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Destination Wexford, target Pollack.

This Pollock took a Peaboy jig fished sink and draw at distance.
This Pollock took a Peaboy jig fished sink and draw at distance.

We are currently near the mid point of the Bass Ban and since the 15th of May we have turned our attention to the hard fighting crash diving Pollack. Care must be taken with these fish if you wish to release them. They are quite soft so care is needed when handling and releasing them.

Pollack, the target!
Pollack, the target!

Conditions we favour for these great sport fish are; a medium to strong rising tide into darkness, high pressure and a calm to moderate sea.

Tackle is the same as what we use use for targeting Bass, for me that is a Teklon Concept Spin 702L, Twin Power 3000 SFC loaded with 20lb Power Shot and 20lb Flouro Leader.

Lures are similar too, the same soft plastic’s generally work well in close, with metal jigs up to 35g being favored for distance fishing.

Location will consist of deep water within casting distance, with a good kelp population and some sand patches.

This Pollack took a Peaboy jig fished sink and draw at distance.
This Pollack took a Peaboy jig fished sink and draw at distance.

Technique will vary from a quick steady retrieve to sink and draw at various depths.

We have been out a few evenings targeting these golden torpedoes with mixed results

The first evening we connected with a few fish up to 3lb in close on the SP’s,with Crevan and Pat getting the spoils as I left early for work. They fished a 30min window before the fish moved on. The conditions were good with a slight Easterly wind, a small amount of weed soon cleared as the tide pushed in.

The following evening we encountered a serious amount of fish a good distance out on the jigs, these were good Pollock up to 5lb hitting and fighting extremely hard. It was great craic trying to keep them from crashing into the kelp on the lure rods.

Pat with a fine Pollack caught on a Peaboy Jig
Pat with a fine Pollack caught on a Peaboy Jig

We made another venture out on Sunday, the tide was nearing the neap and with no wind it made for a pleasant evening.  We tried several locations but the Pollack just did not show, Barry hooked a Billy no mates Mackerel on a Chartreuse Jig but that was all the action we seen. The swell and weed was quite heavy, which accounted for a few lost jigs!

Mackerel caught on a chartreuse Jig at distance
Mackerel caught on a chartreuse Jig at distance

Next on the target list is Wrasse on the lure and Smooth Hound on the bait. Lets hope the weather holds up for the next few months…

Courtsey of Danny Meagher

Wexford Angling Blog

Lough Melvin fishing is slow with a 5lb and 4lb grilse caught.

The salmon fishing on Lough Melvin seemed quieter and I have only heard of a couple of salmon caught to date. On Saturday, Noel Johnston recorded a 5lb grilse caught and lost two others one of which was much bigger. Raymond Dundas accounted for a 4lb grilse caught in the Rossinver fishery.

Drowes Salmon Fishery

T: +353 (0) 71 98 41055
M: +353 (0) 87 8050806

http://www.drowessalmonfishery.ie/reports/

Good fishing for Gillaroo and Sonaghan with mayfly hatching on Lough Melvin

Lough Melvin: The weather did a complete turn about this week and we went from decidedly cold conditions to sweltering heat and bright sun! Sunblock was the order of the day and few rods ventured out until the evening time. The trout fishing, for those that ventured out after the same, was fairly good with some nice Sonaghan reported and good fishing for Gillaroo over the weekend with mayfly hatching in certain areas of the lough.

For info/boat hire/bookings etc on Lough Melvin see http://www.drowessalmonfishery.com/ or Tel: 071 9841055.

Lough Melvin – Rossinver Fishery: For info see http://www.rossinverfishery.com/

For bookings/guides etc on the Rossinver Fishery contact Bill McNeary, Tel: 071 9854930 or Jim Hoye, Tel: 0831197428

For info/Guides/boat hire on Lough Melvin contact Sean Maguire’s Tackle Shop, Main Street, Garrison.

Bites were slow around Wicklow except for a few ray who took the bait

A nice thornback ray for Irish International angler Myles Howell
A nice thornback ray for Irish International angler Myles Howell

Ashley Hayden, angling guide and author of the popular blog An Irish Angler’s World reports…

Sea fishing in May can be hit and miss on Ireland’s east coast as fish begin to return after their spawning migrations, the shallow banks off north Co. Wicklow being a classic case in point. Last Sunday Kit Dunne’s charter vessel Lisin 1 had a red letter day catching numerous tope, huss, smooth hound, and ray, seventy two hours later the fish play hard ball, but hey that’s fishing.

A homelyn or spotted ray for Wicklow charterboat skipper Kit Dunne
A homelyn or spotted ray for Wicklow charterboat skipper Kit Dunne

A warm southerly breeze flattened the sea as we cleared the pier head following coordinates to a mark that would see us drop mackerel and squid baited hooks into a flooding tide with a view to catching a few more early season animals. Very quickly it became apparent that a repeat of last Sunday’s performance was definitely not on the cards. Bites were slow with only a few doggies, small whiting and dabs coming aboard during the first two hours.

Myles Howell raising a thornback ray from the deep
Myles Howell raising a thornback ray from the deep

As the flood eased doggies became more frequent and a heavy lean on my rod signaled something more interesting. Lifting into a resistance that certainly wasn’t dog like, shortly afterwards a welcome spotted ray came into view, quickly netted and photographed before being returned whence it came.

A nice thornback ray for Irish International angler Myles Howell
A nice thornback ray for Irish International angler Myles Howell

A change of mark over slack water to catch the first of the ebb resulted in a nice thornback ray for Irish International angler Myles Howell. One swallow doesn’t make a summer though and as the ebb increased so the fishing tailed off except for an odd doggie. That’s May fishing for you, in another few weeks all will be different as smoothies, huss, tope, and ray become well established and the mackerel start to appear.

To book a day out on Lisin 1 contact Kit Dunne by ringing +353 (0)87 6832179 or email through the Wicklow Boat Charters website, www.wicklowboatcharters.ie.

Report courtsey of An Irish Anglers World

http://www.anirishanglersworld.com/

Brown Trout Update from the Fane, Dee and Glyde

small brownie file pic
small brownie file pic

Matt Campbell reports that water levels are low in all the rivers in the north east at the moment. Reports have been received that good falls of spent mayfly have produced some good evening fishing on the Rivers Dee and Glyde. Hatches of sedges on the Fane have produced some good late evening fishing. Eamonn Conway also reports that dry fly fishing is good on the Fane using sizes 18 and 20. In a recent outing Eamonn had a nice 17inch wild brown trout with the easterly winds giving a nice upstream breeze.

 

 

Testing Daytime Trout Fishing on the Boyne After the Mayfly

Selection of Nymphs
Selection of Nymphs

As the mayfly hatches have started to fall off on the Boyne at Navan the spent gnat is providing some good fishing in the evenings. Daytime fishing has been tough and Nick Onesco and Cornell Sandu have being trying their luck French nymphing on the Boyne at Navan.

Nick, French Nymphing on the Boyne
Nick Onesco French Nymphing on the Boyne

Their novel set up included a reeless rod with approximately 5.5m of mono/fluorocarbon with a coloured section as a bite indicator to which was attached two very small nymphs, they recommended sizes 16, 18 and 20. The technique is very suited to shallow water from approximately 1m and shallower. Nick had a nice 15inch trout and a number of smaller fish at Kilcarn during one recent outing.

Reeless Rod
Travelling Light, Nick and the Rod with no Reel

The lads reported that the trout are absolutely bursting with mayfly which account for the lack of activity during the day. The water continues to fall and clear and there are some olive hatches during the day, the remainder of the mayfly hatch is sparse and there can be some good sedge fishing in the evenings. reports have also been received that some nice trout to circa 2lbs have been taken on sedge at Dunmoe.

Selection of Nymphs
Selection of Nymphs

On the Kells Blackwater in Navan local angler Like Walpole had some nice fishing on Monday evening. Luke’s best fish was a lovely 2lb brown trout and together with angling buddy Matthew O’Connor whose best fish was a nice 1.5lb wild brow trout, the lads managed 12 trout for their evenings  fishing. Most fish were taken either on a spent mayfly or small brown sedge.

Tope very slow but a fine skate makes up for it in Red Bay

Skate onboard the Predator II
Skate onboard the Predator II

Hamish Currie, skipper of the Predator II tells us that after another wee tope session just 9km  south of red bay it produced a few more fish than his last trip but still not in the numbers he expect from this piece of ground at this time of year.  But when the tope stopped playing ball a wee bonus came onto the ground and this fine common skate was taken with light gear.  Next time Hamish says he will target specimen spurs cod and skate.

Skate onboard the Predator II
Skate onboard the Predator II
Only a few tope played ball
Only a few tope played ball

Hamish Currie
Predator II
Red Bay Stormforce 9.1 Rib
Web: www.predatorireland.com Email: info@predatorireland.com
Telephone: 028 2177 1828   Boat: 07720440117

The craic was mighty and the fishing too in Donegal Bay

Cod on a sunny day
Cod on a sunny day

Variety is the spice of life in Donegal Bay.  The craic was mighty and the fishing was too, on board ‘Prospector 1’, last weekend. Sun cream came out as shirts came off in the soaring temperatures.

Cod on a sunny day
Cod on a sunny day

But who said it might be too warm now for cod? Nobody told the cod that was landed on the Mullghmore-based vessel using a green jellied eel, tipped with mackeral. And during a weekend that saw box after box of ling, pollack, coalfish and mackeral – a fine ballen wrasse was pulled in on a Red Devil Rig, while a lovely long ling succumbed to the glitter and green of a Shamrock Micky Fish rig.

Some sunny Wrasse too !
Some sunny Wrasse too !

 

Followed by Ling !
Followed by Ling !

All the lads will be back for more from Skipper Peter Power and his Cabin Boy Nuala!

Skipper Peter Power

Prospector 1

Mullaghmore

Co Sligo

Tel: 087 2576268

Web: www.bayangling.freeservers.com

www.facebook.com/seafishingireland

Liam Ellis takes a fine specimen sea trout for the third year in a row on Lough Currane.

Liam Ellis with in third specimen sea trout in the row in three years on Lough Currane.

Ghillie, Vincent Appleby reports on a great week’s fishing especially for sea trout on Lough Currane.

22/5/12 There was some good action on Lough Currane today, I will start in the fly department, Mr. Marcel Guilliou of Scarborough of the UK caught a fine salmon on the fly at the Ledge with his ghillie Mr. Vincent O’Sullivan and of www.vincentsfishing.com also in good form in the trolling department was Vincent’s son-in-law Mr. Tham Hitmiangsong of Waterville and Thailand, who caught a fine salmon on the troll, and staying in the trolling department Mr. Welten of Holland caught a 8.5 lb. salmon, fishing with his ghillie Mr. Frank Donnelly and of www.lakelandshouse.com and last but not least and my catch of the day goes to Dr. Jim Comerford, who caught a fresh 9 lb. salmon on the troll. Now to the catch and release fly department Mr. Sean Smith of the UK fishing with his ghillie Mr. Neil O’Shea and of www.oshealoughcurrane.com caught a fine sea trout of 3 lb. which he sportingly put back to fight another day.

23/5/12 There was some good action on Lough Currane today in the trolling department with some cracking good fish being caught, first in the striking zone was Mr. Jim Hall from New York, who caught a cracker of a salmon weighing in at 13 lb. and just for the record that was Jim’s first ever salmon so congratulations to him and may it be the first of many, Jim was fishing with his ghillie Mr. Mike O’Dwyer  and another regular visitor to Waterville, Mr. Arthur White of the UK, who caught two salmon of 5¾ lb. and 12.5 lb.  Arthur was fishing with his ghillie Mr. Bob Priestley, and Bob was telling me that he and Arthur had a lucky escape, it’s a pity the 12.5 lb. Salmon couldn’t say the same and the reason I say this this is because their Salmon jumped out of the net, and as you can see its landed up on the internet.  Now to the specimen sea trout and fly department and my catch of the day and that goes to Mr. Liam Ellis of Waterville and Cork, who caught a fine 6 lb. 3 oz.  sea trout on the fly, drifting off Church Island, and Liam is keeping his reputation up as a specimen sea trout Hunter because this is the third year on the trot that Liam has caught a specimen sea trout so congratulations too him.  Staying with the sea trout Mr. Marcel Guilliou of the UK, caught a fine 3 lb. sea trout on the fly in the mouth of the Commeragh, fishing with his ghillie Mr. Vincent O’Sullivan and of www.vincentsfishing.com Wind S fresh too strong in the morning and light to fresh in the afternoon and overcast.

24/5/12 Lough Currane was on the quiet side in general, but not if you were in Mr. Liam Ellis’s boat because he caught two fine sea trout on the fly ranging from 3 lb. up to 4 lb. and Liam was telling me that he caught on the Bibio and variants’ flies and in the salmon department, Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy and of www.fishingwithdom.com caught a grilse this evening on the south side. Wind SE light too calm with bright sunshine all day and warm.

25/5/12 All the head lines go to the hired out boat department, Mr. Dave Cronin fishing out www.lakelandshouse.com caught a fine 4.5 lbs grilse on the drift and for the rest of we anglers we failed miserably in out duties, so will go the land photography I was sent a fantastic photo by Mr. Ivor O’Connor and of www.ivorsfood.com and courtesy of Mr. Daragh O’Driscoll Photography, of the sunset on Lough Currane last night.

26/5/12

Lough Currane was on the wild side with a fresh to strong SE wind and veered South at times, but this didn’t stop a few boats manipulating their Flies and Lures, in fly department Mr. Sean Smith of the UK returned a fine Sea Trout around 3.5 lb. and his ghillie Mr. Neil O’Shea and of www.oshealoughcurrane.com was telling me that Sean contacted a fine sea trout in the 6 to 7 lb. class and the rascal came off after taking two almighty leaps after 20 minutes, in the sea trout trolling department, a guest fishing with his ghillie Mr. Bob Priestley, caught a sea trout, just for the record the air temperature yesterday was 25.9°C.

27/5/12

Fly Anglers saw some reasonable action on the Lough today, I will start in the hired out boat department of www.lakelandshouse.com Mr. Dara Treacy, caught 3 fine sea trout on the fly, ranging from 3 lb. up to 5 lb. and Dara was telling me that he also lost two more sea trout in the 2 lb. class, and staying with www.lakelandshouse.com Mr. Dave Cronin  caught a fine 3 lb. sea trout on the drift and I will say one thing, Dave hasn’t had a bad week in the fly department, sadly his son John couldn’t  say the same up until today, when he put the record straight by catching a fine sea trout just over 2 lb. caught on the fly, and as they say everything comes to those who wait. Now to the catch and release fly department, Mr. Michael Smith of the UK and his son Sean fishing with their ghillie Mr. Neil O’Shea and of www.oshealoughcurrane.com caught and released  two sea trout ranging from 2.5 lb. up to 3 lb., Mr. Markus Krusas of Germany fishing with his ghillie Mr. Mike O’Dwyer and fishing out of www.lakelandshouse.com caught a sea trout of just under the 1 lb. on the drift and last but not least Mr. Arthur White caught a fine 2 lb. sea trout on the drift with his ghillie Mr. Bob Priestley. Now to the salmon department, local ghillie Mr. Donal O’Shea and of www.curranelodge.com caught a 6.5 lb. salmon on the troll. Wind E light and overcast with the odd light shower.

28/5/12

Mr. Arthur White and Mr. Michael O’Sullivan

Local Gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy reported to me that anglers from cork this evening, caught 3 Sea Trout on the fly ranging from 2 lb. up to 4 lb.  UK Angler Mr. Arthur White of Cornwall, caught a 6.5 lb. Salmon on the troll and finished his day off with a 4 lb. sea trout on the fly, fishing with his ghillie Mr. Michael O’Sullivan of Waterville Boats –watervilleboats@gmail.com and staying with the sea trout, Mr. Antony O’Sullivan caught a 5 lb. sea trout on the fly and his good friend Mr. Eugine McCarthy caught a 3 lb. sea trout on the fly, there was a 2 lb. sea trout caught on the fly by a guest fishing with his ghillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy and of www.fishingwithdom.com and in the catch and release sea trout department, Mr. Sean Smith of the UK, caught a 2 lb. sea trout on the drift fishing with his ghillie Mr. Neil O’Shea and of www.oshealoughcurrane.com Wind S light and overcast.

29/5/12

We will start with the early shift, Mr. Arthur White of the UK caught a 2.5 lb. sea trout on the fly and finished his fishing Holiday off with two Salmon, a Grilse of 2.5 lb. and topped that with a fine 6.5 lb. Salmon and both were caught on the troll, with his ghillie Mr. Michael O’Sullivan of Waterville Boats – watervilleboats@gmail.com now to the salmon fly department, Mr. Mark Knowles of the UK caught a fine 7.5 lb. salmon on the fly fishing with his ghillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy and of www.fishingwithdom.com Now to the sea trout fly department and the hired out boat department of www.lakelandshouse.com Mr. Dara Treacy caught a 3.5 lb. sea trout on the drift, also in good form was Dr. McGuinness who caught a 2.5 lb. sea trout on the fly, and staying www.lakelandshouse.com German Angler, Mr. Markus Krusas fishing with his Gillie Mr. Mike O’Dwyer, caught a 2.5 lb. sea trout on the fly, also local Gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy, reported to me that Cork anglers caught a fine 5 lb. sea trout on the fly this morning, Now to catch and release of the day and that goes to the one and only the king of the Irish Sea Trout fly, Mr. Sean Smith of the UK, as Sean was casting his fly upon the water a 3 lb. sea trout took his fly and as Sean brought his sea trout under control his fly reel went berserk and he was down to the backing and the next thing my noble game fish took a almighty jump it was Salmon on the 8 lb. class and a few seconds later my noble salmon was gone and all Sean was left with was the 3 lb. sea trout which he sportingly put back, and as Sean is keen C&R Angler we will give him that salmon because he would of put my noble salmon back to fight another day, and it wasn’t long before Sean caught another sea trout of 3.5 lb., Sean and Michael’s ghillie Mr. Neil O’Shea and of www.oshealoughcurrane.com was telling me that Sean and Michael rose a few nice sea trout also and Neil also reported to me that he saw an angler catch a sea trout in the 3 lb. class. Wind SE light with good cloud cover.

30/5/12

Straight to the sea trout department, Mr. Mark Knowles of the UK fishing with his ghillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy and of www.fishingwithdom.com caught 4 sea trout on the fly, ranging from 2 lb. up to 5 lb., also in good form was Mr. Liam Ellis who caught 3 sea trout on the fly ranging from 2 lb. up to 3 lb. Now to the catch and release department Mr. Michael Smith and his Son Mr. Sean Smith, fishing with their ghillie Mr. Neil O’Shea and of www.oshealoughcurrane.com caught two sea trout ranging from 2.5 lb. up to 3 lb. , staying in the catch and release department and my catch and release of the day and that goes too Mr. Noel Curtain of Castlemartyr Co Cork, fishing with his ghillie Mr. Roger Baker and of www.cloghvoola.com who caught a specimen sea trout estimated at 8 lb. on a size 12 Green Peter, for quote of the day from Roger, Noel is 6 feet tall with hands like shovels and is not holding the fish out to make it look bigger, note the length of the fish across his arms, and just for the record there were a few boats out and sadly they haven’t reported their catches. Wind SW light and overcast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salmon run improving on the Suir, new webcam at Clonmel

There are reports of a few fish coming off the Suir now. We had two fish off our beats on Monday. Both were about between 6 and 7 pounds but there are some better fish on the river. There is good water here, but the the sunshine is still quite bright. You can can check the conditions here yourself via the new webcam at Clonmel which can be viewed here: http://www.farsondigitalwatercams.com/live-webcams/ireland/Suir/Clonmel/

Introduction to fly fishing at Newcastle

Philip and Ann Maher along with GAIAC instructors and ACI coaches Bob Seward, Der Casey and Brian Mohally and IFI staff members Michael Byron and Myles Kelly gave an introduction to fishing to the youths of Newcastle on Sunday morning 27th May. The session was started with demonstration of safe angling practice and the importance of wearing a life jacket while on the banks or wading and of being accompanied by a parent or guardian was emphasised to the young audience.

The safety briefing was followed by a couple of hours of casting practice at which the new anglers showed real promise with all present well able to cast a fly by the end of the session.

All those present are reminded that to fish the river at Newcastle they must have sunglasses, a hat and a life jacket on and that under 16′s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please remember to always ring Philip in advance of fishing.

Newcastle introduction to fly fishing
Newcastle introduction to fly fishing

Philip Maher
Fishhunt
Touraneena, Ballinamult, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary, Ireland
Tel: + 353 (0)58 47524 Mob: + 353 (0)87 8399345
Web: Fishhunt.ie Email: philip@fishhunt.ie