The weather has been sunny and warm in recent days, which has suited sea anglers and river fishing improved wherever the rain that fell brought a bit of a rise in water levels.

There were 30 salmon caught on the Owenea last week, mostly over the weekend following a good flood on the river. The Drowes did not see any improvement in water levels and had a quiet week with 12 salmon reported. Good sea trout fishing was on offer at Glencar Lake during the Sligo Anglers competition where fish to 44cm were caught and released. With 514 salmon reported, the River Moy saw a pretty good week. Rising water levels during mid-week resulted in good fishing conditions over the weekend, particularly at mid- and up-river fisheries. Meanwhile at the Owenduff sea trout fishing was described as excellent. The rains improved things on the Delphi fishery too, and apart from salmon there was some great sea trout fishing on the lakes. At the Erriff, anglers had some great days on the water, except during a 3m spate on Thursday. It was a similar story at both Ballynahich and Lough Inagh where the long awaited rains did not disappoint. The improved conditions were not restricted to the west and good reports also came in from the Mulkear and in Co. Kerry, from the Laune and Lough Currane. Fresh water has also improved fishing on the east coast and at the Oldbridge Fishery on the Boyne some good sea trout fishing has been reported.

Towards the end of last week charter skipper Mike Dennehy led a merry crew on an albacore expedition and the fishing did not disappoint with a few specimens to 16kg landed. Staying in Cork good bass fishing was reported from Cork Harbour, Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry. Good bass fishing was also reported from Waterford and some enjoyable sessions were had by anglers in Wexford. Charter boat angling in Donegal is going well this year, particularly at Downings, and small boat anglers are also enjoying good catches. At Red Bay big porbeagles are making their annual appearance and one angler tagged a fish estimated at 306lb. With interest in big game fishing growing at this time of year, anglers are reminded that the Bluefin Tuna recreational fishery remains closed for the 2014 season.

Trout anglers will be happy to hear that the sudden change in weather conditions over the past few days brought a welcome improvement to the fishing on Mask and prospects for sport on the lake before the season’s close are very good. Fishing also improved at Lough Arrow and though there was an increase in catches at Lough Conn it did not do as well. There were fireworks on Lough Sheelin recent days, sadly all of the pyrotechnic type, and the trout fishing is still quiet despite the huge hatches of buzzer and sedge. Congratulations go to Basil Shields who won the Lennon Trophy for the best overall angler at the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Associations Interprovincial Match. Basil landed 11 trout all, on dry fly, on a top from Lough Lene. Basil was fishing for Team Connacht who won the Interprovincial Challenge Cup with 58 trout.

A record 46 Junior anglers, including 7 girls took part in the NCFFI Junior All Ireland Championships on Saturday at Garadice Lake, Co Leitrim. Congratulations go to winners Eoin Rogers, Novice Section, James O’Doherty U18 and Ryan Brady U14. At the Lough Gowna Festival Wayne Easter, Scunthorpe, amassed 106.740kg over the 5 days to take first place. Average daily weights at Inniscarra Reservoir are exceeding 9kg at the moment and Trevor Platt won the Guinness Open Cup with 16.650kg of roach and perch.

There’s not much to report from the pike angling quarter but reasonable fishing was had on Skeagh Lake, Cavan, during a competition last week.

Friday will be mostly cloudy. Rain and drizzle will continue to move southeastwards and will mainly affect Leinster and Munster in the afternoon and evening. This weekend will feel Autumnal and much cooler and fresher than recently. There will be good sunshine and a lot of dry weather but some scattered heavy showers about also. Daytime temperatures will reach between 15 and 18 degrees, coolest in Northern areas with mostly light to moderate Northerly breezes. Monday looks like being mainly dry and still rather cool and fresh. There’ll be very light winds with early mist and fog gradually clearing to give some sunny spells. Tuesday and Wednesday of next week look like bringing a return to warmer weather with sunny spells and it should continue mainly dry.

Tight lines,

Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to contact@fisheriesireland.ie.

Headlines

Salmon fishing reports

• Good fishing at Owenea over weekend after floods
• A quiet week on the Drowes as rains fail to rise river
• Ballynahinch enjoying very good salmon fishing in high water
• Long-awaited floods bring lively sport to Inagh
• Rain brings good sport on the Erriff
• Sea trout to 44cm landed in Glencar competition
• A small rise at the Moy sees salmon fishing improve
• Too much wind or too little, still salmon and sea trout about on Currane
• Perfect water still at Lough Inagh after rains improve weekend’s salmon and sea trout fishing
• Big improvement in salmon angling on the Laune over weekend
• Conditions on the Mulkear reported as very good
• Fishing at Delphi picks up after the rains
• Excellent sea trout fishing on the Owenduff
• Rossin, Slane and District Anglers Sea Trout Competition at Oldbridge

Sea angling reports

• The tunas came in two by two in Kinsale
• Brothers curry favour with Tope at Kilkeel
• Porbeagles to 36olb for anglers out of Red Bay
• Clonakilty bass anglers sheparded to right marks
• Heron’s annual migration for bass in Cork Harbour
• Plenty of pollack for the German anglers in Kerry
• Fantastic 205lb Skate from the Maidens
• Anglers brave the heavy rains at Galway shore master angler series
• Good charter boat fishing reported from Downings in Co. Donegal
• 6 Bass, a skipper and the dog all enjoy Courtmacsherry
• Cracking Waterford Bass for Cian
• Tomasz captures the sunset and the fish
• Persistence and patience combined with good guiding leads novices to fish in Wexford

Trout fishing reports

• Mask wakes up from summer slumber as fresher conditions get trout moving
• Better fishing on Lough Arrow ahead of weekend’s competition
• Slight improvement at Lough Conn, some good bags of trout reported
• Brian Corrigan wins the Eugene Mulligan Memorial Cup on Emy Lough
• Tourist anglers enjoy the fly fishing at Adare
• U 2 could land a Sheelin beauty with a sedge
• Win for Connacht Anglers at 2014 Inter-Provincial Competition

Pike fishing reports

• Another Successful Event for the Fishmaniak Club on Skeagh Lake

Coarse angling reports

• Guiness Cup at Coachford won with 16.65kg of roach and perch
• Fabulous fishing at Cavan venues during the Gowna Festival
• Pole fishing getting results on Blessington for some roach anglers
• Junior All Ireland Championships on Garadice sees feeder dominate

News clippings

• All roads lead to Garrison for trout championships on Lough Melvin – Irish Times
• Environmental lobby threatens legal action over escaping salmon – Irish Examiner
• Angling: Andrew shines for Ireland – Dromore Leader

Other news

• Bluefin Tuna recreational fishery remains closed for the 2014 season
• Juniors love the NCFFI Angling Championship 2014
• Martin Mitchell Charity Perpetual cup on Lough Key Sept 13th
• Monaghan Blackwater – Sustainable Water Management Workshops
• NCFFI Junior Inter Provincial won by Ulster