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.