POACHERS are decimating Atlantic salmon stocks on the Mulcair every day of the week say the Shannon, Mulcair and District Anglers.
They say it is happening up and down the river but especially at Ballyclough weir, where it is like “shooting fish in a barrel”.
“There is a gang of up to 10 men standing on top of that weir and they are stroke hauling fish everyday. This involves dragging a large treble hook across the base of the weir to foul hook salmon and seriously damage others by removing large chunks of flesh on fish that break free,” said a spokesperson on behalf of the angling group
THE Great Game Fairs of Ireland will be staging its 50th Irish Game Fair – their ‘Golden’ Game Fair – at Shanes Castle near Antrim.
Albert Titterington and a group of enthusiasts staged the first Game Fair in Ireland 34 years ago and now Shanes Castle’s Irish Game Fair and Country Lifestyle Festival on July 7 and 8 marks its 50th game fair in an unrivalled run of quality events.
Mr Titterington explained: “Our Game Fairs showcase country pastimes, conservation and the rural way of life. Every year we introduce new attractions, competitions and themes and this year is no exception being the ‘Year of the Salmon and Trout.’ And this fishy theme is the focal point for the huge Angling Village with everything one would expect at a top class angling show and more……Mid Ulster Mail…..28/06/12…..read full article…..
Dave from Arklow presents us with some magnificient photos of Dingle Peninsula and a tale of bountiful fishing:
I managed to get three days off from work which couldn’t be wasted. Last year I fished over the three south-western Irish peninsulas- the Mizen , the Sheep’s Head and the Beara. So this year it was a turn for the next one – the Dingle Peninsula . But this trip was a little bit different than the previous ones. Fishing was a bonus this time. We spent more time on sightseeing , socialising and other stuff than fishing. Based on my previous experiences, we hit on the fish in completely new and unknown place, just from the very first cast. And to be honest, after the second day of pollack bash, we were fed up of catchin them. The numbers of pollack in my mark was countless. Size was a bit disappointment, compare to the Beara. Fish in the bracket 2-3 lbs was the most common, with the biggest about 5-6 lbs.
It was a very first rock fishing session for Sylvia and she did well. We landed about 80 pollack’s and couple of mackerel on lures together in just two, not so long sessions.
Here are a few shots from the trip.
Reports have been received of dead fish as high up the river as Roundwood, and as far down the river as Ashford
It is understood that the problem was first noticed this morning and that large quantities of dead fish have been seen flowing downstream all day.
A statement on the Wicklow County Council website said that they have temporarily shut off raw water supply intake from Vartry River to our Water Treatment plant at Cronroe as a precaution.
Local sources said reports had been received of dead fish as high up the river as Roundwood, and as far down the river as Ashford……..RTE News…….28/06/12….read full article….
I checked the calendar once and then checked it again to make sure it was June. The weather is so mixed up one would be forgiven if they thought it was April ! As with the weather, the fishing too is very varied. Water levels on the Slaney and Munster Blackwater remain very high and create problems for anglers with muddy discoloured rivers. While up in the Owenea fishery in Donegal Lindsey Clarke reports that water levels this week were only fair to low.
Anthony releasing his blue shark. This fish was a bit camera shy, but it still wins him Catch of the Week
Despite this some fine fish were caught. Charles Cooper landed a 17lb 6oz salmon up in Delphi after a 40 minute struggle, breaking his net in the process. Paddy Varian confused us all by catching a 5lb 9ozs fish off the Rock Pool using a Tick Tock. At first I thought he had cast his watch into the water, but Paddy is wiser than that…..he knew what he was about !!
High water levels hampered angling at the Moy Fishery but the rest of the river produced great catches with over 500 salmon again this week. With a late run of spring fish and an early run of grilse Ballynahinch Castle has had the best start to their season in over a decade. Vincent Appleby tells us Barry Vaughan caught a 5.5lb Sea Trout on the fly at Lough Currane. This distinctive fly was made for him by his good friend and as he has caught a good few game fish on this fly his good friend has requested to have the fly returned back to him. Mmm…no chance!
Sedge fishing is favoured on Lough Sheelin with millions of sedges reported around Church Island and the Bog Bay section of the lake in particular. There are many tactics that can be employed to take fish during a sedge hatch but the most important thing to remember is that the fly must match the local hatch. Lough Carra fished well with the most successful patterns being the Green Peter, Golden Olive and Alexander. Young anglers take to the water this week too with 14 year old Nora Teter from New York catching a nice brownie on the Maigue near Adare and 7 year old Jack Rosney with two 1½ lb. trout on Lough Owel.
Ian Lindsey and Jay Buckley from Dublin visited Monaghan on Saturday for a spot of Pike fishing and they didn’t let the high water levels discourage them. Commando style fishing, wading through the reeds produced 10 pike for Ian and Jay. While down in East Clare, Keith O’Sullivan caught a whopping 25lb Pike at Clondanagh Lake.
The Athlone Anglers Association Poyntonia Cup went to father and son team James Greene Jnr and James Snr with an 18lb 15oz pike.
Graeme Gannon and his cousin David had a long night out fishing and it paid off. Graeme caught a super Perch weighing 3lb 8oz in Lanesborough. Not too far away in Killeshandra, Tony Mahon got a 6lb 12oz Tench on the Town Lake. Although conditions in Lough Muckno were difficult, feeder and wagglers all produced results, so as the saying goes ‘Persistence pays off’
Our Sea anglers sent us reports from Bass, Wrasse, Monkfish, Pollack, Stingrays and Tope to blue shark. The first blues of the season were reported by Mark Gannon out of Courtmacsherry, where one angler fishing for pollack played a 60lb shark to the side of the boat before loosing it. Later Anthony Hislop managed a shark of over 2m which was tagged and released. From the great day had at the Grauvell West Coast Shore League to the struggle and drama had by a Cork Bass angler who nearly lost his pants in the battle to capture the silver fish of the sea. Rosi from Germany landed a monster Monkfish off Valentia and although this fish was no oil painting it was very impressive indeed. Eugene Farrelly tells us about Kerry’s Stingray alley in Tralee and how to hold and release them safely. From the beauty of Kerry to the scenic West Clare, anglers outwitted the creatures of the sea. Bill Ryan chased the Wrasse, while Neil struggled with a massive Tope. Gary Robinson was out on his kayak in Cork and rounding up some Pollack and Paul Harris headed for Castletownbere. It’s all systems go. Weather or no weather, anglers are a hardy bunch and pursue like pros!
Anthony releasing his blue shark. This fish was a bit camera shy, but it still wins him Catch of the Week
Charter skipper Mark Gannon reports from Courtmacsherry where the first blue shark of the year was caught last week…
The fishing the last week has been good with both the inshore, offshore and Estuary producing some great sport for Anglers from Ireland, England, France, Belgium, Holland, Lithuania and Poland. Offshore the inshore wrecks producing lots of Ling, Haddock and Whiting to near Specimen weight, conger to mid 30s, pollack to 11lbs and medium sized Coalfish.
Marcel with a 8kg Cod.Near Specimen Ling for Isi on light tackle
Several sharks lurking in the wreck were attacking the fish on the way up and Ronnie de Sobre from Belgium had a great fight on light spinning gear with a blue aprox weight 60lbs while retrieving a Pollack from the wreck. The Blue broke the trace beside the boat but what a fight!
On the reefs plenty Pollack, good size Cod were taken with the best method baited Perks. The heaviest was taken by Marcel Wuyts on a flowing trace on a deepwater reef. Plenty of conger up to the 25lb mark were also landed.
Anthony releasing his blue shark. This fish was a bit camera shy, but it still wins him Catch of the Week
On the day we devoted to sharking the weather conditions were difficult but we managed 5 runs with 2 tagged. The heaviest a fish just over 2m for Anthony Hislop.
The self drives had good Pollack fishing with fish over 10lbs encountered and drifting for thornbacks produced fish to 9lbs,with good dabs as well. In the estuaries of Courtmacsherry and Clonakilty Bass were being caught on sandeel and lures. The heaviest I heard of was a fish of 6.5lbs, though there were lots of schoolies at the Woodpoint landed on spinners and lures. Mark Gannon Lady Patricia and Lady Louise Base: Courtmacsherry Operational Area: 30 miles out from Courtmacsherry Address: Woodpoint Guest House, Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork. Telephone: +353 (0)23 8846427 or +353 (0)86 8250905 Email:[email protected]Web:www.courtmacsherryangling.ie
Last weeks hopes for the Liffey to return to more ‘normal’ levels have been dashed by floods of almost Biblical proportions. The weather forecast is hopeful that next week should be drier. If this comes to pass then water levels should recede slowly – hopefully providing some nymph fishing (Hairs ears and flashback PTN’s work well as always) as water levels drop. If levels return to normal levels then my favourite – sedge fishing in the evenings could be excellent so fingers crossed.
The Rye Water as previously mentioned is in fine fettle. It is less affected by flash floods or high rainfall and although it is a little higher than normal it is providing some excellent sport for anyone venturing out with a nymph. Small Copper Johns as well as the usual suspects – Hairs ear and PTN work well.
However some magnificent fish have been spotted on the estate (unfortunately in very tricky lies). These fish are in the 3lb + range and probably would be best covered by letting a Sedge drift or drag over them from an upstream position.
The Sheet Water is completely unaffected by the recent rainfall and the Brownies (undistinguishable from wild fish) are in superb condition. The Rainbows appear to be very strong at present and fishing them with a relatively light set up – say a 4 or 5 wt provides some super sport – being brought down to or close to backing is commonplace.
While the weather forecast for the next two days is pretty gloomy, next week shows signs of improvement. It’s a big if but IF this happens then the fishing (especially on the Liffey) should improve and targeting large fish with spent patterns could certainly enter the equation.
Carton House Fishery,
Maynooth,
Co. Kildare
Ireland
Neil from Baitdigger’s Blog gives us an insight into fishing in Co Clare. With over 40 years experience, there’s no better man! Here Neil catches a pb shore caught tope that bottomed out his 40lb scales. He has no idea what it weighed but people have estimated it was between 45-50lb: –
Another June day goes past. Weather and tides looked favourable so to start the day I needed a bucket of mackerel. They were not giving themselves up but I had more than enough for the day within a hour, which left me to decide what I could do for the next few hours until I was able to get to the tope mark. I found a big set of coloured feathers on the rocks so I set about shortening them to a more manageable length. Close to the reef on the retrieve a good whack and a bit of a fight produced a nice pollack of around two pounds, which is one of the largest I have seen from this mark.It was incredibly lucky I dont rate pollack as tope bait and he went straight back. There are lots of about a pound but they seldom get to grow any bigger. It had taken the yellow feather half way up the string.
Summer in Clare....eh...I don't think so !
I had brought my bass rod so I had a wander around the rocks for the next few hours looking at marks that I had been to before but never taken much notice of because they appeared too shallow or too difficult to fish. The colour was beginning to fine down but not enough for me to entice a bass from the surface or with the SP’s. It did look very promising for the future.
Time was ticking by and I was ready for the main event. After the last session I could feel a few scuffs in the line when reeling in so I re-spooled with 30lb suffix tritanium. Just to get it to bed nicely I had three or four casts with a plain lead. I am glad I did that now.
Two hours still to go to low water and I was struggling to hold bottom and picking up clumps of fine weed.The rod started to nod a little I was not sure whether it was a dog, weed or just failure to settle so I struck anyway as the bait had drifted out of the area I wanted it in. Among the clump of weed there was a small dog or even a huss. I couldn’t be sure either way. It was very dark, appeared to have small nasal flaps and had fairly well defined teeth.
As the tide ebb away it became easier for me to get a big bait to stay roughly where I wanted it but nothing was happening……. other than a rather annoying little tapping bite which was showing clearly on the big rod now the rip had calmed. I let it go a while while I prepared the next tail section bait on the 8/0 hook.
It was not what happened next but the manner in which it happened that shocked me so much. I picked up the big Conoflex, knocked of the ratchet and wound down the drag, striking out of habit to get the lead out of the weed. I knew something was amiss when the line started hissing and I managed to knock round the drag before the strain got too much, something was on, it wasn’t a dogfish and it was emptying my spool at an alarming rate. I knew what it was I just hadn’t expected it quite then, and I knew it was big. It wasn’t a series of blistering runs just one long charge out to sea with me thumbing the spool as it continued to empty. I was following the fish down the mark and by now I was around one hundred and fifty yards from where I started and up to my waste in my waders. I could see the gold of the spool and knew I had to start making some ground. But it just didn’t happen, although I had increased the tension in the drag the fish just hung out there happy to sit in the flow. My arms, back and thighs were screaming for a rest but all I could do is lean back and let the rod wear down the fish which just seemed to be waiting.
It seemed to change tact and turned inland which allowed me to gain on it a good amount at first but then it just stopped again and I had to pump every yard of line. I could feel it tiring and got my first glimpse of it as it broke the surface around eighty yards out.
It had now been around forty minutes since I hooked it and although I definitely had the upper-hand the loss of the last big fish weighed heavily in my mind. It was now in the shallows and the temptation to run in and grab it became almost too much. It was easily the biggest fish I have seen landed. Once I had drawn it into the shallows enough that it couldn’t get back out I grabbed my weighing sling, soaked it with water and got the fish into it.
I have absolutely no idea what it weighed as it easily bottomed out my forty pound scales so all I can claim is forty plus!!!!!
Sorry the pictures are not up to much, they do the fish very little justice again but try getting a fish over five feet long to behave while you do a self-portrait on the timer. I think my facial expression says it all !
Look at the length of the pectoral fins!!
That rod is a Conoflex Nemisis SLR plus fourteen foot. At home I measured where the fish came to and it was between five feet three and five feet six long, definitely a personal best which I struggled with in every way, from the moment I hooked it to the moment of release. I am not a Tope expert but I think it was a big female that had already pupped out. I cannot begin to imagine what she weighed a month ago.
Owenea Fishery report by Lindsey Clarke– Monday 18th to Sunday 24th June 2012.
Water levels this week were only fair to low (despite everywhere being inundated with rain!). The highest water level occurred on Tuesday which saw the river rise to reach 0.20 metres on the gauge. The gauge average for the week was somewhat disappointing reading 0.14 metres. As such, the fishery was not particularly well attended with only 13 visiting rods fishing for the week. Despite the lowish water and low attendance, there were a number of fresh salmon reported and it seems there are good numbers of salmon running the river. On Friday, Billy Blair recorded a 5lb grilse caught on a fly from beat 8.
On Saturday, Alan Watson logged a 9lb salmon caught on a fly from beat 8. Maurice Kennedy reported 2 fish caught and a better fish lost at the net. The fish weighed 3 & 8lb and were caught on a spinner from beat 8. Alan Mooney also recorded 2 salmon weighing 6½ & 9½lb caught on a fly from beat 9. On Sunday, George Friel registered a 7lb salmon caught on a fly from beat 8 and James Forster reported a 6lb salmon caught on the fly from beat 8.
The forecast for the coming week is for rain at times and hopefully this will be heavy enough to give us some nice floods. If so, prospects look very good 🙂
For info/bookings etc on the Owenea Fishery –
Tel: 074 9551141. (9am to 1pm April to May & 7am to 1pm June to Sept).
LOUGH MELVIN report by Lindsey Clarke– Monday 18th to Sunday 24th June 2012.
The Lough fished well again for salmon this week with the good run of grilse continuing. There were at least 15 salmon reported with a couple of boats accounting for the fish for the day. The trout fishing was variable as were the winds which varied from flat calms to gale force winds. The hatch of mayfly was fair and there were good catches of sonaghan reported on occasions though overall, it seems the fishing was hard going at times.
