Well done to the volunteers from Ballinamore Tourism & Angling Association for their commitment to keeping Lough Garadice a great venue
A group of volunteers from Ballinamore Tourism & Angling Association gave up their time recently to collect litter from a local beauty spot, the Garadice Lake Amenity. The fishing swims and walk ways were cleared of items from old televisions to used nappies – not a pleasant job but the area was soon returned to its natural beauty.
Well done to the volunteers from Ballinamore Tourism & Angling Association for their commitment to keeping Lough Garadice a great venue
The association hope to make people aware of the damage that is so easily done to our natural resources such as Garadice Lake and ask that people are more responsible when they visit and please take their rubbish home.
The recently formed Lakelands Angling Club, Ballinamore will now carry out this task on a regular basis and are looking for coarse anglers in the area who are interested in joining their club. They can be contacted on 087 255 4673
Garbolino are delighted to announce they have agreed a 3 year sponsorship deal with Ireland’s National Feeder Team
Garbolino are delighted to announce they have agreed a 3 year sponsorship deal with Ireland’s National Feeder Team. The deal which is valued at more than €14,000 over the 3 years should help the team which will be known as Garbolino Team Ireland Feeder develop further to compete at the highest level and who knows even get their first team medal on home soil this year!
SERT UK General Manager Darren Cox commented; –
“We are delighted to have teamed up with the Irish National Feeder team! We have recently launched our brands into Ireland and we would like to focus our attention gaining some market share in the coarse/match sector with the Garbolino brand. What better way than to have Ireland’s National Feeder team using our products! I know most of these great guys personally and I know they will also work hard to promote Garbolino in Ireland for us. We have some fantastic feeder rods and related products so hopefully we can help them to do well in these championships over the next few years.
This year’s Feeder World Championships are to be hosted by the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland at Inniscarra Reservoir, Coachford, Ireland this July. The NCFFI have undertaken a €400,000 project in their partnership with the ESB and Inland Fisheries to create a world class angling venue in County Cork for years to come. The venue is stuffed with roach, bream and hybrids and its set to be a feeder fishing bonanza with the event itself the largest with 25 teams attending.
Garbolino Team Ireland Feeder manager Brenton Sweeney commented:-
I am delighted to be working with Darren Cox, SERT and Garbolino on this three year sponsorship deal for the NCFFI National Irish Feeder Team. Aside from the great range of feeder products available from Garbolino, Darren’s experience of feeder fishing alone will prove invaluable to us. This is my first year in charge and I look forward to taking the new Garbolino Team Ireland Feeder to the World Championships on home soil this July.
Garbolino are delighted to announce they have agreed a 3 year sponsorship deal with Ireland’s National Feeder Team
Enjoying their day at Gaulmoylestown, Ruth Ava Hartigan Hogan with dad Jonathan from Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Saturday the 10th of May saw the winners of the Dublin Angling Initiative (DAI) and National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland (NCFFI) draw, which was held at February’s Angling Show in Swords, for a day’s coached coarse angling on one of Irelands top angling hot spots, Gaulmoylestown Lake, Mullingar.
Enjoying their day at Gaulmoylestown, Ruth Ava Hartigan Hogan with dad Jonathan from Thurles, Co Tipperary.
The lucky 10 junior winners and 3 of the senior winners, from all four provinces of Ireland arrived at the lake Saturday morning despite the prospect of very poor weather, luckily the weather held up for the most part with the odd shower failing to dampen the spirits.
The day started with an introduction to the lake, the tackle being used, the fish being caught and water-safety on the lake. Shortly after all anglers got started.
Aided by the NCFFI’s trained ACI/ Coaching Ireland angling coaches it wasn’t long before the Carp were being landed.
For many taking part it was their first experience of coarse angling and for others the first time to catch a carp.
It was clear to see early on by the smiles on the faces and the excitement on the bank that everyone, both young and old, were enjoying the day.
By the end of the session everyone assembled in the car park for refreshments and to tell the stories of the fish they caught and the monsters that got away.
The NCFFI would like to thank everyone who took part in a day that will be remembered and talked about for days, weeks and even years to come.
A special thank you to Niall Purcell, Chairman of Gaulmoylestown Lake Angling Club, for the use of the lake and supplying the all important bait.
We would also like to thank all our coaches, Ambrose Devlin, Pat Bartley, Fint Brennan and Eoin Schweppe.
There is some good coarse fishing to be had in the Portumna area reports Mike Murray of Murray’s Angling Services…
Andy and his friend Richard from Hereford had 2 days Pike fishing and 1 day Coarse fishing. The weather was not great so we so we decided to fish a venue on the river. We had prebaited the swims the day before for Bream, Hybrids and Roach. Andy is pictured with his net of fish caught that day.
Mixed bag for AndyA greedy perch from Portumna
Coarse Fishing Match
Sunday 15th June at Shannon Harbour Co. Offaly 4.00pm – 8pm
Thousands of Euros in prize money. Sponsered by Waterways Ireland
Andy and his friend Richard from Hereford had 2 days Pike fishing and 1 day Coarse fishing with us last week. Weather conditions were not good with wind and heavy rain. Lough Derg was too rough to fish but in Portumna we are fortunate to have both the lake and The Shannon on our doorstep. the river can be fished in all but the most severe weather. So opting for the Shannon the first day produced a few pike. The next day we went coarse fishing. The last day we went Piking again and had a dozen fish with 8 being caught on a sheltered backwater in the space of an hour. The session also produced a bonus Trout.
A couple of days later Roland Meeuwisse and 3 friends from the Netherlands had 4 days Pike fishing alternating between Lough Derg and the Shannon landing approximately 20 pike the first 2 days and 70 over the next 2 days with numerous Perch and 2 Trout to add to the tally.
None of the Pike were huge but the group had great sport and will be returning to Ireland again. The final picture shows the group celebrating after 4 days of great fishing.
When landed, the fish should be laid flat preferably on a protective mat and the hooks removed with a suitable tool such as long handled artery forceps or a long nosed pliers. Anglers may find it useful to wear protective gloves. Sometimes it can be easier to release the hooks by working very carefully through the gill covers.
The use of pike sacks can be used for the short time retention of fish enabling them to recover prior to weighing or photography. When weighing and photographing fish, the pike should be cradled and supported properly to avoid injuring the fish. A pike sized weigh sling should always be used if the fish is be weighed.
When being released, the pike should be held carefully in the water to promote recovery until it is ready to swim away. At all times, the pike should be returned to the water in the shortest possible time.
Who's a Lucky Fish Then. Brad is Happy that His Relations are from the Boyne
World Fish Migration Day (WFMD) is a one day global initiative, with local events worldwide, to create awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish. WFMD is held to improve the publics’ understanding of the importance of open rivers and migratory fish and their needs. The event is being marked at 273 locations worldwide on 24th May 2014.
Free migration for fish is crucial to achieve healthy fish stocks. While most fish are migratory to some degree, some species like salmon, sturgeon, trout, dourada, shad, lamprey, giant catfish and eel migrate thousands of kilometers to complete their life cycles. If they can’t migrate, the population will die out. This has happened with many species in different places around the world already.
Many barriers in the rivers and on the coast that it is very hard for migratory fish to reproduce. In the current situation, migratory fish are threatened and fish stocks are declining rapidly around the world. They are particularly threatened by barriers such as weirs, dams and sluices, built for water management, hydro-power and land drainage.
As part of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s, Fisheries Awareness Week and to mark WFMD, we have enlisted the help of Brad Dawn, a salmon who arrived at the mouth of the River Boyne earlier this week in search of his relations. He believed that he could be related to the famed “Bradán Feasa” of the River Boyne which can be found in ancient Irish Folklore. After migrating all the way from Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Brad was unsure of the way to his natal stream and he had to ask for a little help to make sure that he was going the right way. A great way of connecting Fish, Rivers and People.
So You Want to Know the Way To Virginia?I Think Its That Way. But Its Very Far. I Hope That You Are A Good Swimmer and a Good Jumper!!Rebecca Says Ok. Off You Go Then!
Migratory fish species support food supply and livelihoods for millions of people, but are now more than ever under great threat. The main causes of this are man-made obstacles. Dams, weirs and sluices built for water management, hydro-power, irrigation and land drainage disrupt the natural flow of rivers and can prevent fish migration.
No Problem. I Can Jump that in One!!
Many fish need to migrate to reproduce, feed and complete their life cycles. Migratory species make up a crucial link in the food chain and play an important ecological role in productive river systems. Giant catfish, sturgeon, eel and salmon are just some of the famous migratory species under human pressure. Migratory fish found in the River Boyne include Atlantic salmon, sea trout, eels and lamprey. Angling and angling tourism is very important in Ireland and supports small businesses in rural and coastal communities such as accommodation providers, guides, tackle dealers. Migratory angling species such as salmon ans sea trout add to the angling species diversity of the river and complement the resident stock of fish. They also provide great angling opportunities for Irish and overseas anglers. For 2014 the Boyne is designated as a catch and release river under the salmon and sea trout conservation regulations and all salmon caught by rod on line must be released back to the river. The use of worms is prohibited and only single barbless hooks can be used. For More Information on WFMD Please visithttp://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/home#.U4EqzXJdWa8
Who’s a Lucky Fish Then. Brad is Happy that His Relations are from the Boyne as Angler Brendan Blake Lets Him Back to Continue His Upstream Journey!Brad Was Actually Purchased From Paul and Linda O’Callaghan Who Run Anglers World Tackle Dealers in Navan. They know the value of Migratory Fish as Their Business is Partly Dependent on Them.Home Again. A 75 Kilometer Journey from the River Mouth to Virginia. Just the feeder Streams to go. But That Can Wait Till November.
Top trout guide Eamonn Conway reports that the trout fishing in the northeast is very good at the minute. The River Fane is fishing well even though the water is low and trout are taking olives and sedges very willingly from the top. The streamer is catching some of the bigger trout so if you happen to notice any fry leaping out of the water, fleeing predators, switch to a streamer it will be sure to work . Nymphs are working well in fast runs and providing plenty of sport with pheasant tail nymphs providing most of the results.
Tight lines Eamonn C
Eamonn Conway is one of the country’s top angling guides and a qualified APGAI Ireland Instructor. If you fancy a days guided fishing with Eamonn why not drop him an email at [email protected] or give him a call at 086 1242966 Additional information can be found on Eamonns’ website at www.tainflyfishing.com
Simply Divine. Boats Gather for the Evening Fall of Spents on Lough Sheelin.
The title is nothing to do with music and you knew this but I suppose that this depends on what you regard as music to your ears. In my case the sound of a five or six pound trout sipping down a spent gnat imperceptibly in the evening gloom is indeed music to my ears. I can’t see them as well as I used to but I still enjoy the experience. Time for Your Close Up E. danica Paul Moinester and Peter Cunningham Fish a Drift on Lough Sheelin on Tuesday
A change in wind direction to east and north has slowed the fishing just a tad on Lough Sheelin on a number of days earlier this week but there were still plenty of fish to be had and some great catch reports with some large fish to 8.5lbs were received. I am sure that Brenda Montgomery will have further in-depth reports in the coming weeks giving a more detailed and comprehensive insight into this weeks fishing. See Brenda’s previous reports here. Fish are being taken on wets and dries and the spent fishing has been both sporadic and spectacular on certain evenings but again some anglers had some really great fishing. A Beautiful Brown Trout Caught by John Baker (photo: Paul Moinester) Another Sheelin Trout Goes Back to Fight Another Day (Photo: Paul Moinester)
Paul Moinester from the USA visited on Tuesday with angling guide Peter Cunningham and John Baker. Hatches of fly were occurring throughout the day and heavy rain in the morning changed the feel of the day completely. Torrential rain and squally conditions gave way to bright sunny calm periods. The conditions changed throughout the whole of the day. Peter Cunningham With a Small Sheelin Trout The Quality Fishing on Lough Sheelin is Like Turning the Clock Back to the Way it Was. (Photo Paul Moinester)
The fish were still on though and I boated a small one early on a mosely mayfly. John boated a couple of nice ones and then I hit into a nice two and a half to three pound fish which threw me after several acrobatic jumps. What I like to call the long line release. Varying the technique a little I then stuck into a really good one again on dry fly. A couple of runs around the boat and a few surface kicks revealed a spade of a tail, a really big tail. As I reached for the net my line slipped under the heel of my boot and a surprisingly strong run caught me out and as I released the slack line it pinged as the line broke.
John Baker With a Nice Sheelin Trout
At this stage John came into his own and boated several very nice fish on wets and he consistently boated fish right through to the spent fishing in the evening where he again picked of several fish on his own patterns. John is also an accomplished fly tyer.
John Baker Plays a Good Trout on Lough Sheelin on Tuesday
Paul and Peter were fishing hard as well and Peter boated a nice three pound fish. Paul also had a couple of fish on what his first foray out on an Irish Lough and first experience of Lough style fishing. We all agreed that the fish were acting a little oddly probably due to the change in weather. They were coming short to the fly and varying the presentation and speed of the retrieve was important. As the boats circled for the fall of spent in the evening you could cut the anticipation with a knife. A beautiful evening, but was it going to happen. The periods of inactivity were punctuated by bursts of activity as some small pods of fish tucked into the spents. A Beautiful Sheelin Trout Taken on Spent Mayfly on Tuesday
The day finished all too quickly. Its amazing how quickly 10 or 12 hours passes in this fantastic environment. The fishing, the flies, the environment and the company all make this a fantastic experience. All have vowed that we will try again before the mayfly finishes. Paul Moinester commented after his first day Lough fishing “with the chance of a bestial five-pound brown devouring your mayfly dry on every cast, Lough Sheelin inspires ultimate focus and produces exhilarating moments and days regardless of how many trophy fish grace your net.”
If you fancy a days guided fishing for trout why not contact Peter at 086 4682516 or by email at [email protected] Like All Good Skippers Peter Keeps a Sharp Look out for Feeding Trout Simply Divine. Boats Gather for the Evening Fall of Spents on Lough Sheelin. (Photo Paul Moinester) E. danica: The Cause of All of the Madness
15/5/14 Straight to the belated Salmon department, last night Vincent’s Son-in-law Mr. Tam Hitmiangsong of Waterville, caught a fine Salmon on the troll in the 9 lbs class, on that note I will go straight to his quote of the day, What honorable Father-in-law can do in the morning, honorable Son-in-law can do in the evening, what dose this mean in practical terms, if you are out there you can catch honorable Salmon and its better than nursing honorable hangover, ah that reminds me, must go to Lobster Bar to celebrate, cheers. Now today’s facts there isn’t any, and not surprising with bright sunshine and very little wind and what wind was there was from the SW light.
Tam with a 9 lb. salmon
16/5/14 My Noble Salmon were well smoked out to day and for good reason because someone didn’t use their intelligence the good Lord gave them by lighting a lunchtime fire? Right beside the Edery Bay Forestry and thank God for the Kerry Fire Service who I might add did a first class job in saving this wild beauty spot, and to all you punters out their enjoying yourselves think before you light because you put these firemen’s lives at risk and maybe putting someone else’s life at risk because there is no Fire Crew to come to their rescue. I will let the pictures tell the story. I will finish today’s note by saying no wonder my Noble Salmon stayed deep. Wind SW light to fresh.
17/5/14 My Noble Anglers went out firing on all cylinders’ on Lough Curran today after yesterday’s excitement, and first in the striking zone was our Honourable secretary of www.loughcurrane.com Mr. Kevin O’Sullivan of Waterville, who caught a fine Grilse. Now for catch of the day and that goes to Mr. Ken Towner of the UK and Waterville, who caught a cracker of a salmon weighing in at 10 lb. 9 oz on the drift off Church Island, and for the rest of the angling community, they failed miserably in their duties in the Salmon department. Now to the Sea Trout department, Mr. Harry Edghill fishing with his ghillie Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com caught a fine Sea Trout in the 2 lb. class on the troll. Wind SW light to fresh with reasonable cloud cover at times. 18/5/14 There was great action on Lough Currane today in the trolling department. We start on the North side and Waterville Boats and first in the striking zone was Mr. Trevor Dewberry of the UK, who caught a cracker of a Salmon weighing in at 10 lbs. while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Michael O’Sullivan of Waterville Boats and at [email protected] and in Michael’s Hired out Boat Department. Mr. Andy Wishart of Northern Ireland also caught a cracker of a Salmon on the troll in the 9 lbs. class.
Trevor Dewberry and Michael O’Sullivan
Now we cut across to the South side. Swiss Angler, Mr. Frank Rossat fishing with his ghillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com caught a fine 9 lb. salmon on the troll. Now we head to the western end of Lough Currane, Local ghillie Mr. Bob Priestley caught a Salmon on the troll and last but not least an Angler fishing on his own also caught a fine Salmon on the troll. Wind SW light with reasonable cloud cover this morning and bright sunshine all afternoon. 19/5/14 After yesterday’s fine action on Lough Currane, My Noble Salmon were in a benign mood, in other words, the Lough Currane Anglers failed miserably in all departments, at least the fly anglers had an excuse as you can see by the wind report, what’s that I here you say? I am full of it, well yes I agree, but there is a simple remedy, let the Salmon and Sea Trout do the talking. Wind NE light to calm and overcast with light rain this evening. 20/5/14 There were at least 10 boats out manipulating in all departments and all failed in their duties to procure the wild Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout, so on that note I will go to the valid excuse department, very humid and thundery, www.met.ie put out a yellow alert for flash flooding, so far its North Kerry, that’s had the brunt of the flash flood storm, I think one of the reasons we have missed it so far, the wind was coming from the West and has just veered into the NE, so ready and waiting? 21/5/14 There was some great fishing on the Waterville Fishery today, so straight to the action, first in the striking zone was Mr. Andy Wishart of Northern Ireland, who caught a fine 11 lb. salmon on the troll at 9 am this morning even before his ghillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy of www.fishingwithdowww.fishingwithdom.com had arrived to take Andy out, well I can tell you it wasn’t long before their trolling rod went off again with another fine Salmon in the 11 lbs. class. Also in good form in the trolling department was Mr. Liam Ellis of Waterville, who also caught a fine 10 ½ lbs. Salmon on the troll. Now to the fly department, Mr. Marcel Guillou of the UK caught a fine 11 lb. Salmon on the Fly with a Trout rod and by all accounts going by what his Gillie Mr. Vincent O’Sullivan of www.vincentsfishing.com said, Marcel had one almighty battle with his noble Salmon and the rest is history. Now to the Sea Trout department, Mr. Arthur White of the UK fishing with his Gillie Mr. Bob Priestly caught a fine 4 lb. sea trout on the troll. Well the action didn’t stop there, upstream on the Commeragh River, there was also some fine action, first in the striking zone, fishing with the Black Birds fancy, was Mr. Mike Teahan the Matador of Waterville and the Bull Ring, Tralee, who caught 2 Salmon ranging from 8 lb. up to 10 lbs. Sadly I only got a photo of his first Salmon. And last but not least Jean from France and fishing out of www.kbfishingireland.com caught a fine 6 ½ lbs. Salmon and also caught another fine Salmon which he sportingly put back both fish were caught on the lower part of the Commeragh River. Wind was all over the place and light, with bright sunshine and just for the record it made 17.5 mm of rainfall yesterday.
Andy Wishart with a nice salmon
22/5/14 Mr. Arthur White of the UK and his ghillie Mr. Bob Priestly take all the headlines, Arthur, caught a fine Grilse in the 6 lb. class and finished his day off with a fine Sea Trout in the 2 lb. class, both caught on the troll and staying in the Sea trout department, guests fishing with their Gillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com also caught 2 fine Sea Trout in the 2 lb. class. Wind was NE fresh to strong with showers and very cold, amount of rainfall yesterday was 7.2mm.
Jim Hendrick Casts a Line on the Stunning Irish Coastline
As we enter the second week of the bass close season, I am sure that many bass anglers are watching the clock and counting down the days to the reopening of the fishing. We all have images in our minds of favourite places, notable catches and stunning scenery as we wait in expectation of the opening date.
It is very timely then that I received these pictures from US writer, blogger, photographer and conservationist Paul Moinester to reinforce those images. These photos were taken by Paul during his visit to the south on 14th of May to do a spot of Salt Water Fly Fishing with Jim Hendrick.
On June 16th Paul will be back in the USA but I have no doubt that he will have more than an occasional glance at these stunning pictures.
