The mixed weather conditions brought some much needed rain to inland waters but some fisheries are in dire need of more water to liven up the fishing.  It was generally very hot here in Ireland, too hot, not just for the locals but sometimes the fish as well who are not used to the warm conditions.  Sea anglers enjoyed every minute of it but some English anglers down in Cobh complained that it was too much, but they caught some fine fish nonetheless.  The Met office has forecast broken weather with slightly cooler conditions for next week so maybe all anglers will be happy next week!

Despite the low water conditions there were some nice salmon in the 8 to 9 lb. range caught on the Cork Blackwater at Fortwilliam.  It was a very quiet week for angling on Lough Currane where the hot weather kept angler off the lough in the day time and only a few sea trout were caught late in the evening.  Rain is badly needed on many salmon rivers in the Cork Kerry area to improve the fishing. Better water levels are badly needed for good fishing on the River Laune.  The hot weather has left many of the Connemara Fisheries with low water conditions which did not help good salmon or sea trout fishing but a few fish were reported at Lough Inagh. The Balmy weather played havoc with the salmon fishing at Delphi but nonetheless some nice salmon were recorded during the week. It was the same at the nearby River Erriff where sea trout were caught in good numbers along some nice grilse despite the hot summer weather.  The hot summery weather together with extreme low water conditions made it hard for salmon anglers on the River Moy but 164 salmon were recorded for the week.  There was some nice salmon reported from the River Duff near Bundoran including a first time salmon for young Kathy Carty.

Andrew Ryan from Clonanav reported some very nice trout fishing for visiting client’s flyfishing with nymphs and dry flies on the Suir and tributaries.  Daddy Long legs flies produced some nice trout from the shore on Lough Ree and there were good trout fishing reported from Lough O’Flynn. There were some nice trout taken on the Green Peter on Lough Ennell and Owel last week in the late evenings.  There was very little day time fishing for anglers fishing on Lough Sheelin last week but anglers who fished very early in the morning or late evening were rewarded with some good trout fishing.

The Erne anglers held a coaching session at Irvinestown in Co Fermanagh where many young anglers caught plenty of fish given great coaching.  John Potters won the All Ireland Championships held on many loughs in the Lough Oughter system at Killeshandra.

Angling guide Mick Flanagan and a Dutch client connected with some good pike on lures in the midlands near Mullingar during the week.  Angling guide Kenny Sloan had a client out from Clare on the loughs near Foxford last week and they enjoyed good sport taking some quality pike on fly and lures.

Ruairi Coleman from the Swords angling centre reported that his clients were catching some nice smoothounds, codling and dabs among a range of species from the shore marks in north Co. Dublin. Wexford guide Sean Jordan brought Clive bass fishing for the first time and he managed to land five lovely fish on lures.  Charter skipper Donie Geary had parties of English and Irish anglers out deep sea fishing outside Cork Harbour and they enjoyed a huge range of species.  At Bella Vista, Jim Cloghessy fishing with a Danish guests tried blue shark fishing with great success and Hans Olav Hagerup got into the water to pose with his big blue Shark from a small boat and this wins our Catch of the Week  Angling guide Richie Ryan reported a busy week with clients fishing with him on his inshore boat in Cork Harbour catching pollack and bass during the week on a range of methods. Charter skipper Mark Gannon reported a great week for his anglers fishing out from Courtmacsherry both on inshore waters and out deep where blue shark and many other species including bass for caught.  Charter skipper John Fleming reported a huge range of species for parties of angler’s deep sea fishing with him in Galway Bay.  He then went after blue shark on another day and captured four on his first time trying on his boat Brazen Hussy 2.  There was good shore and deep sea angling reports for a wide range of species in the Mullaghmore Bundoran area of the coast.  Charter skipper Michael McVeigh reported some good wreck fishing for his client deep sea fishing with good pollack, ling and some cod and coalfish among good catches.

There is plenty of more news on competitions, other news and news clippings as well as the publication of the Lough Ree survey report in this week’s update.  In this hot weather please be careful around water especially if you are going afloat and at all times please wear a lifejacket.  Enjoy your fishing and be safe,

Tight lines especially in Ireland,

Paul Bourke

Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].

Headlines

Salmon fishing reports

• Low water levels hamper salmon fishing on many rivers in the Cork Kerry area
• Fishing not easy on the Moy but 164 salmon reported
• A quiet week for angling on Lough Currane in the heatwave.
• Hopes that wind will help improve fishing at Lough Inagh
• High water temperatures and unusual rain patterns keep catches low on Erriff
• Early or late system works best on the Drowes
• Balmy weather plays havoc with the fishing at Delphi during the week
• The river Duff fishing steadily with night rain
• 8 and 9lb salmon for Fortwilliam guests

Trout fishing reports

• Day time trout on the troll, Green Peter after dark in the midlands
• Daddy does for shore trout on Ree and fishing improves on Lough O’Flynn
• Some decent rain needed on the Laune
• Some nice fish on both dry and on small nymphs for Clonanav customers
• Go early, go late approach works well on Sheelin

Coarse angling reports

• John Potters wins the All Ireland Coarse Angling Championships at Killeshandra.
• All sorts of fun with the Erne Anglers

Pike fishing reports

• Pike on fly and surface lures in Mayo area

Sea angling reports

• 5 for Clive in Wexford.
• Plenty of good species for parties of English and Irish anglers deep sea fishing with charter skipper Donie Geary outside Cork Harbour.
• Four nice blues for the Galway Hussy
• Hussy delights her customers with good fishing
• Angling student learns a trick or two with sea angling guide in Cork
• Mullet magic – a battle of the wits with Terry Jackson
• Daryl comes up trumps with Sligo tope
• Wrecks supply a good numbers of pollack & ling at the Downings
• Some Good Sea Angling Sessions on the East Coast
• Good fishing sessions on Tullan strand, Streedagh and Mermaids cove
• Happy Days at Courtmacsherry with 180lb skate and many species caught

News clippings

• Bloody red shrimp invades Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, BBC News
• Tolka fish kill may have been washing-up spill, The Herald
• Salmon stocks at risk as sand eels are overfished, The Telegraph
• Looking for sea trout and bass in Greenore estuary on a ripping tide with Mourne mountains in view – Irish Times
• Tolka will bounce back – Dublin People
• Rod and line: Ireland make mark at world level with silver – Belfast Telegraph

Other news

• Preliminary report on Lough Ree survey published
• Young Queen of the Irish Fishing – Ciara McEvilly
• Fishing for All at NDAF, Aughrim this Bank Holiday Weekend
• Water Framework Directive fish survey results
• News from the IRD Duhallow Life project – bashing balsam and biodiversity
• Flash floods on Mulkear River disrupt angling