OLIVES are very active at the moment on both Carrickavantry and Knockaderry lakes. The HAWTHORN fly is expected to hatch in the next few days. Time to get the rods out and get fishing.
USEFUL TIP: Do not use under 7 LB. breaking strain line as the trout are quite large and hit the line fairly hard.
Well done to Sara who caught a fine Rainbow Trout on April 11th at Knockaderry, Waterford.
Sara with Knockaderry Rainbow Trout
Tom “doc” Sullivan will give demo at Carrickavantry on Friday afternoon April 27th . He has been a guide/ghillie on Lough Corrib since the early 90’s and is also a qualified casting and fly-dressing instructor (STANIC). Tom has represented Ireland in Fly-Fishing Internationals on 7 occasions in World and European Championships and in the Home International series. Friends and guests of members are welcome. No charge and youths are very welcome.
Waterford City and Country Trout Anglers Association
Terry Jackson writes a wonderful descriptive article pitting angler against fish in the ‘Battle of the Brains’. Coming up with a solution to the age old problem that aggravates most dedicated anglers – how to control your pre-baited spot on a river. How disheartening it is to watch your efforts being swept away by the fast flowing torrent. Terry suggests enclosing your oil basted mackerel, herring, bran etc. in a fine mesh onion bag and hanging it on a submerged branch on the edge of the flow alongside slack water. Read Terry’s article on
Kevin Lyons has cleverly situated his accommodation in the heart-land of pike angling in Ireland. There is more water in this area than an angler can cover in one lifetime, and the possibilities are vast, if not endless. The Melview Lodge makes a fantastic home base to return to each evening after targeting pike from recommended waters or seeking out new areas to try. There is more than enough room to store your boat in safety, dry off wet clothes or re-charge boat batteries.
Most of these loughs are connected to the Kilglass and Shannon system and have a run of large brown trout.
The coarse fishing here is legendary. Three- hundred pound bags of bream are regular, large catches of tench seem ten-a-penny if you look through Kev’s photo albums, and then there is the chance of specimen rudd or huge perch if you prefer the specimen hunting game. You can hire boats from his range of Sheelins waiting and ready in the back yard, or if you stay at the lodge, boats are included free of charge in the package.
Kevin can be contacted at the Melview Lodge on 00353 433345061, you won’t be disappointed.
The key to catching any fish prone to tidal and weather influences is finding them in the midst of those influences. Sometimes, just sometimes they’re simply not there in any numbers or indeed at all.
Exceptional fishing happens, good and bad, early and late as part of normality.
Shore fishing Silhouette
Having spent a few pleasant days working this week its noticeably cool but very nice out there. Winds have blown consistently from a Northerly direction since late March and after a little exceptional weather in the latter days of the month during which we caught some fish things are ‘Spring’ slow here in Wexford.
Water conditions are crystal clear with only a few indications of shrimp, sandeel and immature flounder showing but its still very early, with strong cold air running over cold water it never makes things easy.
I never expect too much at this time of year from a bass perspective, and its probably not until the next set of Springs that I would anticipate to catch some numbers of bass with confidence and even then its always touch and go.
But its great to be out and with a few customers who are willing to try for an early bass or even a possible seat trout or mullet I had a great week of trying some new gear and locations. I continue to experimental fly fish as much as possible and I am still modifying our seatrout bass and mullet range of flies. I had some interesting fishing on Sunday last watching fish track the fly inch by inch for maybe 10 feet but not eating – next week is the last of my semester so school’s out for Summer at last!
Water Height: As of Friday 13th water at 1 foot 6 inches on the gauge at Johnston’s. This is a nice rise and has increased the fishing effort considerably. There is no news of a salmon just yet but most anglers are meeting sea trout and seeing them showing as you would expect. A visiting angler played a 2.5 lb sea trout to the net. More rain forecast, we will soon be looking for a bit of settled weather.
Beat 3: No word of any fishing activity or news of fish from the Beat just yet.
Spent Fish: Still some spent fish being caught so care is needed to return them properly.
Permit Holders:
Permit Holders for Laune Anglers waters are issued with a map showing which waters they can fish (18 Fisheries) all excellent. Restriction – After the 15th September Permit Holders are not allowed to fish Charlie Johnston’s. Ask locals for advice on all matters, where to go where the lies are (see also details of Guides on Permits Page) and it should be forthcoming as a Permit Holder you are a ‘Member for the Day’.
Visitor Daily Permits: – Reduced again for 2012
Up to 31st July
1 Day €25.00
7 Day Permit €140.00
August & September Visitor Daily Permits:
1 Day €35.00
7 Day Permit €210.00
Allows the holder to fish Laune Salmon & Trout Anglers’ Association waters. Check availability of tickets in advance.
Restriction for 2012:
From the Friday 16th to 30th September 2012, permit holders are not allowed to fish Charlie Johnston’s Fishery at Dungeel. No restriction applies to any other Laune Anglers Fishery available to permit holders.
Fish Fluke; Gyrodactlus salaris
We ask all visiting anglers to be on their guard, particularly foreign anglers coming to fish in Ireland or Irish anglers returning from countries where the parasite is now endemic. (Click on the link below to see map). https://www.fishinginireland.info/salmon/fishfluke.htm
TWO Milltown brothers caught red-handed by fisheries officers illegally fishing in a local river have appeared before the district court in Killarney. James O’Connor (52), and his brother, 50-yearold Peter O’Connor, both of Abbeylands, Milltown, were observed by Fisheries Officers Martin Ring and Karen Griffin retrieving a net that was stretched across the Abbeylands stream at 11.5am on September 25 last. The Kerryman, 18/04/12. Read the article ‘Poachers put their hands up after fair catch‘.
IARNROD EIREANN have been fined €2,000 at Drogheda District Court for polluting the River Boyne as a result of discharge from a storm water pipe at Mcbride Train Station. Senior Fisheries Advisory Officer Noel Mcglone told the court he inspected the site following reports of an oily like substance coming from a discharge pipe at Mcbride station on July 21st last. Irish Independent, 18/04/12. Read the article ‘Iarnrod Eireann fined €2,000 for polluting the River Boyne‘.
Dessie O'Connor with his 5lb 5oz Bream caught near the gusher
Friday 13th April: It is amazing how many anglers are doing overnight sessions this early in the year. Each night there is someone different. Last night there were three on the hot water stretch and one near the duckpond. Clive from Dublin (I think) caught his first Tench at around 07.15 this morning after a long period of nothingness. It was a huge fish but only weighed 5lb 7oz. Opposite the lillies near Ryans gate, Seamus Moorhouse was plagued by Rudd and, on this occasion, was frustrated in the Tinca department. On the gusher, Dessie O’Connor and friend Dan caught a mixed bag. Although their catch rate was not as prolific as others had experienced on previous nights, Dessie did have the excitement of a very good looking Bream of 5lb 5oz.
Dessie O'Connor with his 5lb 5oz Bream caught near the gusher
By mid afternoon the stretch saw many anglers and probably the best catch was by Steven Pascoe who had a very large Roach of 1lb 14oz. It was hard to say whether it had spawned or not. He also had a Rudd of a pound with a lot of smaller fish. On the disabled swims there were two Tench caught and a Bream of nearly 4lbs. I suffered my first completely blank day of the year, in fact I never had a bite at all. I think it’s time to take up sky diving ‘cos the anti depressants simply ain’t working. I wonder if the village of Muff in Co. Roscommon has a diving club?
Sat 14th April: Only a fool gets up to go fishing in sub zero temperatures, but as anglers, this is what we do. On this occassion, I resisted the temptaion of bagging up by remaining in a warm bed until 07.30. I believe I made the right choice as there were 6 anglers below the bridge who caught just a solitary Tench between them. Two of them were still in their bivvies when I walked along, such was their enthusiasm! There were a couple of overnight anglers above the bush near Ryans gate and I’m told did very well but had left before 07.00. With very little cloud cover forecast for today, I believe it will be quite hard. I hope I’m proved wrong?
Sunday 15th April: Not the best of afternoons with the sunshine revealing few visible fish. Daniel Hoare fished the pole to record around 25lbs of the usual suspects. Shane and Rory Wrightson were above the bush which performed poorly but still managed to catch about 15lbs. For the first time in what seems an eternity, I had the river to myself this evening, and that included the fish which had also decided not to show as I blanked again!
Monday 16th April: There was only one angler on the entire river this morning at 8.00 and it would appear that Paul McCloughlin was doing very well on the pole at this years most prolific swim above the bush. Why he packed up by midday I do not know? Six others arrived but had gone by 5pm. Unfortunately, I have no idea how they got on as I confined to indoors for the day.
I went out early evening and found Robert Sloan arriving. I tried two swims, firstly near the bush and then at the gusher without a fish. There were plenty of good sized fish rolling all along the stretch. By the time I raised the white flag at 9.15, Robert had a Bream in excess of 6lb and a number of smaller fish.
We are forecast high winds and rain for the next few days and the barometer is dropping, so possibly things may improve by Thursday? Tuesday 17th April: Just because the alarm goes off at 5.45 it’s written in law that I have to get up! It rained very heavy overnight but Robert was rewarded with a good bag of fish. He had left just before I had my early walk to find “The Tuesday Club” a group of Dublin taxi drivers that take each Tuesday off to go fishing somewhere. They witnessed his catch and said there were two good Bream in his net and a Tench. I couldn’t help but wonder if the driver charged by the mile and expected a tip!
The rain persisted throughout the day between the sun breaking through every now and then and for the first time in three weeks, I haven’t wet a line. In the evening, the bank was deserted, not surprising looking outside. Time for bed !
6th – 13th April: The weather and the fishing has taken a dive over this last week, winds are still in a Northerly direction with Frosts early morning. Peter was still braving the elements and has tried all his usual haunts with very little to show in the way of Fish. Chris and Cousin Phillip, who has been on a few days break, have been fishing down the river and have struggled throughout even on the Canal, which was switched off apart for a pair of Kingfishers feeding to which Chris spent hours under the camouflage net armed with the video camera on the 12 th only to be spotted by them and they cleared off.
Canal Kingfisher
Today, the two of them have been glued to Malady’s determined to have the best of what has been the clearest day this week. Peter was out searching for a pond near Strokestown after hearing of Bream being taken in large amounts, he spent a few hours there but without a bite before joining the boys down at Maladys. Other venues have been very disappointing. I have seen Anglers travelling around but have failed to talk to them for now. On the wildlife front the River Inny has got its first Swallows collecting water from the River and the odd House Martin, Chris and Phil saw a Silver Washed Fritillary go past them as well. Lainsbourgh is enjoying isolated catches in the Hot Water Stretch with some good Tench and the odd Bream.
A weighty bag of mixed fish
As I write there’s a Large Shower of Hail which has transformed the landscape viewed from my window and a telephone call from the boys down on the bank to bring Tea and a Hot Water Bottle ( I will ) !!! Their Keepnet and brollies were covered in hail and ice. Brian Cooke from Dublin was down at Maladys and suffered with a smattering of small Roach and after a few hours of that he popped in for a chat and a cup of tea. John Wilson was also on to us and has updated his website which can be found at: johnjwilsonfishing Breaking News: Late evening today saw lots of fish moving their way up the river.
John Coles http://www.innyangling.net/index.htm
