The hot weather continued all week and it did impact on fishing on many inland waters in particular although there was a lot of activity nonetheless.  The weather definitely suited sea angling both from shore and at sea.   There is a some broken weather now and the rain should improve and freshen up salmon and trout waters in particular.

The salmon fishing on the Cork Blackwater improved over the last few weeks with plenty of quality fish recorded at Blackwater Lodge.  It was a much quieter week on many of the salmon fisheries in the Cork Kerry area with the low water levels and bright sunshine making fishing difficult.  There were steady catches of salmon and sea trout reported all week on Lough Currane.  Over on the Dingle peninsula there was some excellent night fishing for sea trout on the Owenmore River.  The lower water conditions at the Galway Weir Fishery bring better grilse fishing for anglers.  Despite the hot conditions, there were some nice salmon and sea trout fishing reported on the River Erriff in Connemara.  A few salmon were reported from the nearby Delphi Fishery.  Despite the bright warm conditions, 194 salmon were reported from the River Moy.  The estuary continues to fish well for sea trout.  The Ballisodare Fishery also produced 115 salmon mainly at the falls area and most fish were released.

Well known angling guide was fishing the River Suir with Andrew Ryan from Clonanav using a small dry fly and landed the fish of a lifetime, a fine estimated 8 lb. brown trout which was quickly photographed and returned.  This splendid fish wins our Catch of the Week.  It was tough for anglers on Lough Sheelin in the heatwave but some nice trout were recorded by anglers fishing late in the evenings.  The Hot weather is keeping many anglers off Lough Corrib in the past week.

A brilliant specimen smoothound of 15.25 lb. was the highlight of good fishing for anglers deep sea fishing off Wicklow with skipper Kit Dunne.  Angling guide Sean Jordan reported very good bass fishing for clients in the South Wexford area.  Anglers fishing with charter skippers Sid Jones and John Devereux enjoyed many species while out deep sea fishing out from Kilmore Quay.  Cod and Blue Shark were caught in numbers by anglers fishing with charter skipper David Edwards at Clonakilty.  A nice range of species including specimen spurdogs, codling and tope were only a number of the big range of species for deep sea anglers fishing with charter skipper Luke Aston out from Carrigaholt in Co. Clare.

My own namesake, Paul Bourke from Irish Fishing Tours on Lough Derg reported that his clients have had some excellent pike fishing ranging from 85 cm to 112 cms. on jerkbaits.  It is nice to report that a 15 year old French visitor enjoyed some excellent pike fishing with angling guide Kenny Sloan in the Foxford area despite the sunny warm weather conditions.  Conditions were tough for the qualifying session at the weekend on Lough Erne near Enniskillen for the World Championship lure competition with pike perch and bream recorded over the two days.

A charity match for Cancer raised over €2,000 by the 34 anglers who fished Lough Muckno at the weekend where the fishing was tough in the sweltering conditions.  Some of the bigger carp up to 13.5 lb. were the highlight of excellent carp fishing at the Oakland’s Fishery near New Ross in Co. Wexford.  Barry Blenkey and a friend recorded a huge catch of bream on Lough Derg last week.  Nigel and Howard from Torquay enjoyed memorable Bream, Tench and Roach fishing near Melview Lodge in Co. Longford.

The hot weather is still with us but there is rain in the last two days and broken weather looks set to continue and bring much need water into some of our rivers.  As always, please wear a lifejacket when going afloat and be safe out enjoying the best of Irish Angling

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 send anglers to the Falls for any results
• 1,427 so far this year for the fabulous Moy
• Fresh grilse downstream of Foxford
• Anglers defy low water on Erriff to land salmon and sea trout
• Grilse fishing really picks up in Galway
• The longest warm day at Delphi makes conditions tough
• Reasonable catches of grilse and sea trout reported from Lough Currane despite the hot weather.
• Some fine fish caught and some big fish lost on the Munster Blackwater
• Owenmore running low but good night fishing for seatrout
• Sunshine and salmon on the Bandon
• A quieter week on many of the salmon fisheries in the Cork-Kerry area in the past week

Trout fishing reports

• Dog days on Corrib in hot and humid weather
• A fish of a lifetime for the ‘Doc’ on the river Suir
• Bright sunshine and intense daytime heat drive the trout deep at Sheelin
• Jason Nash lands one in the net …

Sea angling reports

• Spurdog, Codling and tope make the season interesting in Carrigaholt
• Effort = Reward as Guide Sean proves in Wexford
• 15.25lb smooth hound for Pat in Wicklow Bay
• Lady Luck brings loads of fish to the Wexford crew
• Good cod and marauding sharks on the wrecks off Clonakilty

Pike fishing reports

• A fighting pike from Mayo for 15 year old Clement
• Fishing Slow on Lough Egish at the Moment
• 40 pike over 85cm in 3 days for 2 French anglers on Lough Derg

Coarse angling reports

• Young Chris catches a cracking fish at Oaklands
• Nigel and Howard from Torquay enjoy memorable Bream, Tench and Roach fishing near Melview Lodge in Co. Longford.
• NCFFI Predator Club Qualifiers – World Championship Boat fishing with Lures
• ANGLING MATCH RAISES €2090.50 FOR THE IRISH CANCER SOCIETY
• Busy Barry has a superb catch on Lough Derg

News clippings

• Dragonfish find highlights threat posed by release of exotic species – Irish Independent
• Denis McSharry Memorial Cup fishing competition on Lough Melvin – Donegal Democrat
• Sea lice menace must be dealt with urgently, Farming Life
• After 20 years a boyhood dream is realised to Marry in Killarney, Irish Times

Other news

• Erne Anglers’ Junior Summer Scheme 19th to 21st August