The ever decreasing water level has meant the better stamp of trout have been keeping their heads down over the last few days. Despite this there has been still plenty of trout in the 20cm to 25cm range playing the game to give anglers a good days sport. Dromore Angling Club competition on Saturday past was well supported with Warren Campbell top rod, Nigel Greer second and Andrew Sloan third, the competitors reported plenty of fish but again the smaller brethren were more dominant. Local anglers on this system are eagerly looking forward to a good black gnat fall this year, judging by the quality of fish in March there should be some real lumps on the go. This can be the pinnacle of fishing on the Lagan, akin to mayfly hatches on other systems, with some real quality wild trout on the go. Anyone wishing to get the most from the black gnat fishing should contact local guide Brian Russell.
The sunshine and heat of the past few days has seen an abundance of midge hatching on these two mid – Ulster rivers. Olive hatches are not as prevalent and it will take a change in weather to see them flourish again. But the fishing has been good for those anglers prepared to fish small midge patterns down to size 22. Some fine trout up to 38cm have been recorded in both rivers from the more shaded areas of the rivers, where pods of fish are sipping down midge. This can take perseverance as the fish can be somewhat fussy as they are sitting high in the water and can see all. Nymphs can still account for a fish or two but March tactics this year have not been the norm, scratching the bottom with heavy nymphs has been superseded with dryfly a good month earlier than usual. After the brilliant start to fishing local anglers are full of anticipation for April and May – bring on the black fly!
Chris Sandford Displays his Catch at last Weeks Media Competition
A media fly fishing competition took place on Friday, 23rd March at Annamoe Trout Fishery, Annamoe, Co. Wicklow. Organised by Annamoe Trout Fishery the event now in its eighth year at Annamoe and is still proving extremely popular in attracting the top angling media from Ireland.
Derek Evans at Last Weeks Media Event in Annamoe
16 anglers from a variety of broadcast and print media took part in the competition on the scenic fly fishing lake in Annamoe Fishery. Competitors included Fergal Keane from RTE, Brian Cooke from Irish Anglers Digest, Mick Flanagan from the Sunday World and Ed Carty from the Press Association of Ireland.
Attendees at last weeks Media Competition
The day was mild and overcast combined with light winds creating good fishing conditions. The fishery was split into four zones and each angler fished an hour in each zone, giving each angler an opportunity to fish all parts of the lake. The morning session proved very productive with many fish caught. Catch and release applied, the winning score based on the cumulative length of Trout caught. Peter O’Reilly, game fishing author was the first to strike gold with a great fighting rainbow which was followed by many more. John Buckley from Total Fly Fishing was also quick off the mark with many fish being caught with Dave McBride from Southside Angling not far behind. Following a delicious lunch provided by Brian Nally of Annamoe Trout fishery, competitors returned to the fishery. John’s fighting form continued as he caught and released 21 fish in total which landed him the first prize ahead of all other competitors! In total 85 hard fighting rainbow trout were caught, recorded and released during the competition.
Chris Sandford Displays his Catch at last Weeks Media Competition
Ms. Suzanne Campion, Director of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland presented the prizes. John Buckley from Total Fly Fishing magazine won the competition for the second year running and was presented with a Waterford Crystal trophy sponsored by Failte Ireland and Second place went to Dave McBride from Southside Angling with Peter O’Reilly, author, coming third. Prizes were principally sponsored by Annamoe Trout Fishery. Other prizes were donated by Southside Angling, Emerger Tackle and Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Des Chew and Suzanne Campion at last weeks Media Event at AnnamoePeter O'Reilly Attended Last Weeks Media Event at Annamoe
Brian Nally of Annamoe Trout Fishery thanked all the sponsors the participants for a tremendous event and welcomed them back at any time.
Dublin angler Vinnie McConnell had some great fishing at Town Lake, Bailieboro last weekend. He caught a lovely bag of bream and roach on an evening session using corn and red maggot for hook bait. He prebaited a swim with hemp, corn and maggots mixed with breadcrumb and maize and his hard work paid off.
Conor Arnold contacted Ian Powell yesterday afternoon March 26th to ask if he could go trout fishing to Ballyhooly. Ian suggested he go instead to Kilmurry with the salmon rod as it was free.
He caught this fish at dusk (7.15pm) on a #10 shrimp fly on a floating line. This is more akin to summer rather than spring fishing with the air temperature in the afternoon up to 16°C.
Conor Arnold with Kilmurry salmon
This is the fourth springer for March which doesn’t sound a lot, but is remarkable when you consider that there have been only 41 rod days so far for the whole month. Total for the season so far is now nine.
The Blackwater was in fantastic fly order at 9.00am this morning with clarity #5-6 feet. Having held at 0.30 for about 4 days, the river is now dropping very slowly once more & was at 0.27m this morning at 9.00am. Water temp. 48°F. Beautiful fly height with summer level.
Prospects
The forecast is for continuing dry weather for most of the week. The longer-range forecast is for a very wet start to April.
25/03/12 Lough Lene Cup. Last Sunday we fished the first Trout competition on Lene, and there was a good turn out of Anglers. On the day Peter McCann of Balbriggan topped the day with a fine Brown trout of 1.67kg. Peter was fishing with John Gallagher, and caught his winning fish on his second cast on competition day. John Mulvanney was 2nd with 1.52kg, and 3rd Noel McLoughlin 1.42kg. The Junior anglers did well and Philip Keena produced a fish of .72kg to take Top Rod, and young Finn Fitzgerald of Duleek was 2nd in the Junior section. Finn featured in Angling Focus last year on Owel, with his pals from Mullingar, and his dad George won the Ace Cup on Owel in 2011.
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
GRIFFERTY AND HIS PIKE. Yes the weeks are ticking away and soon we will be venturing out on Ree for the 3- Day International Pike Festival, and World Cup boat pike competition. Last week Mullingar Angler Damian Grifferty rattled the scales on Ree with a huge pike well in the high doubles. In the coming weeks many anglers will be checking out Ree, and we will be in the thick of the action
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
Good to have the cod back in Donegal Bay. These three lovely cod were caught on a sunny Sunday afternoon (25 March) just 30 minutes from Mullaghmore Harbour. The fish were caught using Shamrock cod rigs with no bait aboard Prospector 1, skippered by Peter Power.
They were eaten that evening with chips and tartare sauce. Yum.
Bandon Angling Association are pleased to announce that they are having Glenda Powell back again for a full day of Flyfishing Tuition. Keep your diary free on the sat 14th April. It’s an opportunity to brush up on your skills or learn new ones and not to be missed. This is the 4th year they have been priveleged to have Glenda on board and know that you wont be disappointed. Venue: car park adjacent to the town hall and then onto river. Times: 11am to 1pm for juniors. 2pm to 5pm for seniors. For further info, contact Fergal on 0863724358
Rob Love with one of 6 Annamoe rainbow trout lured to his rod.
Saturday 24th March: Enjoyed a great day fishing the annual media competition organised by Derek Evans, angling correspondent with the Irish Times, at Brian Nally’s well appointed Annamoe Trout Fishery located close to Glendalough in Co. Wicklow. A warm day punctuated by a brisk variable south/south east breeze, the resident rainbows were obliging, at least in the morning, and all 16 participants landed some cracking fish.
Rob Love with one of 6 Annamoe rainbow trout lured to his rod.
What’s catching Brian?”, I asked eyeing the selection of flies and lures available within Annamoe’s club house, a spacious log cabin where anglers can relax before, during, and after fishing. Today at half time we were to enjoy a slap up hot buffet meal courtesy of Annamoe Trout Fishery and plenty of teas, coffees, and biccies in between, “you spoiled us Brian and thank you”. “Try that red bead head zonker lure, it was working very well last week”, replied Brian, so I did and it still worked as I was to find out.
Ashley Hayden at Annamoe Trout Fishery
Three casts in my rod locked and the first of four rainbows lured by that red strip of fluff powered off. All giving a good account of themselves, they took a while to get to the net. Fishing an intermediate line to a 15 foot leader with a six pound tippet, slow long draws of the line worked for me. Using barbless hooks I lost two more fish which threw the iron after spectacular jumps, that while witnessing Killarney fly fishing machine John Buckley take 21 fish in the morning session. John blanked in the afternoon, as I did, but he still did enough to retain the trophy with Dave McBride of South Side Angling coming second. Thank you to Brian for your hospitality, Derek for inviting me, and to all the participants that I know and the new people I met, Ed, Remy, Chris, and Rob, see you on the water and tight lines….
