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Baska in sunshine off the north west coast

By
Paul O'Reilly
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This great report was sent to John Paul Baska of Northwest Charters by Mark Dunlevey in Canada, who joined him for a trip recently:

The sun was hanging just right in the Donegal sky this Sunday, the 19th of April, when the lines were tossed and the journey began. Leaving the familiar shores of Arranmore behind, where our luck was not just there, the boat cut through the Atlantic swell, trading the quiet of Aranmore for the raw beauty of the deep blue.

The destination? The Stags of Owey. It wasn’t a day for small fry or “fishtails”; the mission was clear. For twenty-five minutes, the engine hummed a steady rhythm as the coast shrivelled into the distance, finally giving way to the jagged, ancient silhouettes of the Stags.

Then, the world went quiet—save for the sound of the reel screaming.

The jackpot had been hit. Down in the kelp forests beneath the Stags, the big ones were waiting. It was a flurry of silver and gold as Pollock and Coalfish came over the gunnels, one after another—thick, powerful, and beautiful. The kind of haul that makes your shoulders ache and your heart race.

With our catch taken and the adrenaline still pumping, the boat turned for home. There’s no better seasoning for a meal than salt air and success. By the time the sun started to dip, that “jackpot” catch was already in the steamer, filling the house with the scent of the freshest dinner in Ireland.

From the wild Atlantic to the dinner plate in record time—now that’s a Sunday well spent.

North West Charters

Address Burtonport Donegal Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 366 7625 Phone: +353 74 9543891 Website: NorthWestCharters.ie
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Sea angling in Donegal

Sunhats, sunglasses and sunscreen for O’Casey’s pikers

By
Paul O'Reilly
-

O’Casey’s Pike Angling Club held its 4th heat of its 2026 league last Saturday on a river venue. Fishing was slow due to weather conditions, with wide-brimmed sunhats and sunglasses the order of the day. The anglers persisted nonetheless and managed to land some decent river pike despite the poor conditions.

Results were as follows:

  • 1st Paul Reynolds 18Ib 15oz, 5 fish.
  • 2nd Daron Reynolds 13Ib 15oz, 5 fish.
  • 3rd Brendan O’Reilly 12Ib 4oz, 4 fish.
    Heaviest fish: Minde 8Ib 1oz.

Dates announced for CM Lakelands Open Cup

By
Paul O'Reilly
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Muckno

The CM Lakelands Feeder Club has announced the dates and venues for their new event, the CM Lakelands Open Cup.

Tickets will go on sale on May 14th, 2026. Qualifiers will be a max of 24 anglers. Tickets €50 (€20 pools on the day of each qualifier). Four anglers will quality from each qualifier.

There will be no practice match for the final on the Friday. Instead, there will be an open match on the Sunday beforehand.

  • Q1 June 7th – Drumkearragh/Skeagh
  • Q2 June 14th – Drumkearragh/Skeagh
  • Q3 July 5th – Muckno
  • Q4 July 26th – Muckno
  • Q5 August 16th – Lough Sillan
  • Q6 August 22nd (Saturday) – Lough Sillan.

Open feeder match, August 30th, Lough Sillan. The final will be held on September 5th/6th on Lough Sillan plus another lake.

The club also held a small knock-up match on Sunday on Baird’s Shore on the Dromore system. 1st overall was Brenton Sweeney with a weight of 5.790 kg. Brenton fished 3 lines, 18 metres, 33 metres and 40 metres to catch 120 roach.
2nd overall was Damian Foltyn with a weight of 4.440 kg made up of roach and perch. Damien fished the short line first and then moved out later in the match. 3rd Overall was Piotr Horbiński with a weight of 3.420 kg of roach and odd hybrids caught at distance.
Next weekend is the 2-dayer to be held at Skeagh and Drumkearragh.

Simple patterns working well for Nore trout

By
Myles Kelly
-

Dan O’Neill reports from the River Nore…

The easterly wind for sure put the fish off since I spoke to you all last. Life on the river has been good we have hit some warmer weather now and I wonder how long will it be before I hear the first complaint about the sun or lack of rain.

What’s been working, with the mix of weather the wind played a part in what techniques we used. Wet fly and a little dry dropper were most common. In relation to wet fly I used an aggressive leader set up to help counteract the breeze a bit.

An aggressive leader set up for those of you who are unsure is where we have a longer butt section on the leader. I usually use a 4ft butt section, I moved out to 5 and a half foot over the weekend due to the wind. For flies I took a look around and there was a good mix of olives and march browns about. For patterns I’m using March Browns on a size 16, likewise with winged olive patterns.

Looking at the water temperatures on hydro data the fish are still very much active one hour before peak water temperature and one hour after. So we are on a tight enough window of opportunity to capture our quarry. With the wind being unhelpful and the fish perhaps sulking a little i put a 2mm pheasant tail nymph on point and then a winged wet on as a dropper. It just helps to get your offering a little closer to the trout.

Moving onto dry dropper now, I had my first trout on the dry fly yesterday or should I say my client did. Super to see the trout come up and sip in the fly, gave some flashback to July last year. Just an olive Klinkhammer, a nice simple tie that the fish found attractive. For a nymph I am using a pheasant tail with a copper wire hotspot just at the tail, it’s like a mini copper john. They really went mad for this nymph and again not my design but it sure did get fish.

So I spoke of the water temperatures and heights in this article and previous ones, but where am I getting the information I hear you ask. If you follow the hydro data site and enter in your location it will link you to the closest station and give you the information. Yes of course temps vary but you can use it as a guide for your outings and try to link up patterns of catch rates, water heights and temps.

So again, simple patterns working best here on the Nore currently, I will be at the Irish spring Angling fair the May bank holiday weekend so be sure to stop by for a chat to the Cadence stand as well as the Apgai Ireland stand. The show has grown quite a bit since last year so well worth a visit.

Upcoming fly fair

The Irish Spring angling fair at Ardaire springs is just around the corner and i am delighted to be demonstrating at the show this year again. I will be showcasing the Cadence Predator range 9ft 9wt and 9ft 10wt as well as an exciting new predator line the predator range was designed by Ian Gordon. I will also be showcasing the new entry level range from 5wt to 7wt.I have been fishing with them for a while now and enjoy using the rods. It was important to keep the versatility in the rods which is something you are all sick of me talking about I’m sure 😊. Hoping to see you all at the spring angling show, feel free to pop by the Cadence fly fishing or Apgai Ire for a chat with me about all things fishing.

Guiding and angling courses

Over the coming months i will be holding classes on fly fishing and course fishing from beginner level up. Fun ways to get involved in fishing, learn more so that you can get out there and catch some fish. Everything is supplied so if you don’t have the gear and would just like to see if you like fishing before you make the commitment of buying your first fishing rod then contact me on the below details for availability and times.

Trout Fishing Ireland

Address Thomastown Kilkenny Ireland Mobile Phone: +353857652751 Website: Trout Fishing Ireland
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Italian pikers finish in style in the midlands

By
Paul O'Reilly
-
Ammo

Mick ‘the Fish’ Flanagan of Midland Angling has had some more Italian friends return this week for more great fishing in the midlands. 

Great be back pike fishing with my pals Piergiorgio Di Benedetto & Tiziano Finocchio. It was hard going on the pike scene but we netted a few in the end, with some smashing fish over the metre on their last day.

Ammo

The first couple of days were tough; on day one Tiziano & Georgio had at least 10-11 follows to the boat, and all the fish turned away at the last second – just one of those days! It was not a blank, as before lunch I got a hit on Savage Eel.

One for the skipper

At times it was very bright and crystal clear water, making it really difficult. On day two Tiziano was unlucky once again; a few very big fish followed the lures but never latched on. Georgio had one cracker and after that it was jacks.

Lunchtime

Thankfully, the big pike switched on big time on day three for Piergiorgio & Tiziano. They were out with top guide and competition angler Damian Grifferty, who was a busy angler on the net but also had a few cracking fish over a metre. Lads are back home tomorrow but already talking about next season’s trip.

Midland Angling

Address Mullingar Westmeath Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 (0)87 2797270 Mobile Phone: +353 (0)44 9348969 Website: midlandangling.com
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Pike fishing around Mullingar Angling Centre

 

Two in a row for Oaklands Blue at Munster Team of Four league

By
Myles Kelly
-

Munster Coarse Angling Council reports in the final match in the 25th Munster Team of Four was won by Munster Polish team. Ballyshunnock Reservoir Co. Waterford was the venue for the final match. Shallow water and little wind did make fishing difficult on some sections, pole whip and feeder all came to play at times with bonus skimmer making the difference when deciding the points.

Despite Munster Polish team’s achievement on the day it was not enough to secure them a podium finish in the over all results.

Oaklands Blue team retained the trophy with 55 points, having been winners in 2026. The battle for second place was close run and just half a point separated Oaklands Green from Fermoy, who took third place in the end.

Irish Angling Update 24 April 2026

By
IFI Staff
-

T his has been a much improved week weatherwise. Although easterly winds kept temperatures low, it’s been quite bright and dry, giving all of us a respite from the last 6 months of seemingly constant rain! High pressure is dominating our weather for the next few days too, with temperatures rising from today and giving some lovely conditions to get out.

We start this week with coarse angling, and festival season continued in Inniscarra over the last week. Following his previous win in the O’Callaghans Festival, Henk Roskam again came out on top in the Dave Bacon Feeder Festival, where some good bream fishing provided excellent weights.

Paul Waghorne continued his annual Irish sojourn by targeting roach in Co. Longford, where a few days perseverance in tough conditions paid off with some superb fishing and plenty of good roach over 1lb.

The first qualifier for this year’s VDE Irish Canal Masters took place at Daingean on Sunday in pleasant conditions, where Sensas angler Conor Browne took the win with a bag of tench, roach and skimmers.

VDE Baggers hosted the Sławek Siembida Memorial, returning to the renowned River Erne to honour the memory of Sławek Siembida, a former member who loved fishing for hybrids and more on the river. They were rewarded with really good fishing, Steve Lane taking top honours with 13.320kg, and they also raised nearly £700 for charity.

Edenderry CAC had a strong turnout for their first club match on the canal, where despite tough conditions Padraig O’Riordan secured victory from an end peg against a strong field of anglers.

Pike angling reports are sparse this week, but Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge is consistent with his, and he reports on another returning French group who enjoyed decent pike sport on the fly. The quality of the fishing, and the welcome at Melview, are evident in the number of anglers who return year after year to Longford.

Further north on the Shannon, Bodo Funke reports on a number of PB fish for returning and new guests, including a fantastic 114cm fish for Martin (Catch of the Week), and a 110cm PB for Florian.

Salmon fishing picked up significantly on Lough Currane, where several fresh fish were reported, all on the troll. There were also fish reported from the laune, and a fish from the River Bandon in Cork too. The Blackwater was fairly quiet, and we have no reports from other fisheries.

Trout fishing now and the Deel & Boyne Anglers Association enjoyed a memorable day on the water as they hosted their 2026 Annual Trout Competition, the Jim Glynn Memorial Cup, on Saturday. A lovely spring day saw some great fish landed, including a fine trout of 3lbs 4oz to take the trophy for the ever consistent Virgil Malinauskas.

Over on Lough Conn, tough conditions and a blustery northwest wind meant wetfly was the order of the day for the ITFFA qualifier, with 120 anglers attending. Peter Byrne from Castlebar used his local knowledge to take the win, and the top 10 anglers made the Irish team for the international to be held later in the year.

To the sea now, and with the windy weather up to the last couple of days, we have no boat angling reports to mention. The club competition scene has been busy though, with a good few matches on beaches around the country. Dabs and flounder made up most of the catch for the New Ross Anglers club at Ballyhack, with a tight competition for the pools prize.

Borough SAC enjoyed a busy session at Arklow – club anglers will know the happy feeling of a match whjere fish are coming in all the time, and this was one of those. John Coyne took the win there with 19 fish for 518 points – great fishing!

The second leg of the Ultima Munster Shore League was fished on Woodstown Strand, Co. Waterford, on a rare summer’s day, with blue skies and little to no wind. Species caught included bass, Flounder, Eels, Dogfish, Golden Grey Mullet, and Gilthead Bream, and sport was busy from the off. Alan Mulcahy took this leg of the league.

Killybegs Mariners members also enjoyed a productive trip to Belmullet, where they found good fishing where they could get shelter from the winds, and also report good fishing on the local beaches in Donegal Bay.

Irish Spring Angling Fair

The Irish Spring Angling Fair will be back bigger and better at Ardaire Springs Angling Centre on the 2nd and 3rd of May 2026. Children under 14 years of age, with an adult, can attend for free, making this an ideal family day out. The Irish Spring Angling Fair has become a big hit with angling novices and enthusiasts who value the opportunity of meeting with and learning from a host of world-renowned celebrities. Don’t miss it this May Bank Holiday weekend.

And now the weather

Dry with good sunshine for most today, a bit cloudier in the west and southwest. A few showers developing in Munster this evening, some heavy. Highest temperatures of 14 to 20 degrees, warmest in the west and coolest along east and south coasts in light to moderate southeast winds.

On Saturday scattered showers over Munster and Connacht will spread northwards across the country. They will die out by afternoon with dry conditions and some sunny spells following. Highest temperatures of 14 degrees in the west to 19 degrees further east, and similar temperatures on Sunday, a mostly dry and bright day.

The weather over Ireland will continue mainly dry and settled as high pressure dominates.

Don’t forget to double-check the forecast before heading off, and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to [email protected]. 

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More French flyfishing success on the Shannon

By
IFI Staff
-

Angling guide Kevin Lyons reports on another French group who enjoyed their trip to Co. Longford.

French anglers Pierre and Nicolas from France were over for another stay at Melview Lodge to stay with host and guide Kevin. At the time the weather was not always on their side but never the less they braved it and managed a good number of pike using the fly method. 

Kevin said “The guys had to work hard in some very windy conditions at the time so hats off to them for their determination. Thanks guys for the company and laughs during your stay and we look forward to see you again in the future.

As ever, all fish were returned unharmed.

Melview Lodge

Address Drumlish Road Clonrollagh Longford Ireland Phone: +3534345061 Website: melviewlodge.com
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Cream rises to the top in Irish qualifier on Lough Conn

By
IFI Staff
-

On Saturday 18th April the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association (ITFFA) held their National Championship on Lough Conn. The annual event on this occasion was being hosted by The Lough Conn & Cullin Anglers Association chaired by Padraic Traynor, vice chair Michael Noone and Secretary Orla Walsh.

 

A 2 fish bag limit was in place and a catch and release measure thereafter with each released fish awarded a fixed weight of 550 grams. A total of 61 boats set out with 120 anglers. They returned a total of 42 trout to the measure and beyond with the top ten returning anglers staking their claim on the Irish Trout Angling Team for the 2027 competitive season.

Conditions were tough on the day; fairly high water levels, cold with a northwest wind and bright sun replacing the early cloud cover. Pulling wet flies was the order of the day, with dabblers proving the most effective flies.

The results are below.

 

1st place: Peter Byrne, Castlebar.

2nd place: Paddy Ward, Multyfarnham

3rd place: Brendan Murray, Dublin

4th place: Mark Reid

5th place: Colm Mc Andrew, Lahardane (Also heaviest single fish)

6th place: Sean Crean, Cloghans

7th place: Pat Hoare

8th place: Deven O Sullivan, Millstreet

9th place: Carl Mullin

10th place: Chris Oliver

 

Anne McWilliams won the Mc Bride Cup for this year.

Great roach fishing in Longford

By
IFI Staff
-
Lanesborough
Lanesborough

Paul Waghorne updated us on some more fishing from his visit to the Shannon, where the roach roach fishing really picked up after a tough start…

 

Coarse fishing in Ireland during the springtime can be so frustrating. I timed my arrival to coincide with the seasonal roach migration from the upper reaches of Lough Ree into the town section at Lanesborough. Conditions seemed perfect, but from Friday evening on the 10th of April through to Tuesday 14th, we all blanked.

A small group of friends, mainly from the Tuam area, who have visited the former hot stretch for many years, persevered with the absolute horrendous up stream wind that rendered fishing with the float almost impossible. The bitter winds aided the previously acceptable water temperature of 9.6c, drop to 8.8 which in our opinion, ruined our week.

Thankfully, Aiden, Conor and Tommy persevered and eventually on Saturday and Sunday (18th & 19th) the bigger female Roach arrived. 35 years of experience has taught me to ‘make hay while the sun shines’ so we all put in a shift to tempt the largest of Roach before the vast shoal of cock fish arrive.

The water levels are high enough to create a flow through the former hot stretch, so the fish are keen to migrate up the Longford side of the river. Had it been 30cm or more lower, we might have had to resort to the navigation channel on the Roscommon bank at Ballyleague.

To a man, all six of us have caught very well since the sport got so much better on Monday. We have all had numerous 1lb plus fish and at the time of writing this (Thursday 23rd) I have amassed no less than 36 over a pound, the best going 1lb 10oz plus countless of 12oz or more.


Since Monday, I have fished a total of 23 hours, splitting my sessions from Dawn ’til 10:00 and 17:00 to Dusk and have caught over 400 Roach, 2 Perch, 1 Rudd and what I consider a very rare Roach/Rudd Hybrid of 1lb 9oz. Also, one Pike of 16lb 7oz caught on a 2oz deadbait

Kevin Fawcett from Halifax, Yorkshire, a Lanesborough veteran of nearly 40 years coming to the village has had 2 days bagging up on both pole and running line. On Monday, he had amassed a bag made up exclusively of Roach for an estimated 65lb. Personally, I think it may have been more.

Surprisingly, few of us have been pestered with Pike taking the Roach just before landing as is often the case. The water temperature is currently a shade under 12c and with todays warm sunshine, I fear tonight will see the spawning commence and then it will be all over here for another year.

 

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