, as did the mayfly. There were very few trout caught on the dap or on green fly patterns due to the sunny, calm days. In the early days of the hatch you need a nice wind, with the odd shower thrown in, to keep the fly on the water.
On a positive note, we did have very good spent fishing in the evening. While most evenings we had a breeze from the NE or the NW, making it very difficult to see your fly while looking into the glaring sun in the western sky, this meant that you could fish right up until darkness fell. It’s hard to gauge the number of flies that hatch during sunny days like these, because they don’t stay on the water, heading straight for the trees instead. Judging by the incredible amount of shucks on the surface, and the sheer numbers of spent, the hatch this year on Lough Arrow was outstanding.
Reports of fish caught over the last couple of weeks include :
Fishing out of John Hargadon’s: –
John and his son-in-law Brian had a few fine trout on spent.
David Flynn had 11 over 2 days, 7 on spent and 4 on nymphs.
Philip Frei from Berne, Switzerland had 2.
Fishing out of Lough Arrow Caravan Park:-
Ken Murray, Philip Brown and Mark Duncan reported catches on various nights.
Fishing out of Finian Dodd’s:-
Many anglers over the mayfly season reported varying degrees of success.
Local anglers Tom Reilly, Paul McTiernan and Oliver Wall reported fish caught on spent.
While there was no Duffer’s Fortnight on Lough Arrow this year, the going was tough on other lakes too. There’s a hard day ahead when an angler is putting on more Factor 50 than flies!
Tight lines and bent rods!

Spanish flyfishing filmmaker Alvaro was on the lake recently for 2 days with Jim Curry from Guideline Flyfishing, and local guide Jackie Mahon. Alvaro will be producing a destination video for Lough Arrow, but he published a short snippet of spent mayfly on the water that we loved.

Go Fishing

Big pike for a little lady with Go Fishing Ireland

By
Myles Kelly
-
Anita's 102cm pike
Anita's 102cm pike

Chris Barry of Go Fishing Ireland was in touch to let us know about a recent guiding trip…

The Terry family from Seville in Spain enjoyed an excellent day’s pike fishing in the Boyne Valley region recently. Three generations of the family teamed up with Chris Barry to learn about freshwater fishing in Ireland.

The teenage boys – Carlo, Yago and their cousin Bosco had their first taste of fishing in an Irish lake, and all caught some nice pike to 90cms on lures over deeper water.

But top honours for the day went to the youngest member of the group, 9-year-old Anita. During the afternoon, she hooked a large and powerful fish.  At 102cms this was the largest fish of the day and almost as big as herself!

Anita's 102cm pike
Anita’s 102cm pike wins Catch of the Week

Her Mum helped her lift the big fish off the mat for a quick photo before we released it to swim off into deep water. This was her first ever fish. Quite an achievement. Well done Anita!

Go fishing…

Contact Chris in Co. Meath for fly fishing lessons, angling tuition and boat fishing trips in Ireland’s east.

Go Fishing Ireland

Address Macetown Navan Meath Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 86 8055337 Website: Go Fishing Ireland
More information
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