After a good days fishing on the kells blackwater, junior angler Ben Mongey age 11 caught a beautiful spotted wild brown trout which fell to a small nymph . The fish weighed in at 2 pound 4 oz . Nice fish for such a young angler .
The weather has been much cooler and changeable, with rain and some frosts, having a huge impact on angling in the past week. The cooler weather has not diminished the amount of angling activity on inland waters or at sea where there was a great increase in catches all round.
The upper Shannon area produced some phenomenal coarse angling catches ranging from tench, bream, roach, hybrids and perch and rudd. At the famous Lanesborough hot water stretch there were some excellent catches including a fine specimen tench of 7 lb. 1 oz for regular English angler, Paul Waghorn of the Lanesborough angling website. On the nearby River Inny many of the big roach caught were full of spawn so everything is very early this year after the very warm spring. Up in Carrickmacross, there were reports of some good carp fishing in the Brothers Lake near the town.
There was less pike angling activity reported in the past week but some nice fish were reported with two French visitors taking two great fish of over a metre (over 20 lb. or 9 kg). One pike was taken by a twelve year old French visitor fishing with angling guide Kenny Sloan on a lough near Foxford. The other fish was caught on an east Clare lough. There are great hopes of some big pike showing at the International pike competition in the coming week on Lough Ree.
The rainfall in the past week certainly livened up salmon fishing everywhere. At the Ballisodare fishery, over 30 fish were reported and at Carrowmore Lough in west Mayo the good fishing continued. There was an improvement on the River Moy and down in Delphi sport improved with the higher water levels. In Donegal, fishing was difficult on the River Drowes and on Lough Melvin a fine 16 lb. fish was recorded. Better salmon fishing was reported on both the Fort William fishery and at Blackwater Lodge where the first grilse was taken on the Munster Blackwater. Over on Lough Currane, there was a great improvement in salmon fishing and there was a nice sea trout taken by a French visitor.
It was another busy week for sea angling and there was some excellent bass fishing reported from the Wexford area and in the Waterville area along with good pollack fishing. In Waterford there was some nice gurnard and pollack fishing reported by anglers fishing out off Kayaks. There was plenty of species recorded by anglers deep sea fishing with skipper Donal Kennedy at Killalla and at Courtmacsherry there was some fine ling and some wonderful big pollack fishing including a near specimen for Patricia Gannon. Some nice cod were boated by anglers deep sea fishing off the Antrim coast. The Catch of the Week is a fantastic 2.58 kg thick lipped mullet which fell to float fished bread near Cobh in Co. Cork by our own webmaster, Myles Kelly.
Trout fishing also improved this week and many small trout were reported at Lough Conn to the fly. There was good buzzer fishing reported from Lough Mask. Dryflies proved the best method for big trout from Lough Sheelin where the early season fishing is very good. The trout river fishing is also producing good fishing especially on the Rivers Lagan and Bann in the north.
The changeable cooler weather along with some April showers have improved fishing certainly on rivers where salmon anglers are doing better and prospects look excellent for all anglers enjoying the best of Irish fishing.
Tight lines especially in Ireland
Paul Bourke
Angling Information Officer.
Catch, Photo, Release
Kevin Lyons from Melview Lodge reports on some good coarse fishing reports from the Upper Shannon area.
Course fishing in the upper Shannon area has been good the last couple of weeks, due to the weather and temperatures a lot of fish have been feeding. Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge Longford was out and about speaking to anglers who had some good catches of Bream, Hybrids, Roach, Rudd and Tench. Brendan Aherne and friend James Wright had a mixed bag weighting in at 160 lb.
14 year old Connor Carter while out fishing for a few hours with his father managed to catch Roach, Perch and some nice Rudd.
Larry Kelly, record pike holder for lake from Trim turned his attention to tench and was rewarded with a cracking catch of quality tench while fishing a day long session from dawn till dusk.
The weather is said to be up and down over the next few days but I think the rain could freshen things up a little. Tune in next week for some more info of what’s going on.
Kevin Lyons
Melview Lodge
Drumlish Road
Clonrollagh,
Longford, Co. Longford
Republic of Ireland
Tel : 00353(0)43-33-45061
Mobile : 00353(0)87-268-7441
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.melviewlodge.com
Sat April 7th: Last nights anglers had mixed fortunes. Roy and Flano recorded very little on the gusher but John Stroud claimed about 80lbs including a Roach that went over 2lb. The bulk of other catches were made of mainly Hybrids.
This morning saw Tim Collyer and myself on the disabled swims and on this occasion I beat him 5-2 in the Tench department. Whilst the Tench were mostly smallish, I netted a very special fish. Tim had the bonus of a Bream close to 5lb. There were some real stonking bream rolling near us on their way out back to the lake.
The daytime fished extremely poorly, Pat Mulryan and his son fished towards the top end of the stretch and had an absymal session. By late afternoon, there were a lot of arrivals mainly intent on trying the lower section for Tench. There must have been over 10 in a very short area. To my knowledge, there were seven Tincas netted this evening, with a couple of 5 pounders, the best going 5lb 10oz to Seamus Moorhouse. I made a small contribution by catching a 4lb 4oz Male.
Sun April 8th: The night session was once again hit or miss. Five anglers saw it out until dawn below the bridge and I think there were seven Tench caught during the darkness hours. Four of these went to Dan from Cork. When I arrived two were already contemplating vacating their swim. It wasn’t too long before I was catching with three sub 3lb Tench coming bfore 8am There was curses when a bigger fish was lost! Seamus Moorehouse caught three during the night but failed to add to his tally. On the hot stretch, two lads saw an overnight session produce some small Bream and surprisingly, there were only four anglers present at 08.30!
By mid morning the four had been reduced to 2 and on the hot water swims were Mick and Doug on their annual pilgramage from Nottinghamshire. Mick did extremely well with about 60lbs of Hybrids and Bream with only 3 Roach. The Hybrids seemed much bigger than the last week or so.
We had some much needed rain in the afternoon which wiped out any potential casual anglers coming out for the evening. I caught my 21st albeit the smallist Tench so far at well under 2lb! Seamus and Mark Moorhouse continued their marathon by adding a few to their tally. The proportion of Male to Female Tench has almost returned to last weeks ratio of 5:1
A photo of my very special capture from yesterday, this fish was not carrying any spawn and in the next few weeks, should it stay in the area, could be very close to Nick Parrys record of 8lb 2oz 6drm
Mon April 9th: Andy finished up with about 40lb whilst Big Dave had a bit less. Seamus and Mark eventually packed up whilst the weather brightened for an hour with 26 Tench between them. Seamus also had a 5lb Bream and Mark recorded the first Eel I’ve heard about this year.The rain at 4pm was a short, but very heavy shower and we also had a hailstorm just after 6pm. I still needed to get my daily fix so set up just before 7pm and got bites from small nuisance fish until I hit one which turned out to be an 8oz Rudd. As it got dark, I had two male Tench of just over 3lb a piece. The second had my hook I lost two day ago, so at least I have the consolation knowing it was not a huge fish afterall. Daniel Hoare fishing alongside me caught a female of 4lb 10oz which was showing signs of imminent spawning.
Tues April 10th: The temperature plummeted overnight so I considered it a wise decision to stay in bed until nearly 9am. my first lie in for a long time. When i did walk down the river, I found no less than five anglers below the disabled swims. I wasn’t surprised to hear they were all drawing a blank, and for the rest of the day they perseverence was not rewarded. Just a handful of Perch and Roach was all they caught. On the hot stretch Andy and Dave were catching but had gone long before I expected and I’m not sure of their totals.
Daniel and myself had aspirations on a successful evening between the trees. I had just one bite in two hours but thankfully it was a 5lb 2oz Bream. Daniel had 6 fish, but nothing over a pound. It’s going to get very cold again tonight and I pity the lads in their bivvies whose parts are going to colder than mine!
Wed April 11th: Possibly not as cold as the previous night, but still a very bright dawn which detered this individuals enthusiasm! The Dublin lads had very little action during darkness with a Bream of 3lb and an Eel being the only excitement. Two early arrivals had a pair of Tench within minutes of each other, one of these was the big female I netted last week, easily recognised by a nick in the dorsal fin. I was a wee bit dissapointed to see she had dropped in weight, albeit only by an ounce.
On the hot stretch, Brian Bohan started very briskly but as the sun came up, the overall stamp of fish went down. At one stage there were over 15 anglers fishing the river, but some went home dissapointed. As the day progressed, Alan Buttner and Jamie Shields shared nine Tench between them with Jamie getting a specimen of 6lb 1oz. His father Christy also netting a brace. Elsewhere, below the bridge it was grim. I suffered my first blank near the beer table, as did the two anglers above me. Larry Kelly and Shane Wrightson both caught small Tench as dusk beckoned.
The Tinca Tally now stands at 158 which is quite unbelievable for April 11th
Thurs April 12th: The bivvies had their occupants chucking up the zzz’s when I ventured out as dawn broke this morning, and within thirty seconds of casting, I hooked my first Tench for three days, I was starting to shake, such was my cold turkey. Anyway, it was safely netted and I added to my toll with a 3lb 15oz Male an hour later. Before 9am there were three other Tincas caught, all around the disabled swims. If they had arose an hour earlier, that number could have doubled.
On hot stretch above the bush was Dara Lynch who caught steadily throughout the night with an estimated 60lb mixed bag with a large Roach that is being weighed at this moment.
I’ve noticed this site is getting many visits from Australia and America. I’m going to set up a facebook page today. It would be nice to see the faces of regular readers.
Paul Waghorne
www.lanesboroughangling.ie
April 8th : There are spring tides at the moment, spring tides occur all through the year and have nothing to do with the season Spring. It’s thought spring tide gets it’s name from the German Sprungen which means leap or jump and these high tides occur when the Moon and Sun are in line and thus together exerting a much greater gravitational pull. Tom Long is a fishing buddy who featured in these reports before and with whom I hope to spend a day or two with on Caragh Lake or Lough Currane later in the season. He made his seasonal debut on Caragh Lake yesterday and true to his word sent me an Iphone email of a boated spring salmon of 8lbs, and lost a 3lb sea-trout at the net. Trolling is very much the order on Caragh Lake, especially this early in the season, it’s a free lake and set in wonderful scenery beneath the MagillicuddyReeks, hidden away, one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets. Like Lough Currane it’s close neighbour, the salmon and sea-trout have but a short river to negotiate until they are in the relative safety of the Lake, the upper river is controlled by Glencar House Hotel. It’s not flyfished much for salmon, and is not as renowned as Currane for it’s sea-trout, perhaps if it was fished as much it would gain a reputation…..shhhh, whisht will u !
April 11th : Persistent rain on Monday and some on Tuesday has freshened the rivers following a dry spell. April showers means it can be like summer one minute and winter the next. I was guiding Guy Voglino from New Jersey on a half-day outing today. Guy was new to flyfishing but got a handle on it pretty fast, the conditions got the better of us though I did get a half-pound trout myself when I fished the last 30mins or so with Guy. The water was coloured and high and no trout were feeding on the surface, the day got gustier as the afternoon approached. Guy and his wife Anne-Marie are here with their 3 daughters, all first-time visitors. I hope they enjoyed their trip and that Guy continues to flyfish. Pics below Postscript-Piscator Non Solum Piscatur. (“It is not all of fishing to fish”). This is the motto of the Flyfisher’s Club founded in London in 1884 and how true it is. In the 4 or 5 hours we spent outdoors today both Guy and I saw in this order, Red Squirrel, Cock Pheasant, Hare, Heron, Kestrel, pair of Mallard as well as a multitude of more common species.
Paddy Dunworth
Celtic Angling
Tel 069/68202 087/6525687
http://www.celticangling.com/fishing-updates.html
Angling guide and tour operator Jean Louis Bigot reports on fishing in the East Clare area for a party of French clients.
Here is a nice picture of a lovely pike caught by Mr Laurent Kostrzewa from France, who was fishing on an East Clare Lake with his friend Fabien. The day’s fishing was rather difficult but they were very pleased to land this beauty of 1.06 m, which made their day.
Jean Louis Bigot
Guide de pêche Français dans la Région du Shannon depuis 1989 , proposant des séjours de pêche au brochet (ou mixtes : brochet, salmonidés et pêche en mer) basés au départ de Killaloe dans le Comté Clare (Ouest de l’Irlande). Membre de Pagin et Aatgi. Organisateur de séjours de pêche – ou pêche et tourisme – pour tout séjour en Irlande avec notre réseau de guides de pêche spécialistes de leur pêche à travers l’Irlande et d’hébergements spécialistes de l’accueil de pêcheurs. Animateur du service pêche en Irlande auprès du Tour Opérateur Français Orchape (Licence No LI075 960 122)
Adresse :
Jean Louis Bigot
Guide Conseil Pecheirlande
Ballygreen
Garraunboy
Killaloe
Co Clare
Irlande
Tel 00 353 (0)87 6412658 (portable)
Tel 00 353 (0)61 376798 (Fixe)
[email protected]
www.pecheirlande.com
www.pechealliance.com
www.orchape.com
Ghillie and fishing tackle dealer Kevin Brain reports on some super shore fishing for bass and pollack in the Waterville area.
A WEEKS FISHING FROM THE 4TH TO 11TH APRIL – What a week of fishing we have had for bass and Pollack, I have had people out with me from France, England, Germany, and local anglers from Tarbet in north Kerry, 2 lads from Youghal in the Cork area, and father and son from Derry in Northern Ireland. First the lad from France; this lad had the biggest bass of the week weighting in at only 5 lb 8 oz, not big but it was his biggest bass ever, so that not so bad. Next I had 2 lads from England these lads did well on bass and Pollack. Biggest bass was only 4 lb and Pollack to 6 lb, they were very happy. The lads from Germany also did very well. They caught 3 bass and a good few Pollack. Local anglers from Kerry did well too. They hooked the most bass and lost a good few. Their biggest bass was 5 lb. The two lads from Youghal in Co Cork: I had these lads out on kayaks. It was tough with the winds, but we managed to get some good Pollack to 6 lb. Last but not least; father and son from Derry, they have never been bass fishing before but they caught 2 nice bass to 3 lb and were very happy, what a week !
KB Fishing Ireland,
Waterville,
Co. Kerry
Website: http://www.kbfishingireland.co.uk/viewnews.php
Tel: + 353 (0)66 9474942
Mobile: +353 (0)87 67 66986
email: [email protected]
Ballisodare Fishery enjoyed great sport over the past week with over 30 salmon being caught, 11 of these were released. The fish caught ranged from 5lbs to 12lbs, with the worm and fly accounting for most of the catch. Among those to enjoy success early in the week were Noel McGowan, who had a 7lbs salmon to an Ally Shrimp, and Francis Kearns who landed one of 8lbs to the worm. The Willie Gunn captured a fine 12lbs salmon for D. Glennon, Ballisodare, while Sean Gallagher also had success with the fly, landing one of 11lbs. Steven Cafoles also landed one on fly, a fish of 9lbs, while Paddy O’Loughlin had one of 5lbs to the worm. Seanie Maye and Jimmy Cuffe were among those anglers to catch and release fish. For information on fishing at Ballisodare and to purchase permits, please contact Dermot Glennon on +353 (0)86 2515064.
Weather conditions of late have not been wholly suitable for angling on Carrowmore but, despite this, some anglers have been successful. David Rodgers boated one of 10.5lbs while Peter Maguire had one fine fish of 13lbs. Michael Wymes caught one of 9.5lbs while Toby Gibbons returned one of 7lbs. Jonathan Murray and Joe McDowell both had good sport on Sunday, each boating two fine salmon of around 7lbs, and they released one each.
Reports of catches on the Moy have been scarce of late, with only three reported for the past week. The Knockmore waters produced one salmon while at Rinanney, visiting angler Horst Hermann, Germany, banked two salmon last week, weighing 4lbs and 6.5lbs, both caught on the worm. At the time of posting, there have been reports of great fishing in the East Mayo Anglers’ water, as the recent rise in water has receded. Please see next weeks update for further details.
