You want to catch ling? It has to be the Ling Bank
Chris with 3 Ling
“I want to catch a ling”, said Chris. So ‘Prospector 1’ skipper Peter Power brought him to the Ling Bank in Donegal Bay. These three ling(pictured) were caught on a day when the fish hooked on Mullaghmore’s ‘Prospector 1’ included cod, whiting, pollack, red gurnard, grey gurnard, coal fish, cuckoo wrasse and mackeral! The ling were pulled in using a Shamrock cod rig baited with mackeral.
Woman power for Peter Power
Skipper Peter Power
Prospector 1
Mullaghmore
Co Sligo
The Mayfly has made its annual appearance on Lough Derg – a few weeks earlier than most anglers would like. For the past week there have been hatches in some of the shallow parts of the lake, especially Dromineer Bay where two of us had five small fish on Sunday last on dries.The action was fairly good. We met at least eight more fish, but they were all small. But at least it’s good to see evidence of trout in Derg, as the lake has seen a falloff in catches over the past five mayfly seasons.
There were also sparse hatches in Luska Bay and some in Youghal Bay, hopefully heralding the start of good fishing activity over the next few weeks. There are no signs of the spent gnat yet – milder weather than we are experiencing at present will be a prerequisite.
Some trout are also being caught in areas of the lake where there are not yet mayfly hatches. Concentrating on the shallow margins with standard wetfly patters such as dabblers and bumbles could get you a few fish. Some anglers have been successful with this method in recent days.
The Youths Committee of ITFFA will hold a fly angling competition at Tullaghan Shore, Lough Owel on 29th April 2012. This is the only fundraising event that ITFFA will hold for juvenile anglers in 2012. Angling will commence at 11AM and finish at 5PM. Funds raised from this event will be used to support juvenile anglers, and every angler is requested to make a special effort to participate. Entry into this is open to all anglers regardless of whether or not they are affiliated to ITFFA, and at €50 per angler this competition represents excellent value. The winner will receive a 19′ Anglers Fancy Boat and there will be many other prizes including an electric engine for the heaviest fish. Registration will be available on the morning of the competition and boat hire is available locally from Jack Doolan who can be contacted on (044) 9342085. If you require further information about this competition or if you know of anybody who may be in a position to sponsor our youths, please contact our Youths Officer, Mr. George Behan, at the details listed below.
Contact: Joseph Keena
Mobile Tel: 086 8722449
Email: [email protected]
J.O’ MALLEY CUP. Next Sunday April 22nd Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association (L.O.T.P.A.) are back in action and host the J. O’Malley Cup. This is a popular club competition and a good turn out of Anglers are expected on the day. Fishing once again is from 11am-6pm, with check in Mullallys and Tullaghan. Membership is open at 35 Euro for Senior Anglers, and you will also need a current IFI permit. Entry fee on the day is 10 Euro, and if you need a boat please contact Jack Doolin on 044- 93- 42085.
Michael Flanagan
Pike and Trout angling guide. Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348969 or +353 (0)87 2797270 Fax: +353 (0)44 9342781 Email:[email protected]Web:www.midlandangling.com
ABBOTT TIGHTY LINES. Derravaragh Anglers fished their first trout competition on Easter Sunday, and some fine fish were caught on this cracking fishery. With the first sight of a few Mayfly, the Trout were up for a look around, and quite a few fish were stirred on the day.
On the day regular Derravaragh angler Kieran Evans produced a super fish of 3lbs 8oz to take Top Rod with Joe Keena catching 2 fish best 2lbs 8oz to take 2nd spot, and Christy Hynes Competition Captain taking 3rd spot. Joe Keena tells us Scale samples from these fish were gathered and these will provide information for the genetic and abundance study of Lough Derravaragh trout.
Anglers are requested to support the genetic and abundance survey of Derravaragh trout by retaining scale samples of any trout they catch and leaving these scales with Karl in the shop at Donore Caravan Park or by contacting Joe Keena on 086 8722449.
Derravaragh Anglers have more cracking Trout and Pike competition coming up in the next few months, so if interested in coming on board with Derravaragh Anglers membership is open, and give Joe a shout.
Michael Flanagan
Pike and Trout angling guide. Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348969 or +353 (0)87 2797270 Fax: +353 (0)44 9342781 Email:[email protected]Web:www.midlandangling.com
Mountmellick Angling Association is set to host the TAFI Leinster Senior River Qualifier next Sunday. The competition is being run on a catch and release basis and each angler is to provide a steward. Entries will be taken in Victor Cox’s shop O’ Connell Square Mountmellick from 9.30am till 10am Sunday morning, entry fee €30. Leinster Express, 17/04/12. Read the article ‘Mountmellick anglers host contest‘.
RIVER DROWES – Monday 9th to Sunday 15th April 2012.
The river remained at very low levels all week despite the odd shower of rain that occurred. At present the gauge at the Four Masters Bridge is only reading around 0.43 metres. This is a very low level for spring. Angling was difficult over the week due to bright sunlight, cold conditions and low water. There was however a dozen salmon reported caught the details of 9 of these are given here. On Monday, K. Envis recorded an 8lb salmon caught on prawn from the Money Hole. A. Kendall logged a 9lb salmon caught on prawn from the Sea Pool. Brendan Madden registered an 8lb salmon caught on an Ally’s Shrimp fly from Lennox’s Bridge and P. Foley also recorded a salmon caught. On Tuesday, Tom O’Neill recorded a 12lb salmon caught on a Rapala from the Sand Hole and Peter Zahnd accounted for a 7lb fish caught on a Toby lure from the New Bridge. On Thursday, James O’Toole recorded a 5lb salmon caught on a fly from the Sea Pool. On Friday, James’s brother Dennis registered an 8lb salmon caught on a Cascade fly from the Black Hole. On Saturday, Woznan Wakdshaw accounted for an 8lb salmon caught on prawn from the Island Pool.
T.O’Neill with Drowes 12lb Salmon
The forecast for the coming week is for unsettled weather which will hopefully bring some decent rain and raise the river to more favourable levels.
LOUGH MELVIN – Monday 9th to Sunday 15th April 2012.
Conditions were not particularly favourable on Lough Melvin this week with cold bright sunny days prevailing and winds mostly from the eastern quarter. This certainly did not help the trout fishing which was fairly poor for those that ventured out after the same, despite the huge hatches of buzzers. The salmon fishing was good however and I have details of 8 salmon caught to date. On Tuesday, Mark McDonald fishing along with Arthur Greenwood, recorded a 7lb salmon caught in the Rossinver Fishery on a size 10 Sooty Olive fly. The fish was sportingly returned. John Gosling caught an 11¾lb salmon trolling along the Garrison Shore and Niall Sweeney accounted for an 8½lb salmon also caught trolling. On Thursday, Brian McEvoy registered a 9lb salmon caught trolling and John Flanagan accounted for an 8½lb salmon caught trolling around the Flanagan’s Bay area. On Friday, Ian Boyle landed an 8lb salmon caught trolling. On Saturday, Stephen Kennedy caught an 8lb salmon trolling around Garrison and on Sunday, John Parkinson landed an 8lb salmon caught from the Rossinver Fishery.
Mark McDonald 7lb Salmon on fly
Lough Melvin, Rossinver Fishery: For info/Guides/boat hire/bookings etc, contact Bill McNeary. Tel: 071 9854930
Oliver Buckley presented Jimmy Cahill with the Ace Cup.
ACE CUP. The Ace Cup was fished in mixed weather conditions last Sunday on Owel.We started off on a cold windy frosty morning, and finished up in calm sunny conditions. It was the first club competition and wall well supported on the day. The lake had being fishing well all week, and some good trout were moving to fly hatches. I had fished the lake a few days prior to the competition, and had a super trout of 3lbs 12oz on Friday while fishing with Irish Times Angling scribe Derek Evans. On competition day it was a different Kettle of Fish and I only managed small fish while fishing with local fly angler Tony English. Still we had a super day and Tony finished in 3rd place with a nice fish of .825kg.Matt Cambell of Dundalk finished 2nd with .885kg, and Mullingar E.S.B. employee Jimmy Cahill from Killucan topped the day with a fish of 1.200kg.Presentation took place at Tullaghan and Oliver Buckley presented Jimmy with the Ace Cup.Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association Chairman Brendan Murray thanked all who supported the competition, and the Buckley family for their sponsorship.
Oliver Buckley presented Jimmy Cahill with the Ace Cup.
Michael Flanagan
Pike and Trout angling guide. Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348969 or +353 (0)87 2797270 Fax: +353 (0)44 9342781 Email:[email protected]Web:www.midlandangling.com
Irish fly fisher Liam Stenson cradles a Roundwood brownie
What started as an idea over 18 months ago finally become a reality when the Jean Anne made its first drift before a stiff northerly breeze across Roundwood south lake. It has always been my belief that Ireland’s natural resources, utilised and managed correctly, can help alleviate some of our economic problems by generating real long term jobs, and in the process contributing financially on a local and national basis. Having joined the unemployed ranks over 18 months ago and seen an opportunity to create an international standard tourist fly fishing product, yesterday was the first baby step on the road to what will hopefully be a success for both east Co. Wicklow and yours truly
Irish fly fisher Liam Stenson cradles a Roundwood brownie
Accompanying me for the day was Mr. Irish Fly Fisher himself Liam Stenson, creator of a wonderful fly fishing blog and dab hand at fishing north country spiders on the mountain streams of Co. Wicklow, today we swished our 5 weight rods, casting ahead of the boat while stripping lines fast and slow, absorbed by the peace and quite of this wonderful location. Early morning showers of icy rain accompanied by strong gusts eased in the afternoon to variable breezes, which ruffled the surface away from the lee shores creating ideal conditions to work a team of flies.
It was great to meet unexpectedly my daughter Emma Claire and her partner Gary out enjoying the lake, making their own way in the world having vacated the nest long ago, unplanned shore side lunches of home made roast pork and stuffing rolls with your siblings taste all the better. Boiling up water in the Kelly kettle to make chicken soup, teas, and coffees, along with all the other bits and bobs we had, sure where would you get it, the rat race completely forgotten.
Emma Claire and Gary enjoy the half time shore side fun and food in Co. Wicklow
Saying our goodbyes Liam and I approached the second half with renewed vigour. Having rose a trout just before lunch and with conditions improving it was not long before action commenced. Fishing a sinking line while stripping at a medium pace my silver dabbler on the point was taken by a sprightly half pounder. Liam fishing a floating line was next in, again on the dabbler. Over the next hour three more fish to a little over half a pound came to the boat, all hard fighting wild fish.
Allied to numerous rises and turns it had been a productive and most enjoyable afternoon. A highlight being giving a heads up to a new CWA member as to a particularly productive drift, result a beautifully spotted pound fish and one happy angler. With the season just kicking in as the weather warms up, on the strength of yesterday afternoon things look bright.
To book a day out boat fly fishing phone me on 086 869 7370 or email enquiries through the contacts page of this website.
Note: Roundwood is a fly only water, An Irish Angler’s World has secured permission to run a boat fly fishing operation on the lake, while day tickets to fish the shoreline are available from Dublin City Council and can be purchased at the Vartry Waterworks beside the Dam on the south lake.
