John with one of two tench landed yesterday at Lanesborough
Paul Waghorn reports that conditions have improved somewhat at Lanesborough and that the first tench of the season have been landed there…
23 April: As the afternoon progressed, we were basking in the sunshine with temperatures reaching the heady heights of 15 or 16c This will without doubt warm the water, but we need several days to have a major effect on fish movement. Roach were again the predominate species but there increasing numbers of bigger Perch appearing with young Eosion Mcgowan catching one close to a pound on the gusher.
Anto McHugh with Lanesborough's first tench estimated weight of 4lbs.
The best news of the week was the first Tench caught by Anto McHugh of Ballyfermot at an estimated weight of 4lbs. Daniel Hoare caught some Roach below the bush and also lost a good Pike.
24 April: A slowish start for John And Kevin, the two overnighters who suffered from a bit of wind during the wee hours. Johns patience was rewarded however with two Tench around midday. There are quite a few anglers all along the stretch, and for the first time in a while, I think a more comprehensive ascessment of how the river is, will be apparent by the end of the day.
John with one of two tench landed yesterday at Lanesborough
A lot more anglers were present all long the stretch. We weighed John’s Tench and found the biggest to be a female of 4lb 11.5oz whilst the male went 3lb 9oz. Peter Wood had an estimated 25lb of all Roach from below the disabled swims.
In the meantime they can listen to Paul on his new radio show – Get Ya Tackle Out on www.getyatackleout.ie. This an audio magazine for angling in Ireland. Paul is hoping to get this format onto mainstream radio and is asking everyone to please forward this message to all your friends or put a link on your webpage.
For the next few weeks, there will be two 25 minute shows at 9pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
A big congratulations to David Muirin in Arklow on the birth of his lovely new daughter. A new recruit to fishing and surely a record for being the youngest !! David went fishing recently in Arklow and baby came too. Lots of fresh air for Dad and child.
This trip was a good opportunity to test some of David’s new gear- reel and barbless hooks and to explain to his little apprentice the c & r policy, so important to preserve sportfishing for a future generations.
David tells us:
“Long time ago I was thinking to change trebles hook for singles, but this idea was always put somewhere on the back shelf. The real spark which has triggered the idea, was the new catching policy announced earlier this year.
Referring to it : Bye-law 897 of 2012 prohibits the use of any fish hooks, other than single barbless hooks, and the use of worms as bait in angling for all species of fish in the waters specified and revokes both Angling Bye-law No. 888, 2011 and Eastern Fisheries Region (Angling) Bye-law No. 824, 2007.
To be honest, I was a bit sceptic about hooking efficiency with singles.
But today’s session has proved it- they are doing a job .
Targeting trouts on my local river while babysitting, I managed to land every hooked fish. Even crazy rainbows trouts, which spent more time tail-walking in the air than water, weren’t able to spat off the hook.
I’m really surprised about the hooking rate. I realise as well, is still to early for judgment. Is the step forward, anyway.”
Kevin Lyons from Melview Lodge reports on the pike fishing for his clients:
Eddy Maes and friend Ivan from Belgium were here for their annual Pike fishing holiday staying once again with Kevin and Jane Lyons at Melview Lodge in Longford, they were hoping to repeat some of their catch success from last year when they had two visits to Melview Lodge and caught some cracking Pike for which Eddy won catch of the week. Kevin said I’m sure the lads would have had a lot more had it not been for the high winds on some of the days, they fished with lures and dead baits and the biggest fish measuring 92 cm. They are hoping to get back to Ireland again this year for the 1 m + Pike, well done lads you work hard for your 79 Pike despite the weather conditions.
Ivan with his first of the holiday
Kevin Lyons Melview Lodge
Drumlish Road, Clonrollagh, Longford, Co. Longford. Tel : +353 (0)43-33-45061 Mobile : +353 (0)87-268-7441
Email: info@melviewlodge.comWeb: www.melviewlodge.com
Aidan Murray tells us that after 2 days of fighting against the winds in the Lough Ree Pike Festival with Niall McCormack the weather broke and they were greeted with calm sunny weather on the Friday morning. So they headed north of Hare Island to the ‘hexagon shoal’ a shallow that rises from the deep.
Aidan and Niall were fishing 4 slow trolled deadbaits when Aidan’s roach was grabbed by what he assumed was a good pike. After 10 minutes of fighting the fish he broke the surface, and they saw a beautiful brown trout of 5lb12.5oz. Not quite the winning €3,000 heaviest pike of the festival, but a lovely fish all the same !
Aidan Murray with a beautiful 5lb 12.5oz troutWell done Aidan, a fine catch
After a quiet spell due mainly to high water & lack of rods fishing, there was a considerable pickup on Sunday April 21st.
It turned out to be the Best Day of the Season so far, & also produced the Biggest Fish of the Season.
John McNulty (who was fishing as part of our Open Weekend) caught a 15 pounder on spinner on Woodstream on the upper river, about 20 miles upstream from the Lodge. A couple of miles further upstream, syndicate rod David Walsh (Mallow) caught his very first ever spring salmon weighing 6lb. He switched to a single barbless hooked spinner & then promptly caught & released a second fish which he estimated between 9-9½lb.
John Nulty with 15lb salmon
Yet more rain in the upper catchment on Monday which brought the river up once again overnight, but by Tuesday morning it was already falling back. Clarity is quite good at 2½-3 feet.
Tuesday 23rd April: The river continues to fine off & another fine fish was taken today by Barry Kendellan weighing 13.5lb. It was taken on the upper river.
The air temperature reaches a balmy 19C today in the afternoon, & the water temperature on the upper river is now over 10C.
Barry Kendellan with salmon weighing 13.5lb. It was taken on the upper river.
Prospects:
With the forecast now mainly dry for the coming week, prospects of sport are looking superb as there is now obviously a good head of springers in the system & the river is coming back towards good conditions.
To access all the features on this page, you will need a flash player on your computer. Some smart phones may need to download an app. to see the page.
A nice fish caught with a size 14 F fly on the Rye Water in the last few days.
Rob Love from Carton House reports on the Ryewater
Silly old me for getting my hopes up… I had thought that by virtue of the fact we are nearly in May & with winds switching to the west Mr Trout would be hurling himself at our flies in pretty much carefree abandon.
Unfortunately my optimism has been short-lived with temperatures due to take a tumble over the next week.
Fishing has in truth been difficult on the Rye Water over the last few days. Although there have been decent hatches of Large Dark Olives the fish have been reluctant to feed on the surface (in fact ‘rises’ have been pretty much non existent).
A nice fish caught with a size 14 F fly on the Rye Water in the last few days.
Nymph fishing has been quite slow too which is a pity as the river has been running at a nice level over the last while.
As already mentioned in the previous reports both flashback PTN and Hares Ear in size 14 are worth a try – especially when fished through any runs or riffles.
Rob Love Carton House Fishery
If you have any queries about fishing at Carton House please contact Guest Relations on (01) 5052000 or me on 087
1947811. You can also see the other activities on offer at Carton House by checking the Carton House website www.cartonhouse.com
Tickets / permits should be purchased at the hotel main reception prior to fishing. Parking is at the boathouse on the lake. Please respect the wishes of golfers and stay off greens and Tee areas as they can become badly cut up when fishing activity takes place on them.
The NDAF “Fishing for All” Angling Facility, Rednagh Road, Aughrim is the place to be on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May. Fishing competition is from 12pm to 3pm.
Prizes include Plaques and Fishing Vouchers for heaviest Senior catch of the day and Junior catch of the day.
For further details on events and promotions phone 0402 36552
The National Disabled Angling Facility
This facility is located in the picturesque village of Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. This fishery nestles in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains and provides anglers with a great backdrop for their days fishing. The 4 acre lake which is situated in an eight acre riverside park is well stocked with rainbow trout.Specially constructed pathways enable disabled anglers to get within 45cms of the lakeside. the fishery is equipped with many facilities including pavillion, veranda, canteen and toilets. A choice of permits is availablefrom hourly to daily rates.Casting tuition is available for newcomers to the sport. For further details please contact
Duckfly are still hatching on Corrib, with no sign of olives in any numbers yet, which means that spring is at least a month behind schedule this year. Normally the olives would be in full swing, with the first hatches of mayfly appearing this week!
In the Greenfields area Frank Reilly reports that 13 anglers recorded 18 trout for 22 rod-days over the week, with Friday the best day. Frank Guilfoyle and his son Frank Jr., from Ennis, fished 3 days landing 6 trout to wet fly, including 2 cracking trout of 5.5lbs and 5.2lbs. Peter and David McGuinness from Milltown landed 7 trout for approx. 13lbs for one day’s fishing wetfly and buzzer, all fish returned alive. Most other anglers had one fish each, with several more undersized fish recorded.
Angling guide Tomasz Kurman reported on a fine trout for a younger angler last week. “The week wasn’t too good for fishing with high winds making some days really difficult. We got one chance for comfortable fishing on Friday, with nicer weather and quieter winds. I fished with my regular guest Nicholas Ward and his son Conor. Luckily we had a good take just before lunch time and Conor was soon playing his first Corrib Ferox. From the very start we didn’t have to touch the rod, this 8 year old angler did it all himself. I just netted the trout for him. It was a beautiful 8lbs trout in top condition. After a few pictures the fish was released, leaving a big smile on Conor’s face.
Conor Ward with his first Corrib ferox trout, a fine fish of 8lbs. The fish was carefully released alive again after the photograph.
Joseph Keena sent in a great report on the Connacht Cup, which was fished last weekend from Collinamuck. Although angling conditions were very difficult with a cold and blustery wind, Lough Corrib lived up to its reputation and produced some of the finest brown trout in the world. 50 anglers weighed in 30 trout over the limit, with many more smaller fish returned.
Congratulations go to Declan O’Grady of Tuam Anglers on winning the Connacht Cup with two fabulous trout for 6.25lb. This was Declan’s second time to compete in this competition and on both occasions he has qualified for the Connacht Team. Second place went to Seamus Kelly (Ballina and Cloghans), with 2 trout for 6lbs while third was Patrick Kelly (Ballina and Cloghans), who had 2 trout for 5.5lbs.
The trophy for the heaviest fish went to Mike Coyne of Culfin Anglers with a fantastic trout of 4.25lbs, whilst other successful anglers Mark Deavin (Kinlough Anglers), Sean Crean (Ballina and Cloghans), Eddie Harte (Collooney/Ballisodare), Mark Regan (Moycullen Anglers), Dorrie Gibbons (Ballina and Cloghans), Stephen Browne (Ballina and Cloghans), Michael Monaghan (Conn and Cullin), Joe Creane (Culfin Anglers), Gareth Foley (Rossinver/Melvin), Padraic Fahy (Collinamuck) and Mary Harkin (Ballina and Cloghans). These anglers will join Peter Byrne (Ballina and Cloghans), Francie White (Lough Arrow) and Francis McSharry (Rossinver/Melvin), who retained their places from the 2012 Connacht Team, in representing Connacht at the 2013 ITFFA Interprovincial Championship which will be held at Lough Mask on 6th September 2013. We congratulate those who have qualified to represent Connacht and we wish them the very best in their efforts to regain the Interprovincial Championship trophy.
The Bartley McGauley Cup was fished from Oughterard on Sunday last, with 25 anglers recording 15 trout over the limit for approx. 20lbs. The overall winner was Eamon Molloy, with 2 trout for 3lbs 13oz. Second was Kevin Molloy, with 2 trout for 3lbs 10z, and third was Philip O’Connell, with 2 trout for 3lbs 5oz.
The current unsettled conditions and milder weather would normally be expected to bring on olive hatches, which should get going shortly, and anglers will be getting out more now that the colder weather is (hopefully) behind us. I would expect fishing to pick up once the olives start coming off, with the mayfly season not that far away either.
Ronan Cusack reports that the lake rose quickly following last week’s rain, and is at least a foot higher at the moment than it has been recently. The duckfly hatch has petered out, but there are plenty of sedges hatching off. No olives have been observed yet, but these should start hatching any day now. Hugh Jamieson brought a party of 13 to Hall’s Angling Centre for 2 days fishing, and they recorded 14 trout to 2.5lbs, all to wetfly. David Hall himself fished on Friday for 2 fish to 2lbs, and brought Frank Doyle and his son out on another day, where they landed 5 trout to 1.75lbs. To book fishing or accommodation at Hall’s, contact David or Helen on 094 9541389 or check www.lakeshoreholidays.com
Damien Walsh from Castlebar fished on Sunday, recording 4 trout to 1.75lbs, and Peter Byrne, also from Castlebar landed 2 trout to 1.5lbs. Johnjo Sullivan from Fermoy landed 4 trout, including a fish of 2.5lbs, while Gerry O’Brien and his son John, from Ballinrobe, had 4 trout to 2lbs. David Nevin and Martin McCoy fished on Tuesday and landed 6 trout, best fish 2lbs. Philip McGoldrick and Anthony Baggott from Ballyhaunis landed 3 fish on Saturday to 3lbs, and Danny Joyce from Ballinrobe landed 4 fish to 2lbs on Sunday.
Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at 087 2869487 or by email at cusackronan@gmail.com
