* Status orange weather warning for the southwest, west and northwest coasts * Status yellow warning for Leinster and other parts of the country * Cork and Galway cities at risk of flooding * Highest gusts – between 100 and 130kph – on southwest, west and northwest coasts * Flooding will be caused by heavy rain, and high tides and coastal surgest * Coasts will see the highest tides of the year * Met Eireann issued alerts to councils on Monday, to set precautions in place * Walkers warned not to go near the coast or shores * Irish Water Safety (IWS) has warned drivers and pedestrians not to pass through floodwaters * Structures which have suffered unobserved damage in recent storms will be vulnerable * Rivers like the Lee, Suir, and Shannon have already burst their banks, causing flooding….
Ireland’s Biggest Bass Festival brought anglers from far and near last year. The craic and the laughter will be remembered for a long time. The tales of the catches get better and bigger the more they are told. Be a part of this years festival on July 25th, 26th and 27th 2014. Book now with Absolute Fishing ‘Here’
2013 Festival Photos…..
Overall winner Jamie O’RourkeTaking time out after a long night’s fishingTaking a break from the summer sun…
Phil, Eugene and John with Tralee Bays first cod of 2014. Who said you can't catch cod in Kerry?
Danial Brosnan PRO for Tralee Bay SAC reports on their recent Winters League:
We all taught it would be a washout and it WAS for the first hour. The beach was situated in our favour because the wind was to the back of us. Ballyquinn is a very steep beach something we are not used to in Kerry. It is obviously very deep a couple of feet out and this was what we wanted to try and target some winter species. Cod was on our minds and the holy black sole….
The anglers got to be thanked for coming out because if people were to go on the weather forecast, fishing would have looked like a mad act. The weather played ball tho as the clouds opened up and dispersed after about 40 mins. We had a good two hours of lovely calm weather. The usual suspects again of Phil Ord, Eugene Farrelly and Chris o Sullivan, where hard to keep up with. Chris had a double in his first few casts which included a dog and with the new Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club rules, dogs will be very valuable. People can complain about the rules all they want but they are the rules and you can’t change them now for the year….
Ballyquinn Beach, Brandon, Winter League, 2014
Phil Ord had a double also in his second cast and whoever says fishing is luck, can throw that statement out the window. Paul O Sullivan who travelled all the way down from limerick to fish and an unbelievable start with four flats in the first hour. Myself and a couple of others were struggling and the bad starts cost us….
Martin McGowan was starting to catch and Anthony Foley had a few nice rounds. Connie had a few also. With the last two hours John Sheehan who was getting worried started flaking them in and Eugene had three trebles. You can’t beat a lucky peg… LOL…
On the last hour mark, there was a shitty bum moment, as fellas dropped from all angles… There was a clap of thunder which was like the gates of heaven opened and there was lads lying flat to the sand. Lighting was belting from all angles and anglers were inclined to leave the bait out that couple of extra minutes….
As I said before the usual suspects were in the running in the last half an hour, Phil, Eugene and Chris were playing for the big spots…
We got to hand it to, Chris O Sullivan, who pulled out a double dog last cast to cement his number one spot… Top notch angler who has the chance, next weekend, to fish for Ireland in the Home Nations… Every competition that is on in Kerry, affiliated or not, Chris will be there and it stands to him in his angling…
Thanks for everyone coming out and I myself seriously enjoyed it, there something about fishing in the elements and I can guarantee in the summer time there still be lads complaining about something…
I would like to wish Chris well next weekend and please god he can fish for Ireland and represent the club..
We gonna give the winter league a break till the weekend after the club comp and we will try and finish it off in Feb…
Phil, Eugene and John with Tralee Bays first cod of 2014. Who said you can’t catch cod in Kerry?
Eugene with a specimen Kerry cod..?????
A double for Dan
VENUE, BALLYQUINN BEACH, BRANDON….
DATE : 6/01/2014….
TIME: 1500 – 1900….
CONDITIONS : LIGHTENING, THUNDER, MILD, CALM, GALE FORCE WIND AND NO WIND…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
RESULTS
1ST, CHRIS O SULLIVAN, 522 POINTS, 19 FISH….
2ND, PHIL ORD, 403 POINTS, 15 FISH….
3RD, EUGENE FARRELLY, 385 POINTS, 16 FISH….
4TH, MARTIN MCGOWAN, 273 POINTS, 11 FISH….
5TH, JOHN SHEEHAN, 263 POINTS, 10 FISH….
6TH, DANIEL BROSNAN, 138 POINTS, 6 FISH….
7TH, PUAL O SULLIVAN, 121 POINTS, 4 FISH….
8TH, ANTHONY FOLEY, 102 POINTS, 4 FISH…
9TH, CONNIE O SULLIVAN, 79 POINTS, 3 FISH…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
POOLS
TOTAL FISH : 88 FISH…
BIGGEST ROUND : 28 CM, COD, EUGENE FARRELLY & PHIL ORD…
BIGGEST FLAT : 32 CM, PHIL ORD…
OVERALL POOLS HAVE NOT BEEN BEAT…
OVERALL BIGGEST ROUND : 60CM EEL, MARTIN MCGOWAN..
OVERALL BIGGEST FLAT : 37 CM BY 3 ANGLERS…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DISCUSSION
AS THE WINTER LEAGUE IS BEEN RAN ACCORDING TO THE NEW TRALEE BAY SEA ANGLING CLUB RULES…
EVERYTHING THAT IS SET OUT IN THE FIRST POST OF THE WINTER LEAGUE HERE ON FACEBOOK WILL BE STRICTLY ACCORDED TO…
DOGS ARE NOW REGARDING AS TOTAL SCORE FISH…
THERE IS NO MORE SET SCORES FOR DOGS, THIS WAS VOTED IN AT THE AGM…
WHAT WASN’T CONSIDERED WAS, ARE THEY NOW CONSIDERED ROUND FISH???
ARE THEY INCLUDED IN THE ROUND FISH POOLS, I GOT ONTO EUGENE WHO WAS NEARLY 100% SURE THERE WERE NOT BUT I CANT REMEMBER IT BEEN DISCUSSED, SOMETHING FOR THE ANGLERS TO DISCUSS… WHATEVER THE RULES ARE WITH TRALEE BAY WILL BE THE SAME WITH THE WINTER LEAGUE…
Tralee Bay SAC is a thriving community of enthusiastic anglers – young and old, experienced and newcomers – with new members joining all of the time. We have a busy schedule of shore and boat competitions and lots of social events planned throughout the year. Tralee Bay is a family friendly, welcoming club with a reputation for promoting angling and encouraging newcomers to the sport.
Joining could not be easier – simply get in touch with us via our Contact us page leave your address and we will send you out an application form. Please also let us have your email address – especially if you have any queries for us. We are especially eager to hear from junior anglers who want to take advantage of club membership. For more information on joining see here – Joining Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club.
A photo taken by photographer John Mc Vitty of an angler battling the elements at the Sea Pools on New Year’s Day which appeared in yesterday’s Irish Independent.
Shane Gallagher from the Drowes Salmon Fishery gives us an update on river conditions:
Water levels rose again today following very heavy rain overnight and this morning. The water was a little coloured following the flood but mainly cleared by afternoon. The gauge is now back to over 1 metre. Forecast for tomorrow is cold and dry, more heavy rain and strong winds forecast for Sunday and Monday. Unsettled, stormy conditions look set to continue into the start of next week. The strong winds and flood waters are making fishing conditions very difficult indeed.
Drowes – The Terrace and Black Gutter this morning.Lower Blackwater Today.A photo taken by photographer John Mc Vitty of an angler battling the elements at the Sea Pools on New Year’s Day which appeared in yesterday’s Irish Independent.
Ardaire Springs is certainly setting the standards high for fisheries. Jason O’Riordan will testify to this. What a fantastic start to the weekend he had. A Superb monster brown trout weighing 11.5lbs ! Jason tells us:
It was late Friday evening when I noticed a message from Kuba asking if I would accompany him to Ardaire Springs. No problem, and as the forecast was for cold calm conditions I reckoned there was a chance of a BIG fish. As usual I set up 2 Hardy rods, one with a floating and one with sinking line. Two of Kuba’s friends were there and Mick, Martin and Dave arrived shortly after. Kuba and I started off with bloodworms and his friends opted for lures. They were first into the fish . . .
Kuba
. . . .but then Kuba hooked up on the worm.
Kris
I was into a bow at the same time!
There were a few fish moving subsurface but not a lot was being caught. I decided to switch to the sinker supplied to me recently by Waterford Angling & Outdoor and added a dropper. I put a Tarantula blob on the dropper and a mini booby on the point. A cast or two later and I was into something serious on the Tarantula. Ned was beside me and caught sight of the beast. He and Martin quickly removed their lines from the water and Ned offered to land the fish for me. After a good battle a superb double figure brown was in the net . . . CRACKER!!!
A superb brown for Jason
A few photos and Martin measured the fish at around 75cm (and it wasn’t even straight!). It was time to release the fin perfect beauty. What a start to 2014!!!
Safely returned
After that I didn’t fish too hard, trying a few new flies and tactics for the future. Kuba and the boys had a few on lures and Martin had some nice fish on his secret buzzer. The odd trout was taken on buzzers and worms fished deep and really slow. Quite a few anglers fished the lake and I doubt anyone had more than 8 trout which is exceptionally low for this fishery but although quantity was down on this occasion the quality certainly made up for it.
To make a booking contact..
Jason O’Riordan
Hardy/Greys approved guide and an IFFF Qualified Fly Casting Instructor
Notes: Jason has a lifetime of experience in fishing and guiding on the rivers, lakes and coastline in the area. Jason has given talks on fishing techniques at the leading angling shows in Ireland. Game Fishing Ireland offers guided packages for salmon, river trout, lake trout and saltwater game species. Fishing packages can vary in price depending on the target species and time of year. A typical package can include permits, travel, guiding, and packed lunch. Tackle hire is also available.
THE first salmon caught in Ireland this year cost Limerick restaurant proprietor, Ted Moynihan, £157.50. This is believed to be a world record price… Limerick Leader, 03/01/14. Read the full article ‘Memories, 1974: Limerick man pays record price for fish‘.
The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland’s executive committee have appointed Mark Theedom, Brenton Sweeney and Gavin Walsh as their national team managers from 2014 to 2016. Theedom takes charge of the Float Team (World and European Championships and Celtic Cup); Sweeney the Feeder Team (World Feeder Championships); and Walsh the Junior Team (World Championships and Celtic Cup). The appointments will be ratified at the Federation’s AGM next month… Belfast Telegraph, 04/01/14. Read the full article ‘Ireland team managers for next three years appointed‘.
‘MOST anglers went home early,” according to River Drowes fisheries owner Shane Gallagher on the opening day of the salmon angling season in the northern region. “High murky water levels” and sleety rain, made angling barely possible for the 80 anglers – and not a sign of a salmon for the hardy few who braved the conditions in an attempt to land the first salmon of the season. It was a similar story on the River Liffey… Irish Times, 06/01/14. Read the full article ‘Salmon play hard to get on New Year’s Day due to bad weather and high water‘.
A busy man, that’s what Guide Jason O’Riordan is. Back in Ardaire Springs with son Luke and friend Kuba, Jason gives the residences of the lake a good shake up and says hello to a good few of them before releasing them back to fight another day.
On New Year’s Eve he reports:
Earlier in the week Kuba contacted me asking if I would like to end the season with a days fishing on Ardaire Springs. Fishing on New Years Eve – of course! It was the final chance of 2013 to ‘fling a fly’ into the water. We arrived at the fishery at 9am and Krysztof, a friend of Kuba’s was there waiting. I opted to set both my 10 ft Hardy rods – one with a floater and one with a sinking line.
Krzyzstof with rainbow
I put a spare spool for my Greys reel holding a 0.5ips Intermediate line into my pocket – just in case. The lake was flat calm with not much surface activity. The first hour or two were action packed for me with a lot of fish on a static bloodworm.
The wind picked up and there were periods of torrential rain. I continued to pick up a few fish as did Martin who I have met at Ardaire on a few occasions now. Kuba and Krysztof had a few takes on lures but not lots of fish.
Kuba with a fine rainbow
We took a break for lunch and I met some of the anglers that will be participating in my Stillwater course at Ardaire in February. Really nice people. This course is now full but there are still a few spaces on the March course. Later in the afternoon the strong wind and heavy rain moved off but air temperatures dropped. The odd fish was still falling to nymphs fished really slowly.
decided to try a black lure on the 7wt and it paid off. Kuba wasn’t having a lot of success so I gave him a large streamer fly to try. It was a pattern that had caught a lot of trout for me and anglers I guided on the Rivers Nire and Suir. Third cast and he caught – result!
Even as the light began to fade away and the year came to a close there were still a few fish biting.
Not as many large fish as some previous trips to this fishery but fantastic to be fishing on New Years Eve and really looking forward to 2014. Have to mention that the fish were in superb condition too.
Lucky Luke enjoys the fishing with Dad
As the day seemed fairly pleasant I took Luke fishing over at Ardaire Springs for a few hours. There were one or two rods fishing when we arrived but nobody seemed to be catching much. I set up Luke’s 7ft rod with a bloodworm and my own 10ft Hardy 6wt with a buzzer. First cast and Luke was into a fish!!!
Luke at Ardaire with his cracking fish
A few pointers on this technique and within minutes he was in again . . . a bigger fish too!
He was getting too good at this technique for my liking . . . I couldn’t get a cast in and he was nabbing all the quality fish!
A few more fish and cunningly, I suggested he might like some soup and sambos!! After the food I finally managed to get a few casts in with the buzzer and nailed a few fish. I think Luke was better at catching than cameraman though.
Jason at Ardaire
To make a booking contact..
Jason O’Riordan
Hardy/Greys approved guide and an IFFF Qualified Fly Casting Instructor
Notes: Jason has a lifetime of experience in fishing and guiding on the rivers, lakes and coastline in the area. Jason has given talks on fishing techniques at the leading angling shows in Ireland. Game Fishing Ireland offers guided packages for salmon, river trout, lake trout and saltwater game species. Fishing packages can vary in price depending on the target species and time of year. A typical package can include permits, travel, guiding, and packed lunch. Tackle hire is also available.
Steven Neely had his letter posted to Santa in good time and obviously was very well behaved during the year as he got a new Go Pro. No sooner was the White bearded, red-suited chubby chap back up the chimney when Steven was out the door pike fishing!! He reports:
I was lucky enough to get a Go Pro, so stay tuned for my adventures with it – when I get the chance to get out and try it! We had a rather slow, and unproductive day at the Pike but we still managed a few.
It was a lovely day, bright, crisp, cold and sunny ….. so I guess it wasn’t all bad. Fish were not huge but in really nice condition which is promising and good to see. Lunker City Sluggo fished slowly along the bottom produced this other hungry Pike. It really was a struggle to find the fish, we tried all sorts of plugs and plastics but in the end we were happy to even get a bend in the rod and a breath of fresh air.
Looking forward to wetting a line over the New Year and hopefully getting the Go Pro out.
