On my recent trip to the Barrow, while wading with the fly rod, I met this little creature. It is the Stone Loach ( Barbatula barbatula)
Stone Loaches live amongst the gravel and stones of fast flowing water where they can search for food. The most distinctive feature of this fish is the presence of barbels around the bottom jaw, which they use to detect their invertebrate prey. The body is a mixture of brown, green and yellow.
A common fish in clear rivers and streams with gravel and sandy bottoms. This is most likely in upland areas but also chalk streams. They live on the bottom, often partly buried, and they are particularly active at night-( Wiki)
I was lucky enough to take a few photos of this small fella.
We actually have 9 fish landed since my last update even though conditions were difficult at times with water running off very quickly. The fish included the following:
On the 10th Michael Wymes had a fish in the Whin Pool of approx. 7lbs on a Willie Gunn.
Maxi Schiedt had one of approx. 7lbs off the shore of Doolough.
In the afternoon Richard McDowell had a sea liced fish from the Whin Pool of 9lbs10ozs on a Yellow Dick. (yes, it’s not a joke)
On the 11th Andrew Lyall had a fish of approx 8lbs from the Rock Pool on a Gary Dog.
Maxi Schiedt had another from the shore of Dooloughof approx. 7lbs.
David Allcutt with 6lb 15oz sea-liced salmon
We drew a blank on the 12th with no fish landed and on the 13th it was David Allcutt who saved the day with a sea liced 6lbs15oz fish off the Meadow Pool on a Delphi Collie.
On the 14th we had 2 double figure fish, one off the Whin taken by Barry Daniel on a Cascade and one of approx.12.5lbs taken by Ronan Walsh on a Silver Shrimp on the Rock Pool.
On the 15th Angus Sutherland managed to take a sea liced fish from the Whin Pool of 8lbs1oz on a Collie Dog.
I will be expecting good fishing for the rest of this week as we had 34mm of rain last night. The river is now up at 48 and we are getting heavy showers also, and there is heavy rain forecast for tonight so conditions should be ideal for the rest of the week. Hopefully I won’t have to eat my words.
B Hadden Fishing the River
I know Michael Wymes was rather pleased to land his fish on the 10th but it was his son Paul and daughter in law Sarah who claimed the limelight that day when they had their second child a baby boy Archie. All I can say is that if Salmo Salar has a blog it will be hot news and they will try and avoid being caught by another Wymes. Although if Archie is half as effective as his father it may be necessary to consider new conservation measures. We wish all of them well in the future.
April 14th to 17th:
Weather has remained cold and showery. The Woodcock boys are staying with Paul and Deirdre at Innyaby B&B and finding things very difficult. They did have one moment of joy when they took a 10lb Trout from Lough Ree and we are awaiting the photographs.
Peter has been very quiet, he is still prebaiting a swim and we will wait and see what takes place. He did inform us that the only place to catch fish is at Lanesborough on the Hot Water Stretch but spaces are limited.
Phil has gone back to England, the fishing was poor overall and the few fish that were caught were probably glad to have escaped Phil’s hands.
Phil juggles a perch !
Chris had one trip down the river today to drown a few maggots. Two casts two bites two Trout and then nothing at all.
Small Trout
Doonis Bog is full of life with the first large hatch of Damselfly, the Orangetips are now numerous in number and solitary bees and hoverflies are covering the Gorse flowers in huge numbers. The Greater Diving Beetle are also enjoying the vigours of Spring and the Willow Warblers are in full voice…
CLARE County Council has revealed details of the first Kilrush Biodiversity Week which will take place from Monday, April 23 to Sunday, April 29. All events will be free and family-orientated.
The programme of events will celebrate many aspects of biodiversity in Kilrush and its environs from family days out to information and discussions about threats to biodiversity.
Clare Biodiversity Officer, Shane Casey said the aim of Kilrush Biodiversity Week is to encourage active learning about biodiversity through a range of events and to increase public understanding that action taken locally has national and global importance……The Clare Champion…..12/04/12…read full article..
The Assembly has agreed to consider whether the vast waterway of Lough Neagh should be brought into public ownership.
A Sinn Fein motion won cross-party support to explore the option of taking responsibility for the lough which is currently owned by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The Ulster Unionist Party objected to the proposal, sparking accusations from the SDLP that it was “stuck in landed gentry mode”………. The Irish Independent….17/04/12…read the full article..
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
