Stphen Gibbons and Co are back in action at some of their favourite Midlands venues. Last week when they had a good session on at one bend in the river. They landed 12 pike in total with 5 of those in doubles figures.
We also had 3 doubles 2 days earlier to 18lb on a different venue…
Stephen Gibbons
by email
ANGLING NOTES : WATERWAYS Ireland and Fáilte Ireland have come together to establish a higher profile for wild fishing here by establishing the Lakelands Inland Waterways World Pairs Event, which they say will be the world’s richest match fishing event. The world pairs will see the winning duo pocket €35,924 (£30,000) for their efforts, with second netting €11,974 (£10,000), third €5,987 (£5,000), and fourth down…
Irish Times, 12/03/12. Read the article ‘World’s richest match event shows Irish fishing is pretty fly‘.
The Bann at Lenaderg and above Banbridge is yielding good quantities off wild trout and some fine fish have been reported, not least Jason Russell’s 15 inch beauty taken while Czech nymphing. Increasing hatches of large dark olives are occurring from early morning and fishing last weekend is reported as excellent and forecasts are it will continue as long as the temperatures hold. Local guide Brian Russell fished the river for a few hours mid day Tuesday and returned over 40 trout to 37cm, most falling to olive dry and nymph patterns.
Brian Russell
www.brflyfishing.co.uk
The Cusher in Tandragee has been producing plenty of trout in the 8 to 12 inch bracket with local angler and guide Brian Russell catching 15 over a few hours on opening day while accompanied by Mike Shanks of Irish Angler magazine. The bulk of these fish came to weighted nymphs fished straight through on a French leader.
With the increasing temperatures the Cusher is also seeing increased hatches of olives, Sunday in particular saw plenty of these upwings coming of the water and attracting interest from the hungry trout. Jonny Moffet on his first time river fishing on Saturday with Brian Russell returned 12 fish up to 25cm. Twelve year old Thomas Russell returned 14 fish on Sunday morning up to 14 inches catching on baetis nymph and dry cdc olive patterns. With the temperatures staying as they are prospects are excellent for St Patricks Weekend.
Brian Russell
www.brflyfishing.co.uk
The Dromore Angling Club stretch of the Lagan has also been producing the goods for its members. Local anglers Andrew and Mark Sloan report catching plenty of well made wild trout to 14 inches employing the Duo method as well as traditional wetfly tactics. The first competition of the year was on Saturday past and was well supported with a good turn out of club anglers. The river didn’t fail to disappoint with most anglers reporting plenty of trout. The winner was Roy McKee with an excellent river trout of 1lb 12oz, 2nd place was former youth international Mark Sloan (14.5oz) and Nigel Greer was third (10.2oz).
Meanwhile the Iveagh Angling club stretch off the River Lagan has also had an excellent start to the new season with plenty of wild trout recorded, again mainly to weighted nymphs fished straight through or under a dryfly. Stuart McMurran and Neil McMullen both report catches into the twenty’s up to around 13 inches, again mainly to olive and hares ear nymphs. Gary Houston also had three fish all around the thirteen inch mark.
Brian Russell
www.brflyfishing.co.uk
Country sights and sounds: When I wrote of pike preying on frogs I was not advocating the use of the latter, dead or alive, to entice these or any other fish to the hook. To the contrary, I agree entirely with another writing angler who says ‘No man who was ever a boy could use a frog as bait’. The sense of wonder we felt when we found our first frog at the edge of that damp meadow should stay with us forever.
Mayo News, 13/03/12. Read the article ‘The false economy of fishing early-season trout‘.
An Achill man who appeared before court charged with the illegal use of a fishing net was fined €100 after he was intercepted checking a net by fishery inspectors. Anthony Gielty of Keel West, Dooagh, Achill appeared before Achill District Court after he was observed checking an illegal net near Dooagh on July 4 last. Inland Fisheries Inspector Michael Hughes explained that he was checking for illegal nets…
Mayo News, 13/03/12. Read the article ‘Achill man fined for illegal net fishing‘.
UK Anglers, Andy Nicholson, Jason Ashcroft, Edd Middleton and Kevin Evans, staying in Catchcart Lodge on the Belle Isle Estate County Fermanagh from the dates of the 5th of March through to the 9th, enjoyed some amazing sport, predominately Pike fishing, catching in total 150 pike, several were double figures with the largest tipping the scales at 16.5lbs and one or two very big fish lost.
Methods
Spinning, plugs, Jerk Baits, wobbling, dead baits, trolling, were responsible for most of the fish but a few came to the fly. Some good bags of roach and skimmer bream were caught when not pike fishing. Andys reckoned that this trip easily topped last year’s Pike tour for sheer numbers and quality. The upper Erne system is literally teeming with pike and bait fish and can only improve as the season progresses.
Charles Plunket
Belle Isle
Lisbellaw, Co.Fermanagh.
T: +44 (0)28 66387231
E: [email protected]
Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge Guest house in Longford Ireland was guiding Mark Whiteside and Kerry Hardy from Northern Ireland last weekend around the upper river Shannon and what a few days it turned out to be for all concerned. Fly, jerk and dead baits all produced fish.
The first day’s session produced fish to 16lb + and the second to 20lb+.
However the best was saved till last. Kevin tells us they started the session on the fly with the biggest fish falling to Kerry Hardy weighing in at 18lb.
They then started using dead baits from the boat and this produced fish up to 18+lb and a 20lb 5oz pike for Mark Whiteside.
While Kevin was waiting for a take on his dead bait he set up another rod and started casting around, bouncing a Bull Dog off the bottom that produced a nice fish of 24lb 3oz.
After that Kerry Hardy lost a good fish and 20 minutes later Kevin struck into sizeable pike. While unhooking the fish they found Kerry’s trace still in it’s jaws from 20 minutes earlier. We carefully took the fish to the bank for weighing, and it came in at 32lb 8oz which is a personal best for Kevin who was over the moon and still shaking with excitement an hour later.
All fish were released unharmed.
Kevin Lyons
Melview Lodge
Drumlish Road, Clonrollagh, Longford, Co. Longford.
Tel : +353 (0)43-33-45061 Mobile : +353 (0)87-268-7441
Email: [email protected] Web: www.melviewlodge.com
The 2012 Youths Inter-provincial Fly Tying Competition was held at the Dropping Well Pub in Milltown on the 10th March 2012. Juvenile anglers from all areas of the country travelled to the venue to represent their respective provinces; all hoping to win the all Ireland fly tying champion title. The competition commenced at 11AM and finished at 3.30PM, with a thirty minute break for lunch at 1PM. Each competitor was required to tie four fly patterns which were the Grey Wulff, Grey Duster, Cock Robin, and Claret Bumble.
While competitors were tying accompanying adults were treated to an entomology lesson with Dr. Ken Whelan; this lesson consisted of a powerpoint followed by a session on the river bank where various pupae and fry were captured. Dr. Whelan described each individual insect and explained how to differentiate between them.
Individual 1st prize went to Ciaran Reilly from Loughrea, County Galway. Ciaran represented Ireland in the IFFA (International Fly Fishing Association) International Competition in Scotland last year; Ciaran will represent Ireland again this year. 2nd prize went to Conor Cunningham, also from Loughrea. Conor also represented Ireland at the IFFA International Fly Angling Competition last year. Third prize went to Fergal McKiernan from Coosan, County Westmeath. Fergal Captained the Irish International Youth Fly Angling Team last year and he will represent Ireland for the fourth time this year.
In the team section, first prize went to Connaught, followed closely by Leinster. Munster finished in third place and Ulster finished fourth.
ITFFA would like to extend their gratitude to TAFI, Noel Shields, Des Chew, The Dropping Well Pub and all others who assisted in organising this excellent event.
If you would like more information about this topic, or you would like to arrange an interview, please contact Joseph Keena at 086 8722449 or e-mail [email protected]
