Irish Angling Update, 26/04/12
There was a huge change in Irish weather in the past ten days with plenty of rain and cold squally windy weather at times and this had different impacts on various types of fishing. The rain and the increase in water levels have improved salmon and sea trout fishing in particular. Some watercourses were flooded in some parts of the country in recent days and these obviously had a serious deterrent in angling activity.
The higher water levels in Donegal helped improve the salmon fishing on the River Drowes but fishing was not great on nearby Lough Melvin. Middle sections of the River Moy benefited from the higher water levels with anglers enjoying better fishing with good spring salmon fishing with numerous fish over 10 lb. and a great fly caught salmon of over 16 lb. for an English visitor Marc Parry. The sea trout angling season is now open on the Moy Estuary. Over in Bangor Erris, the good salmon fishing continued for anglers fishing on Carrowmore Lake. There was a good improvement in spring salmon fishing at the Galway Weir and in Connemara, the first three salmon were reported from the River Erriff. Down in Cork, the Munster Blackwater was in flood, but salmon fishing has picked up with fish reported in different beats. Over in Kerry there was perfect water on the Owenmore in Kerry for sea trout but the biggest improvement was on Lough Currane. The salmon and sea trout fishing improved and the Catch of the Week was recorded there this week, the first specimen sea trout of the year at 8 lb. 12 oz. for local angler, Jim Sayers. Regular Dutch visitor to Currane, Mr. Tim Van der Laan of Holland caught salmon practically every day last week fishing with his ghillie, Terence Wharton.
This week there was an announcement of a series of Cavan coarse angling festivals for the rest of the year. There was some very good catches of quality bream reported from the River Barrow. The cold weather did not deter great numbers of anglers fishing on the hot water stretch of the River Shannon at Lanesborough. There was very good tench and bream fishing with bream to 7 lb. 15 oz. reported. Among the many good catches of tench on the stretch, John Herrievan took the biggest Tench of the year so far at 7 lb. 5 oz. The conditions this week did not suit small lough anglers fishing the bream and tench loughs in Co. Leitrim where fishing was described as very tough.
There was some good reports of good Pike fishing taken on jerkbaits from Lough Derg. The top pike story this week however was the wonderful pike fishing for the competitors from home and abroad at the International Pike Festival on Lough Ree. Many fish over a metre (over 20 lb.) were recorded over the three days. Martyn Cusworth, an English native living near Lough Gowna won the festival with a great fish of 1.08 on the first day of the festival. This week we have a report on Uwes annual Irish Easter angling safari report to the River Suck where he found the fishing tough for pike because of spawning but the rudd fishing was super.
As reported last week, the Mayfly has appeared particularly on the warmer days last week but fishing was good at times but patchy on cooler days. Trout were reported coming to the Mayfly on Lough Derg in good numbers. Plenty of Mayfly were seen on Corrib and dapping was good on some days producing very good fishing. Less Mayfly was reported from Lough Mask but fishing was good nonetheless. Trout to 4 lb. were reported from Lough Arrow with an improvement in fishing in the past week. There was good hatches of Olives on and trout were feeding on them on Lough Owel despite downpours at times. The good consistent fishing continued last week on Lough Sheelin with trout to 5 lb. reported on Buzzers and Olives. The catch of the week on the lough was a fine 5 lb. 2 oz. trout for 7 year old Aoife taken on the troll. Up in Co. Monaghan, there were reports of good Mayfly fishing on Emy Lough and some nice trout to over 3 lb. were taken. Despite rising water levels around the country there was some excellent river trout fishing reported. A Carolina couple enjoyed good sport on fly on stretches of the Rivers Boyne and Liffey. Trout were taking anglers flies on the River Lagan but by the end of the week, floods prevented fishing. The River Cusher was reported to be in flood, but trout anglers were dreaming of the good fishing to come on Hawthorns and Olives. Look out for notices this week for Ladies who wish to take up the sport of fly fishing and learning how to cast a fly line.
The big sea news this week was the arrival of the twaite shad to the lower stretches of the River Barrow. Some nice fish were reported early this week and sport should increase when the word gets out with more anglers making the annual pilgrimage to St. Mullins. There was some excellent deep sea fishing reported from Killala Bay which included a near specimen sized megrim. The poor sea weather conditions did curtail a lot of sea angling activity this week but this should improve when the weather abates.
Paul Bourke
Angling Information Officer.
Catch, Photo, Release
Headlines
Coarse angling reports
- Cavan coarse angling festivals 2012
- King of the river Bream delight anglers on the Barrow
- Big bags and big fish possible at Lanesborough despite cold
- Conditions conspire against coarse anglers in Leitrim
Pike fishing reports
- Good Pike fishing on jerkbaits reported from Lough Derg.
- Martyn Cusworth wins the International Pike Festival on Lough Ree.
- Uwe’s annual Irish Easter angling safari report
- Pike anglers score perfect 10s in Leitrim but bigger fish elusive
Salmon fishing reports
- Fine specimen sea trout of 8.75 lb. is our Catch of the Week and tops a good week of sea trout and salmon fishing reported from Lough Currane.
- Mid Moy continues to produce good springer fishing with numerous fish over 10lbs and a great fly caught salmon of over 16lbs
- Sunshine and April showers for the Drowes fishery
- Carrowmore Lake continued to produce good sport for anglers
- Good spring salmon fishing in Galway
- First salmon on Erriff – then a second, and a third!
- Perfect water on the Owenmore in Kerry for sea trout
- Munster Blackwater in flood, but salmon fishing to pick up
- Not many salmon anglers on Melvin, few fish landed
Sea angling reports
- Specimen sized megrim from Killala Bay
- Top anglers qualify for Irish shore team
- First of the season’s shad show at St Mullins
Trout fishing reports
- Good hatches of Olivers on Owel despite downpour
- Trout taking on the Lagan but floods end play
- River Cusher in flood, trout anglers dream of Hawthorns and Olives
- Sea trout angling season now open on the Moy Estuary
- Mayfly up on Corrib
- Trout to 4lbs on Lough Arrow
- Good fishing on Lough Mask
- Emy Lough Emyvale in top form….
- Great morning for trout on the Boyne last Sunday
- Early April fishing on the Boyne and Liffey for Carolina couple
- 5lb 2oz trout for 7 year old Aoife on Lough Sheelin
- Trout coming to the Mayfly on Lough Derg
- Sheelin trout to 5lbs as Buzzers and Olives hatch, but weather a challenge
- Poor fishing on Melvin despite big Buzzer hatch
News clippings
- Blackthorn, birdsong and April’s bounty
- Major search for missing fisherman – Irish Independent
- Anglers fear emissions will wipe out river’s fish
- Great pike, by George!
Other news
