18/09 There were good water levels on the Drowes again this week which helped the fishing. The fishery was fairly quiet however with only a limited number rods fishing. Fishing, however, picked up somewhat this week with fair numbers of grilse caught.
A visiting French party started fishing on Saturday and already have caught 4 grilse. Stephen Hopper had a good days fishing on Wednesday recording 3 fish caught on shrimp below Lennox’s Bridge. The fish weighed 4, 5 & 10lb with the larger two being released again.
On Sunday, Colin Gardiner accounted for a 2½lb grilse caught on a spinner from the Washstones.
Water levels on the Erriff were extremely high at the start of the week, with a spate of 2.5 metres recorded at Aasleagh Gauge on Sunday the 11th. The river was unfishable and levels had dropped marginally to just 2.2 metres on Monday. After dinner on Monday saw the first anglers throw a line. Levels dropped to perfect conditions for fly fishing and maintained so throughout the week averaging 1.4 to 1.6 metres. In total 79 salmon were caught for the week with 20 of those caught on Saturday the 17th. There were 19 sea trout also caught for the week.
A number of anglers caught their first salmon ever on the Erriff this week, including Alberto Gavigan who caught a fresh grilse on the Falls Pool, Beat 9 to a shrimp pattern fly. On 18th September Sean Hayde, England caught his first salmon to an Erriff pattern on Beat 8 which weighed 4 lbs. Mr. Bernard Vedrines caught his first salmon on 15th September at the Black Banks on Beat 6 which weighed just under 4 lbs. Marc Parinot, France caught his first salmon on the 12th September on Beat 4 which weighed 5 lbs.
The Muckian and Duffy party from Dundalk, Co. Louth had 10 salmon for 3 days angling during the week. The Winthrop party from France caught 7 salmon for 5 days angling while at Erriff Fishery, best fish weighing 12 lbs. The Chambers party had a very successful weeks angling with 22 salmon caught ranging from 4 to 7 lbs. Most of these salmon were released alive. The level of catch and release on the Erriff has become more popular of late with anglers more interested in conservation of salmon stocks.
The Lynas party N.Ireland, had 9 salmon for just 1 day angling, the heaviest fish being 11lbs, likewise all fish were released. Enda Kenny and his father Pat from Enfield had 10 salmon between them for 2 days angling, heaviest fish weighing 9 lbs caught at the Quarry Pool on Beat 2. Most of the salmon were released. Mr. F Hompesch from Germany caught 3 salmon on Munroe Killer and Kylie Shrimp for 6 days angling. Another fine example of catch and release angling was displayed by Galway man Neil Spellacy who caught 4 salmon at the Tawnyard Pots Beat 3 on an Allys Shrimp and released all fish alive. Tom Gillen from Ballymena had four fish for three days over the weekend all released with the best fish 7.5lbs on a shrimp fly in the Coronation pool.
Local Erriff Anglers fished Beats 9 and 2 on Sunday 18th with a water level of 1.7 metres. Michael Coyne, Leenane landed 1 salmon just under 5 lbs to an Ally’s Shrimp on Beat 9.
The river is, to put it mildly, fishing its head off at the moment, and with frequent rainfall water levels are perfect for the fly. Fishing could be really good over the last 10 days of the season, so book a rod now if you can! Call the lodge on 095 42252 to inquire about availability.
E.P.F.C European Police Championships 2012 Lough Muckno Castleblayney Co Monaghan Ireland.
The European Freshwater fishing Championships for 2012 will be held at Lough Muckno in Castleblayney Co Monaghan Ireland.
The National police force of An Garda Siochana will host the event with the assistance of local clubs Lough Muckno Coarse angling club along with South Armagh and Dist League and it will be run under the patronage of the governing body of the IADA.
Inland Fisheries Ireland staff headed by David Byrne and local officer Liam Murray are already committed and helping us to host this event along with Monaghan County Council personnel in all departments including the tourism section headed by Dympna Condra.
The event will be staged on three main, newly developed sections at Black/yellow Island, White Island and Concra Wood over two competition days 28th and 29th the September 2012.
The event will be staged on three main, newly developed sections at Black/yellow Island, White Island and Concra Wood over two competition days 5th and 6th th October 2012.
The practice days will commence Sunday 30th September 2012 and will conclude Thursday 4th October 2012 on which date all competitors must attend practice finishing at 3pm.
This is a prolific venue with vast quantities of Roach, Perch, Skimmers, hybrids and Bream to be found on all of the stretches.
All stretches fulfil the CIPS criteria with regard to internationally required dimensions and the average depth at 13 metres, ranges from 2m to 5m in depth.
With twenty plus 5 man teams of police from all over Europe expected to be in attendance along with additional support personnel the event should prove to be a timely boost for tourism revenue in the local area and the support from the local council members and staff, the guest house owners and service providers is assured.
A full range of accommodation types are available, from self catering to wonderful guesthouses and local friendly hotels.
Castleblayney is a small rural town by Irish standards with excellent services in the area of dining and entertainment. The larger centres of interest close by are Carrickmacross, Monaghan town and Dundalk each only 15 minutes by car and are certainly worth a visit from a shopping and tourist perspective.
An appropriate level of security will be provided by An Garda Siochana throughout the entire week and everybody should feel free to enjoy the event and the experience of fishing in Ireland the true home of Coarse Angling in Europe.
The organising committee would like to extend to everybody travelling to the event in any capacity, a truly warm Irish Cead Mile Failte.
Dave Houghton from Active Irish Angling reports on annual King of Clubs 2011 in the Arva Gowna area of Co. Cavan.
Kevin Rowles is the 28th King of Clubs Champion. Adding his name to an illustrious list of match fisherman, his title was well earned across five days of arduous match fishing in gale force conditions.
The winning total catch weight was 74.810 kilos total and the new champ pocketed an estimated £2,000 cash. There were plenty of fish to be caught and Kevin – who was fourth last year – took full advantage of the situation and he kicked-off on the Killykeen boat house stretch of Lough Oughter with 13.350k (29lb) and was overall top man for the whole event.
His catch consisted of one 2k bream, two at 1k with backing skimmers and hybrids while fishing a groundbait feeder at about 25m.
Day two had Kevin fishing on Rockfield Lake and he won the section from a middle peg with 14.160k (31lb) after catching 40-plus skimmer bream on a groundbait feeder with worm and caster.
You can do no better than beat the man either side of you, and that’s what he did on the third round on Gulladoo Upper Lake with 9.380 (20lb) made up of 130 roach and perch while pole fishing shallow.
This was Kevin’s third consecutive week in Ireland and so far he had a 5th place in the Gowna Festival and 5th in the Arvagh Festival and now the 45 year was beginning to wonder if it was going to be three in a row – or could he improve on the scores?
The popular grass bank at Killykeen was fourth in his section rotation and this is where most of the bigger weights had come from and it was fingers crossed the fish were still in the mood. Kevin drew peg one, which had won the opening day, and it was obviously the area to draw because peg two won the next two days. And he proved to be the man for the job and battered roach, hybrids and a few perch – in fact he had 270 of them – pole fishing shallow with caster for a fantastic 29-080k (64lb) haul.
Wow! Now the Devizes match group man had a comfort zone of 11 kilos ahead of last years’ champion Lee Klimczuk and just the final days fishing ahead. He put his hand in the bag and came out with peg 10 on Glasshouse Lake – which had won the section twice and peg nine had been a winner too, so once again there were fish to be caught.
While Kevin began on the pole it wasn’t right and the fish were edgy so he swapped to a groundbait feeder at 35m into almost three metres of water and that was it. From then on it was a bite a chuck on worm that produced roach, perch and hybrids for another section win with 8-540k (18lb). With four section wins and a fourth it is no wonder he is the 2011 KOC champ and well deserved too!
Peterborough’s Lee Klimczuk (Bait Tech) was a gracious runner-up with 64.860K (143lb) that included two section wins and the honour a being a day winner when he took 21.600k on Killykeen green bank. “It was exciting sport”, recalled last year’s festival winner. “Killykeen was very windblown so I chose to use a 7m pole with caster up in the water and loose fed caster. The method produced roach ranging from two to 12 ounces”.
Third placed Nail Mallinson (Wakefield) has been outstanding this autumn and a run of three five-day festivals has produced more than £3000 in cash prizes. Week one was the Gowna Festival when he was second, then he moved won the Arvagh Festival.
And then it became “One, two, three O’Leary” as Neil performed better than most but simply didn’t get the run of pegs, which is so very important in a talent-loaded field of anglers.
Result:
Kevin Rowles (Devizes MG) 74.810k
Lee Klimczuk (Bait Tech) 64.860
Neil Mallinson (Wakefield) 57.610
Simon Godfrey (Markwin Centres) 56.840
Francis McGoldrick (Ballyconnell) 55.630
Ian Germaney (Delcac) 53.160
Finally, the great news is the the flag ship event will continue in 2012 and perhaps run another 28 years. Still sponsored by Tourism Ireland, it will in future be known as the Arvagh King of Clubs and will take place during the same week, so Monday to Friday 10-14 September 2012. And angling holidays can still be booked with Irish Ferries, co-sponsors of the event since its inception.
The entry fee will be £150 with a 100 percent payout plus optional pools. Dave Houghton Active Irish Angling Tel: (UK) 0151 324 4744 or (IRL) +353 (0)71 9642743 Web:www.activeirishangling.com
This 15lb 5oz Brown Trout was taken by Galway angler, Stephen Cullinane
Simon Ashe, fishery manager at Ballynahinch Castle reports that a fine specimen 15 lb. 5oz. Brown Trout which was taken by Galway angler, Stephen Cullinane, on Ballynahinch Lake on the Sná Beg beat on 16th September last. The fish was taken on a size 12 Silver Rat fly whilst fishing for salmon. It is the largest brown trout landed on the Ballynahinch Catchment in living memory. This fish wins Catch of the Week for Thursday the 22nd of September.
Marlene Mc Laughlin reports from the Cashel Trout Fishery that with the weather conditions still warm and pleasant anglers are in their element at the fishery especially when it comes to dry fly fishing. Using dries, Derry’s Maurice Whiteman released an amazing twelve trout while Pearse Doherty (Maghera) managed five to the bank taking two home which weighed 4 lb. 6 oz. Pat Mc Gettigan (Drumsurn, Dungiven) bagged two which took an olive daddy while Pearse McGill (Lavey) released five which fell mainly to dries and buzzers. Mr Larsen (Denmark) accompanied by friend Mr Roberts (Wales) had an enjoyable time although they never managed to get any of their trout to the bank.
Group bookings are available for any angling club or corporate groups interested in a fun day. Catering facilities are available in the adjacent Cashel Fishing Lodge. Info and enquiries to Marlene at 17 Birren Road, Dungiven, BT474SH,
Tel: 0044 (0)28 7774 2159
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.cashellakeview.co.uk
On a slow day just one fish can make up for a lot, this 19lb pike certainly raised the spirits of Joey Bonnie and Stephen Farrelly
Joey Bonnie and fellow DPA club member, Stephen Farrelly were pike fishing the Shannon below Banagher on Wednesday the 14th. It was a very slow day with only the one pike caught. The fish took a ledgered mackerel fished close in. After a spirited battle with some nice tail walks she was successfully landed. She weighed 19lb 12oz. After a few snaps she went back without a fuss. Joey Bonnie
By email
Anglers with specimen claims for shad and cyprinids (roach, rudd and their hybrids), which require genetic analysis for positive identification, are asked to submit their claims to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee by SEPTEMBER 30.
The sophisticated genetic analysis involved, which is necessary for conservation and to enable high quality fish identification, takes a considerable amount of time and expertise. Therefore the submission date has been brought forward for both fish groups to ensure claims are processed in time for publication in the 2011 specimen fish report.
Catch and Release for Atlantic Salmon - In addition to mandatory catch and release for all salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40 cm) in those rivers set out here, anglers can play an important part in the protection of future stocks
Gary Robinson reports on some exciting tope fishing… The tope was played to the side of the kayak and a Mexican standoff ensued
I headed back down to a Wicklow beach this morning after a forecast break in the “hurricane” winds. I paddled out to my usual mark an dropped anchor for what will probably be my last roll of the dice for tope this year, from the kayak anyway, maybe one more day next week, we’ll see what the weather does. I had a couple of frozen macks with me and that is what I started with, putting a full one down on the tope rod. I put the tope rod in the rod holder and started jigging hokkais with the smaller rod just in case any fresh mackerel were passing through. They were and I managed to get a couple of fresh ones into the yak, backup for when I lost patience with the frozen. That took about an hour and with no runs by then i decided to change to a whole fresh mackerel bait. Whether it was coincidence or not I don’t know but the bait was on the bottom no longer than three minutes when the rachet started to scream.
I let it go for about ten seconds and then flipped the reel into gear. The rod buckled over…
….and the fish just kept on going and going down tide. After about a hundred yards or so I managed to turn her but then disaster, the bait was dropped. As I reeled it in, cursing away to myself the rod arched over again and I was back in business. I’m guessing the same fish was particularly hungry/aggressive and it held station, not wanting to come up off the bottom no matter what I did. This “Mexican stand off” ensued for a few minutes, as soon as I gained some line, the tope took some back. After what seemed an eternity the fish finally came into view…I got it up alongside the yak for a closer look and to size it up….
The tope is ready to be brought aboard
“No bother”, I thought and grabbed it by the tail to bring it up on board but this just made the fish very angry. With a couple of powerful flicks of the tail she was back on the bottom again and started to give me hell for another couple of minutes. Finally the tope accepted what was happening and I managed to haul it up onto the kayak and get to work on the hook. I managed a couple of shots when she was onboard but I figured out this morning that my next rigging project for the kayak is going to have to be a decent camera mount…..
The tope is finally boated
Tired after the ordeal, it took a couple of minutes of holding the fish steady in the tide before I felt the muscles in it flex. Wouldn’t be long now and sure enough the tail started to kick and thrash and just after giving me a soaking which must have been way of revenge, she slowly swam across the tide for about 20 yards and then slowly descended back to the deeps.. By this stage the wind had started to freshen and the sea was starting to roll a little bit so I decided to quit while I was ahead and make my way back to the shore. What a morning though!!!! Gary Robinson
Phil Gimbert and friend Nigel Baker were over for a fishing holiday and stayed with Kevin and Jane Lyons at Melview Lodge in Longford, they decided to stay on the same venue and it paid off for them in the end. They managed some good Bream during their stay but the best was the last day when the fish started to move onto the feed, both Phil and Nigel shared a catch of just over 140lb with Bream to 5lb, Roach, Skimmers and a bonus Tench which was very good considering some of the weather conditions during their stay. Phil said they could have done with a few more days as the fish really started to feed well.
Nigel Baker with his share of the catch.
Fishing before the bad weather front moved in was very good in the Longford and the surrounding areas. There have been some great catches of Bream and Tench, not forgetting some cracking Roach, Rudd and Perch catches. The bad weather has affected some venues making them difficult to fish with the high winds and rain, However fish are still being caught so log on next week to see how the other anglers of Melview Lodge faired. Kevin Lyons, Melview Lodge,
Drumlish Road,Clonrollagh, Longford, Co. Longford Tel:+353(0)43-33-45061 Mobile:+353(0)87-268-7441 E-mail:[email protected]Web:www.melviewlodge.com
