Eileen Carroll Murphy IFI reports from the River Lee for the week ended 2nd August 2015:
On the river Lee it was the local anglers who did most of the fishing. 12 peel were landed for the week mostly on the fly.
Eileen Carroll Murphy,
IFI Macroom
Mullaghmore SAC are holding an open on Sunday 23rd of August on Tullan Strand Bundoran.
Check-in is at 12pm with fishing from 1pm to 5pm.
Prize giving afterwards in O’Donnells Cliffoney.
This is a leg of Cartys west coast shore league and the next leg of the Msac Master Angler.
Overall, zone and junior prizes. Fish pools optional.
Contact Shane on 087 8342875 for pre entry.
Frank Maunsell from the Owenmore Fishery reports:
04/08/2015 The week end was a wash out . We had heavy rain and storm force winds which made it totally unsuitable for fishing. The flood had gone down enough by 4 pm today and three of our regular fishermen decided to have a go anyway and ended up with one salmon over 10 lbs and 3 grisle between 5 /6 lbs. By 6 p.m. we had a few Tourists fishing and they ended up catching some seatrout lower down in the river coming fresh in off the tide, More rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow and winds are easing off which means that the lakes will fish on for the rest of the week and nice water on the river as well.
Frank Maunsell
Owenmore Fishery
There are approximately five miles of fly fishing along the main part of the Owenmore River in Kerry, with 33 named pools and an additional 180 acres of lake fishing in this Kerry beauty spot. The salmon, grilse and sea trout begin to run in April. The runs continue through spring and summer into early October.
Telephone: 066 7139408 Mobile: 087 9476309
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.owenmorefishery.ie
Ghillie Vincent Appleby reports on the salmon and sea trout fishing in the past week on Lough Currane:
30/07/15 Straight to the Sea Trout Department, Mr. Andrew Brown of Dublin, caught two fine Sea Trout on the drift, ranging from 2 ½ . Lbs. up to 3 ½ lbs. Andrew’s Gillie Mr. Bob Priestley reported to me that he had one backdate to report. Yesterday, his client Mr. Andrew Brown caught a fine 4 ½ lbs. Sea Trout on the drift and was sportingly put back to fight the battle of the Reds this December and here is a perfect example of sportsmanship plus not letting your fingers do the talking after your days fishing. Just for the record Lough Derriana is fishing well in the Junior department.
31/07/15 The Dutch take the headlines in the Salmon department and for good reason. Dutch Angler, Mr. Wim Woermeijer, fishing out of www.lakelandshouse.com caught a fine Grilse on the fly and in style I might add, the reason I say this is because Wim had a good 20 meters out in rough conditions and within 6 casts rose and sealed my Noble Salmon’s fate and just for the record, for all you imperial Anglers thats 21 yards, Wim’s, Gillie was Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com Wim was using a floating line. I asked what fly did he catch his Salmon on, he replied as you would say Vincent, that’s classified information. Now to the Sea Trout department, Mr. Pat O’Mahony of Cork was in good form, drifting of the Church, Pat caught 3 Sea Trout to his fly rod ranging from Juniors up to 3 lbs. Staying with the Sea Trout, Mr. Pat O’Halloran, fishing out of www.curranelodge.ie caught 3 Juniors this morning. Clients fishing with Terence Wharton Jnr, caught a few Nice Sea Trout on the fly. Wind WSW from light to strong with the heavy downpours and overcast all day.
01/08/15 There was very little wind on Lough Currane today, but when the wind did blow from the WSW some anglers got their just rewards and first in my striking zone and the first anglers to let their fingers do the talking at end of the day, Were Pat and his Son Tim O’ Mahony of Cork, they caught a fine 5 lbs. Sea Trout on the drift and just for the record, Tim caught the 5lbs. Sea Trout and his Dad caught a couple of Juniors. Staying in the Sea Trout department, Dutch Angler, Mr. Wim Woermeijer, fishing out of www.lakelandshouse.com caught and released 2 fine Sea Trout, both in the 3 ½ lbs. Class, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com and for the rest of the angling community they failed miserably in their duties and that includes my good self and I certainly didn’t have to let my fingers do the talking at the end of the day. Wind as already stated and overcast all day with light drizzle late this afternoon.
02/08/15 Congratulations to the Green and Gold shirts of Kerry for blowing the White shirts of Kildare away in the All Ireland quarter final and that is exactly what the wind did on Lough Currane today, it blew My Noble Anglers away from the North side and with a gale force SE wind blowing that isn’t surprising, even though one boat did venture out from the North side but my Noble Angler didn’t let his fingers do the talking, so on that note we head across to the South side and the hired out boat department of www.lakelandshouse.com Mr. Dara Tracey of Dublin, caught 3 Sea Trout on the fly, all in the Junior class. Wind as already stated and overcast with heavy rain.
03/08/15 Lough Currane was at a standstill with a storm force wind from the SW and a yellow warning was issued from www.met.ie there were reports that one boat did venture out this morning, but it wasn’t long before he came back charging in with his tail between his legs and I will quote Captain Mainwaring, you stupid boy! On the breaking news front the new Sea Lodge Waterville Hotel of www.sealodgewaterville.ie launched their new website this evening and on behalf of all the angling and golfing community and the good people of Kerry we wish www.sealodgewaterville.ie all the best in this new adventure. Going back to the weather, there was 22.7 mm of rainfall yesterday.
04/08/15 There was some great manipulation on Lough Currane today after the storm force winds of yesterday. So lets head straight for the fly department. Mr. Andrew Brown of Dublin, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Bob Priestley, was in great form with Two Grilse, ranging from 3 lbs. up to 5 lbs. and finished his day off with 2 Sea Trout, ranging from 1 lbs. up to 3 lbs. 8 ozs. Just for the record all Andrew’s Game Fish were returned. Now for catch of the day and that goes to Mr. Paul Drennan and his good mate Ray and for good reason, while fishing with their Gillie MD, they caught 4 Salmon on the fly, ranging from 3 lbs, up to 6 lbs. Wind SW fresh then veered NW late this afternoon and overcast.
That is your ration from the opening days on Lough Currane, from your Gillie and the Waterville Fishery, no spin no fly’s just facts.
Vincent Appleby
Vincent Appleby Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0)66 9475248
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com
The rivers and lakes of Waterville drain a large catchment and are regarded by many as the foremost Salmon and Sea-Trout fishery in the country. The lake system is well developed with access to boats and guides being readily available to the tourist angler. The Sea-Trout caught here are renowned for their size and quantity. For more details see
Waterville lakes and rivers system
Gary Robinson reminds us of the Irish Kayak Fishing Opening which takes place on Saturday 15th August at Courtmacsherry in Co. Cork.
The Irish Kayak Fishing Open will take place on Saturday 15th August 2015 at Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork, commencing at 11.00 am with fishing until 16.00 pm. Sponsored by industry leaders in the kayaking field, first placed on the day will receive a €1000.00 Wilderness Systems voucher, second placed a voucher from Palm Equipment for €500.00, with Adventure Technology Paddles donating a €250.00 voucher for third place.
The competition will be open to all anglers over 18 years of age, however every entrant must meet a number of criteria to ensure their own safety and the smooth running of the event. Check in on the day will commence at 09.00 am.
Angling writer Gary Robinson from the A Kayak Fisherman in Ireland website conceived and put together the event. Based in a sheltered venue renowned for its sea angling, the scenic West Cork fishing village of Courtmacsherry enables kayak anglers access to a range of species to include bass, flounder, dab, ray, pollack, wrasse and conger.
All enquiries to Gary Robinson at: [email protected]
Prizes…
Wilderness Systems produce a range of excellent, reliable fishing kayaks.
Palm Equipment produce a range of top quality kayak clothing including drysuits and PFDs.
Adventure Technology Paddles have a range of paddles for all kayak anglers.
There will also be other prizes available on the day. All the information is on my site at:
http://kayakfishermanireland.com/irish-kayak-fishing-open-2015/
Gary Robinson
kayakfishermanireland.com
Gary discovered the thrill, freedom and pure joy of kayak fishing almost by accident. After purchasing kayaks with the intention of paddling trips with his long-suffering partner, he started to assess the suitability of such a craft as a fishing platform. Some internet searches showed him that he was not alone in his thoughts. America and Australia already had blossoming populations of kayak anglers. Needing no more encouragement, he set about rigging his first sit on top kayak and transforming it into a fishing platform to gain access to some of the more inaccessible waters. Now into his fifth year of kayak fishing he shows no sign of slowing down.
Find out more about Gary and his adventures at www.kayakfishermanireland.com
DISCLAIMER NOTE: Inland Fisheries Ireland do not support any brand over another.
Declan Gibbons IFI reports from a busy Lough Corrib:
The week gone by saw lots of action on Lough Corrib with some spectacular fishing to be had mainly on mayfly patterns and sedge patterns to a lesser degree.
In the Oughterard area Tom Kelly reports of Carlow duo Niall Carew and John McEnroe catching 10 trout for 16 Lbs for two days fishing dapping. Tom also informs us that Des McCarthy of Ardnasillagh,Oughterard had super dry fly fishing on Wednesday last land two trout both 5 Lbs each and again on Thursday he had a trout 2 Lbs. Kevin Molloy of Baurisheen Boat Hire (087-9604170) also reports of good fishing to in the area with anglers very satisfied with the sport they are having. On Thursday last visiting UK angler Stuart Nicholl had 3 trout on wet flies smallest being a pound and a quarter and the best being two and a quarter pounds. Also Mr Carson another visiting angler from France enjoyed good fishing with Kevin trolling catching four trout the best being two and a half pounds.David McLoughlin cathching 5 trout on dry sedges and green peters ranging in size from 1.8Lbs to 3.0 Lbs.
Matthew Tierney of Portacarron also reports of excellent fishing to be had in the area with great hatches of mayfly to match it.Basil Shields of Ardnasillagh Lodge (091-552550) reports of excellent fishing on Lough Corrib presently. On Friday and Saturday last Basil and Peter Boyle landed 14 trout on wet and dry mayfly patterns.
On Sunday Shannon angler Glen O Connell caught three trout on wet flies. In the Cornamona area Roy Pearse of Grasshopper Cottage Dooras (094-9548165) reports of two regular visiting anglers Bob Holland and Russell Bell from the UK enjoying a superb days wet fly fishing Saturday last landing 14 trout to the boat.
In the Greenfields area well known angler Vincent Hughes had a personal best while dapping Monday last with a trout weighing 7.062 Lbs on a cricket. Larry McCarthy of Corrib View Lodge Glencorrib (087-9135222) reports of excellent fishing for the week once again on Lough Corrib with bags of quality trout on wet and dry mayfly patterns.Tony Harten and Frank Kelly from Cavan had 8 trout on one outing fishing wet fly with the fish averaging 2 Lbs in weight.
Larry himself fishing with UK visiting angler Steve Whittaker on Monday last has 7 trout with most of them averaging in the 2 Lbs to 3 Lbs in weight. Pat Winning and Larry on Tuesday had a guides day off and boated 6 trout up to 3 lbs on mayflies. Saturday and Sunday Des Cossn from Derry enjoyed his first visit to Lough Corrib landed 16 trout and best fish being 4 Lbs.Angler Loyd Vincent visiting from the UK had a super holiday boating 26 trout over 3 days and the best fish weighing 4 Lbs 4 oz on wet and dry mayflies. Enda Kenny from kildare took a day out from practice for the World Cup on Lough Mask and was rewarded with several trout one which was well in excess of 4 Lbs all safely and sportingly released back into Lough Corrib.
Lough Ramor in County Cavan is a fantastic water and can provide some excellent coarse angling. Yesterday afternoons very strong winds and squally conditions did not help matters but with the wind over your back at Coronagh things were manageable. Water levels were good in the lake and the water was clear. The water was stuffed with fry which will be tempting the trout, perch and pike to feed up in the coming weeks. Fishing at 30 turns into very shallow water with 3lb hook-length, size 14 barbless hook and three red maggots produced fish straight away. Ground bait was very simple with brown crumb darkened down with a black mix.
The first hour of fishing was all bits with perch being the predominant species. There was an odd small roach at the start but as the evening advanced some nice hybrids appeared and these were accompanied by a nice stamp of roach as well. Bites were strong and the hybrids head thumping fights were unmistakable. One of the bites during all this activity registered a beautiful wild brown trout which fought well and was released immediately back to the lake. Small skimmers numbered only 3 for the session. The weather eventually picked up with the wind subsiding which left fishing conditions very pleasant indeed. As the light faded hybrids were being caught every cast with a number bumping off at the net.
There were a small number of spent mayfly on the water that were being mopped up by trout sipping them lazily off the surface. One or two of the larger trout in the lake were also observed feeding on the fry and provided a welcome distraction on occasions.
Lough Sheelin Angling Report By Brenda Montgomery, IFI – July 27th to August 2nd 2015
Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. Charles R. Swindoll
‘Getting Ready’ – 4 year old Noah Johnston Breen sorting out flies to go fishing.
The sedge fishing, refutably the cream of the fishing season rose to the top for Lough Sheelin this week with spectacular hatches of the two main evening sedges – the Murrough and the Green Peter matched with splashy vigorous rises of hungry trout averaging 2 ½ – 3 ½ lbs. The edge of darkness is the time to be on this great lake, where, as the night swallows up the day the water seemingly comes alive with feeding trout and hatching sedge. The approach of dusk seems to act like a dinner bell as trout rise to take the vast selection of surface food.
It’s Sedge time – Lynch’s Pt. Lough Sheelin, July 2015
This has been a season like no other. In previous years, it was the mayfly that attracted large numbers of anglers, it was a time to book your holidays and take full advantage of the mayfly crazed trout – duffer’s fortnight, where the catching was easy.
Sheelin stumbled through the mayfly season this year, shedding its truck load of despondent anglers as May moved into June and hopes disappeared in a cloud of resignation that the mayfly just wasn’t going to kick off like it had done in previous years. The season moved into the sedge phase and quietly and unobtrusively Sheelin started to live up to its great name – the jewel in Ireland’s fishing crown, with heady rises of beautiful fish and amazing fly hatches.
Lough Sheelin was never a lake that featured much for the Peter fishing but since early July there have been impressive hatches of this sedge – all after dark stuff but yielding great takes and substantial catches. The Peter imitation, a very successful export from Ireland was originally created as a top dropper imitating its name sake – Phryganea varia or in layman’s language ‘Green Peter’. Stillwater fly fishermen in the UK have been enthusiastic supporters of this fly for the last 40 plus years. A good tip is when fishing on the drift, when the water is ruffled by wind, is to raise your rod steadily so that your team of flies rise in unison and repeat – or so the experts say.
A 1 ½ pounder on the Murrough
Lough Sheelin’s Damsel Fly
The Murrough and the Peter mean late evening and night time fishing and it is this that perhaps acts as a deterrent to anglers. As July draws to a close, there is a slight almost unnoticeable change, as dusk, that veil of shade, descends that bit earlier than in the previous months. Maybe it is that earlier closing down of the day that discourages anglers from setting out across the lake to the sheltered bays and inlets, where there is plenty of trout action, to a place that real trout anglers could only dream of. I am talking about starting that outboard engine at around 9.45pm and returning home around 11.30 to midnight, this is when the fishing for now is at its very best and worth the effort of embracing the night to experience the richness of the trout life of this great lake.
‘Brothers In Arms’ – Lough Sheelin’s Peters and Murroughs
The areas that are fishing best for now are from Orangefield right around and into Ross Bay, dependant of course on wind direction. I find that the darkness usually has a softening and modifying effect on wind and so fishing at night rarely requires the need for change of location to facilitate a changing wind.
Fishing was tough in the mornings and only picked up for daytime catches between 4 and 6pm and even then there was poor fly life on the surface, so it was mainly fishing blind. Trout were however on the move and willing to surface for artificials like the Bibios, Silver Invictas, Dabblers, Bumbles, Daddies, Claret & Mallard, Hoppers and Goslings.
Some anglers tried out a small amount of dapping with one or two fish being landed using this traditional method. The end of July and the month of August is when all sorts of Sheelin’s terrestrials are being blown on to the water and the Daddy-Long-Legs in all its land based awkwardness, is one of them. Tumbling in an ungainly fashion, landing on the water’s surface, they struggle in their attempts to become air-bourne once more, the Daddy can make a very tasty mouthful and alternative to sedges in the trout’s diet. When a take does occur it’s important to try to resist the temptation to strike, as the trout will often try to drown this fly first, before taking it in its mouth. Best practise is to wait until the line starts to run out, then lift the rod high to set the hook. Dragging the fly through a heavy ripple, or wave will often mean the desired responsive of a positive take by the trout.
An extract from Bob Salisbury’s ‘The Gentle Art of Dapping’ tells us that -‘This must be one of the oldest methods of fishing a lough, especially when using a natural insect and here in Ireland it is still highly effective during the Mayfly time, or in August when the daddies or grasshoppers are plentiful. At first glance the art of dapping looks deceptively simple and merely involves a good breeze, long rod , a natural insect or artificial and the patience to let the wind move the fly in a random , haphazard manner across the surface until a trout shows interest. Dapping undoubtedly takes fish, often very good trout because no part of the line touches the water. But for several reasons this approach has become less popular in recent years. The old style rods were very heavy to use in strong winds and holding them steady could become tiring after a long day on the lough. The introduction of modern fly rods has also had an impact and the preference of many anglers to ‘drift’ fish from a boat with a team of wet flies has made the practice of dapping much less fashionable than it once was.
One renowned local angler in this part of Tyrone, Ronnie Chism, thinks that today’s fishermen are ‘missing a trick’ and the practice of dapping a fly is highly effective on Irish lakes, where it was traditionally practiced. Ronnie has made an extensive study of the techniques and equipment involved and argues that, if it is done properly, it will bring results. He says it is an art form that should be expanded and revived’
Lough Sheelin’s
‘Blue Moon’
Last Friday, July 31st, there was a ‘once in a blue moon’ occurrence. The rain stopped around 8pm and as the clouds darkened towards night, a huge golden medallion of a full moon rose from the cloud edges and glowed like a lantern over the lake’s surface water.
In the past, a blue moon was used to mean ‘rare’, but now the name is given to any full moon that is the second to appear in one calendar month. The next blue moon, by this definition, is going to be on January 31st 2018 – around two and a half years from now. There will be another blue moon two months after that on March 31st 2018, after which it will be another two year wait.
Irrelevant as all this seemingly might be to an angling report, some anglers believe that the lunar cycle is directly linked to the feeding pattern of trout.
Wexford angler, John Nolan is however sticking to the ‘blue moon’ theory of rarity as he landed his first ever Sheelin trout on this night after some ten years of trying on Sheelin. The ‘blue moon’ fish caught on a Murrough and weighing in at over 4lbs was released back into the water at Derrysheridan.
For those of us that might be feeling a little disheartened that the moon was not blue, blue moons in terms of colour have been seen in the past only under very special circumstances. Usually, these moons are reported after volcanic eruptions or even a forest fire, which releases plumes of particles that rise into the atmosphere. These particles happen to be the perfect size to scatter away red light, only allowing blue light through the dust cloud. Out of the ashes, a blue moon appears.
William Craig with his 2 ½ lb Sheelin trout – July 27th
Gary Murray, Newtownabbey – July 27th
Lough Sheelin sunset, July 28th
Azim from Mauritius and fishing with Guide Fishing Ireland travels to Sheelin every season for his angling holiday. He has caught some wonderful fish there and is a big fan of the dry fly.
The Fiery Hopper (KsG Flies)
Sidnei from Brazil (fishing with Guide Fishing Ireland)
Mark Wilson’s Sheelin
Sheelin’s Bloodworm imitations
The Silver Invicta (KsG Flies)
‘The Set Up’
The best flies for the week gone by were the dry Sedges (a pale brown/beige 12-14) CDC Sedge fly, the Green Peter, Hare’s Ear Sedgehog, the Golden Olive Bumble (good for creating that all important disturbance on the water), the Stimulator, the Hoppers, the Black Pennell, the Murrough, the Royal and Green Wulff, the Grey Klinkhammer (12-14 Emerger), the Cinamon Sedge, Greenwell’s Glory, the Dunkeld, the Welshmans Button, Damsel Nymph and Pheasant Tail Nymph.
A female Murrough
A Blast From The Past
Front row (left to right) – Robert Chambers, Heather Chambers Harry Hamer, Nuala Lynch, Mandy Sloane
Back row (left to right) -Wesley Harper, Bert Flood, Peter Brady, Peter O’Reilly, John Wilson Minister for Fisheries, Pat Sweeney, Sean Gurhy, Jim McNally, Mike Tolan and Sean Young
The 1996 photograph above was taken to commemorate 50 consecutive years of fishing on Lough Sheelin by Yorkshire angler Harry Hamer. Mr Harry Hamer as a young enthusiast trout angler in his early twenties came across a small advertisement in a fishing magazine for accommodation at Lough Sheelin by a Mrs Chambers. Intrigued Mr Hamer made the arduous journey via boat, train and bus where his love for Sheelin was instant and such was his devotion he returned from that day faithfully every year for 64 years until his death on April 11th 2011.
Up-Coming EventsThe McDonnell cup will be held on Saturday August 8th on Lough Sheelin, fishing from 11am till 6pm from Kilnahard pier with an entry fee of €20. This competition has been fished catch & release for the last three years which proved to be very successful. Measures will be provided for all boats with the cup awarded to the longest fish. This competition is open to members of the club only but membership is available on the day
There will be lots of prizes on offer and this day is generally viewed as a great day out.
For further details contact Thomas Lynch @ 087 9132033.
The Lough Sheelin Protection Association’s Stream Rehabilitation competition has been set for Saturday October 3rd. Match booklets will be out by mid- August and will also be available to download off the LSTPA’s web site.
Lough Sheelin Guiding Services (www.loughsheelinguidingservices.com) 087 1245927
Michael Farrell @ 087 4194156Telephone: +353 43 6681298 Email: [email protected]
Kenneth o Keeffe Grey Duster Guiding 0868984172
For anyone interested in joining Lough Sheelin’s Angling Club – The Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association please contact Thomas Lynch @ 087 9132033.
Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 790 which strictly prohibits
It won’t work if you aren’t wearing it…
Water rarely gives second chances and a life jacket is just that – it saves your life, so we would implore anglers and all other users for their own safety as well as it being the law under
SI No 921 of 2005 – Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations 2005
A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times
A beautiful 3 pounder caught at Lynch’s Pt. on a Murrough
Please remember All anglers are required to have a Fishery Permit to fish Lough Sheelin which must be purchased before going out on the lake.
Guide Fishing Ireland
‘River to lake’ – the River Inny at Finea, July 2015
The heaviest fish for the week was a beautiful trout of almost 5lbs caught by Paddy Lyons, Cavan on one of his own tyings of a Green Peter.
Total number of trout recorded: 72
Selection of Catches
William Craig – 2 trout at 1 ½ and 2 ½ lbs on Monday July 27th.
John Oughter, Dublin – 1 trout at 3lbs on a dry sedge, July 27th
Pat Delaney & John McGovern, Cavan – 12 fish averaging 2 ½ – 3 ½ lbs, all caught on sedges.
Paul O’Mara, Castleknock, Dublin – 3 trout, heaviest weighed in at 3 ½, all caught on sedges.
Paddy Lyons, Cavan – 19 trout for 21 days evening fishing – trout averaged 2 ½ – 3 ½ lbs, heaviest at almost 5lbs on July 29th. All fish were caught using sedges.
Des Elliott, Dublin – 8 trout for the week, weights averaged from 1 ¾ up to 3 lbs, caught using Mayflies, Silver Invicta and Bibios. Fishing around Chambers Bay, Holywell and Orangefield.
Patsy Smith, Cavan – 2 trout at 1 ¾ and 2 ½ lbs using red tailed Peters and Bibios.
Declan Reilly, Clane – 1 trout at 3 lbs on a Murrough on July 29th fishing in Bog Bay.
Just a little bit about our front photograph – Noah caught his first fish when he was only gone 2. Although he fishes with Dad, Richie from Guide Fishing Ireland his biggest thrill is going with his Grandad (Des Johnston) who at 79 and still fishes 3 days a week. He was Hon Sec of Kilbride Anglers for 27 years and Sheelin is one of his favourite waters. The 75 year age gap doesn’t stop the two who now fish every week or so and Noah loves it.
The magic and mystery of Lough Sheelin – July 2015
Brenda Montgomery IFI
David McEvoy from the Delphi Fishery has the latest news from the the river …
The last week in July saw some excellent fishing here in Delphi and we recorded our best week of the season so far with 41 fish landed in total. Conditions throughout were again very conducive to salmon fishing with excellent water throughout and steady numbers of fish still running.
Sunday started in style with nine fish landed. Alexander Mills was first off the mark with a fine fresh fish off the Turn pool of 8lbs2.5ozs on a Red Shrimp. William Beattie then had two, one from the Turn pool of 6lbs5ozs and a beautiful fresh fish of approx. 8.5lbs on the Quarry, both on a Bann Special. Martin Stokes managed to land another fish from the Turn pool in the afternoon of 4lbs13.5ozs on a Cascade. Tim Oxley originally from England but now living in Switzerland managed to land his first ever salmon in the afternoon. The fish was taken in Cooleens on a Willie Gunn and weighed in at 3lbs12ozs. Giles Johnson also had one in the afternoon from the Mouth of the Glenumera on Doolough of approx. 4lbs. Chris Jarman had two, one from the Holly of 4lbs14ozs and one from the Rock of 3lbs3ozs, both on a Willie Gunn. I had one myself from the Grilse pool of 4lbs4ozs also on a Willie Gunn.
There were seven landed on Monday, with the Beattie pairing of William and Gareth accounting for six of these. All fish were taken on a Bann Special, with one from the Rock, two from Duffers Run, one from Quarry Flats, one from Heneghans and one from the Goat pool. They weighed in at 4lbs4ozs, 3lbs15ozs, 5lbs4ozs, 3lbs7ozs, 5lbs5ozs and 6lbs3ozs respectively. Finally but by no means least Fenton Glover, grandson of Chris and Elizabeth Glover managed to land his first ever salmon. The fish was taken in Cooleens on a Cascade and weighed in at 4lbs10ozs.
Six were landed on Tuesday and this time it was Chris Jarman’s turn to account for the lions share, with four, one from the Grilse of approx. 4lbs on a Cascade and three from the Rock pool of 3lbs14.5ozs, 4lbs7ozs and 5lbs7ozs. Two were on a Cascade and one on a Collie Dog. John Somerville and John Mills managed to land two from Fin of 3lbs and 6lbs13ozs on a Delphi Collie and a Willie Gunn.
There were seven on Wednesday, including two first evers, the first being Finn Taylor who landed a lovely 5lbs12ozs fish on a Green Peter off Finlough. The second was taken by Patrick Conroy, who is a Grandson of John Mills and was indeed under his tutelage when he landed a fish of 5lbs off Finlough on a Delphi Collie.
Rick Taylor, Finn’s father also had two fish both off Finlough on Cascades weighing in at 3lbs and 3lbs12ozs respectively. John Mills had another off Fin on a Willie Gunn of 6lbs1oz and William Beattie also had one on a Galway Green of 7lbs10ozs. Finally Chris Jarman had one off the Quarry pool of 4lbs10ozs on a Silver Stoat.
Thursday was a little quieter with only three landed. Mick Kelly had a fine fresh fish of approx. 7lbs on a Silver Stoat from Dipper Run and Gareth Beattie had two cracking fish off Fin on a Willie Gunn of 8lbs and 9lbs2ozs.
On Friday Earl Horton from the USA landed his first ever salmon. The fish was taken off Doolough on a Willie Gunn and weighed in at 6lbs5ozs. It was even more special as all the family shared the moment. Chris Jarman also had two, one from the Quarry on a Silver Stoat of 4lbs3ozs and one from Finlough again on a Silver Stoat of 2lbs10ozs. Finally Teddy Coulter had a fish of 3lbs10ozs off Fin on a Kinermony Killer.
Yesterday the 1st of August four fish were landed. The first was taken by Chris Jarman from the Quarry on a Silver Stoat, weighing in at 3lbs10.5ozs. Gareth Beattie then had a fine fish from the Grilse of 9lbs6ozs on a Red Cascade. David Dunne had a fresh fish of 3lbs10ozs on a Yellow Shrimp off Fin and finally Jane Beattie had a nice fish of 6lbs8ozs on a Galway Green off Fin.
There are still fresh fish entering the system and with the forecast again for broken weather, there may be another good fishing week in store
David McEvoy
Delphi Fishery
At Delphi Lodge, with many years of experience with the timing of the best runs of fish, we have in place a price system that offers both great value fishing and lets our anglers know when they have the best chance to catch a fresh run spring salmon or a summer grilse or Delphi sea trout.
Delphi Fishery
Delphi Lodge, Leenane, Co. Galway.
Tel: +353 (0)95-42222 Fax +353-95-42296
Web: www.delphilodge.ie
Kayak angler and blogger Gary Robinson of Kayak Fisherman Ireland is hunting hounds this bank holiday. check out how he got on……
I have had only one go at the hounds this year and that was from a charter, a far cry from a kayak! That fact had to be rectified and what better time to do it than on a bank holiday?
My first try at them this year was with the aid of Kit Dunne from Wicklow Boat Charters and, although conditions on the day suggested staying at home may be the better option, Kit performed a wonderful job and managed to put us over fish where I believe many other skippers may not have been able. This day whetted the appetite for more but with work, weather and other commitments getting in the way, a return to the east was an unlikely prospect.
With a break in work and a family birthday I headed home and with the forecast giving a slight lull in winds I naturally packed a couple of kayaks and some fishing gear with the hopes of hitting some smoothhounds. Craig Murphy was to be joining me on the water and after a Dublin launch point was scuppered we headed south into Wicklow. A pleasant day and mild enough, we planned to anchor up a short distance out and fish crab baits on the bottom.
We had a selection of frozen and live crab. I was using size 3/0 Cox&Rawle Power Fast Bait Holder Hooks and whipping the bait with the Bait Weaver from Ullcatch. I bought the Bait Weaver in Southside Angling and was really impressed with its ease of use and simple design. Great idea lads. Using the Bait Weaver and the hooks which feature bait holding barbs on the shank ensured excellent bait presentation on the day. When mounted on the hook the crab baits stayed in place without slipping down the bend of the hook leaving the point free for excellent hook ups.
Using the echo sounder we found an open area of sea bed not far from some rough ground and anchored up. Dropping in we managed to hit fish fairly quickly, me drawing first with a lesser spotted dogfish. Craig followed suit followed by me catching the first smoothhound of the session. A lively fish of a few pounds it was a welcome arrival and after a short fight with quick powerful runs I was extracting the hook and releasing the fish. Not to be outdone Craig started pumping a hound towards the surface for a photograph and release.
The hounds went quiet and the dogfish moved back in. A couple of them came to the kayak before we started getting smoothhounds again. And that was how the session progressed. Smoothhounds interrupted by dogfish. As the tide started picking up and running we headed in for shore. The paddle back was a bit of work but perseverance pays off and before long we were back at the slip we had launched from.
Many thanks to Craig for the help in the hunt and for some of the images above. There may be another kayak angler in our midst! The short clip below shows the stamp of the fish we were hitting.
Gary Robinson
kayakfishermanireland.com
Gary discovered the thrill, freedom and pure joy of kayak fishing almost by accident. After purchasing kayaks with the intention of paddling trips with his long-suffering partner, he started to assess the suitability of such a craft as a fishing platform. Some internet searches showed him that he was not alone in his thoughts. America and Australia already had blossoming populations of kayak anglers. Needing no more encouragement, he set about rigging his first sit on top kayak and transforming it into a fishing platform to gain access to some of the more inaccessible waters. Now into his fifth year of kayak fishing he shows no sign of slowing down.
Find out more about Gary and his adventures at www.kayakfishermanireland.com
DISCLAIMER NOTE: Inland Fisheries Ireland do not support any brand over another.
