Lindsey Clarke reports from LOUGH MELVIN – Monday 10th to Sunday 16th August 2015.
Salmon angling effort on Melvin has tailed off and there is little to report on this front with very few if any rods out fishing for the same. The trout fishing remained good with good numbers of rods afloat. Most anglers are targeting the Sonaghan and there were decent catches of the same over the usual deep water drifts out from Bilberry, Farrell’s Bay, the School House etc.
Lindsey Clarke reports from RIVER DROWES – Monday 10th to Sunday 16th August 2015.
There were nice water levels on the Drowes this week again. The gauge read 0.68m on Monday and the river slowly fell over the week. By Sunday the gauge had fallen to 0.60 metres which was still a lovely level. The fishery was fairly quiet as is usual for this stage of the season. There were a number of salmon recorded however. On Monday, Darryl Kennedy recorded an 8lb salmon caught on prawn from the Wash stones. On Saturday, William Rainey reported a 4lb grilse caught on worm from the Mill Pool. A visiting Swiss rod also accounted for a 4lb grilse.
For info/bookings etc on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see the website: http://www.drowessalmonfishery.com/ or Tel: +353 (0)71 9841055 (8 am to 12 noon)
Waterford City and County Trout Angling Association hold the Carrigavantry Cup competition each year. This well run sponsored charity event at the stunning lake raises a lot of money for the Disabled Anglers Fly Fishing Association. David Tantrum PRO of the club tells us “We are delighted to show our appreciation of the grants given by Waterford Leader and Inland Fisheries Ireland. This year we presented a cheque for €1,870 to the Disabled Anglers Fly Fishing Association, who hosted the international competition this year on Lough Melvin”
Pictured is Jack O’Mahony, Tom Connolly [chairman] and Pat Smith of the Disabled Anglers Fly Fishing team receiving a cheque from Michael Sheehan, competition organiser. Christy Crotty and Frank Fitzgerald and dog are looking on.
One man and his dog left the meadow behind him and went fishing instead !!…
The 2nd photo is of Frank Fitzgerald and his faithful companion, the only one who would fish with him on this beautiful calm evening!
David Tantrum
FLY FISHING ON KNOCKADERRY CARRIGAVANTRY BALLYSCANLON
Carrigavantry – This 30 acre reservoir is hidden in the hills behind Tramore. The lake can be fished from the dam and road and the rest of the lake shore needs waders. The deepest part is the island at 10 feet.Prolific hatches of lake olives and damsels occur. Stocking is with both browns and rainbows. You could loose your catch here to a 20lb Pike!
Knockaderry – The deepest part of the lake is 24 feet at the dam tower, the average depth is 6ft and this results in good weed growth. Trout fatten fast in this fertile water on caddis, snails and stickle backs, while lake olives,buzzers sedges and damsels bring on prolific rises. This 80 acre reservoir is a traditional top of the water drift fishery.
New members are welcome and an active programme of fly tuition is pursued to encourage beginners and get our youth out into the countryside.
Wexford guide Sid Jones of Fishing Ireland enjoys some bass fishing with two Welsh anglers along the Wexford and Waterford coast:
While guiding two clients, Paul and Conrad a father and son over from Wales to fish for Bass with me for a few days I gladly sent them both home with some great fishy tails to tell with a new personal best achieved for both lads while using a method new to them and while on their first ever night session.
Paul and Conrad enjoy the fishing…One for Sid himself…
Paul had never caught a bass off the surface and was eager too so I bought the lads on a session using surface lures and we managed 16 bass with Conrad claiming eight and four a piece for Paul and myself. An excellent result in some trying conditions and every bass caught was quickly returned after a quick photo. No doubt the lads will be back to sample Ireland bass fishing with me soon.
The Bush family who are regularly featured in Angling Focus were back in Mullingar.This time around the family had a few enjoyable days staying in the Annabrook House Hotel, and also done a few hours pike fishing on Lene.It was a lovely day on Lene and for once you could fish in short sleeve shirts.
Fishing in short sleeves was a welcome change, but the bigger pike were not too keen on it
Even though the bigger Lene pike were reluctant to take the lures, dad Graham and his boys Adam and Keith are already planning a return trip.
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.
James McGurrin holding pike from Ree pictured with couisin
Conall Blaney, and James Mum Una. james has just being called- up for
Home Farm U 16 premership team.
Angling Guide Mick Flanagan reprots on his last outing on Lough Ree…
Last week we featured the McGurrin and Blaney boys chilling out on Lene. James McGurrin of Howth and cousin Conal Blaney of Artane love their fishing, and James mum Una is also big into fishing. The lads really have the fishing bug and were back in the Midlands last week having a go at the pike on Ree.
James McGurrin holding pike from Ree pictured with couisin Conall Blaney, and James Mum Una. james has just being called- up for Home Farm U 16 premership team.
It was a choppyy showery day at times but we managed a few pike, including a cracker pushing the 10lbs mark. Last week I chatted James and Conal about other hobbies in life and James, cool as you like, said he plays a bit of soccer. Last week he was actually called up for Home Farm U 16 Premiership team. Hopefully he will go all the way and one day play for Ireland. Michael Flanagan Midland Angling
Make a booking
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 Guide Mick Flanagan has all the news from Lough Owel…
Mullingar Angler and long time Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association committee member Gerry Cleary was a very popular winner of the Patti Doolin Shield last Sunday On Lough Owel.
Owel winner. Patti Doolin winner Gerry Cleary with angling pal Ross McKeown
This is a hugely popular fly fishing competition in memory of the late Patti and there is always a great turn out of anglers. The hours of fishing were 11am-7pm so we had plenty of time to hook-up with an Owel trout. Check-in was Mullallys and Tullagh and as anglers geared up it was looking like difficult conditions with bright sunshine and little or no wind. This was not the case and we actually had quite good fishing conditions, and plenty of trout were caught.
Owel Sedge
On the day Gerry Cleary produced a trout of 1.295kg to take Top Rod. Gerry teamed up with Lough Owel competition captain Ross McKeown for the Patti Doolin Shield. Christy Dunne from Rhode Co.Offaly was 2nd with 1.280. Sean Goulding dropped down from Dublin and took 3rd place with 1.250kg. Brendan Murray of Mullingar was 4th with 1.245kg, and also of Mullingar Barry Lenihan was 5th with 1.210kg.
James Mahedy from Mullingar won the junior section, and young James actually had the best trout of the day weighing 1.300kg.
Owel trout going back
Presentation took place at Mullallys and Andy Boyle was weigh-master, and presented all winners with their prizes. Andy thanked all who supported the Patti Doolin Shield plus the many sponsors. Mary Kavanagh daughter of the late Patti also thanked all who made the competition such a huge success. Lough Owel Anglers are back in action of Sunday September 6th and up for grabs is the Clonhuge Cup. More on this in the coming weeks.
PLEASURE ANGLERS ON OWEL
I did a few days and late evenings on Owel last week, and met a few anglers enjoying quality time on the lake.
Dominic Murphy from Tallagh on Owel
Dominic Murphy was in the thick of the action and had a few lovely trout on the fly.
Barry Lenihan with a lovely Owel trout caught near Brabsons Point
Barry Lenihan also was Out & About on Owel, and I watched Barry play a good fish well out from Branson’s Point and naturally drifted over for a photograph.
Thats my Boy. Liam Fitzgerald of Duleek pictured with his Gran Georgina Fitzgerald of Finglas.
The Fitzgerald’s from Duleek and Finglas had a ball of a time on Owel, and Glamorous Gran Georgina Fitzgerald was very proud of grandsons Liam catch of the day. The Fitzgerald’s have many friends in Mullingar, and I meet them regularly on Owel.
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.
Joe bloggs Fantastic Picture of the Idyllic Setting at the Wavin Lake Last Night
Aidan Curran from Gormanston and District Anglers reports that there was great fishing on Wavin Lake over the weekend. New member Robert Ashmore had a smashing couple of hours fishing buzzers during a morning session on the lake. Robert had hooked several fish and landed 4. All fish returned very well for another angler to catch.
Well done Robert!!
Robert Ashmore With a Beautifully Conditioned Wavin Lake Rainbow Trout
Aidan also got a chance to wet a line himself on Sunday and some nice fish were taken on the buzzers. Aidan and fishing buddy Terry had a few fish and missed some but over all they spent a great couple of hours on Wavin lake.
Aidan Curran, Gormanston and District Anglers, With A Nice Wavin Lake Rainbow Trout
Up to last night the lake has been reportedly fishing very well indeed. Catching fish is great but sometimes it doesn’t matter if your not especially when you get a beautiful setting as illustrated by the excellent picture (below) taken last night by Martin McNamara up on the Wavin Lake.
Martin McNamara’s Fantastic Picture of the Idyllic Setting at the Wavin Lake Last Night
Gormanston and District Anglers Club have the exclusive fishing rights on the Wavin Lake which is located 0.5 miles Dublin side of Balrothery, North Co. Dublin. The lake is very accessible and is only 2 miles north of Balbriggan and approximately 15 minutes from Dublin Airport. The Wavin Lake covers approximately 26 acres and is stocked with rainbow trout. The Association promotes fly fishing and there are 6 boats on the lake for members. There are also facilities for disabled fishermen and spinning on one shore only is allowed. There is a daily bag limit of 2 fish but the Association supports a policy of catch and release on this Lake.
You can find out how to join the club or find out more about Gormanston and District Anglers Club HERE
Visit Gormanston and District Anglers Facebook page HERE
A cracking 51lbs tope caught from the shore in Galway Bay by local angler Alan Kelly
Local sea angler Alan Kelly is a bit of a tope fanatic, although his efforts have been mostly in vain this summer with a poor run of tope in Galway Bay. Alan had put in an incredible 19 sessions and almost 60 hours since May targeting tope on the right tides, only rewarded with the occasional dogfish or bull huss. However, his patience was rewarded last week with a fine specimen shore tope, tipping the scales at 51lbs. In his own words: The evening started off with 3 dog fish on the first 3 casts and I was thinking if dogs are around maybe the tope aren’t. As the night drew on the dogs disappeared, weather conditions settled down and darkness fell. All was quiet until – bang! the reel was screaming, line disappearing from the spool at pace. I let the fish run for a while and slowly tightened up the drag, set the hook and then the battle began! Although the drag had tightened up, there was still enough for the fish to run and that it did. I thought at one stage “this beast is not stopping”, but after around 25 minutes I managed to get the fish close to the shore – not an easy thing to try on your own. But Imanaged to get her head beached, dropped the rod and made a grab for the tail. My knees where like jelly at this stage!
After unhooking the fish – a prime female in great condition – she hit the scales at 51 lbs. I took a few photos and sent her on her way …”
A cracking 51lbs tope caught from the shore in Galway Bay by local angler Alan Kelly
Elsewhere, there are sporadic reports of mackerel being caught inshore in Galway Bay, so hopefully they will be here in numbers soon. Charter boats are reporting excellent pollack fishing at the moment. John Brittain, skipper of Bluewater based in Cleggan, also reported catching a monster 6-gill shark, the first for his boat and certainly the first I have heard of in these parts. Well done John! O book fishing aboard Bluewater contact John at 086 2779622.
Chris Williams with a nice August grilse at the Broken Bridge on the Erriff
Fishery manager Osgur Grieve reports on fishing from the 9th – 17th of August. Christopher Williams had 4 grilse for the week weighing 3lbs, 4.5lbs, 4lbs, 4.5lbs from a variety of beats. His brother David had 2 for the week weighing 2.5lbs and 7lbs, 1 of which was released. On the 13th Neil Richmond tempted a nice 5.5lbs grilse to a Sunray Shadow at the Falls Pool which he released; also on the 13th Margaret Downes who stayed with us had a very fresh 4lbs grilse on a cascade which she also returned. Water levels are low again but rain forecast for the second half of the week should improve conditions greatly.
To book fishing or accommodation on the Erriff, contact Aasleagh Lodge at 095 42382 or check out www.aasleaghlodge.ie
Chris Williams with a nice August grilse at the Broken Bridge on the Erriff
![David Tantrum - Jack O’Mahony, Tom Connolly [chairman] and Pat Smith of the Disabled Anglers Fly Fishing team receiving a cheque from Michael Sheehan, competition organiser](https://fishinginireland.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/David-Tantrum-Jack-O’Mahony-Tom-Connolly-chairman-and-Pat-Smith-of-the-Disabled-Anglers-Fly-Fishing-team-receiving-a-cheque-from-Michael-Sheehan-competition-organiser-480x360.jpg)
