Rain, rain, rain…and more rain! The beginning of the 2014 salmon season across the country has been extremely difficult on a lot of rivers due to the continuous low pressure systems crossing the country. Luckily some fisheries such as the Drowes, Waterville, Delphi and Killarney Flesk are picking up spring salmon but for most the biggest challenge lies in being able to get near the river! As you might notice these systems have lakes, a huge contributing factor to their spring time success. A major effect of a lake is to stabilise river levels, hold back excess volumes of water and filter the water so that it is clear in the outflowing river (although the Flesk flows into Lough Leane).
The Bandon opened to a roaring flood of over 2.0 metres on February 15th, rendering it unfishable. Since then we have had a further 4 floods. However, in between these events it was possible to go out and wet a line. There have been no reports of fresh fish as of yet but no doubt a few are running with all this water. The best reported catch so far is a 3lb brown trout released on the fly. So far I have released 10 kelts and met a number more. I thought most of them would be gone by now with all the high water but this hasn’t been the case as other fishermen have also been meeting a few. Due to the river levels I have been mostly spinning as I want to get the lure down as deep as possible and fish it around slowly. A good tactic has been to cast straight across river or slightly upstream, leave the spinner sink a few seconds, flick over the bale arm and leave it come around like you would a fly. One kelt came to the fly rod but the river has been mostly too high to fish the fly effectively for spring fish. Below are 2 photos of how the river is looking today, February 26th. The first is the “Swimming Pool” above Baxter’s Bridge and the next is the “Rocky Hole”.
When the water comes down to a more appreciable height I hope the following flies winkle a fresh fish or two out for me.
The tube flies in the top photo are tied on brass/copper tubes as well as one slipstream aluminium tube. Patterns, starting from top left going clockwise, are a Scandi Green Butt Cascade, Dee Monkey, Scandi Green Highlander, Gold Bodied Willie Gunn and Grizzly Green Butt Cascade. Flies in the bottom photo are tied on size 9 salar double hooks. Patterns, starting from top left going clockwise, are Green Highlander, Silver Doctor, Kinermony Killer Shrimp, Pearl Park Shrimp and Ally’s Shrimp. Here is a closer look at the Scandi Green Butt Cascade with Pro Soft Sonicdisc.
On Saturday March 1st we held our first beginners course of 2014. Luckily the weather was good and the rain held off for most of the day! The guys had a great day, and we went through a lot of techniques including basic casts such as overhead and roll cast, then moved on to shooting line. In the afternoon the fishing was poor due to the fact the water was so coloured, so we changed our emphasis to further enhancing the participants casting. By the end of the day the were able to single and almost double haul.
Our next beginners course is on the 22 of March, for more info see our courses section. Web:www.flyfishingireland.com
Clonanav Fly Fishing is one of Irelands leading destinations for river fishing. We specialise in fly fishing for both brown trout and salmon in the River Suir and tributaries. Crystal clear rivers teeming with native brown trout await you on you visit to Clonanav. Experience some of the best river trout fishing Ireland has to offer coupled with excellent guiding and tuition.
Learn all about the Tried and Tested Saltwater Techniques from Jim, Glenda and Brian at the April Workshops
An idea that came together for saltwater fly-fishing guru Jim Hendrick last year, over the past few days the idea has turned to reality and is now a real opportunity for any person who already enjoys or would like to learn more about saltwater fly fishing on the Irish coast.
Jim Hendrick, Glenda Powell and Brian Healey have teamed up to provide three days of integrated and blended workshops that will compliment each other and provide you with a solid base of saltwater fly fishing knowledge and techniques for your 2014 season and beyond. Improve your fly casting, fly tying and fishing techniques and have a lot of fun too along the way!
Running over three days the primer is limited to nine places. The intention being that each person will experience two workshops in each of the disciplines over the three days, total six workshops! Because there’s such a lot going on timings are spaced nicely.
Fly casting techniques SH – delivered by Glenda – improving line speed, casting bigger flies, body positioning and much more.
Fly tying techniques – delivered by Brian – tying techniques for BTD’s, saltwater sea trout patterns, and material management.
Fly fishing – delivered by Jim – take your new improved casting and your own newly tied flies and go fishing on the wild coast with Jim
Jim is delighted that they will be based at one of the countries longest established and well known bass fishing centres – The Bella Vista at Cobh, in Co.Cork – Kevin has vast experience both of bass fishing and bass fishing anglers!
So if you have had a difficult forced ‘hibernation’ over the past ten weeks and are looking forward to season 2014 what better way to shake off the cobwebs in enthusiastic good company, good food, excellent accommodations and wild fishing on the Cork coast.
Cost for three days Saltwater Primer, (six workshops) two nights B+B, –€375.00 – evening meals at the Bella Vista or at local restaurants can be arranged and are a little extra.
If you would like more details or to reserve a place on this exciting three day opportunity then please don’t hesitate to call Jim at any time on 086 3444557
Anglers from both sides of the Border converged in Enniskillen on Saturday to highlight their fears for the future of endangered fish species if fracking goes ahead.
A cavalcade of 50 boats on trailers was driven through the Co Fermanagh town as fishermen claimed the controversial method of shale gas extraction could threaten popular angling lakes on both sides of the Border – including Lough Melvin, Lough Erne, Lough Allen, Lough McNean and Lough Arrow….
Lough Sheelin Angling Report By Brenda Montgomery, IFI -March 1st to March 3rd, 2014
…Perhaps the greatest satisfaction on the first day of the season is the knowledge in the evening that the whole rest of the season is to come … Arthur Ransome
Mullaghboy, Lough Sheelin
It’s been a long winter or feels that way and a certain ‘eternity’ since the last boat ventured out on Lough Sheelin for a day’s fishing, now 18 weeks ago – it’s good to be back on this lake.
Lough Sheelin’s 4500 acreage has increased dramatically due to the continuous rains and winds which have hammered its shores almost relentlessly for the months of January and February (5.29 inches of rain – over twice that of 2013) A few carelessly tied boats have sunk, some with a section of the bow looking up forlornly at the sky and some being wedged in bushes along the lake’s shore line. Usually there is a mass return of boats in the run up to the start of the season but this year it’s difficult as the most popular docking pier – Kilnahard has disappeared under flood water and even the most brazen of angler would be afraid that his freshly painted and manicured boat would be either beached on the concrete due to receding waters or driven through some fellow angler’s mobile home by more flood water.
Looking out at all this water, I can’t help but think of a line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem ‘The Ancient Mariner’ – ‘Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink‘
There was once a pier at Kilnahard before the rain took over
While the lake rested from its anglers, the trout did not and from October 2013 onwards there was a noticeable rise in the numbers of trout spawning in the rivers, almost twice that of the previous year, so much so that you felt that the fish were taking it in shifts to visit the spawning grounds. It was hard not to feel privileged to witness the huge numbers of trout, their back fins slicing through the surface water as they headed towards their spawning sites.
The L.S.T.P.A were not idle during the close season and ran a very successful series of fly tying classes starting in November and ending Monday February 17th, these classes were very popular and the enthusiastic participants ranged in age from 8 up to over 60 years.
‘Perfecting the Master Fly’
Darragh Darcey, Mountnugent, Cavan at the LSTPA fly tying class at Lough Sheelin
Lough Sheelin’s angling club – The Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association held their AGM on Saturday, February 22rd in Crover House Hotel. This year the club invited its members to visit the rehabilitation work they had carried out during the year (under the design and supervision of IFI) on the Carrick river, this was followed by fly tying where some of the younger members demonstrated their newly acquired skills and then the AGM followed on with the normal agenda. This new beginning brought a refreshing touch to this annual meeting, which was very well attended by an enthusiastic, exuberant and dedicated group of anglers. As a guest at this AGM it never ceases to impress me the strength and relentless dedication that this club has towards the care and protection of Lough Sheelin.
For anyone who is interested in joining this club, please contact Eamonn Ross 087 @ 9436655 or Thomas Lynch @ 087 9132033.
‘Sheelin is Back’
Lough Sheelin, our Fairy Pool, wove its unique magic for the anglers who ventured out on its waters on the first day of this brand new season, by producing some fantastic angling and some lovely trout, the heaviest weighing in at 4lbs caught at 10am by Dublin angler, Andrew Brown. Sheelin is starting as it means to go on.
Although cold with water temperatures hovering around 3 ½ degrees the rain kept at a distance during that first day and the water looked surprisingly clear given the amount of rainfall in the run up to this opening season. The sport was good and a variety of wet flies, single and in teams were used with varying degrees of success but the so called ‘killer flies’ were the Fiery Brown Dabblers, Humungus, Hare’s ear, Connemara black, March Brown, Claret Dabbler, Gold Olive Bumbles. Bibios, the Glister Ollie and the Minkie. An interesting new comer which landed its Northern Ireland user two nice trout was The Midnight Stalker which despite conjuring up spooky visions wasn’t that scary at all and instead was a really nice wet fly more than worthy of consideration in the future.
Sinking lines were the order of the day with the Wet Cell 11 (now called the professional series full sinking line) being the pick. The lake on these first two days seemed to fish better in the afternoon and depending on wind direction, the Western shore and around Kilnahard and Chambers Bay yielded the highest results.
Andrew Brown, Dublin making it look easy with his 4lb trout caught at 10am on March 1st
In early season for Lough Sheelin the trout are mainly preoccupied with feeding on freshwater shrimp and freshwater louse (assellus and gammerus) with a smattering of snails, nymphs and zebra mussels thrown in for variation. In previous years with this lake it was refuted that the best trout fishing was mainly along the rocky shores and exposed points but it’s a little different this year because with the extensive flooding of the lake the rocky shores have disappeared to be replaced by bushes and trees but there are lots of exposed points and areas worth trying (depending on wind direction) are Sailor’s Garden, Merry Point, Gaffney’s Bay, Inchacup, the south shore of Derrysheridan and Ross Bay and along the north shore of the lake from Chambers Bay to Crover. The Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear – The best known wet fly pattern ever tied. Good to fish in early season in a size 8 on a sinking line
The March Brown – this is like a cousin to the Hare’s Ear, it’s a great fish catcher that will attract larger fish when fished on sizes 10 and 12. Also like the Hare’s Ear, a version tied on a size 8 hook brings in big trout
The Midnight Stalker – Sheelin’s newcomer
A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times
Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 790 – we need to keep our small fish alive……………
The first competition of the year – The Kilroy Cup will be held on the lake on Sunday March16thfrom 11.0 am – 5pm, starting from Kilnahard pier. Please contact Thomas Lynch @ 087 9132033 for further details.
‘A new arrival’ at Lough Sheelin
Please remember All anglers are required to have a Fishery Permit to fish Lough Sheelin which must be purchased before going out on the lake.
The heaviest fish for the week was a 4 pounder caught by Andrew Brown using a Golden Olive Bumble.
Total number of trout recorded: 25
Selection of Catches
Eddie Shanagher, Clare – 2 trout fishing wet flies, heaviest was 2lbs on Sunday March 2nd fishing with Gary of Lough Sheelin Guiding Services.
Paul Lunney, Ballyconnell, Co.Cavan – March 1st 3 trout heaviest was 3.5lbs using wet flies.
Thomas Lynch, Kilnaleck – Saturday March 1st, 1 trout at over a pound using wet flies.
Peter Boyle, Monaghan – March 1st 2 trout heaviest at over 2lbs, caught using a Fiery Brown Dabbler and a Humungus.
Andrew Brown and Garry McKiernan – 5 trout in total on March 1st, heaviest was 4lbs, the rest of the fish ranged in weight from 1 ½ to 3½ lbs, caught using bibios, golden olive bumbles and a glister Ollie (all released).
Michael Gillespie, Donegal – 2 trout on March 1st, heaviest was 3 ½ lbs both caught on a midnight stalker. Brenda Montgomery IFI ‘All Kinds of Everything’ Snow at Finea, Lough Sheelin February 2014
Ireland’s Lakeland & Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship is returning in 2014. The event will take place from the 8th to 12th September 2014 in Ireland’s superb wild coarse fishing venues in the Lakelands region with many top class international anglers seeking the prestigious ‘World Pairs Champions’ title. Steve Ringer with roach
The Lakelands & Inland Waterways partners Waterways Ireland (@waterwaysirelan) and Fáilte Ireland (@failte_ireland) are delighted with the interest the World Pairs has generated and in conjunction with the host counties of Leitrim, Fermanagh and Cavan have sponsored the prize fund, a guaranteed €20,000 with more to come dependant on entries. Éanna Rowe Co-Chair of Lakeland & Inland Waterways confirmed “The Lakeland & Inland Waterways World Pairs has clearly highlighted to many international anglers that wild coarse fishing is hugely exciting, challenging and widely available in Ireland’s Lakelands. Waterways Ireland and Fáilte Ireland are delighted to co-sponsor the event again under our tourism banner Lakeland & Inland Waterways with support from Fermanagh District Council, Leitrim County Council, Cavan County Council and DAIWA. We are delighted to share our wonderful angling resources with the international angling community at the World Pairs.”
The DAIWA Cup remains an important factor of this event allowing competitors to compete on an individual basis with the opportunity to win daily section and county cash prizes with the top ten receiving vouchers to be spent with DAIWA UK. Robin Morley comments; “In only two years The World Pairs has emerged as one of the most prestigious events on the calendar and we are sure its appeal on a fishing and social level brings something that has been missing for a lot of UK and European anglers. Ireland is a great ‘wild’ place to come and fish. We at Daiwa are certainly ‘up for the cup’ for as long as The Pairs continues.” Ryan Kersley Dean Barlow
New for 2014 are products to be donated by Bait-Tech Advanced Bait Solutions. Bait Tech invest heavily in top class anglers in the UK and now Ireland to ensure they get the best feedback in order to develop their products. Andy Neal comments; “Bait –Tech are proud to be involved with the World Pairs Event. The match organisers have made a huge success of this competition and definitely put Ireland back on the angling map. More and more anglers are back in Ireland enjoying the fabulous sport that’s on offer. Couple that with the stunning surroundings and wonderful hospitality, you’re guaranteed a great time. The event has gone from strength to strength and looks to have a massive future. With fishing of the quality that’s on offer and some of the best anglers in the world competing, we relish the chance to be involved. This is natural fishing at its very best. It needs to be celebrated!” Cathal Hugh
The organisers were delighted to see many new faces in 2013, some who were visiting Ireland to fish for the very first time. This event showcases the range of waters the Lakelands have on offer and provides an opportunity for anglers to compete in pairs and at an individual level. Ground support from Inland Fisheries Ireland (www.fishinginireland.info) and DCAL Fisheries Northern Ireland makes this event one of the most professionally run in Ireland. Interest is huge for this year and numbers will be limited so be sure to get your entry in soon. The match organisers will be taking bookings from Saturday 8th March with more information coming in the following weeks at Facebook (worldpairsangling) and Twitter(@worldpairs) or visit http://www.worldpairsangling.com/.
For more information contact
Match Organisers PR – Helen Rainsford. Telephone: 0044 (0)7711607200
Lakelands & Inland Waterways PR – Katrina Mc Girr (Waterways Ireland). Telephone: 00353 (0)87 991 8412. Email:[email protected]
Caoimhghin Phelan fished lower Lough Derg on March 1st and despite unfavourable conditions, managed to pull out four pike, including three doubles. The wind was probably 20km, air temperature was 6°c and the water was 6.5°c. Caoimhghin tells us:
I entered the lake at Holy Island slipway, north of Scarriff, and made my way south-east trolling the shore-line. The water was extremely high so I kept snagging up on buried weed. I decided to change my tactics and headed towards an old spot of mine and anchored up.
Caoimhghin Phelan on Lough Derg
I rigged my spinning rod up to accommodate a deadbait rig and also had a second rod set up to double my chances. I had my first fish on a ledgered roach which I estimated to be 8lb. This fish, along with the following three certainly had their breakfast and were probably full of spawn. It probably would only have been a fish of 6-7lb in the summer time. Got a quick snap and off she swam. It got very windy at one stage and I had to consider calling it a day but i stuck it out. It was very tough for around two hours until I got a double hook-up! Typical, either famine or feast. This time on ledgered smelt and popped up roach. One was 14lb 6oz and the other 17lb 2oz, both on the scales. An hour later I had a 10lb+ (est.) on ledgered roach, a very healthy fish.
Patrick O’Connor shares the delight with his six year old daughter Rosie as she catches some nice little pike last weekend on the Royal Canal. Rosie used soft plastic lures. An avid young angler, Rosie has been fishing since the age of 3. She has caught pike, perch and rainbow trout and usually catches bigger fish than her dad!
Adrian Browne of Oakland Lake Fishery has all the results from yesterday’s competition:
David Minogue bagged the first ton plus bag of the year at Oaklands yesterday. Fishing from peg 38 he caught steady for the 5 hour match to finish with a net of 118lb of all carp. He son Enda finished second with 67lb Steven Hunter from Kildare was 3rd with 45lb. We are now taking bookings for the festival on the May bank holiday weekend.
Results:
Results from Sunday 2nd March match
1st Dave Minough 118lb peg 38
2nd Enda Minough 67.6lb peg 50
3rd S Hunter45:8lb peg 40
4th R Minough 45.4lb peg 44
Go fishing…
Adrian Browne
Oaklands Lake,
Marshmeadows,
New Ross, Co. Wexford.
John Quinlan Fly Fishing for Bass in the Stunning Scenery in Co Kerry
Bass angling guide John Quinlan let us know that he appeared on a TV fishing show called “On the Fly” a couple of years ago, and it was shown again this Sunday morning 2nd March at 8am on RTE 2.
When the water comes down to a more appreciable height I hope the following flies winkle a fresh fish or two out for me.
The tube flies in the top photo are tied on brass/copper tubes as well as one slipstream aluminium tube. Patterns, starting from top left going clockwise, are a Scandi Green Butt Cascade, Dee Monkey, Scandi Green Highlander, Gold Bodied Willie Gunn and Grizzly Green Butt Cascade. Flies in the bottom photo are tied on size 9 salar double hooks. Patterns, starting from top left going clockwise, are Green Highlander, Silver Doctor, Kinermony Killer Shrimp, Pearl Park Shrimp and Ally’s Shrimp. Here is a closer look at the Scandi Green Butt Cascade with Pro Soft Sonicdisc.
Compliments of:
