Home Blog Page 140

Trout Season Opens – Piscari-Fly Report

Peter Driver of Piscari Fly is back with his weekly roundup of the fishing scene

How’s The Fishing?

So it begins.

The 2025 Trout season is officiallly underway in Ireland, in parts of Ireland last Saturday saw various rivers and lakes open around the country and some lucky anglers getting time to get out and enjoy the fishing. Cool enough start, but conditions seem to be okay. Dave was out on the Funchion River down in Cork around Mitchelstown on Saturday and managed a few trout even though he’s just had a knee replacement, there was no stopping him. So he is still in recovery so he couldn’t stay out long but had a few grand handy trout there around a couple of bridges.

He met up with Kevin Lafford and Sean Maher who were also fishing the Funchion and they were having a great day catching trout, picking them off with mostly nymphs as the trout are still stuck to the bottom this time of year. But great to see some fish being caught on the rivers and indeed over in the West of Ireland I saw on Facebook fish being caught on the Corrib. So a few lads off the mark already and great to see


Selection Boxes

Lots of selection box orders coming in at the moment people gettting ready for the new season. Make sure you get onto us quick as possible if you are interested in a selection box and make sure you have it in time for your fishing season.

https://piscari-fly.com/product-category/flies/fly-selection-boxes/


AGM Season

AGM season is upon us now as most clubs and angling bodies are having there AGMs. We have the Leinster TAFI in Naas Tonight Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Town Hall Hotel. If your an affliated member of TAFI this is a good place to come and have your say on matters related to Trout fishing around Leinster. I always encourage everyone to attend AGMs whether it be club or province or whatever AGM for fishing because you know here in the shop we hear a lot of conversations on maybe not enough being done around pollution or river maintenance and really the only place you can really get something done about it is through your clubs and throughout the Federations. It’s active people that keep these organisations going, so we encourage everybody to get out, have your say and offer your support. It’s the only way we can keep our fishing.


What’s Coming?

 

Don’t forget to mark it in your calendars 3rd and 4th of May 2025. It will be a fantastic show once again. We will be down there with lots of company, lots of demos, flytying and gear. Make sure to come along for the weekend, bring the kids. I am looking forward to a great weekend. You can find out more and buy tickets online now at https://irishspringanglingfair.com/

We have brought our kids down the last couple of years and it’s a fantastic day for them. They get to try out some fishing and flytying. So if you have kids that want to give it a go bring them along. Kids get in for free.

The ultimate event for fishing enthusiasts! With a huge lineup of demonstrators, exhibitors, and expert fly tyers, this is your chance to see the latest in fly fishing tackle, techniques, and innovations.


Piscari-fly Club

Over the last few weeks we have been tying all the flys you will need for the start of the season on our Saturday night live fly tying shows. We still have a good few weeks to go with the saturday night live shows so make sure and chek them out. Also if you are in the market for some new fishing gear for this coming season we have great discounts for our club members on all fly tying and fly fishing gear.

Check it out at https://club.piscari-fly.com/


About us

Based on the River Nore just outside Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, Ireland. Piscari-Fly is a growing Fly Tying and Fly-Fishing business with a vast amount of experience and knowledge. If there is ever anything I can do to make my service better for you please feel free to suggest it to me and I’ll gladly try my best to accommodate your requests. Thanks again. Peter Driver.

As a small business we depend on the satisfaction of our customers and their word of mouth reference, google reviews are important to our online presence and we sure would appreciate your review. Just head over to this link and give us a quick review.

Thanks for the support, its greatly appreciated.

Peter Driver.

Piscari-Fly, Woolengrange, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, R95 Y860, Ireland, 0879787040

Atomic pike for Artur PikeSeeker on the Barrow

pike

Artur PikeSeeker reports on a recent pike fishing trip where he catches a huge Barrow pike…

Winter is the time when pike are full and resting. They don’t want to waste energy unnecessarily before the approaching spawning. They are lazy and feed in short periods of time.

This is also the time when you can catch really big fish. Of course, you have to be patient and clever.

On Sunday I was on the beautiful Barrow River and managed to outsmart a beautiful, fat winter mother. Fish over a meter and 30lb. Incredible fight. Atomic bite. After the photo session, the fish safely returned to the water in good condition.

Greetings to all and remember, even in winter it is worth being by the water because you can catch really beautiful fish.
Artur PikeSeeker

Go fishing…

Pike fishing on the River Barrow

Irish Angling Update 🎣 14 February 2025

T

he past week saw a continuation of the unfavorable angling conditions of late. In many parts of the country water levels remained on the high side, while strong and gusty east to southeast winds prevailed for most of the time resulting in bitterly cold conditions. On account of this, it’s hardly surprising that only very few anglers were keen enough to venture out braving the harsh conditions.

However, Ken Wickham was among those who braved the weather in all its forms, catching the first salmon of the 2025 season on the Delphi Fishery. According to fishery manager David McEvoy, the 7lbs+ springer was sparkling fresh with sea lice attached and caught in the Waterfall Pool. Game anglers on Kerry’s Lough Currane, however, were less successful over the past week, drawing blanks in sometimes atrocious conditions, according to Vincent Appleby’s report.

With the start of the brown trout season just around the corner, game anglers might be interested in Peter Driver’s latest Piscari Fly newsletter, in which he’s looking ahead to a new year of fario fishing.

Over to pike angling, where Dromore Angling Club held the Aidan McLaughlin Memorial Cup at Belnaleck in Co. Fermanagh with a number of nice double-figure pike being landed best at 17lb 2oz. Elsewhere, it was rather quiet on the pike angling front…therefore Steve McDonagh’s latest video might entice some more predator anglers out there to pursue their passion…

One of the double-figure pike from the Aidan McLaughlin Memorial Cup

Predator and coarse anglers alike might be interested in the Perch Master League, which will kick off this Sunday, February 16th. The event is organised by the Romanian C&R Angling Association and will feature 7 legs over 7 months.

Elsewhere in coarse angling, a number of winter league matches were fished throughout the country. Starting in the southeast, Leo Lynch won the 6th round of the Oaklands Ger Hennesy League. Top weight of the day, however, went to junior competitor Conor Fitzharris. Well done Conor and our Catch of the Week! Further north, the final round of the CM Lakelands Feeder Club’s winter league took place on the South Lodge section of Lough Muckno, while Munster Coarse Anglers fished the second last match of their winter series at Portumna. In the meantime, three new youth coarse angling competitions were announced by the NCFFI. Anyone interested should check out the NCFFI full calendar of events for young anglers where places can be booked online.

Conor Fitzharris
Catch of the week: A happy Conor Fitzharris at Oaklands

Staying with young anglers, Transition Year students Nikita Greidans and Jack Keenahan are working together at Blackwood Bait and Tackle. As part of their Transition Year, they are supplying reports to the Irish Angling Update. This time they sent in an informative piece on feeder fishing…check it out here! As angling guide and instructor Dan O’Neill told us, Jack and Nikita have also teamed up with Southern County Fishing Resort situated in Co. Carlow, where the two young entrepreneurs plan to hold their first angling competition.

Undoubtedly, freshwater fishing has been rather tough over the past week. Sea anglers, however, faced even harder conditions pursuing their hobby.

Now is the time when most charter skippers up and down the coast are busy preparing their boats for the coming season, carrying out essential maintenance, making upgrades, and getting ready for safety inspections. One of the very few charter boats operating this early in the season is the Donegal-based MV Fiona Tee of Killybegs Fishing Trips. Their first full day’s fishing trip of the season resulted in a few chunky pollack and some early mackerel, which doesn’t sound spectacular but, given the conditions, is a good and encouraging result for trips to come.

Early season Donegal pollack

In the south, the 4th leg of the Cobh SAC Light Lines Competition was fished on February 9th, with 33 anglers competing from 4 boats in very poor weather conditions. Nonetheless, the competitors braved the elements and did well enough, all things considered.

Shore anglers also struggled with the weather. Yet we received a detailed competition report from Rebel County SAC. The club fished its second match of 2025 on February 1st at Monatrae, West Waterford. With wind speeds of up to 60km/h and big surf, conditions were not for the faint-hearted but resulted in excellent catches among the 26 competitors.

Concluding our sea angling news, we would like to draw your attention to a great achievement by Brian Whelan of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers. Brian won the County Wicklow Volunteers in Sport Award for 2024. He was instrumental as part of a team that organised and attended three world championship sea angling events that were held in Ireland in 2024…a fantastic achievement indeed!

Brian Whelan(left) receiving his award

Other news

Applications opened this week for experienced angling skippers to catch and release Atlantic bluefin tuna as part of a collaborative scientific survey. The initiative targets Atlantic bluefin – the world’s largest tuna species – to collect information on their sizes, and where and when they occur in Irish waters. In 2025, a maximum of 25 authorisations may be granted to qualifying angling charter vessel skippers around the Irish coast. The bluefin tuna fishery will open on July 1st  and closes on November 12th  2025. Recreational angling for Atlantic bluefin tuna is technically prohibited in Ireland. However, under the Tuna CHART (CatcH And Release Tagging) programme, authorised charter vessel skippers can catch, tag, and release bluefin during the open season, with the help of anglers on board.

Experienced charter skippers can apply to join the 2025 Tuna CHART programme between February 12th and February 26th 2025 by completing an online application.

Bluefin Tuna

This year’s Irish Spring Angling Fair will be held at Ardaire Springs Angling Centre on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May. The family-friendly fair has become a big hit with angling novices and enthusiasts who value the opportunity to meet with and learn from a host of world-renowned celebrities. With a broad range of exhibitors lined up for this year, anglers will be presented with a fantastic opportunity to immerse themselves in all things angling, pick up some of the latest tips and techniques and add to their tackle collection. A full list of fly tyers and demonstrators can be seen on the Irish Spring Fair website.

And now the weather…

Tonight will be mostly cloudy with mist and fog. Outbreaks of rain or drizzle will affect the south and east but it will be drier in other areas. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees from north to south, with light to moderate east to southeast winds. The weekend will be mostly cloudy with persistent rain in many parts of the country. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees, coldest in the north. Further Outlook: Generally unsettled through the rest of the week with further spells of rain. Breezy at times too but mild for the time of year with daytime temperatures generally reaching double digits and frost-free nights.

Don’t forget to double check the forecast before heading off and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to [email protected] and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.

All the angling news

Salmon Fishing Reports

Trout Fishing Reports

Coarse Angling Reports

Pike Fishing Reports

Sea Angling Reports

Other News

Latest episode of Ireland on the Fly: Willie Holmes’ journey from Moorbrook trout to Vancouver steelhead

For this week’s Ireland on the Fly, Tom and Daire speak to Ulster man Willie Holmes from the fishing shop he manages by the Ch’illiwack river outside Vancouver in British Columbia in Canada.

Willie was originally a building contractor who then set up and ran the well-known Moorbrook trout fishery in Coleraine before making the leap and moving to Vancouver full time where he now gets to fly fish for incredible steelhead and Pacific salmon.

Willie tells them about his journey and why he now calls British Columbia home.

Listen & Follow on Apple or Spotify:

https://pod.fo/e/2acd03

River Easkey Brown Tag Lottery Results – 14th February 2025

salmon regs

On Friday, 14th February 2025, a draw took place to allocate an initial 15 Brown Tags for the taking of salmon on the River Easkey. The requirement to hold a brown tag is set out in Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations. A total of 59 valid entries were received from salmon rod licence holders. Each was assigned a number in advance of the draw. 20 numbers were randomly generated. The first 15 successful entrants will be issued a brown tag today. The final 5 numbers are reserved in case an angler declines or returns the tag allocated to them. The draw was conducted by Michael Wilson (Fisheries Inspector) and observed by Mary Walsh (RBD Director), Barry Kelly (River Moy Catchment Manager), and Brian Flannery (Assistant Inspector).

The numbers selected are:

  • 5158
  • 5112
  • 5116
  • 5107
  • 5141
  • 5150
  • 5129
  • 5111
  • 5136
  • 5122
  • 5148
  • 5131
  • 5102
  • 5118
  • 5137

The 5 reserve numbers are:

  • 5153
  • 5143
  • 5152
  • 5139
  • 5113

The Brown Tags will be issued by post today.

 

Award recognises exceptional IFSA volunteer

Every week, over 460,000 volunteers bring sports and physical activity to life in our communities and the Federation of Irish Sport likes to recognise the achievements of those people who sacrifice so much by giving an Volunteer of the Year award in each county.

This year, Brian Whelan of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers has gone and won the County Wicklow Volunteers in Sport Award for 2024. Brian was instrumental as part of a team that organised and attended three world championship sea angling events that were held in Ireland in 2024: the Senior Boat Championships (Crosshaven), the U21 Boat Championships (Rathmullen) and the jointly held U21 and U16 World Shore Championships held in Wexford in November – three events that IFI were proud to sponsor.

Brian (left) in his Sunday best

Brian is thrilled to accept this award as it showcases the level of effort that went into the organisation from all the I.F.S.A. volunteers but also highlights the levels of volunteerism involved throughout angling clubs and federations all over the country each year for angling in all of its forms. Congratulations to him!

Irish skippers needed to support scientific programme for world’s largest tuna

tuna

Applications opened this week for experienced angling skippers to catch and release Atlantic bluefin tuna as part of a collaborative scientific survey.

The initiative targets Atlantic bluefin – the world’s largest tuna species – to collect information on their sizes, and where and when they occur in Irish waters.

Inland Fisheries Ireland Senior Research Officer Dr William Roche commented:

“This is a very important tagging programme, undertaken on-site by authorised tuna angling skippers.

Large bluefin tuna consistently visit Irish waters between summer and autumn – especially off the northwest and south coasts.

Sizes of tuna have varied over the years and their arrival time has been variable too.

The data from this programme is incorporated into international stock assessment models for Atlantic bluefin tuna to understand the status of this tightly managed and formerly endangered species.”

In 2024, the programme recorded:

  • A total of 294 bluefin tagged;
  • 234 bluefin tuna angling trips undertaken;
  • 3 bluefin caught per trip in the most successful week;
  • 74% of all bluefin tuna tagged were tagged off the Donegal Coast, which is a hotspot for bluefin.

In 2025, a maximum of 25 authorisations may be granted to qualifying angling charter vessel skippers around the Irish coast.

This fishery will open on July 1st and closes on November 12th 2025.

As well as Donegal, the Kerry and Cork coasts are the other two locations where bluefin tuna were tagged and released. Bluefin were also observed on several occasions off the west coast.

Recreational angling for Atlantic bluefin tuna is technically prohibited in Ireland.

Unauthorised vessels are not permitted to target or catch bluefin tuna, and any unauthorised person found to be targeting them is liable for prosecution.

However, under the Tuna CHART (CatcH And Release Tagging) programme, authorised charter vessel skippers can catch, tag, and release bluefin during the open season, with the help of anglers on board.

Skippers will be required to have high-specification rods, reels and lines to ensure that each tuna is brought alongside the vessel for tagging in a timely manner, prior to their subsequent release.

Experienced charter skippers can apply to join the 2025 Tuna CHART programme between February 12th and February 26th 2025 by completing an online application.

Family Friendly Angling Fair Reels In Angling Novices and Enthusiasts

Irish Spring Angling Fair

IRISH SPRING ANGLING FAIR
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 2025
Ardaire Springs Angling Centre

Don’t miss what has evolved into Ireland’s largest and only angling show of its kind this May. Building on the success of previous years, this year, the Irish Spring Angling Fair promises to be bigger and better than ever! The two day event takes place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 2025 at Ardaire Springs Angling Centre, located just outside Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny (Eircode: X91XTY7). Once accompanied by an adult, children under 14 years of age can attend for free making this an ideal family day out. Parents can browse the stands, attend talks and demonstrations, while children can enjoy a dedicated Kid’s Zone and avail of free fly tying and casting lessons, and the opportunity to catch their very first fish!

The Irish Spring Angling Fair has become a big hit with angling novices and enthusiasts who value the opportunity of meeting with and learning from a host of world renowned celebrities. A full list of fly tyers and demonstrators can be seen on the Irish Spring Fair website.

tommy driver

The two day weekend schedule is packed with interesting talks on various angling related topics and free demonstrations, such as salmon, trout, saltwater and pike flies being tied by some of the best in the business. Game, sea and pike angling are also hot topics and there is guaranteed to be something for everyone, as well as onsite catering for refreshments throughout the day.

Ardaire Springs Angling Centre has been run by Ned Maher for many years and the site has over 4 acres of lakes, stocked with rainbow and brown trout ranging from 2lb to 20lb. As angling fairs go, this is a venue like no other, as it allows world renowned celebrity anglers to showcase their skills and leading tackle manufactures to provide fishing tackle and boat demo’s on the lakes.

With a broad range of exhibitors lined up for this year, anglers will be presented with a fantastic opportunity to immerse themselves in all things angling, pick up some of the latest tips and techniques and add to their tackle collection. Some of the exhibitors in attendance will include tackle suppliers and stands from fisheries as well as international angling holiday promoters and much more.

Don’t miss this landmark family-friendly Angling Fair at Ardaire Springs Angling Centre and the opportunity to meet celebrity anglers and fellow angling enthusiasts for what promises to be weekend!

For more information, please see www.irishspringanglingfair.com or contact Ned Maher on 086 8128937 or [email protected]

Dan Lynch wins 4th leg of Cobh SAC Light Lines

The 4th Leg of the Cobh SAC Light Lines Competition was fished on February 9th, with 33 anglers competing from 4 boats in very poor weather conditions. Conditions were bitterly cold in what was a very strong easterly wind.

Nonetheless the 33 anglers braved the elements and did well enough all things considered.

The boat winners on the day were as follows Dan Lynch, Stephen Hurley, Jamie Murphy and Junior Angler Evan Collins who fished exceptionally well with 62 fish to his credit.

Overall winner was Dan Lynch with 71 fish and 1014 points, with Stephen Hurley finishing 2nd and junior angler Evan collins taking 3rd.

The species recorded were mostly comprised of Dab, Whiting and Poor Cod.

Cobh S.A.C would like to thank all the anglers and boat skippers who helped to make it another successful competition.

Results

Go fishing…

logoCobh SAC is a very active club with a great series of competitions across the year.

The club is very welcoming to new members.

If you are interested in joining the club or fishing any of their competitions contact them via Facebook.

Book a Cork Harbour charter boat

Lagosta II

Address Crosshaven Cork Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 6792796

Atlantic Charters

Address Crosshaven Cork Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 86 3622044 Website: Pat’s Facebook page

Deora Dé

Address Cobh Cork Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 86 4091389

Camden Mist

Address Crosshaven Cork Ireland Mobile Phone: +35387 6996899

Sea Otter Charters

Address Kinsale Harbour Kinsale Cork Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 863645928 Website: seaottercharterkinsale.com

Stephen Watkins wins Rebels match at a wild and windy Monatrae

monatrae in 2024
monatrae in 2024

REBEL COUNTY SAC fished their 2nd match of 2025 l0n 01 February at MONATRAE Bay, west Waterford. Shane Olden reports…

Winds were southerly and ferocious with speeds of 36mph. True to form in these conditions the bay fished it’s socks off once again. With some members cancelling we still managed a turn out of 26 anglers which was a great show of strength and new burst of life for the club for 2025.

stormy nights

Fishing was great from the off with Gabriel being the first out of the traps to put a fish on the cards with a codling on his now famous fresh pumped black lug. On came the domino effect and the whole line of anglers came to life as lads were seen frantically sprinting up and down the bay to get their fish measured by the angler to their right hand side. The beauty of these tough conditions is that the bay doesn’t end up being as dependent on darkness for numbers of fish nor species. It was a tough slog for the REBEL’S with head on winds, high surf and masses of weed within the first 20 yard section from the shore, but the REBEL’S knew all to well that it would be worth the hardship. They hunkered down, secured their gear, shelters and tripods and once again got the job done safely .

Two and a half hours into the comp myself and Vlad decided to support the lads and join forces for the remainder of the session as we were on our way home from a great few days fishing the 36th annual winter beach fishing festival held on the Wexford beaches. Tired and drawn from the few days fishing (and the extra long walks to our pegs lol) we arrived in darkness unprepared as such with our light lines, scratching gear and normally too small of a hook for this venue with the said conditions but still got straight on the fish. I had 2 casts myself producing a double shot of a flounder and codling, next cast was a codling and my third cast resulted in a crack off as the light gear couldn’t withstand the distance I was pushing for. The fact that my prized rod crashed from the tripod onto the stones twice with raging surf and stones being pushed over it probably didn’t help either. With all that going on I decided to call a halt for myself and to walk up and down the line to make sure everyone was safe and ok. In the mean time Vlad was doing his thing and also had 3 fish on his card at this stage putting in a good show as usual.

cod flounder

As some anglers fish counts were moving into double figures there were also reports of a few big fish being met and lost, presumed to be large bass and cod.

New members on the day were CHRIS GREENE traveling all the way from Dublin who enjoyed his first outing with the REBEL’S and put a few fish in his card making for a great debut. Next was newest member to our juvenile section was DONAL MCDONNELL who also put on an excellent show and not only caught his first codling with us but managed a top shelf count of 19 fish on his card. Not so new members but their first mention with the club were JAMES KENNEDY and SEAN O SULLIVAN who also put in a great performance and put plenty of fish on their cards and were shocked of their capabilities since joining and us and the knowledge and tips that have being shared by club members. Welcome aboard lads.

night

The front runners on the day and still battling hard for the top positions were STEPHEN WATKINS, JACOB MURPHY, KEVIN ROCHE AND GABRIEL MATACHEKO, all managing high double figures in count. The final whistle was blown and one angler pushed through it all and out of the high teens count of fish managing 26 fish to cement his place at top spot for this session STEPHEN WATKINS aka (Weather wat) as the lads have christened him being our usual bad weather informant on our private group chat. So watch out at MET EIREANN he’s coming for top spot on yer panel as well lol .

BAITS USED ON THE DAY: peeler crab , lug , black lug , mussel , sandeel , razor clam , king rag , and squid

SPECIES CAUGHT ON THE DAY: codling , flounder , whiting , coalies , bass and rockling.

TOP 10 PLACINGS ON The DAY

1st place STEPHEN WATKINS 26 fish 811 points
2nd place JACOB MURPHY 14 fish 517 points
3rd place KEVIN ROCHE 15 fish 495 points
4th place GABRIEL MATACHEKO 12 fish 382 points
5th place JAMES KENNEDY 11 FISH 361 POINTS
6TH PLACE VLAD 7 FISH 227 POINTS
7TH PLACE DANNY O SHEA 6 FISH 193 POINTS
8TH PLACE JEFFREY OLDEN 5 FISH 185 POINTS
9TH PLACE CHRIS GREENE 5 FISH 177 points
10th PLACE JIM COTTER 3 fish 115 points

A big well done to all who attended and stuck out the extra tough but rewarding conditions, and those who gathered bait for our lads.

Go Fishing…

We are always open to taking on members and can be contacted through social media , what’s app, messenger, facebook, and Instagram. If you’d like to get in on the fun, good fishing, making great friends and learning a lot contact us on the above and get your name on the list as it’s filling up fast and spaces are limited.

Our next comp is in COBH and hopefully as predicted it will be a good session and great craic as usual . Once again Thanks to all our followers, supporters and sponsors .
CATCH YE ON THE NEXT ONE , UP THE REBELS

Join the club

Rebels SAC

Rebels SAC are based in Cork and are are always happy to welcome new members.

The REBEL COUNTY SEA ANGLERS will be open for membership through out the year and we can be contacted on mobile 083 0198017, what’s app, messenger, facebook and Instagram. Catch you on the next one ……… UP THE REBELS

Get in touch via their Facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/rebelcountyseaanglingclub/