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
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
