The Cusher is starting to come into good ply after all the recent rain. While the river is crystal clear it is still quite high and will fish well over the next week if the rain stays away. Local guide Brian Russell spent Wednesday evening chaperoning his two sons Thomas and Louis. Both children had success with plenty of fish up to and around the 30cm mark, the bulk of the fish falling to nymphs with an odd fish succumbing to dryfly.
Fishing buddies…………
Thomas aged 12
.....and Louis aged 9
The week of constant high water may well have drawn an early run of fish up from Lough Neagh, if so these fish usually of a silver hue will average around the pound mark and will provide good sport in runs and pools to weighted nymphs and large dry flies. There a good hatches of sedge on the river at present along with some blue wings and black midge. Anyone interested in a days angling on this jewel or its parent River Bann, both of which provide super summer fishing, should contact Brian Russell through his website.
Professional Angling Guide Bodo Funke provides a fishing Guide Service in the West/ North-west of Ireland. Pike fishing, Trout fishing, Fly-fishing, Jerk-baiting, Fishing tuition and more…
Bodo tells us that Boyle is fantastic place for fishing and non-fishing holidays, an ideal touring base to explore the West and North-West of Ireland.
Last Monday Damien Firoud, Scierra France and his Dad joined him and caught this nice pike on the fly over a shoal of perch fry in 20+ feet of water during a day out.
Damien Firoud with Pike
After a violent battle, flexed muscles and several minutes of fighting, Damien delivered the Pike through the power of the cane Scierra HM+ 9 ‘6 silk of 8
And after a long day you’ll find the new boat jetty at Lough Key is brilliant, great to tie up, take a break from fishing and warm up in the Lough Key Forest Park Restaurant with a hot lunch or Dinner. The hot soup in there was a real life saver during a days guided fishing.
Bernard Devenney from the Dundalk Salmon Anglers Association reports that the recent heavy rain has brought an early start to the run of Salmon on the Fane. With water conditions excellent the first Salmon of the season were caught yesterday Tuesday 12th June by Anthony Carty of Dundalk and Bernard Halpenny from Collon. Anthony landed a beautful 10 lb. fresh fish and the other salmon taken a lovely fish of approximately 8 lbs was landed by Bernard. With more rain forecast during the next few days the water should stay high. This should encourage more Salmon and Sea-trout to come into the river earlier than usual.
Dundalk Salmon Anglers Association have put a huge effort in time and work into the river during the last number of months.
Day tickets are available at €15 per day and can be obtained at local tackle shops in Dundalk or by phone from Bernard Devenney 087 1322873. The Association has a few annual memberships available at present at €120 for new members. The annual membership for existing members is €70. The Association controls about five miles of fishing on a stretch of the river Fane-both banks and new members are always welcome.
Report from Laune Salmon and Trout Anglers’ Association
Water Height: As of Tuesday 12th water now down to 2.5 feet on the gauge at Johnston’s and running clear. Beautiful water for all methods and should remain so for the next week unless we get more intense rain.
With the rise in water over the last two weekends came news of fish. There were fish caught all last week with fish being caught on most of Laune Anglers waters. The best fish that I heard of was caught by Tralee angler Tony Burke who has a fish of 11lbs at Johnston’s on Friday. Mike Collins had two fish for two visits the best being 9lbs. Dominic Collins had a nice sea liced fish of 5 lbs last Monday and again yesterday Monday 11th he had another this time the fish was 9 lbs. A good few fish are being met mostly spinning river is still a bit high for fly in some pools.
Sea Trout: Patrick Richard and Michel Bertrand two of our French members has a wonderful weeks fun with good sea trout they had between them six trout all good trout the best being 3 lbs.
Prospects: All this week there should be a good chance of a fish. While the water is as high as it is now spinning might be the best method but it should come perfect for fly later in the week and over the weekend.
Beat 3: Excellent water in Beat 3 also and there are lots of fish running the system they have to show up in Beat 3 at some stage.
Laune Salmon and Trout Anglers’ Association
River Laune, Killorglin, Co. KerryE-mail: mailto:[email protected]
A huge bag of bream and hybrids to specimen weight for Brian Bohan, all taken on feeder tactics in 12 foot of water using 13 foot Drennan medium feeder rod with cage feeder. Mostly double corn and worm on the hook. An early start to the morning saw the water boiling with fish at about 30 yards on a swim that had being baited up for two evenings previously. Some of the hybrids weighed in at over the six lb mark and the bream which went to 8 lb were full of spawn. Total weight 130 lbs.
Brian Bohan's big bag Bream and Hybrids
Other news on the fishing front saw the angling council of Ireland present certificates to members of the NCFFI in recognition of their outstanding contribution to Irish angling at international angling competitions throughout Europe
NCFFI members
While the Irish Celtic Cup Youth’s team (which is sponsored by IFI) that won the competition in Scotland last year were also presented with their awards
Brian Bohan is author of Irish Dreams, an anglers guide to 420 Locations covering Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Sligo, Roscommon, Longford and Westmeath. 350 Colour Photographs; 40 Detailed Maps; Directions to every Location.
The Arva Seniors Classic 2012 took place from the 4th. to 8th. June. This event was founded by Irvin Vaines is in its 6th. year and is sponsored by the Breffni Arms Arva. Sixty six anglers taking part over a five day period. The following is a list of the winners:-
1st. B Nudd 68.040
2nd. K Johnson 56.730
3rd. R O’Neill 55.790
4th. N Mallinson 53.130
5th. B Brown 50.690
6th. B Clay 49.620
Fishing on Castlefore is producing good Tench and Bream and there are lots of Hybrids and some Bream on Garadice for those who fish early morning and late evening.
A 4lb Trout was caught by a local angler on the Cavan river beside the Cavan bus office at Railway Road.
Two Pike anglers fishing the Cootehill area caught on average 17 Pike every day over a two week period.
The winner of May’s Nominated Species Hunt was Steven O’Neill with his report on fishing for Plaice in Cork Harbour resulting in the 4.2lb fish pictured. You may read about it here.
Stevie with 4..2lb plaice
The nominated species for June are Smoothound and Stingray. More details here
As an overall prize for the year, Bryan O Keeffe the owner and award winning chef of the Westend bar, restaurant and accommodation in Fenit Co Kerry is generously offering one night B&B and dinner for two in his award winning restaurant.
Ullcatch is also offering a days angling for the lucky winner and a friend in the Kerry region.
The prize will go to the best fish caught in the 2012 season.
Reported by John Diamond and Kieran Hanrahan Sea Angling Ireland E-mail:[email protected]
Over from Holland on their first visit to Ireland were brothers Andries and Bertijn van der Steenhoven with a shopping list of species they hoped to catch which were not available back home. Happily it was a case of mission accomplished for the pair as during their 4 days fishing they caught thornback ray, pollack, wrasse, conger, dogfish, mackerel and Bertijn had the best fish a Huss of 4.5 Kg and nearly a metre long. Plans were already being made for an extended visit next year.
Mike Kempster and Chris Blewett from the Uk were here to see if they could better the fine specimen plaice Chris caught last year. They did not quite manage it but did record a specimen dab of 1lb 9ozs along with pollack to 7lbs and some fine wrasse and flatties.
Also on a return visit were Stewart and Terry from Kent. Float fished rag they soon discovered was irresistable to our wrasse and they caught over 50 fish to nearly 3 pounds. They also caught huss and pollack to 5lbs.
Lower water temperatures have made the fishing start slower this year but things are now picking up well with the rays starting to show and some very good pollack and huss about.
Anyone looking for information on fishing on the Beara can contact me at [email protected] or ring me on 00 353 27 60330.
Oliver Farren reports to us on a recent fishing trip he and his friend Jimmy had in a sunny Culdaff Bay. He tells us :
– Great Day, Tide was a bit Low when Launching from Bunagee Pier in Culdaff, Co. Donegal. We tried for a few Mackerel at first with no joy.
We then headed past Dunmore and it was not long until the Pollack appeared. After a few Pollack and Coalies, we decided to head out a bit further and a few Mackerel appeared. We headed out a bit deeper and tried the Kilmore Killers Rig, on the first drop I had a Spurdog.”
Whiting
I baited up the Kilmore Killers and dropped again, Once I hit the Bottom, My rod started some serious heavy jerking, I started to reel in again but this time it was a lot more difficult to take whatever it was to the top, the pulling seemed to slacken a bit for a few turns of the reel but once that thing saw the surface it started to run again.I kept at it and it was not long until I got a glimpse of this huge Spurdog now thrashing on the surface, I was ready to lift it onto the board when bang! the 4/0 snap swivel on my rod bent and sprang out. The Spurdog was off to the depths again with my trace!
I Attached the “Mickey Fish Rig” and baited up with Mackerel, Jimmy attached the “Orange Tronixpro Muppets” baited with Mackerel, It was not long before Jimmy was struggling to reel in a Bull Huss.
After a few good sized whiting and a few more spurdogs and codling I Struck Gold with the Mickey Fish Rig, a Beautiful Haddock!
This was followed by a lot more Spurdogs, Whiting, Codling, Red Gurnard,
I dropped the unbaited Yamashita Mini Sabiki Muppets size 4G to the Bottom on my second rod and just left it there for a few minutes while i reeled in another spurdog and whiting. The second rod fell forward with a huge bang, I grabbed it and started to reel in, whatever was on it was very heavy, it took a long time to get it to the surface, when I did I could not believe what I saw! a codling on one hook, a whiting below that and on the bottom, a huge Spurdog (these muppets are only suitable for fishing mackerel and have very light line) the Spurdog gave one thrash and snapped off one of the mini muppets then he was off. At least I managed to get the Codling and the Whiting.
After another few Spurdogs, Codling, Whiting, Gurnard we decided to call it a day and headed back to Bunagee Pier, The Mariah lifted through the water like she was going to take off! They are a Great Boat.
Skipper Siegy and his angling boat “Sioux” down in Valentia, put on a great welcome for their guests Thorsten, Uwe and Alfonso on June 2nd when piper Patrick played ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bagpipes!!
A welcome fit for a King !
3rd – 7th June 2012
Three anglers from Lower Saxony began this week by catching 167 pollock, 33 ling, 24 coalfish, 2 cod, 16 pouting, 2 cuckoo wrasse, 1 haddock, many mackerels, sandeels and one sea cucumber 😉
Fishing well
Siegy & Billi Grabher
Ballyhearny West
Valentia Island
County Kerry
Phone/Fax: +353-(0)66-9476420
Mobile: +353-(0)87-6871267
