The Fundraising competition for the 2012 Ireland Boat Angling Team is now only a week away. The competition itself is on this Saturday, the 10th March. The funds raised will be used to support the Ireland Boat Angling Team in its quest for glory in the World Boat Angling Championship 2012 in France this Sept. Show your support by signing up to fish this comp!!!
Team Ireland 2012 Cobh fundraiser
If you want to enter contact Kit Dunne on 087 – 6832179 or Myles Howell on 087 – 2525162. Entry fee is €60 for seniors and €20 for juniors. The boats will be provided by the charter skippers of Cork Harbour Angling Hub and will be leaving Kennedy Pier, Cobh at 9:30pm. Fishing will be until 4pm and the prizegiving will be in the Bellavista Hotel, Cobh at 6pm. There is a huge range of prizes with prizes for many different categories, so everyone’s in with a chance!
This will be a fun competition with no fancy rules and is open to anglers of all skills. Don’t feel daunted by the calibre of some of the international anglers who will be fishing. They will be more than happy to impart their advice and you’re sure to learn a lot. Mind you, it is an ideal opportunity to pit your skills up against some of these lads just to see how good you actually are!!!
Unfortunately when the fish was examined it turned out to be a tub gurnard. Unlucky Sandra. Still as the old saying goes – There’s plenty more fish in the sea.
On the eve of the Irish Specimen Fish awards there is news just in of a huge red gurnard weighing 1.824kg. The fish, caught by Sandra O’Shea of Cobh SAC, was taken while boat fishing for cod and ling out of Cork Harbour earlier this afternoon.
It won’t be an official record until its ratified by the ISFC, but for now here’s a photo of the fish that may take the glory from James Prescott who set the record in 1968 with a fish of 3 lb 9.5 oz. If confirmed Sandra’s fish will break the record by about 200g (7 oz).
I will be making a short presentation at the Hooked Live show on Saturday morning March the 10th. Thanks to Mark I can squeeze in some time and discuss with you some of the experiences I have had over the years with both soft baits and saltwater flies whilst bass fishing.
This is not a ‘how to’ presentation but rather a reflection on the techniques, both the similarities and differences, the circumstances and the opportunities that present themselves in bass fishing for the angler in Ireland today.
02/03/12 Water levels are in cracking order at the moment and ideal now for fly and spin. A spring fish was hooked and lost over the weekend so a few fish are moving. For us to be hooking a springer this early in the season is promising. Just be aware that there are still plenty of kelts in the system.
Tightlines.
Paul Whelan Fort William Fishery
Fort William Estate, Glencairn, Lismore, Co. Waterford. Tel: +353 (0)87 8292077 Web:www.fortwilliamfishing.ie
Justin Bird with his 10lb Leap Year Pike from South Armagh
Justin Bird reports that he and two angling friends did a spot of pike fishing on Wednesday 29th February. The lads had 7 pike for the three anglers with the best fish weighing ten pounds caught by Justin on a popped up mackerel.Weather was mild and the water was clear and in good condition. Justin Bird with his 10lb Leap Year Pike from South Armagh
Justin Bird reports that he was out on the Fane yesterday 1st March for the opening day of the new trout fishing season. Fishing was fantastic plenty of trout circa three quarters of a pound, fishing New Zealand style. The fish all looked healthy and in great condition. They are feeding well so all is good. The mild weather also helped and the water conditions were good as we have not had a lot of rain lately.
A competition is being organised to help raise funds for well known angler Peter Driver who will be representing Ireland at the World Fly Fishing Finals in Slovenia this year.
This event is being held at the Curragh Springs Fishery which lies hidden away among the rolling plains of the Curragh in Co. Kildare; just one mile from the famous Curragh Racecourse. It is a natural spring fed lake of about 5 acres with gin clear water. This hidden jewel is a must for serious anglers.
A Nice Curragh Springs Rainbow
Full competition rules will be supplied on the day. Each angler is allowed have two rods assembled but only one is to be fished at any time. Barbless hooks only and egg flies are not allowed. Indicators must be on a hook. A maximum of three flies on the cast. Each fish will be measured from the nose to the tip of the tail. All fish must be recorded by the controller. Anglers will change pegs after ever hour and start fishing only when the horn starts. An open draw for pegs will take place on the morning of the competition. No angler is allowed to enter the water.
If you are up to a rewarding challenging day out fishing for top class full finned fighting fit Rainbow, then Curragh Springs is the place to go. Just 30 mins From Dublin and easily accessed from all over Ireland on the M7 and M9 motorways just 5 mins from the main road.
Thank you for your support of the event and look forward to seeing you there on the day.
The competition will be from 10 am to 4pm, entry fee is 30 euro. Great prizes and refreshment afterwards
To book your place please contact
Peter on 087-9787040 or [email protected], limited places available so confirm early.
Happy anglers fishing the opening day on the Feale in Co. Kerry
The mild and generally dry weather continued in the past week and there was even more angling activity as a result. The bit of rain that did fall in the west and south west during the week freshened up a number of rivers further adding to the spring feeling in the air.
"Big Hole" - Ireland's first 40lb carp
The biggest fish reported in the past week was a huge 40 lb. carp taken by Andy Doyle at a private syndicate water near Maynooth. This fish certainly eclipsed the present certified record fish of 29 lb. 13 oz taken by Sidney Kennedy in the Lough in Cork in 1998. This mighty fish wins our Catch of the Week. Other coarse fishing news this week is the announcement of dates for a summer league at venues in Co. Leitrim and a match this Sunday on the canal near Keshcarrigan. Senior committee members of the Carlow Coarse Angling Club recently made the journey to Kilsheelen in Co. Tipperary to take part in a Water Safety Course run by the Angling Council of Ireland.
For the second time in three years, Ballina native Martin Conroy has hooked and landed the first fresh run salmon of the season on the Moy system. This is the earliest date that the first salmon of the new season has been recorded. Down in Lough Currane, UK Angler, Mr. Mark Knowles, fishing with his Gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy, caught the first Salmon at 10 lb. on the fly. A day later, he landed another fish of 6 lb. also on the fly. Well know angling ghillie, Bob Priestly had caught and carefully released 46 Kelts this season before he finally caught a 6lb. fresh fish this week. Up on the River Drowes, the good fishing continued with the best fish reported at 10 lb. taken on size 8 Cascade fly. The River Feale opened on March 1st and Patrick Lenihan had the honour of catching the first salmon of the season on that river.
The trout season has started brightly on the western loughs and on Lough Mask Liam Conroy and Peter Gossan had11 trout, the best 2 lb., in two days and all returned. Many other good catches were also reported. There were reports of trout feeding well during the hatches of buzzers on Lough Melvin on the milder days. 3 anglers fishing on Saturday had caught 8 trouton wet flies with the best of these weighing 2¼ lb. It was another good week on Lough na Leibe where the increase in temperature combined with water levels dropping close to normal level and almost 200 trout were landed over the past week. The 2012 Leinster Youths Fly Tying Competition took place in the Tullaghan Centre at Lough Owel on Saturday 25th February 2012. The winner was Sean Dempsey, Coosan Anglers. The trout season opens on a lot of waters on March 1st local and visiting anglers you will need a current IFI permit for the likes of Owel, Ennell, Sheelin etc. Fishing Permits are available on line by contacting IFI at the Tudenham office in the mornings, Monday to Friday at +353 (0)44 9348769 or online at here.
Navan Anglers Association are actively recruiting new members for the coming season (1st. March- 30th. September), and would be pleased to accept applications from all, particularly from our younger friends. Navan anglers hold the rights to almost ten miles of superlative fishing on both the Boyne and the Kells Blackwater.
The Pike fishing the past few weeks has been very good overall around the country with fish to 23 lb being caught in the Longford area. Dead bait proved to be the best however jerk baits did produce pike to 14 lb. Shane O’Reilly, Angling adviser from Inland fisheries Ireland had a trip out with Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge in Longford recently and his biggest of the day weighed in at 18 lb 1 oz caught using pollan dead bait. Kevin himself managed fish of 2 1 lb. 3 oz and 23 lb. all on roach dead bait. There was a report of a great day’s pike fishing on Oakport Lake in a competition for the Donnellan cup on 25th February. There were more than 30 pike landed and the best fish counted. The winner was Pat Healy with a fish of 19 lb. 15oz. Meanwhile Pat Healy landed a huge 21 lb. 3 oz. pike to win the Camlin Angler’s competition on Lough Ree.
Charter skipper Mark Gannon out of Courtmacsherry reports that the good fishing continued for his anglers visiting from Bradford. Over the weekend they had cod, pollack, coalfish and ling on the inshore reefs but the size of fish increased when they went offshore and another specimen pollack, this one 15lb, was landed. Kevin Brain from Waterville, Co. Kerry reports that the bass are moving to baits but that the weather needs to settle or the surf to improve for fishing to really come alive. The first leg of the Grauvell West Coast Shore League 2012 was held on Saturday last at the stony beach in Renvyle, Co. Galway. Fishing was excellent for the time of year, with 157 fish recorded. 7 species were landed, including thornback ray, dogfish, coalfish, 3 and 5-bearded rockling, flounder and pollack. Winner was Mike Curtain.
Tight lines especially in Ireland,
Paul Bourke
Angling Information Officer. Catch, Photo, Release
28/02/2012 As at time of writing we are still fishless. We had more rain on Sunday night so the river was actually up again yesterday morning to 65. It did however drop during the day as a result of which conditions were improving.
This resulted in us getting closer to that elusive first as we had a fresh fish lost in Morrisons in the afternoon.
Conditions as we speak are excellent so hopefully someone will be lucky before tomorrow evening.
If we don’t manage to land a February fish it will be the first time since 1986 that we have blanked.
Hopefully we’ll start to get fish soon and we’ll normal service will be resumed.
26/02/2012 The weather forecast last Sunday the 19th was for mixed weather for the week. I’m afraid the national forecast does not takeDelphi’s micro climate into account. We had 85.3mm or 3.36 inches of rain this week and as a result the river never fell below 60 until yesterday. In fact Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday it ranged from 100 to 80 so find that elusive fish was difficult.
John Brennan, Roger Kenny and Geoffrey Fitzjohn tried hard in the early days of the week to no avail. Later as it tapered off we had Gerry McGuinness, David Allcutt and the Brady party. I’m afraid they drew a blank also.
We have some serious German anglers this week spearheaded by Werener Zirngibl. They have been out this morning with the river at 45 and as yet that first of the year still evades us.
If the forecast for this week is correct there should be excellent conditions, and with the quality of anglers we have I would be expecting the first.
Fr Eamon O, Connor dowsed the boats with Holy Water at the Duck Pond
Last Sunday I ventured to Lanesboro and fished the Camlin Anglers club pike competition on Ree.The Camlin Anglers are based in Longford, where the Camlin River flows. It was also the Annual blessing of the boats and at lunchtime Fr Eamon O’Connor dowsed the boats with Holy Water at the Duck Pond Lanesboro. Anglers even held open their Lure boxes in the hope that some divine inspiration would entice the pike to take.
Fr Eamon O'Connor dowsed the boats with Holy Water at the Duck Pond
As for yours truly the only Bite I got was my lunch, while we dined a the half time weigh-in. Mind you some cracking pike were caught and its looking good for the Lough Ree International Pike Championships on Ree in April.
Some cracking pike were caught
Pat Healy landed a huge 21lbs 3oz pike to win, and his angling pal on the day Sean Kenny boated a fine 18lbs fish. Michael Flanagan Pike and Trout angling guide. Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348969 or +353 (0)87 2797270 Email:[email protected]Web:www.midlandangling.com
