BALBRIGGAN angler Stuart Marry realised a boyhood dream at last weekend’s National Challenge Trophy on Lough Lein in Killarney with a comprehensive win against a top-class field of 126 anglers. The competition was held under the auspice of the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association (Itffa). Stuart, who had tried for more than 20 years to represent his country, won this prestigious trophy with eight trout for 1.733 kg. Although conditions were extremely difficult with blinding sunshine, temperatures in the mid-20s and little or no wind, Lein provided non-stop action… Irish Times, 23/06/14. Read the full article ‘After 20 years a boyhood dream is realised to Marry in Killarney‘
James Byrne (12 yrs) - 13.0lb taken on his own fly at the Wood Pool on Ballyhooly.
Ian Powell of the Blackwater Lodge reports on the last Four Weeks from May 24 to June 21 :
For this period when have had 52 fish to 14.6lb for just 180 rod days. Of these, 21 were over 10lb. & 11 were over 9lb. Just 11 came from the lower river & 41 from the upper river. Some very large fish have been met but lost.
One June 6, one of around 30lb. was lost on the Bridge Pool at Ballyhooly.
Two First Ever Salmon!
Des O’Hanlon – 10.5 sea-liced. Taken on spinner on the Geen Bank on Upper Kilmurry.
Mark Szostkiewicz – 5lb. sea-liced. Taken on the Island Stream on the Green Bank on Lower Kilmurry
Damien Maher – 12.3lb. sea-liced
June 8th His Second Ever Salmon! Taken on spinner on Kents. Taken on worms fly at the Cliff on Killavullen
Gerard Bonnet – 12.6lb
On June 13, one of @20lb. was lost whilst being beached when the angler 6 piece rod exploded into a 9 piece.
James Byrne (12 yrs) – 13.0lb taken on his own fly at the Wood Pool on Ballyhooly.
On June 20, another fish ~20lb. was lost – again on the Bridge Pool at Ballyhooly.
One of these days one of these very big fish will be landed.
Brian O’Neill and his buddies report that rods were in water at Lough Egish by 7.30am on Friday last 20th June. Brian and Ian fished the east side of the lake. By 11.30am we were joined by six English anglers that had only 1 fish for the day. Brian said “we totaled 7 fish mainly roach and perch. With all anglers, 16 rods, all on feeder, it was a tough day all round. Lovely spot and deserves more visits”. Coarse fishing has been difficult in some areas lately but Lough Egish has produced some great catches in the previous months.
Frank Maunsell reports on the conditions and prospects on the Owenmore Fisheryin Co. Kerry…
We have rain due on Wednesday which is badly needed. The water levels are low but the night fishing was excellent. The seatrout were still travelling even with the water levels so low. The seals are very active down in the estuary. I counted 14 in one area during the week and they are creating havoc with the fish. Hopefully the next flood will allow most of these fish up the river.
There are approximately five miles of fly fishing along the main part of the Owenmore River in Kerry, with 33 named pools and an additional 180 acres of lake fishing in this Kerry beauty spot. The salmon, grilse and sea trout begin to run in April. The runs continue through spring and summer into early October.
Liam O’Brien and Sheila Bromley report that Ballybay Angling Club held a match yesterday Sunday 22nd June on Lough Muckno, Castleblayney in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. The fishing was extremely tough but despite this Ron Jordan came out on tops and had his choice of the prizes, as did all the anglers who were placed. Most importantly the event raised a whopping €2090.50 for the Irish Cancer Society.
Funding Raised for the Irish Cancer Society
The organisers thanked all those who donated prizes, shops, clubs, companies & federations. They said “we would like to thank Peter & Kathy from Irish Bait & Tackle who kindly donated all proceeds from their sales of this mornings bait to the anglers.
We would also like to thank Raymond Watters from the Old Coach Inn who fed & watered the anglers on their return from the banks of Lough Muckno. Lastly we would like to thank all the anglers who turned up to fish today and support this worthy charity”.
Peadar O’Brien With His Net of Fish at Yesterdays Charity Event
Results are as follows
Ron Jordan Ballybay 2 Day Open
Philip Jackson (Jacko) IADA 2 Day Feeder
Robert Buick Range River Mounain – 12ft feeder rod
Seame Winters Wille Wheelers Angling Centre – €50 voucher
Phil Walton Southside Angling – €30 Voucher
Marius Sedys Range River Mountain – Trabucco Bucket & basin set
Kevin Norcliffe Carrickmacross Angling – Slab of Harp
Julian Kendrick Dublin Tackle – €50 voucher
Peadar O’Brien Southside Angling – €30 Voucher
Neil Mazurek Range River Mountain – Daiwa Softmesh Keepnet
Piotr Horbinski Sensas Ireland – 12ft feeder rod
Paul McLoughlin Bait-tech – box of pro natural groundbait
Saturday came around and the sun was absolutely splitting the stones. Not the most conducive conditions for successful salmon fishing but if they are present there is always a chance. Casting a spinner over a fish which had splashed a couple of times yielded no response. A tactic taught to me by my uncle years ago came to mind, as it was applicable to the conditions before me. I rested the fish for a couple of hours and returned with my rod rigged up with 4lb line for fishing the worm. Employing such light line is a huge risk but can be the difference between blanking and scoring. The main advantage to be gained is the presentation, as the worm is trundled down the current in the most natural fashion possible. Using heavier line compromises the upper hand gained by this manoeuvre.
However, it is not a strategy recommended for using over coloured fish or if you intend to release your capture. Covering the fish after half a dozen casts, I could feel the unmistakable draw. Giving line and waiting for the fish to run I struck into something a little bigger than I was expecting…
The battle commenced and lasted 20 minutes before the fish ran down to the end of the pool for the umpteenth time and proceeded to exit into the next. Sprinting in chest high water after the fish for a few hundred yards and some nail biting moments later, I eventually netted the 13.5lb dazzler of a salmon 3/4 of an hour after the initial take. Of course, the hook fell out in the net, I kid you not.
Summer time is well and truly here! We’re enjoying some spectacular weather at the moment and the river as a consequence is dropping quickly. At least if the fishing isn’t too great we can gorge ourselves on the 64 matches the World Cup has to offer or simply admire the beautiful scenery down at the river.
As I mentioned in my last post, good fishing was experienced as the flood water tapered off but from Wednesday on fishing fell away. I went out for a quick cast on Friday and scoping through a few pools unveiled very little. Just as I was leaving however, casting way down the pool along a long line of Ranunculus, I felt a solid tug and was surprised to see a big 3lb plus brown trout had taken my size 4 Flying C. That’s the beauty of the Bandon, sometimes you just don’t know what’s going to strike your lure next!
Lough Derg (Loch Deirgeirt, meaning “loch of the red eye”) was the place to be last week. A man with a good eye for fishing is Barry Blenkey. He and his fishing colleague had a superb catch of bream.
Shane McSweeney from shannonvale with a decent cod
David Edwards, skipper of charter boat Tigger out of Clonakilty Tigger , reports on the shark fishing…
The Blue Sharks have arrived in big numbers and a wrecking trip this week saw sharks regularly attacking mid size Pollack and Coalies as we were bringing them up.
Shane McSweeney from shannonvale with a decent codShane McSweeney from Shannonvale with a decent cod
I set up a shark rig and soon hooked a decent Blue. Water clarity was superb and we could clearly see a much bigger shark sitting deeper. A 4lb Pollack was attached to a 11/0 hook on 250lb steel and allowed to sink deep. In no time the reel screemed and the shark took approximately 500 metres of line before we started Tigger and followed it at speed.
The shark was still running when the barbless hook came out with just the head of the Pollock attached, a massive bite radius confirmed this was no Blue and I have never had a run like that from a Porbeagle before. We are hoping that the Mako’s caught from Union Hall and Milford Haven last year may not be a one off and it’s very possible that this is what we connected with out from Clon.
There were plenty of Pollack and Coalies to double figures but it was great to see some decent cod at last with the best going 15lb. Long may this weather hold David Edwards Tigger
Go fishing…
Tigger is a purpose built Procharter 31 angling boat, powered by a 330HP diesel engine and equipped with all necessary safety equipment. Reef and ground drift fishing is generally the most productive method with the potential to catch in excess of 20 species if you adapt your lures and baits accordingly. From mid June through to October it’s usually possible to target the blue shark fishing that is predominatly between 10-15 miles off the estuary. All sharks are released and recent seasons have seen larger species such as mako and threshers being sighted more frequently, so who knows what will come in 2014… Web:www.irelandseaangling.com
Firs picture is Shane McSweeney from shannonvale with a decent cod
Second is Skipper David Edwards with best cod of the day at 15lb
Paul Bourke from IrishFishingTours.com reports that June pike fishing on Derg has been hectic,with the pike moving onto the weed beds after bait fish…
Jerkbaiting is really bringing the results, with personal best fish records been broken everyday. Natural colour jerk and swimbaits, with the odd” crazy colour” jerkbaits brought massive hits from hungry Derg Pike.
Double hook up!
Toni and William French anglers, had 40 pike in 3 days fishing with irishfishingtours.com guide Paul Bourke. The smallest of these super summer pike was 85cms and the best came in at an impressive 112 cms.
Great quality summer pike from Lough Derg
Toni had 3 fish over the magic meter mark with alot of fish around the mid 90s.
Fish were active but only in certain spots and it pays to have a guide on this massive body of water.
