CALIFORNIA PAUL. Last week Paul Salceda was over from California with his wife. Paul had a few hours to kill, and fancied catching a few fish. It was a rough day on Ree, and we ventured out from Coosan Point on a very wet morning. Still we managed to catch a few small pike, and Paul had his first Irish pike. Paul takes in a lot of Countries on his travels but has a soft spot for Ireland and will be back.
KEEGAN BOYS ON ENNELL. Lough Ennell is making waves on the Angling scene and is certainly worth a trip in the coming weeks. I was chatting to Peter Ganly of Lilliput Boat hire and he has a fantastic fleet of Boats and Engines for hire for the coming summer months. Now that the School holidays are on the way a day on is just the ticket to rewind after all the hard work. In recent weeks some nice trout, and pike have being caught on Ennell, and Rochfortbridge lads Shane and Brendan Keegan were photographed at Lilliput with a nice Ennell Trout. If you fancy your chances on Ennell Peter will sort out Boats Engines, and Permits for you days fishing. Give him a buzz on 087-6492866.
Last Saturday Lough Bane Anglers hosted the Lough Bane Perpetual Cup. It was a super day to be out on the lake fly-fishing, and we had a mixture of heavy rain, and a nice steady breeze all day. Some beautiful fish were caught on the day and I even managed to catch a few colorful rainbows. Ollie O, Neill was in cracking form and produced a super fish of 4.89lbs to take Top Rod. Bane Chairman Martin Agnew hooked up with a reel cracker weighing 4.4lbs to take 2nd spot, and Derravaragh Secretary Joe Keena fishing with Mick Hayden landed a fish of 3.88lbs to take 3rd spot. Joe just piped me as my best fish was 3.87lbs. John Cooke and Liam Gilsenan also done well on the day and just missed out on the prizes. Bane Trout
The Asian clam, a notorious aquatic invasive species now resident in some Irish rivers
THE ASIAN CLAM (Corbicula fluminea) is a most unwelcome addition to the fauna of Irish rivers and lakes. This bivalve mollusc is one of the most notorious aquatic invasive species in the world and was first recorded in the River Barrow near St Mullins, Co Carlow, in April 2010.
Subsequent studies by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) under the EU Life+ funded Caisie project have revealed it is firmly established in the lower Barrow and the Nore downstream of Inistioge………Irish Times…..25/06/12……read full article…….
Graeme Gannon tells us of his escapades around Lanesborough. A long night, but well worth it for the two friends. Here is Graeme’s report:
Well I headed off to Athlone from Dublin on Fri 22/06/2012 3:30pm to meet my cousin for a bit of fishing on a couple of small ponds which we thought held a few tench. It was 6:00pm when we got to there. The fields around the ponds were flooded very badly so after an hour or so we finally found a place we could fish from. We set up the feeder rods and we were fishing till 8:00pm. We only had two small roach each and bites were slow. So at 10:00pm, before dark we rapped up and headed to Lanesborough arriving there at midnight. We looked around and there was no one to be seen so we went ahead and set up our gear and our tent. Got some bait out and got a couple of hours sleep.
Graeme Gannon with 3lb 8oz Perch. Well done
David was fishing till 3:30am and when his first tench came at 5:00 he woke me so I got up to start fishing. I was fishing the feeder with roach coming fast and baiting my hook when I noticed a big thick back come out of the water from the Lilly pads in front of me, about two rod lengths out. I thought it was a pike at first so I left it. Then a few minutes later I saw it again and I noticed the spikes of a massive perch. So I ran up to my van got my float rod, set it up as quick as possible with a 3inch dead roach and dropped it in the Lilly pads. Within two minutes the float slid away. Perch on ! Got him up through the Lilly’s and netted him. David went and got the scales. He weighed in at 3lbs 8oz . We weighed him on a Ruben heaton specimen scales. Great fight ! SUPER FISH !.
Commando Style Fishing Produced 10 pike for Ian and Jay
Ian Lindsey and Jay Buckley from Dublin visited Co Monaghan yesterday Sunday 24th June to do a spot of pike fishing. Conditions were very difficult due to the high water but undeterred Ian and Jay adopted commando type tactics wading in the reeds all around the lake. The margins were badly flooded and fishing was difficult. A fixed depth float rig with a dead bait produced 10 fish for the two lads. Ian recorded 8 and Jay landed two. The best fish for the lads weighed in at 7lbs 2ozs and they are looking forward to a return visit as soon as the water levels drop.
Commando Style Fishing Produced 10 pike for Ian and Jay
Dick Caplice reports that he had two teams from the Garda angling squad out on Lough Muckno recently for practice sessions for the upcoming European Police Championships. The practice sessions were held on the Concra Wood upper stretch and eleven anglers took part. The conditions were very testing and challenging and 10 of the 11 anglers fished the pole. Most anglers fished caster and maggot over darkened ground bait and all caught fish despite the less than favourable conditions. Eamonn Bracken, Richard Caplice and Ernie Henderson all scored nice double figured nets of roach, hybrids and skimmers. Best catch of the day however went to Rory O’Neill who netted a nice bag of 31lbs 12ozs on feeder.
The 3rd leg of the Grauvell West Coast Shore League 2012, hosted by Galway Bay SAC was held at Ballyreen Co. Clare on the 24th of June. It was a bright fine day with a low swell ideal for fishing off this rocky venue. The prinipal fish caught on the day were dogs at distance and wrasse and pollack floated or ledgered in close. The local knowledge came to the fore and congratulations go to overall winner Joe Beirne, Lisdoonvarna/Fanore SAC on winning this competition.
1st in Zone A was John O’Brien, Tramore/Waterford SAC 2nd Padraic Mckenna, Newport SAC 3rd Fiachra Mckenna, Corrane SAC
1st in Zone B was Stephen O’Sullivan, Galway Bay SAC 2nd Mike Curtin, Galway Bay SAC 3rd Ed Kilroy, Newport SAC
1st in the juniors was Curtin Connelly, Tramore/Waterford SAC
Tony Mahon with 6lb 12oz Tench from the Town Lake in Killeshandra
Tony Mahon and Alan Holl from Radcliffe had a good week fishing on Town Lake in Killeshandra with 50lb bags of bream to 6lb. Tony’s week was made complete with a stunning tench of 6lb 12oz. Tony and Alan were staying at Lakeside Cottages and fished the same pegs all week, fishing the feeder to a bed of flaked maize, brown crumb, pellet and corn mix.
Tony Mahon with 6lb 12oz Tench from the Town Lake in Killeshandra
Thomas Wolf from Brachtenbecker, Altena in Germany had a great 2 weeks fishing aroung the killeshandra area with catches of 80lb of bream from Innishmuck, and similar weights of hybrids from Carrafin Lough. Thomas also had a great day on Sally’s Lake with tench to 6lb, although he went back the following day and caught very little.
22/06/12: It’s difficult to describe the fishing over the last few days; I would have expected to have more fish landed but for some reason it hasn’t happened, until …..
Since my update last Saturday morning we have had 8 more fish and 2 of those were on Saturday.
Ciaran Boland had a fish from the Rock pool of 4lbs6ozs on a Vanbeck and David Dunne had another from the Whin pool of 6lbs1oz on a Willie Gunn.
There was only one on Sunday, a beautiful 7lbs10ozs sea liced fish taken from the Rock pool on a Conehead Shrimp by Charles Carroll.
We had nothing on Monday or Tuesday and then 2 yesterday. Both fish weighed in at 3lbs14ozs and were taken in the Schoolhouse and Turn pool respectively by Margaret Downes and Charles Cooper, on a Collie Dog and a Gary Dog.
Charles Carroll
Rubin Vyncke from Belgium who is trying to catch his first salmon has managed at least 6 handshakes and seen a lot more. There are fish there; if I could look into the crystal ball I’d tell you exactly how many but I’m afraid I can’t. Anytime I have looked in the river I have seen fish but they are on strike at the moment. Finlough has been disappointing this week, but hopefully it will pick up as we have had another good flush of water with the river at 65 at lunchtime.
As you all know we are in the most technologically advanced valley in the world!!!!! This blog was ready to be posted yesterday when technology surprisingly failed us. As it happens I went down the river to find out if anything was stirring, and indeed it was.
Charles Cooper 17lbs 6ozs Delphi Salmon
Charles Cooper who was fishing Francis Ashe’s rod had just landed two fish. His first, which was sea liced was off the Quarry pool and weighed in at 17lbs6ozs. It was taken on a Gary Dog tube. After a titanic struggle between man and fish Charles, finally landed the fish 40 minutes later. He also broke his net in the process.
He then landed another lovely sea liced fish, on the Rock pool of 6lbs8ozs on the same Gary Dog which under normal circumstances would be a cracker but looked like a minnow beside the monster.
His fishing partner Paddy Varian also landed a fine sea liced fish from the Deadmans of approx. 9lbs8ozs. This fish also took a Gary Dog.
Just if there is anyone reading this who is dreaming of 17lbs salmon and would like a little break in July or August we still have some fishing available – for those interested please contact the office.
There is of course the added attraction that you get to meet all the wonderful staff here and experience the ambiance of Delphi Lodge!!! See you then.
25/06/12: Well now that we have come back down to earth after the big un, we are back to catching normal size fish. On this point it is worth noting that the quality of the fish in recent weeks has been excellent. When I was told that someone got a small grilse of 4lbs, I remarked that 10 years ago we would have considered this a big grilse. It definitely is a change for the better.
Since my last update we have landed 8 fish.
Buddies Michael Darling & Paddy Varian
On Friday Michael Darling managed to land a fish of 4lbs13.5ozs off Finlough on his last morning of the week. The fish was sea liced and took a Cascade. Paddy Varian also had a fish off the Rock pool of 5lbs9ozs on a Tick Tock. Don’t ring up asking me what it is because I don’t know. Apparently it commonly used on the Owenmore.
Three Dubs, Michael Tierney with Oliver Snr and Oliver Jnr and 8lb 13oz fish
Saturday we had 3 fish. Mick Kelly had one of 4lbs2.5ozs off Finlough on a Stoats Tail variant. Philip McGarrity had his first ever Delphi salmon. It was a sea liced fish of 5lbs approx. from the Whin pool taken on a Mini Tube. Martin Ceillier had a fish off the Turn pool of 4lbs on a Cascade. His wife Barbara still awaits that elusive first of the year.
Yesterday we had 3 fish. Michael Tierney from Dublin had his first ever salmon, off Doolough. The fish weighed in at 8lbs13ozs and was taken in the presence of his father Oliver and brother, also Oliver.
The next 2 fish were also a family affair. Reinhard Mittmann managed to land our smallest grilse of the year so far of 2lbs3ozs on a Stoats Tail. His son Nico had a lovely fish of 6lbs9ozs on a Green Highlander. Both these fish came off Finlough.
Nico & Reinhard Mittmann, father and son
The river is holding at 30 so hopefully the steady flow of quality fish will continue.
For the summer months while staying at Delphi Lodge enjoy three nights’ Bed & Breakfast, three Evening Dinners and two special days out.
Arrive at Delphi Lodge for the wonderful Delphi Lodge Dinner on your first evening. Next morning, after a truly Country House Full Irish Breakfast, depart by ferry from Roonagh Pier for Inishturk, a beautiful inhabited Island off the Mayo coast, where you will be met by Mary Catherine who explains island life over tea or coffee and scones in her kitchen overlooking the harbour. There are a couple of hours to have a stroll and take in the natural beauty of the island before returning to Mary for a delightful seafood lunch and home baking; time to relax and enjoy the views and perhaps a drink or two before returning to Delphi Lodge for evening Dinner.
A slow start the next morning with time to enjoy the Delphi Estate. Then a short trip to Killary Fjord to board the Connemara Lady, a small cruise liner, for a spectacular cruise along the rugged shoreline of this beautiful inlet – a seafood platter lunch will be served on-board.
Alternatively, for those who do not wish to avail of this particular activity, another option is to visit Connemara National Park with a Delphi Packed Lunch.
Afterwards, just a short distance to Kylemore Abbey for a tour of the Abbey itself and a leisurely walk through the restored walled gardens before returning to Delphi Lodge for evening Dinner.
Delphi Coast
All inclusive package price €495 per person sharing:
3 nights’ Bed & Breakfast
3 evening Dinners
Ferry to Inishturk inc. tea/coffee & scones, plus seafood lunch.
Connemara Lady Cruise or Connemara National Park with Delphi lunch
