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.
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.
Drowes Salmon Fishery
T: +353 (0) 71 98 41055
M: +353 (0) 87 8050806
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.
Lough Melvin, Rossinver Fishery: For info/Guides/boat hire/bookings etc, contact Bill McNeary. Tel: 071 9854930
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Ashley Hayden,
An Angler’s world
Lough Rowan continues to fish very well, with most angling taking place at the weekend. The catch return forms are being well maintained by club anglers and visitors alike. Sean Murtagh of Frenchpark recorded 12 fish over 4 hours on Tuesday 9th, all of which were caught and (returned) on “Mini Muddler” type patterns, largest fish approximately 2.5lbs. Other notable catches were from junior member duo Daniel (12) and Clement Reynolds(16) who managed to land 4 fish between them under the expert tuition of Anthony Egan. Most successful fly’s on the lough this week include, Black Pennell, Mini muddler, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Octopus, Bibio and Green Humungous lure. Membership is €50, day tickets €15.
Jarlaith Gallagher
Further details at www.rinnshannon.com or contact 087 6254740.
By chance I met a group of visiting French anglers in the local supermarket and struck up a conversation about the float tubes strapped on top of their cars. It led to the revelation that they had been fishing the Mohill area for the last week and joyously boasted that they had landed and returned 800 pike between them! They are a group of anglers who exclusively use float tubes and love the challenge of some of our more inaccessible loughs. It is nice to see that these visitors went back to France with a very good story to tell their friends of the amazing pike fly fishing opportunities to be availed of in Co. Leitrim.
Jarlaith Gallagher
Jim Shanahan from Castletownroche was fishing an upper beat & phoned me to ask if he could switch to another upstream beat. I suggested that he came down to a lower beat as I had heard that it was quiet above.
He arrived on Ballinaroone with his 11 yr old son James & within 15 minutes James had hooked & lost a fish on a Toby.
Jim caught the Biggest Fish of the Season a few moments later – 12.4lb on Flying C at the Road Pool.
April 15: A 7.4lb. sea-liced fish for Terry O’Keeffe from Miltown, Co. Cork caught on spinner from the lower river (his first of season). One fish also lost on Upper Kilmurry.
The second fish to be caught on the Lodge’s upper beats (8lb. on spinner) was taken on the 16th. at Castletownroche.
On Wednesday 18th., there was a good flood on the Blackwater which brought the level up 1.5 meters at Ballyduff. It peaked in the afternoon at 1.75m on the gauge at Ballyduff, but was starting to drop by evening. This is the highest level of the river so far this season. The previous highest was on the Opening Day on February 1st., when it was only 1.10 metres. This flood should encourage plenty of fresh fish to run.
Methods: Back to fly order & clarity. Prospects: Prayers have been answered. Should be brilliant once flood clears off.
There is no problem for availability of fishing & accommodation in the coming weeks
Ian & Glenda Powell
Blackwater Lodge & Salmon Fishery
Upper Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.
Tel: 00 353 58 60235 From UK: 0871 474 0135 (10p/min any time!)
Mobile: 00 353 87 235 21 20
E-mail:[email protected]Website: www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net
April 6th to April 16th 2012
‘The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope’.
Last week saw day time temperatures drop dramatically and nights hitting the minus 3 degree mark and this had a hugely negative effect on the fishing on Lough Sheelin. The low temperatures coupled with a biting east wind which swept across the lake particularly on Saturday April 14th influenced the catches of fish which were poor regardless of the steady number of anglers who ventured out during the week.
Saturday which is normally a popular fishing day on the lake along with the unfavourable weather conditions also had to compete with The Grand National so Sheelin in general struggled to maintain her previously good record for angler numbers and catches of trout.
There were good hatches of olives on the lake and the trout are beginning to feed on them particularly from early April onwards.
The resurfacing on the roadway into Kilnahard harbour is now completed.
There was an incident at Finea on Wednesday April 11th where a swan was discovered with a triple hook stuck in her head with the spoon bait hanging down like an earring between her eyes.
We would plead with anglers and all members of the public not to discard fishing tackle and rubbish behind them as there are always consequences to these actions. Fortunately the hook was successfully removed from the swan and she appeared none the worse for human carelessness.
A catch and release policy is actively encouraged on this lake.
Catches for the week: 14 Northern Ireland anglers fished the lake for the weekend, hosting their own small ‘in house’ competition. These anglers all haled from Co.Antrim and have a traditional of visiting the lake a number of times during the fishing season. 4 trout were caught on Friday April 13th averaging between 1 to 1½ lbs, caught on mixed flies but predominantly silver dabblers. The competition was won on Saturday with a 4½ lb wild trout caught by a new member to the club – Jim.
Gary McKiernan, Ballinagh – 1 trout at 3½ lb on Friday April 6th using a big ollie. On Saturday April 7th Gary caught 2 trout at 3 and 1½ lbs using a golden olive hopper.
Patrick Kelly, Mayo – 2 trout at 3 and 2½ lbs caught in the bog bay area of the lake.
Brenda Montgomery IFI
Our spring fishing season has well and truly started with the arrival of the first few groups, and over the past two weeks there were some fine pike caught by our guests. The best fish of last week and indeed of the season so far, caught by Dublin angler George on Saturday, was a fine pike of 105cm, weighing 25lbs.
Earlier in the week German anglers Uwe Pinnau and his friends from the German Pike Angling Club were out with me and they had pike up to low double figures. The week previously to that saw a father and son from Luxemburg catch a few nice pike while on a guided angling trip with us, again low double figure fish were the biggest on the day and provided good sport.
During the annual Easter Pike Angling Festival held by Boyle & District Angling Club on Lough Key, we sadly didn’t rank in the prizes but nevertheless had a few nice fish in the boat, biggest 15lbs. 4oz and my son Danny managed a nice wild brown trout as a by-catch, which of course was released again.
Prospects are good for the coming weeks and we will update this again soon.
Tight Lines,
do Funke
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.anglingservicesireland.blogspot.com
