Brian O’Neill reports that he fished Lough Muckno again on Friday 16th May. It was very sunny and hot day and there were not many takes during the session. Oddly though, eels came on the feed during the session. Brian had a number of hybrids to just under the 1lb Mark.
On Day 3 of FAW, Peter Cunningham of Boyne Sea Angling Club ran the first of two “Introduction to Sea Angling” days at the long strand in Clogherhead, Co Louth. Today Sunday 18th May, in contrast to yesterdays Mediterranean style weather; was damp and overcast with light winds. The tide was a bit coloured and weedy but still very fishable. The start of the session produced the best activity with Justin Bird catching a number of flounder and a nice schoolie bass (fish was released due to close season for bass which runs from 15th May to 15th June inclusive). Another take resulted in the rod being pulled along the beach, presumed to be a bass. Chris Mundoe also had some fish. Later in the tide it was much quieter and a drizzly rain tested the best of water proof gear. Young anglers Adam and Anthony who had been in Scotch Hall and had already attended the junior evening at Kilineer reservoir had come along today to try their hand at sea fishing. However, the damp weather did not dampen the lads spirits and despite the tough conditions they still received some very useful instruction from Peter. The lads were well able to handle and cast the surf casting gear but on this occasion unfortunately there were no more fish. The next sea angling event will take place on Sunday next 25th May from 2pm to 6pm at the long strand.
To take part in next weeks event why not give Peter a call at 086 4682516
Fisheries Awareness Week kicked off in Drogheda on Friday evening 16th May with two events run by the Drogheda and District Anglers Club. An “Introduction to Fly Fishing” was held for youths at Kilineer Reservoir and an “Introduction to Fishing”, spinning and bait was held at Barnattin Reservoir Drogheda. At Kilineer ten young anglers accompanied by parents and guardians learned the basics of fly fishing. Club members helped with the casting and hook ups and the youngsters got to play the fish and release them unharmed back to the water. A fun filled evening was had by all.
With the bass season now in operation for 3 days 16 hrs and 40 mins approximately (if like me you are counting) the challenge is to look at what else is on offer along our fabulous Irish coastline. Mullet, gilt head bream and pollack are but a few of the species that are still available to be caught on fly and lure under the right conditions of course. Jim Hendrick has been busy recently and is working away in his usual indomitable way with clients from Germany. Jim says “the important thing is that the experience is good” and as you can see happy faces speak volumes.
The ladies took centre stage on the second day of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Fisheries Awareness Week events today at Kilineer Reservoir in Drogheda. The event was hosted by Drogheda and District Anglers Club at Kilineer with the reservoir being reserved solely for the ladies until 2.15pm. The event was being run in support of Action Breast Cancer.
With the marquee in position and plenty of fish in the reservoir, top APGAI Instructor and Ladies World Distance Fly Casting Champion Glenda Powell kicked off proceedings at 10am. The ladies were informed about the mechanics of fly casting and then all of them had an opportunity to have a go casting. After a bit of practice the ladies took to the lake to have a go at catching a fish. I supposed that it is no surprise that many of the ladies caught a fish and many of them had more than one fish. After a spot of lunch the ladies returned to the lake and more fish were caught with all the fish being released back unharmed to the reservoir.
A trip to the river was cancelled as the ladies were enjoying the reservoir location so much. At 2.30pm the ladies were joined by around six of the club members with many of these very skillful anglers quickly filling their bag limit of three trout. A number of the ladies fished on for an hour or two with Katie Buchanan continuing to catch and release fish. From speaking to the ladies many of them are in favour of taking part in a lady ramblers club, with the ladies having the option to visit a number of other locations over the remainder of the season. We look forward to seeing the ladies out and about fishing over the course of season.
South East Angling Services Gerard Doran enjoys the fishing on his native Slaney:
A change of scenery this week saw myself packing the rods for a brief morning session on the famous River Slaney which rises in the Wicklow mountains flowing through Counties Carlow and Wexford before meeting open sea at Wexford Harbour.
Spinning equipment was employed consisting of a Grauvell lure rod rated to cast 15-50 grams teamed up with a 4000 sized Shimano reel. Single hooks must be used when fishing on the Slaney, as a result replacing trebble hooks on some Flying C lures with single hooks ensured any fish hooked would be released quickly and with minimal stress.
On arrival at the river at 5.20 am conditions looked great. Sure enough only three casts into the session a Salmon struck the 10 gram lure fighting hard for perhaps four or five minutes before being tailed in shallow water, some quick photos and the fish swam off back into the fast flowing depths. You might notice a mark in the fish which seemed to be from some time ago but now almost healed.
The fish was approximately eight pounds in weight. More fish were caught by other anglers later in the day in various locations and methods. It is fantastic to see the river producing good fishing as it is famous for.
To fish on the Slaney you must have a state licence, use single hooks and release any Salmon caught. Check local rules and restrictions also before fishing.
Gerard Doran,
South East Angling Services
Web: www.southeastanglingservices.com and Facebook page: Southeast Angling Services Facebook
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 086-3769727
It was another great week for Irish Angling with the weather very pleasant for anglers fishing at sea or on inland waters. It was cool at times but generally despite some heavy rain showers during the week, conditions were good for fishing everywhere. One or two cooler nights did not appear to impact the fishing. Mayfly fever is here and many of our trout loughs have seen a huge increase in angling activity over the past week.
The rain in some parts of Ireland during the week brought some rivers up and there was a good increase in catches of salmon on some systems but poorer on others where low waters impacted on catches. Down in Co. Cork there was some splendid salmon up to 16 lb. reported from the River Bandon and that big fish was returned to the water by Pat Mostyn. Well done Pat. Other rivers in the Cork Kerry area produced a few salmon but catches were lower this week due to low water conditions. It was a bit quieter on Lough Currane but there was another super specimen sea trout of 8 lb. 8 oz. taken by Paul Eustace on the troll. In the early part of the week, the salmon fishing on the River Slaney was excellent with Paul Ryan landing three double figure fish in an evening. Heavy rain on the following day brought the river in flood for several days before the good fishing continued at the end of the week. Over on the Dingle peninsula, there was some very good sea trout fishing reported from the Owenmore system with fish to 4 lb. taken on fly. On the Kylemore fishery in Connemara there was some nice action for good salmon reported. High water levels inhibited good salmon fishing at the Galway Salmon Fishery. There was a great improvement in salmon fishing on all stretches of the River Moy in the past week. The Ballisodare Fishery also produced better salmon fishing this week. Low water levels on the River Drowes in Co. Donegal brought very few anglers to the fishery and only a small number of salmon were taken in the past week. There were little or no boats out salmon fishing on Lough Melvin nearby. Up on the River Finn, 24 salmon were recorded on one day on the Cloghan Lodge Estate Fishery.
There was some excellent trout fishing in the past week and on Lough Owel, DJ Byrne won the Corcoran Cup at the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association’s (ITFFA) Leinster Championship with a fabulous bag of trout for 16 lb. 11 oz. The Mayfly hatches increased the fishing effort on Lough Sheelin and there was some fantastic catches on Mayfly patterns with trout to 8 lb. reported in the past week. The good trout continued this week on Lough Rowan, where fish to 4 lb. were recorded especially in the evening time. On Lough O’Flynn in Co. Roscommon, young anglers enjoyed excellent trout fishing on the fly. Over in the west there was some wonderful mayfly fishing reported on Lough Corrib and Kevin Crowley caught a lovely trout of over 6 lb. on a wetfly along with many other trout. Kevin wins our Catch of the Week. On nearby Lough Mask the fishing was described as brilliant by many anglers although mayfly hatches were poor. A similar story was reported from nearby Lough Carra where hatches of Mayfly were at times sparse but plenty of trout were taken on anglers using wetflies mainly. Up on Lough Conn the Castlehill area of the lough produced wonderful trout fishing in the past week. Over on Lough Arrow there was some good trout fishing reported on mayfly and anglers are now looking forward to some spent gnat fishing in the coming weeks.
There was an increase in coarse angling activity this week and there some good catches of bream and hybrids reported from St. Mullins where early in the week there was some good catches of Twaite Shad recorded there. Forty anglers fished in the rain and wind up on waters in the Killeshandra at the annual festival with Francis McGoldrick winning the event with 49.090 kilos of roach, bream and hybrids. Over in Leitrim there were reports of good roach and some bream at the Mudflats on the River Shannon below Carrick on Shannon. At Melview Lodge in Co. Longford, Belgium anglers enjoyed good bream and tench fishing on nearby loughs. On nearby Lough Machugh, there was fine tench recorded in the past week. There was great catches reported for the 234 anglers with many from the UK taking part at the annual Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival on Lough Erne at Enniskillen.
On the pike angling scene there was some fine pike up to big double figures reported from the River Shannon south of Athlone. Up on the Dromore River near Cootehill two French anglers recorded 52 pike in four days fishing but 12 of these fish were over a metre long (circa 20 lb.)! On Drumharlow Lake, parties of French and German anglers caught plenty of good pike mainly on lures with the biggest fish of 1.10 metres reported. At Melview Lodge, a party of French anglers enjoyed excellent pike fishing with angling guide Kevin Lyons on a number of waters. A Brazilian visitor revisited Ireland and fished with angling guide Richie Johnson for pike catching a great fish of 21 lb. 10 oz. on a midland lough along with many other smaller fish.
With the windy weather there was less sea angling activity this past week but some anglers were out bass fishing before the conservation period which started today and lasts for one month. Angling guide Richie Ryan of Eire Bass has been enjoying some very good fly fishing for bass in the Cork Harbour area but with the close season for Bass now in force for a month, Richie went out and caught some nice mullet on the fly. Another salt water angling guide Damien Willis had great success in north Kerry catching some nice bass on the fly
IFI is taking part in an international survey with counterparts in the USA, UK and Australia to find out more about your opinions on fish habitat restoration work. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes and is available by clicking here. There’s a link at the end of the survey that takes you a separate, unlinked page where you can enter the draw for some great prizes including a €300 tackle voucher, measuring mats and angling books.
There is plenty of news on forthcoming competitions and events coming up with Fisheries Awareness Week in the clippings and other news sections of the Irish Angling Update,
Be safe this summer and enjoy your fishing,
Paul Bourke
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].
Ghillie Vincent Appleby reports on the salmon and sea trout fishing in the past week on Lough Currane from his blog at http://wwwsalmonandseatroutphotos.blogspot.com/ 7/5/14 Lough Currane was on the wild side and in the words of Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com the Lake was mad from the west, so on that note as my Noble Salmon weren’t in a taking mood we head for the wild Finch department and they were in a taking mood with Scones on the menu. Wind W Mad and overcast with showers.
8/5/14 All the headlines and the action comes from the North side and the Bungalow, and not forgetting a bit of history breaking news, so lets get to the action, Mr. Michael Shultz of Berlin, Germany, wrote himself into the history books by catching the first Spring clipped Hatchery 10 lbs Salmon on the fly off the point of Grassy, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com Now we head to the specimen Sea trout department and Mr. Paul Eustace, fishing with his Gillie Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com caught a cracker of a Sea Trout of 8 lb. 8 oz., caught on the troll. Wind NW light to fresh with good cloud cover and for the rest of the Lough Currane angling community, no Comment.
9/5/14 All today’s head lines go to the Wolverhampton Wanderer, yes you have it, Local Gillie Mr. Bob Priestly caught a fine 10 lb. Salmon on the troll. Now to the belated Salmon Department, yesterday Mr. Kevin Brain of www.kbfishingireland.com caught a fine Salmon on the Commeragh River. Wind fresh North West this morning then veered SW light this afternoon, with rain coming in this evening, amount of rainfall yesterday 9.7 mm.
10/5/14 Lough Currane was on the mental side, with a wild West wind blowing down the Lake, but wild or not this didn’t deter two boats heading for the Mouth of the Commeragh, but alas only one boat came up with the goods and that honour goes to Mr. Colin Lynam of Dublin, who caught a 6 lb. Salmon on the fly, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Mike O’Dwyer, and just for the record the paparazzi stayed at home because of the wild conditions, but there is a photo, so as soon as I get it, I will put it up. Wind as already stated. Overcast with heavy showers.
11/5/14 There was good fishing on Lough Currane today, so straight to the action, first, and I mean first in the striking zone, was Master Conor, who gave his Proud Granddad and local Gillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com a helping hand with his 10 lb. Salmon and may it be the first of many for Conor, just for the record Frankie caught his Salmon on the troll. Staying on the south side Mr. Gerry O’Sullivan of Cork caught a lightening 9 ½ lbs Salmon on the Troll. Now we cut across to the North side and the hired out boat department of Waterville Boats and at [email protected] Mr. Daniel O’Sullivan caught a 3 lbs Grilse on the troll, along the North Shore going towards the Black Point. Staying with the North Shore we head for the Sea trout department, Mr Arnold Slater caught a fine 2 lb. Sea Trout on the troll while fishing his Gillie Mr. Junior Scully. Now for the Lough Currane regional forecast, wind fresh NW with showers. As promised the photo of yesterday’s Salmon, of Mr. Colin Lynam, Dublin, and his fine 6 lb. Salmon.
12/5/14 My Noble Anglers took a rest in all departments today, in other words they failed miserably in their duties to entice and manipulate their Flies and their Lures to attract my Noble Salmon or the mighty specimen Sea Trout of Lough Currane. Wind NW fresh with heavy April Showers in May.
13/5/14 My words of wisdom yesterday beard fruit, so lets get down to the action. First in the striking zone was Mr. Dave Eccelstone of the UK and Waterville, who caught a fine 9 lbs Salmon on the fly, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Vincent O’Sullivan of www.vincentsfishing.com now we cut across to the North shore and the trolling department, Mr. Brod Sullivan and his good friend caught a fine 8 lbs on the troll, sorry have no photo which is a pity, there was also a fresh 5 lbs Salmon caught on the troll by Mr. Michael Shultz of Berlin Germany, fishing with his Gillie Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com and the action didn’t stop there, On the Commeragh River Mr. Mike Teahan the Matador of Waterville caught a fine 9 lbs Salmon on the Black Birds Fancy. Wind NNW light with good cloud cover.
14/5/14 Straight to the gossip department, and for good reason! Rumours were going around, that great and renowned Gillie Mr. Vincent O’Sullivan has lost his touch, well you want to go back to the drawing board and think again Lads, because Mr. Vincent O’Sullivan of www.vincentsfishing.com and his client Mr. Dave Eccelstone of the UK and Waterville, were in good form again with another fine Salmon in the 8 ½ lb. class caught on the fly, 2 Salmon in 24 hours not bad what, lost it my foot. Just for the record Vincent’s and Dave’s photos were taken by fellow Angler Mr. Ken Towner of the UK and Waterville. Wind W light variable with reasonable cloud cover with light drizzle at times.
Vincent Appleby
Eureka Lodge Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0)66 9475248
Mobile: +353 (0)87 2074882
E-mail: [email protected]
The Killybegs Sea Angling Club held their May Species competition last weekend with two boats used for competition, Brian McGilloway’s Meridean and Colin Campbell with the Duanai Mara. Thirteen seniors and two juniors took part.
The top angler on the day was Michael Patton with a total of 14 species. He was closely followed by Fred Mills with 13 species and David McCormack with 12 species.
Top junior angler was Dylan Doherty with eight species. Best Killybegs SAC angler was Orin McLaughlin with eight species….
Donegal Democrat 15/05/2014 Read the article ‘Plenty of local winners at Killybegs Sea Angling May competition‘
I had the pleasure of accompanying anglers from Liverpool to Ireland last week for the Anglers World Angling Festival held on the River Shannon at Banagher, County Offaly.
Experience is priceless on the Irish Scene as these huge waters can be daunting and capable of throwing up colossal weights.
As the week went on through the five day event, I was soon reminded that confidence was just as important as the enormous amounts of tackle and bait the 41 competitors from all over England were hauling to their pegs….
Liverpool Echo 14/05/2014 Read the article ‘Angling with Joe Farrell: Confidence is key for Macca‘
