High water of late has improved angling on Lough Beltra. With more fresh grilse entering the system, the prospects are good for the coming days. Malcolm Killian had one salmon of 10lbs and two grilse of 4lbs and 5lbs. Declan Dooley released one of 8lbs, Mark Hemlor had one of 7lbs while Conor Deffley had two of 5lbs each. David Nevin, Newport also boated two salmon of 7lbs and 8lbs, and also caught three sea trout up to 2lbs which were released inline with local bye-laws. On the Newport River, David Eddis had a grilse of 3lbs taken on a Jaffa while Michael Wymes also had a fish of 3.5lbs.
Paul Harris, Dromagowlane House, Beara Peninsula tells us yesterday June 26th:
“Wish the weather would settle down. The wind is in a different direction every day, in fact several directions in one day sometimes and this is never good for fishing.
Despite this Clive & Liam have had huss to double figures plus good wrasse and pollack, but the ray are still being elusive with not the numbers we would expect at this time of year being caught.”
…..and later in the day….
“Normal service resumed as Mark and Jason got among the rays yesterday with 8 nice thornies. Gav and Paul headed out to Allihies and had a great days sport with huss over ten pounds and pollack to five pounds landed but bigger fish lost.
I tried out a shallow mark at Castletownbere and first cast the rod was literally pilled off the tripod as what turned out to be a dinner plate sized ray grabbed my sandeel bait and headed west. Only had time for one more cast before I had to pack up and pick up a pair of anglers facing a long walk home due to their ‘mates’ refusal to collect them up as they were to busy catching!”
Paul Harris Dromagowlane House B&B Phone: (027) 60330
June 25th, 2012 Last weeks big floods may have led to the cancellation of the casting class but it also brought some fresh fish into the river. Based on very limited reporting Saturday and Sunday saw at least 3 fresh salmon all over 10lbs landed. On Saturday 2 salmon and a large bag of seatrout to one rod on streamer flies were reported in the Kildavin Area and another salmon was landed near Clohamon on Sunday despite the guage being at flood levels.
Once the level drops I expect that we will find that the seatrout have been well ditributed through out the system.
Having been invited, I attended a meeting this morning in Fethard, Co Wexford as part of a working group involved in creating a Bass Angling Festival on the Hook Peninsula. Many aspects for the proposed development of the Festival were discussed.
I emphasised my usual cautionary approach to ‘development’ of the fishery, and having built a small business that utilises the reasons why many people want to come to Wexford and to fish bass, I expressed and re-emphasised that many bass anglers simply like the environment, peace and a sense of isolation combined with a chance of exploration and the challenge of the fishing.
Those same people contribute to local economies throughout the season on a day by day basis in many Wexford coastal communities without using my services or having to experience it through the medium of a Festival.
Anglers use the peninsula and the facilities provided there all of the time, they do so on the basis that it is simply what it is and it already provides what they need. Indeed many are not necessarily bass anglers. Not everyone is aware of this.
This doesn’t mean I am opposed to the Festival, I think its an opportunity for the Festival committee to demonstrate and to add and include other bass fishing related activities, some evening presentations, local history workshops, tours of the Peninsula to provide a sense of the magic, the spirit of the place. An inclusive experience for people.
Hook light house
I personally feel we have many local people who could make considerable and interesting contributions to the Festival – Billy Colfer (historian), Jim Hurley (naturalist), Kevin Dundon (chef), among many others too, promoted responsibly through Irish angling press it could be a real opportunity to showcase local expertise, talent and environment.
As a Wexford person who has invested ten years of my life in bass fishing in the area and many places in close proximity , how much I can contribute I’m not entirely sure as its the busiest time of year for me – I do know that the dates the Festival is on I will be just finished working with two returning Dutch visitors!
Friday October 26th – Sunday October 28th
Tuesday 26th June:
Fishing remains extremely difficult in ideal conditions, some fish about but generally very patchy. Weather windows, exact timings and presentations with ‘focused’ fishing in otherwise productive locations leading to some results.
Andrew Ryan, APGAI Clonanav Fly Fishing reports:
Last saturday we had an excellent beginners course on our lakes. The group had a fantastic day and we were really lucky with the weather. All participants managed to catch fish and really improved their casting and techniques. The course began with an introduction to fly fishing with details on rods, reels, lines etc, then we moved to our ponds and went on to overhead and roll casts. The gang
After a hearty lunch in Melodys Pub we further improved casting with false casting, shooting line, and roll cast pick up. The weather did turn a bit wet in the afternoon but the fishing held up with trout rising to dry flies! Getting started
Starting out well
Doing well
.... and another
......and another !!
FREE Fly Fishing Expo – Invite
Clonanav Fly Fishing would like to invite you to our FREE Fly Fishing Expo on the 13 & 14 July. With demos from great casters and anglers from Ireland and the UK, casting tips and advice, fly tying demos, great discount on tackle and your chance to win a Guideline Rod this event is not to be missed!
The demos are taking place at Clonanavs NEW 1400 ft2 store and casting ponds which are located on the R671 close to the village of Ballymacarbry Co Waterford The shop is well know for stocking leading brands including, Hardy, Greys, Guideline, Rio, Simms, Sage, , Simms Orvis and many more will be increasing the range of tackle on offer in a state of the art surroundings.
read more on http://www.fly fishing ireland expo Andrew Ryan Clonanav Fly Fishing Tel (052) 6136765 http://www.facebook.com/Clonanav
Muckalee Reservoir in Kilkenny was the battleground last month for the 2012 Youths Lake Championship, which was held on a catch-release basis.
Sean Dempsey was crowned the TAFI Leinster Youth Lake Champion for 2012, having caught 18 trout in total on the day. Fergal McKiernan came in second place, and third was Michael Conroy.
Fishing conditions were near perfect, with some surface activity from the resident brown trout. The competition was stiff, with almost 20 competitors fishing for the top prize. Some 16 anglers caught trout on the day and 77 trout were caught in total.
……Kilkenny People….22/06/12…..read the full article…
SOME of Ireland’s native animals are on the brink of extinction because of pollution and over-fishing.
Several bird species, including the common scoter, black-necked grebe, quail, red-necked phalarope and nightjar are under threat, while kestrels and skylarks are also declining “significantly”.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report says just 7pc of habitats and 39pc of species listed as needing protection by the EU have a “favourable” status.
…..Irish Independent…..26/06/12…….read full article…. http://www.independent.ie/native-animals-at-risk-of-extinction
Joe Flanelly from Keel River Lodge reports that Lough Carra fished very well over the weekend. Paul Murphy from Westport (originally Ballinrobe) had 2 nice trout including a 2.5lbs beauty. Conditions were good with blustery showers and moderate southwest winds. Thomas Flannelly fishing from Keel River Lodge had 4 good trout weighing 6.5lb, best fish 1.75lbs. The most successful patterns were the Green Peter, Golden Olive and Alexander.
Paul Murphy from Westport was clearly delighted with his 2.5lbs trout from Lough Carra
Simon Ashe reports from Ballynahinch Castle that the favourable water conditions accompanied by a late run of spring fish and an early run of grilse has given us the best start to our season in over a decade. Given the fact that angling pressure has been quite low over the past few weeks, the catch per unit effort has been very high for this time of year. The daily increase in the grilse run over the fish counter, along with perfect water height in the river bodes well for the coming weeks at Ballynahinch.
Stephen Cullinane landed a beautiful 9lbs salmon on 16th June after local guide, Jonathan Broderick, had taken a 12lbs fresh fish. Jonathan was teaching a client to roll cast with a trout rod and 6lbs nylon when he hooked into this fish. After 45 minutes (and with a very tired arm!) the fish was landed by the short pier on Beat 1.
A number of smaller grilse in the 4 – 5.5lb bracket have been taken by guests at the hotel with quite a number lost.
The numbers of sea trout finnock entering from the estuary has been quite low at this stage and we were expecting more to run this past week. Hopefully the run should pick up in the coming weeks. Watch this space!
To book fishing or accommodation at Ballynahinch, contact the castle at 095 31006, or check the website at www.ballynahinch-castle.com
Fishery manager Jim Stafford reports on fishing last week. Water levels on the Erriff were perfect at 1.4 meters on Sunday 17th. The local angling club held a competition on the river – Peter Coyne came first with 2 fish which weighed in at 16.75lbs, which were caught on an Orange Shrimp and Collie Dog in the Falls Pool on Beat 9. Second was Brian Graham with one fish of 8.25lbs, which was caught in the Black Banks on Beat 6 on a Shrimp Fly. Several other fish were hooked and lost on the day.
Alain Metayer, France, a member of Michel Winthrop’s party, grassed a beautiful fresh run springer of 12.75lbs on his first day ever salmon fishing – the fish was taken on a Lady Fallaci in the Garden Pool on Beat 9. Changing beats in the afternoon Alain sportingly released a 10lbs fish taken on the same fly in the Black Banks Pool on Beat 6. Rene Boutonnet, a member of the same party, caught a sea-liced fish of 10.25lbs, which was taken on a Cascade in the Falls Pool from the right hand bank.
Alain Metayer, France, with his first ever salmon, a fine fish of 12.75lbs taken on the River Erriff, June 2012
James Keogh, Dublin had one for 9.5lbs taken on a Cascade in the Boat Pool on Beat 5, and he also released another estimated at 8.5lbs. The following day he had a fresh run grilse of 4.75lbs from the Sally Pool on Beat 7.
Heavy rains resulted in a huge spate of 2.2 meters on the morning of the 21st, which rendered the river unfishable for the rest of the day. The river was in good order the following day – Stuart Woodhead, Scarborough, U.K., had a grilse and 2 good sea trout taken in the Holly and Coronation Pools on Beat 9. Tom Harrington, Limerick, had a fish of 5.75lbs and released another of 5lbs which were caught in Altamont’s Dam and Colonel’s Pool on Beat 6. The following day Tom caught another of 7.5lbs in the Cottage Pool on Beat 4.
Bill Aston, Ballinrobe, released 2 fish estimated at 5lbs each, which were caught on an Orange Micro Tube in Toad’s Pool behind the island on Beat 4. Alan Hartnett, Dundalk released a fish estimated at 5.5lbs and 2 good sea trout which were taken on a Cascade on Beat 6. Peter Hunt, Clonbur, released a 6lbs fish taken on a Collie Dog in the Broken Bridge Pool on Beat 5.
Overnight rains increased levels to 1.5 meters on the 23rd. Stuart Price, fishery manager at Mount Falcon, released a 9lbs fish taken on an Orange Shrimp in the Mering Pool on Beat 7 and also went on to catch fish of 5lbs and 6lbs in the Guage Pool on Beat 9.
The total catch for the week was 18 salmon and 12 sea trout. At the time of writing the report sea trout in excellent condition continue to enter the river and the grilse run is promising with the main run expected in July.
There are still places available for a casting and flyfishing course for ladies, which will take place from Thursday the 5th to Sunday the 8th of July, led by qualified casting instructor mark Corps. All accommodation and meals are included, as well as tuition in all aspects of flyfishing and salmon fishing, and plenty of time on the river to practise the skills acquired. The cost for 3 nights B&B, lunch and dinner, and fishing tuition is €500 per participant. Partners can stay for €300, and may fish the river on the other beats for free. Contact Aasleagh Lodge for information and booking.
To book fishing on the Erriff or accommodation in Aasleagh Lodge, contact fishery manager Jim Stafford on 095 42252, or visit www.aasleaghlodge.ie for details. The lodge and fishery also have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AasleaghLodge.
