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Big weights caught in first 2 days of Portumna Festival

By
Myles Kelly
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Portumna. Photo courtesy of Discover Lough Derg

The Portumna Festival is full swing at the moment and the fishing has been more that good with weights to 66lb reported already. Before the Festival kicked off most of the competitors fished the Open the day before. Fishing was not easy and Stephen Finchett did well to put together 36lb off Rogers for the win.

After that all attention was focused on the Festival. On Day 1 Town, Rogers and Stick Ups fished well with a number of anglers breaking 25lb. Meelick and The Salmon Run saw some smaller nets but there were a couple of anglers who weighed in over 20lb.

Day 1 Results
  • 1st Darren sullivan 37lb
  • 2nd Bill Cassidy 34lb 9oz
  • 3rd Bruce Pennell 34lb 1oz

Day 2 saw the fishing take off and on Salmon Run and Stic Ups anglers were getting good weights over 30lb, the best weight at Rodgers was just shy of 50lbs and Town saw all anglers plough through 30lb and 2 anglers weighed in over 60lb! Unfortunately for the anglers who drew Meelick getting into double figures was a struggle.

Day 2 Results
  • 1st Karl Unwin 66lb oz
  • 2nd Stu Blunsom 64lb 4oz
  • 3rd Wayne Hall 49lb 3oz

Day 3

More big bags again with Town again producing the heaviest catches.

overall after 3 days
overall after 3 days

There are 2 more days to come (today is the 4thday of this 5 day festival) so we’ll have the full and final report for you next week.

Go fishing…

Portumna Coarse Angling Club

For information about the Portumna Festival and other matches in the area check in with the club on their Facebook page.
Contact: Bruce Pennell
Email: [email protected]
Website: Portumna Coarse Angling Facebook

Inniscarra hosts O’Callaghan’s Festival

By
Paul O'Reilly
-

This report from the Inniscarra Festival organisers:

That’s a wrap! Congratulations to the ever-consistent Neil Richards, winner of the O’Callaghan’s Feeder Festival 2025 with an impressive 33.25kg.

Well done as well to the rest of the top five:

  • 2nd – Neil Mazurek with 29.800kg
  • 3rd – Rimantas Kondrackas with 28.570kg
  • 4th – Mike Stone with 28.220kg
  • 5th – Paul Leese with 27.200kg

It wasn’t just about the top spots—prizes were also paid out to 1st and 2nd place by rotation.

With nets of up to 280 roach making up the bulk of the catches and very few skimmers & hybrids showing, match weights were slightly down on last year. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable few days on the bank!

Thank you to our hosts at O’Callaghans Bar & Guest House and to everyone who took part.

Muckno out of sorts with roach busy elsewhere

By
Paul O'Reilly
-

The ever-busy CM Lakelands Feeder Club held an open feeder match on an out of sorts White Island on Lough Muckno last Sunday with sixteen anglers fishing.

With the roach not about, this made fishing difficult, with most anglers catching small hybrids, the odd roach and Perch.

Piotr Horbiński continued his fine Muckno form, winning the match with 3.570 kg of small hybrids and Roach. Robertas Zilaitis was 2nd overall with a similar bag to Piotr, weighing just under 3kg. Darren Fairhurst was 3rd Overall with 2.670kg and Rory O’Neil got in on the main frame, weighing just under 2kg.

The Muckno Easter Festival will take place on 19th-21st of April 2025. Registration from 8:15am at Old Coach Inn. Draw at 9am. Entry €100. Fishing 11am to 4pm.

 

Plenty of sunshine but not much salmon for Currane anglers

By
Myles Kelly
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Gentle currane this evening, 11 April 2025
Gentle Currane this evening, 11 April 2025

Vincent Appleby is back again this week reporting from Lough Currane…

Valentia Lighthouse In the distance
Valentia Lighthouse In the distance

On April 9, 2025 there was minimal activity on Lough Currane with only a few boats present. Reports indicate that no salmon were caught, as the fishing lines remained slack. The weather exhibited light to gentle variable winds ranging from ESE to SE, SSE, SSW, SW, WSW, SW, W, and WNW. The skies were sunny and clear throughout the day. The previous day’s weather recorded no rainfall, a maximum air temperature of 19.6°C, and a total sunshine duration of 11 hours and 4 minutes.

On April 10, 2025, just the odd boat out fishing on Lough Currane today despite the calm and bright spring weather, there were no reports of smoked salmon being prepared. Wind varied light to gentle, shifting from ESE, SE, S, to WSW. Yesterday, there was no rainfall, a maximum air temperature of 14.7°C, and 12 hours and 1 minute of sunshine.

Calm Currane just about to head out, 11 April 2025
Calm Currane just about to head out, 11 April 2025

On April 11th there were only a few boats on Lough Currane during the day. The photos show one boat in the evening with no catches reported. Weather: variable winds from the east to SW, gusts up to 19km/h, clear skies all day. Yesterday’s weather: no rainfall, maximum temperature 16.1°C, 12 hours and 1 minute of sunshine.

On April 12th, 2025, reports from Currane indicate that there were 9 boats on the water, primarily catching brown trout. Regarding the weather conditions, winds ranged from light to fresh and varied from SSW to WSW, SW, W, and WNW, accompanied by good cloud cover and occasional showers. Yesterday’s weather recorded no rainfall, with a maximum air temperature of 15.1°C and total sunshine duration of 12 hours and 4 minutes.

On April 13, 2025, we bring you updates directly from the Mad Fisherman. The latest instalment of the Mad Fisherman’s adventures has just been released. Please enjoy the film.

Now, for today’s angling report: only two boats ventured out, catching a few brown trout for their efforts.

Weather forecast: expect moderate to fresh winds at times, accompanied by April showers. Yesterday’s weather included 2.1mm of rainfall, a maximum air temperature of 12.8°C, and 2 hours and 3 minutes of sunshine.

On 14th April 2025 all activities by Currane anglers were notably quiet across all areas of the Currane waters. We will now proceed to monitor the weather conditions at Currane, with wind speeds ranging from gentle to moderate coming from the West. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 2.9mm, maximum air temperature 11.8°C, amount of sunshine 6 hours and 8 minutes.

Waterville

On 15th April 2025 the Irish flag was prominently displayed in Waterville. The accompanying photograph showcases ideal conditions for sea fishing; however, it should be noted that the enthusiasm of Currane anglers remains subdued, which parallels the current water levels of Waterville fisheries. The wind conditions were moderate to fresh, originating from the North and shifting to NNW, with clear skies prevailing. The previous day’s weather data recorded 1.2mm of rainfall, a maximum air temperature of 12.2°C, and 9 hours and 4 minutes of sunshine.

Vincent Appleby
Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0) 87 207 4882
E-mail:[email protected]
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com

Sea Trout – Catch and release only

Inland Fisheries Ireland wishes to remind anglers that the Conservation of Sea Trout (No.7 or Kerry District) Waterville Area Bye-Law No. 971 of 2019 remains in effect. This Bye-law prohibits the retention and possession of any sea trout (Salmo trutta L.) taken by any fishing engine or by rod and line in the Waterville area i.e. that part of the sea eastward of a line drawn from the most westerly point of Bolus Head to the most westerly point of Lamb’s Head and to all the waters discharging in to it.

The Bye-Law mainly affects seatrout fishing on :-

  • the river Inny (Knockmoyle) and its tributaries
  • the waters of the Waterville system, including the Waterville River, Lough Currane, the Cummeragh River and all their tributary rivers and lakes
  • the waters of Ballinskelligs Bay

FLEKSI

A new online survey has been developed by IFI for the Currane catchment to gather anglers’ knowledge – the survey method called FLEKSI was developed by IFI to help give an insight into the status of the fishery. Currane Anglers are needed for Citizen Science survey to examine fish stocks

For more information on the daily conditions, all the craic and news be sure to check out Vincent Appleby’s Salmon and Sea Trout blog for regular reports with back dates, petitions, public consultation notices, readers letters and videos and more of what’s happening on Currane.

Go fishing….

Guides and boat hire

Fishing with Dom

Address Spunkane Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 2051515 Website: https://fishingwithdom.com/
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Fly Fishing on Lough Currane

Address Termons Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353(0) 87 922 8659 Phone: +353(0) 66 9474146 Website: flyfishingatloughcurrane.com
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Lakelands Farm

Address Lake Road Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 4160200 Website: lakelandshouse.com
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Neil O’Shea

Address Caherbarna Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 9942792 Phone: +353 66 9474527 Website: oshealoughcurrane.com
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Old Daly’s Supermarket & Filling Station

Address Murreigh Waterville V23 X459 Ireland Mobile Phone: +353669474842 Website: dalysfoodstore.ie
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Salmon & Sea Trout Fishing

Address Eureka Lodge Caherdaniel West Waterville Kerry V23 XD63 Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 2074882 Website: salmonandseatrout.com
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Waterville Boats

Address Spunkane Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 (0)87 2202355 Phone: +353 (0)66 9474800
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Killybegs Mariners resume Night League Competition

By
Shane O'Reilly
-

The Killybegs Mariners resumed their night league last weekend after a winter hiatus, and after last meeting in November, it was very different conditions for this outing, as Mediterranean-style weather provided an enchanting evening, yielding some superb photos of the Donegal landscape.

Stunning beach landscape
Two minutes to sunset


Unfortunately, the fishing wasn’t quite as stunning as the photos, and it turned out to be a bit of a struggle, as bites were very hard to come but it was only as the sun set and the temperatures cooled that the fish became a bit more active, and even then, it was the last hour of the match that provided the most consistent fishing. Both Gavin Dorrian and Pat Cunningham finished on seven fish, but Gavin took the win on points.

A very handy triple shot

 

A welcome return to the water for small boat Skua

By
Myles Kelly
-
It was wall to wall sun all day with an easterly chill built in

Jim Clohessy of TopFisher.eu was back on the water at the weekend after a long unwanted break…

The last couple of months have not been kind to the boat angler.

Our last trip was December 28 so Skua was as close to winterised as you can get – All electronics stripped out and all gear removed – So when a weather window opens it takes some work to get ready for water.

All systems were checked in the days before so we were confident that we would have an uneventful launch.

Our plan was a simple one. Launch and have a check about the place and see what’s happening after the long lay up and hopefully get a bend in the lure rods as we go.
This is technically winter fishing. Though water temps didn’t dip much below 8° all winter they are only just rising in recent weeks. It’s moving in the right direction and we are heading for bloom territory shortly. There’s some basking sharks about already. Our expectations for fishing would be managed by past experience of fishing at this time of year- it would be tricky.

Conditions were fine. There was still a little residual easterlies chop. We could still make a comfortable 22knots without hammering ourselves.

First fish of the session…. Bit of a colour in the water but the mango juice Paddletail is a hi-vis lure
First fish of the session…. Bit of a colour in the water but the mango juice Paddletail is a hi-vis lure

We decided to make the most of the tide so we headed for some offshore reefs first. No major action on the sounder but we did contact a few handy pollack on Paddletails. We worked our way around the reefs hitting pollack and as the tide eased some nice wrasse. The pollack were of no great size but fiesty nonetheless. I was using my M rod all day with 55g Crazy Paddletails for the most. Emmet was on 60g Bricoleurre heads with Chinese bodies. Both fared well. I did try a metal for a bit but my catch rate seemed higher on the plastic so I switched back pronto.

Emmet with a fine wrasse close to specimen size. Great scrap
Emmet with a fine wrasse close to specimen size. Great scrap

We made our way back to the harbour area to see if there were any mackerel or bass about. Both eluded us or were not present! There is an amount of what look like small herrings or sardines about the place. There were tons of gannets and even a minke feeding outside the harbour.

About the stamp of fish for the day. Kept the bend in the rod
About the stamp of fish for the day. Kept the bend in the rod

We touched back down and retrieved after a day of chilly sunshine. Not tee shirt weather just yet but still capable of burning! My expanded NMEA 2000 network worked well (more on that later).

You’d take a fight off these all day! The pink Crazy Paddletail is just superb.
You’d take a fight off these all day! The pink Crazy Paddletail is just superb.

Weather is due to break now again so it will be back to prep for the season ahead…
Delighted to be on the water. Boat was humming. Juices flowing, anticipation levels off the scale. Bring it on!

Read more…

Check out Jim’s website, an absolute treasure trove for anyone looking to improve their sea angling game…

http://www.topfisher.eu/
http://www.topfisher.eu/

Cavan Coarse Anglers wrap up league

By
Paul O'Reilly
-

Fourteen anglers fished the Cavan Coarse Angling Club’s latest match in Killeshandra on Sunday. Mick Maloney was the winner on a day when most of the anglers had good weights. Mick drew the golden peg and beat John Fry by 25g to claim the 2nd golden peg of the league. Mick had all small fish on the pole and John had 2 great Tench on the tip. Gary Rogers also came up with two bonus tench late on. Big shout out to Lee Symonds who had a 4lb hybrid. Section Winners were Anthony Sparrow, Gary Rogers and John Fry. This was the final match of the nine-match league, so well done to Anthony Sparrow with a great 7 points to win.

 

KILLESHANDRA coarse angling centre

Eric Gasparro wins second leg of Leinster Shore League

By
Shane O'Reilly
-

Last Sunday, South Shore SAC ran the second leg of the Leinster Shore League on Kilgorman Beach in Co. Wexford. Hopes were up in advance of the match, as the weather forecast predicted favourable conditions. But, as is often the case, when they arrived at the beach, conditions were less than optimal, with a strong wind blowing from the south.


Fishing turned out to be pretty poor, with a few blanks and single fish returns, but Eric Gasparro, fishing in Zone A made light of the tough conditions to reel in nine fish to give him the win, while Alan Mulcahy took Zone B with eight fish.


For a full report of the day’s events, log onto the South Shore SAC Facebook Page.

Future looks bright for U25 Feeder Team Ireland following Worlds in Spain

By
Paul O'Reilly
-

This report on the U25 Feeder World Championships in Spain form the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland:

The 2025 Under 25 World Feeder Championships were fished in Spain last Friday and Saturday with Team Ireland finishing in eighth place overall fishing a very unfamiliar venue.

It may not be where they had hoped to finish, but as they headed for home there was a strong sense of pride, reflection and optimism within the camp. Ireland may not have brought home the medal this time – but the future looks incredibly bright for this talented squad who were the youngest team participating in the event.

It’s only the second edition of this championship, and Team Ireland Feeder U25’s already has a silver medal under their belt—a testament to the talent and potential within this young squad.

Adrian Browne summed up the experience:

“The second leg was another frustrating day for us, and the boys tried their best on a venue where every peg was different, making for a very challenging competition. We know now we could have done some things differently and have learnt loads for the future. It was a massive learning curve for this, the youngest team in the category, and I’d like to thank them all for the hard work throughout the week.”

Feeder Manager Brenton Sweeney said:

“Unfortunately, it just wasn’t to be for our young team—this wasn’t our year. But they have a great future together and will definitely be winning medals in the years ahead. I’m so proud of the effort from everyone.”

Well done to John Browne, Brian Clark, Charlie Richards and James Wellwood for their determination, and the leadership and support from Adrian Browne, Nick Richards, Martin Clark and David Wellwood.

Congratulations to Romania on winning the world title, with Hungary taking second place and Slovakia finishing third.

New PB for anglers fishing with Fish Tales

By
Shane O'Reilly
-

Chris Scally of Fish Tales has been very busy of late guiding anglers on Lough Ree. He had regular customers, John and his grandson Cal, out with him recently, in conditions that were pretty woeful for pike angling: flat calm and bright sunshine. Despite that, he still managed to rustle up a PB pike of 18lb, which measured just over the metre mark for John.

PB pike of 18lb for John

Go fishing…

Fish Tales

Address Lanesboro Longford Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 182 3805
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