Home Blog Page 196

Fourth draw for Roughty brown tags open today

By
Myles Kelly
-
Roughty Bridge, Co. Kerry
Roughty Bridge just outside Kenmare in Co. Kerry.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has today opened the fourth draw for anglers wishing to catch and keep salmon from Kerry’s River Roughty catchment.

‘Brown tag’ regulations came into force on the river from March 15th, 2024, and will remain in place until September 30th 2024, when the salmon fishing season ends.

Commenting on the requirements, Sean Long South-Western River Basin District Director at IFI, stated: “The numbers of wild Atlantic salmon returning to our rivers is declining. The risk of over-fishing puts stocks in further jeopardy.

“Brown tag measures for salmon and sea trout are required on the Roughty River to conserve stocks and avoid accidental over-harvesting.

“Where there is a modest harvestable surplus with a risk of over exploitation, this brown gill tag system is introduced to closely monitor the angling quotas.”

An increased total of 136 brown tags will be available and are being distributed to anglers with a valid rod licence via four draws throughout the 2024 angling season.

To date, 100 brown tags have been issued for use on the R. Roughty system.

The remaining 36 brown tags will be issued following selection through the online lottery draw on the 7th August 2024.

The measures are part of the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023, recently signed into law by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, TD.

Anglers interested in entering the 7th August draw can apply through IFI’s online link between today, July 22nd, and midnight August 4th 2024, only.

Anglers may only receive one Brown Tag per season for use on the R. Roughty catchment.

Successful anglers who receive the tags, via the lottery system, place them on the fish – along with a blue tag as proof it was lawfully caught and may be retained for private use.

Anglers not allocated a brown tag are permitted to fish for salmon on a catch-and-release basis on the Roughty River catchment, where the salmon is returned safely to the same waterbody.

Anglers must use catch-and-release methods only, involving single or double barbless hooks. Use of worms as bait is not permitted.

Full application details are available by phoning IFI’s Macroom office on (026) 41221, or by emailing [email protected]

Irish Angling Update 🎣 19 July 2024

By
IFI staff
-

t

he past week saw a continuation of the relatively mild and dry weather except for parts of the south and southeast where a band of heavier rain caused some temporary localised flooding. In general, however, a lot of lakes and rivers still suffer from very low water levels and, as a consequence, increasing water temperatures. This is of particular concern for many salmonid fisheries throughout the country and is also reflected in the salmon angling reports we received this week.

Lough Currane, where a flood is desperately needed, remains very low with only a few salmon and sea trout caught.  While a few salmon are reported from the Laune and other Killarney fisheries, water levels generally remained on the low side during the past week. Further north on the Moy, the situation isn’t much different where at least the lower beats saw some more decent catches lately. On the Munster Blackwater levels were at normal level last week – low and clear. Having said this salmon angling remains relatively slow compared to previous years (not including 2023) with the best or more frequent catches from those fisheries from Fermoy downstream to Cappoquin.

An angler about to release a fresh grilse on the Moy

Staying with salmon fishing, Inland Fisheries Ireland is currently investigating the salmon mortalities that have occurred on the Ballysadare River in Co. Sligo and conducting a full environmental analysis to determine the cause or causes of this severe fish kill. For this reason, both commercial and recreational fishing is prohibited on all waterways in the Ballysadare catchment and its estuary including Lough Arrow and the Templehouse Lake system until further notice. More detailed information on the closure of the Ballysadare system and the emergency bye-law is available here.

On a more positive note, sea angling has been excellent of late as one would expect at this time of year. We received many great reports from around the cost highlighting the fantastic sea angling available in Irish waters.

Starting on the east coast, Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters reports that tope are showing in good numbers off the coast of Wicklow at the moment, while Jim Nowotynskie of Irish Deep Sea Charters made the most of the nice conditions and small tides in West Cork on Sunday last to get to an offshore wreck in search of big ling…and big ling he found!

Fine east coast tope

Over in East Cork, IFSA held the first leg of the All-Ireland Juvenile Boat Competition qualifiers in Crosshaven. The top anglers on the day were Jack Walsh, Sarah Lynch (both Crosshaven SAC) and Adam O’Neill from Rinnashark SAC. The three anglers will now go forward to represent Ireland at the World Youths Boat Championships in Montenegro in 2025.

Also reporting from Cork, Eire Bass flyfishing guide, Richie Ryan, sent in a story of a red-letter seabass day and some incredible pollack action including a first ever fly-caught pollack (followed by many more) for young Alessia which makes her win our Juvenile Catch of the Week.

Alessia with a chunky fly-caught pollack

Along the Clare coast it has been a week of variety on the Clare Dragoon, with a lot of species caught including some nice ray and huss and a seldomly caught spotted ray. The Isle of Aran charter boat, skippered by Sean Maguire, has also been out a fair bit off the Clare coast with guests enjoying the fine weather and catching plenty of species.

An elusive spotted ray caught on Luke Aston’s Clare Dragoon

The sea angling highlight of the week, however, took place in Galway Bay. Some nice, settled weather and calm seas allowed the Brazen Hussy to get offshore for some shark fishing this week, and what a week it was. Thomas Markey’s crew were out on Saturday and had 12 fine porbeagles to the boat! If Saturday was good, then Sunday was unbelievable, with another crew bringing 14 sharks to the boat to beat the boat record of 13! On Monday the crew felt like something smaller might give aching muscles a rest, but sharks were still on the agenda, with tope the quarry. Cutting a long story short, the crew caught and tagged over 10 tope to about 40lbs and had plenty other species including pollack, ling, whiting and pouting as a bonus. This remarkable fishing clearly deserves to win our Catch of the Week!

One of the many porbeagles caught, tagged and released in Galway Bay

Wrapping up our sea angling section, Peter Driver of Piscari-Fly reported excellent flyfishing for pollack in West Cork in his latest newsletter.

Over to trout angling, where the same Peter Driver tells us that the Nore is still fishing quite well these days with anglers enjoying some quality trout fishing.

Trout are still biting well on the Nore

Meanwhile, anglers on IFI’s Ballinlough Fishery in Co. Mayo reported good catches of both brown and rainbow trout, while Loughanure Anglers recently held a successful catch & release competition in Donegal.

This week’s Ireland on the Fly podcast features well known flyangler and flytyer Mick O’Farell who joins Daire & Tom  presenting his new book and discussing his flyfishing life in Ireland and England.

Last but not least some news from the Irish coarse angling scene…

The Leinster Coarse Fishing Federation held their yearly night match at Enfield last weekend which was won by Dean Markey who once again proved to be the top angler on the night.

Dean Markey won the Enfield event with 26lb+

Saturday, 13 July, saw 23 anglers turn out to fish the second qualifier at Oaklands Lake for the 18 remaining places at the All-Ireland Method Feeder Championship this September. Winner of the match was Matija Ivkov with 57.90kg, followed by Roman Legeic 52.58kg and in third Stephen Whyte with 47.92kg.

In the North, members of Lurgan Coarse Angling Club enjoyed great skimmer action on the River Blackwater over the weekend, while the latest Feederking qualifier which was held on Garadice Lough in Co. Leitrim was tough going with only the Deeps section fishing well.

Great bags of skimmers caught on the Blackwater, NI

Elsewhere, two well-known Irish coarse fishing clubs are organising charity events to raise money for good causes this summer. For more information and how to participate or donate money please follow this link.

Concluding this week’s Irish Angling Update, we would like to draw your attention to a series of weekly coaching sessions organised by Lough Ree Lanesborough Angling Hub. If you’d like to take part or know somebody who might be interested in learning how to fish, you can contact the club at [email protected]  or via their Facebook page.

And now the weather…

Tonight, rain will extend nationwide, turning heavy at times, especially across the west and northwest with spot flooding. Mild and humid with temperatures not dropping below 12 to 14 degrees, all in mostly light south or southeast breezes. The weekend will remain unsettled with more rain spreading in from the west. It will be cooler with highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees and light to moderate southerly winds. The start of the week looks like being mainly dry apart from some patchy light rain or drizzle. Highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees with light westerly or variable winds. Current indications suggest that it will continue largely unsettled next week with further showers and rain.

Don’t forget to check the forecast before heading off and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected] and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.

All the angling news

Salmon Fishing Reports

Trout Fishing Reports

Coarse Angling Reports

Sea Angling Reports

All fishing suspended on Ballysadare River and estuary

By
Myles Kelly
-

Inland Fisheries Ireland is currently investigating the salmon mortalities that have occurred on the Ballysadare River in Co. Sligo and conducting a full environmental analysis to determine the cause or causes of this severe fish kill.

For this reason, both commercial and recreational fishing is prohibited on the Ballysadare system. This includes the taking, attempting to take, fishing for by any means or possession of all fish, crustaceans and molluscs, on all waterways in the Ballysadare catchment and its estuary until further notice.

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Closed Rivers) Bye-law No. C.S. 336 2024 [.pdf]
This Bye-law prohibits the taking, or attempting to take, fishing for or attempting to fish for, aiding or assisting the taking of, or to be in possession of any fish in waters specified in the bye-law.

map

Press release

Angling bye-law suspends fishing on Ballisodare River system as IFI investigates cause of ongoing salmon mortalities

Angling bye-law suspends fishing on Ballisodare River system as IFI investigates cause of ongoing salmon mortalities

  • Bye-law applies to lakes, rivers, streams and estuaries connected to the Ballysadare System

Friday, July 19th, 2024:  Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications have suspended all fishing on the Ballysadare System in Co. Sligo due to concerns about more than 900 unexplained salmon mortalities found in the Ballisodare River.

Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with responsibility for Inland Fisheries, introduced the ‘Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Closed Rivers), Bye-law No. C.S. 336, 2024’ into operation on Wednesday, July 17th, 2024.

IFI is currently investigating the salmon mortalities and conducting a full environmental analysis of the catchment.

IFI awaits postmortem analysis of a number of salmon in order to determine the cause or causes of the deaths.

Both commercial and recreational fishing is prohibited on all waterways in the Ballysadare System, which begins east of Derkmore Point on Sligo Bay and includes Ballisodare River, Templehouse Lough, Ballygawley Lough, and Arrow Lough, as per this map of the system.

The bye-law applies to all fish, shellfish, crabs and crustaceans on the Ballysadare System.

Commenting on IFI’s investigation, Dr Cathal Gallagher, Deputy Chief Executive of IFI, said: “IFI is continuing to find unexplained wild Atlantic salmon mortalities in the Ballysadare system, with 900 fish fatalities now recorded.

“These ongoing fish fatalities are highly concerning.

“IFI is awaiting the results of a catchment environmental analysis along with a postmortem analysis of affected salmon, in seeking to understand the cause of these deaths.

“Currently, it is unknown whether or how the cause of these salmon deaths could be impacting other species of fish.

“The scale of these salmon deaths means we must take every precaution.”

Ongoing IFI investigations, alongside advice from partners and other environmental experts, will inform the length of time the bye-law prohibiting fishing is in effect.

A map of the Ballysadare System waterways can be viewed and downloaded here.

The Ballysadare System is also known as the Ballisodare River system.

IFI – the State agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats – continues to urge the public to report instances of fish kills, water pollution, habitat destruction, or illegal fishing to our confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.

The bye-law can be viewed and downloaded here:

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Closed Rivers) Bye-law No. C.S. 336 2024 [.pdf]
This Bye-law prohibits the taking, or attempting to take, fishing for or attempting to fish for, aiding or assisting the taking of, or to be in possession of any fish in waters specified in the bye-law.

Great variety of fishing on the Clare Dragoon

By
IFI Staff
-
An elusive spotted ray caught on Luke Aston's Clare Dragoon

It’s been a week of variety on the Clare Dragoon, with a lot of species caught. Starting in the estuary, where the last day for one group produced some nice ray and huss, including a seldom caught spotted ray. An enjoyable finish for a crew who are longtime visitors to west Clare, some of them fishing with Luke since he first had the Clare Dragoon.

The new crew wanted to target sixgill shark, but two days of drifting produced just one hookup from a sixgill. Unfortunately it spat the hook after a few minutes, but the consolation “bycatch” was a nice porbeagle shark.

More breeze meant fishing sheltered reefs, with plenty of pollack taking baits. Luke says its great to see anglers putting the smaller fish back, and the Charter Skippers Association have introduced a policy of returning all fish under 40cm to encourage guests to practise catch-and-release.

And finally, an angling holiday in Ireland is not all about the fishing. Enjoying some local hospitality, food and drink and meeting new people is all part of the experience, and no better place to do it than Carrigaholt!

Apres-fish!

 

 

Go fishing…

Clare Dragoon

Clare Dragoon is a LOCHIN 366 powered by 650HP engine, skippered by Luke Aston and operating out of Carrigaholt Co. Clare…

I have some offers up on my web site www.fishandstay.com and if anybody is interested in putting a trip together please do get in touch. Also I Twitter from the boat on @fishandstay and try to update my face book page www.facebook.com/CarrigaholtSeaAngling fairly often!To experience some of the best deep sea fishing available in Ireland contact Luke.
Telephone: +353 65 9058209 or +353 87 6367544
Email: [email protected] Web: www.fishandstay.com

Isle of Aran on the fish in west Clare

By
IFI Staff
-

The Isle of Aran charter boat, skippered by Sean Maguire, has been out a fair bit of late. Guests have enjoyed fine weather and even finer fishinf, with plenty of species on offer and lots of sport to be had. Check out some of the recent photos below…

Go Fishing

Isle of Aran

Fishing Adventures on Séan Maguire’s Isle of Aran, a Lochin 33   charterboat which operates 15 miles from Kilbaha, Carrigaholt, and Kilrush.

Whether you want to go to the Atlantic Ocean for a large selection of species, including different types of shark, or fish the estuary for ray conger tope etc, Fishing Adventures will cater for whatever fishing you desire.
Telephone: +353 (0) 877508758 or +353 (0) 894431182
Email: [email protected] Web: www.fishingadventures.ie

Great saltwater flyfishing in West Cork & decent fishing on the Nore – Piscari-Fly update

By
IFI staff
-

Peter is back with a weekly round up from Piscari-Fly…

How’s the Fishing, West Cork

The lads headed to West Cork last week and spent a few days around Crookhaven, hunting the coastline down there. What an amazing and stunning place to go fishing. It was all saltwater fishing so we were fishing rock marks, kayaking around the bays and estuaries. They came across some amazing pollock fishing on the fly.

They didn’t manage to land any mullet but saw an amazing crazy amount of good sized Mullet up around the estuaries, they just weren’t on. No sign of any bass there yet, but there is definitely lots of potential for them down there. The pollock fishing was just outstanding and some craic on a fly rod. Peter was on his Syndicate Aquos 10ft 7weight and throwing an 8 weight fast intermediate, counting down to the fish and he was using 10 pound breaking strain flourocarbon tippet with just a nice slow steady retrieve of the rocks. This simple approach was proving to be very effective with lots of fish around the 4 to 6lbs.

Mark also had a few good ones of the Kayak heading up to 8 or 9 pound weight. It was a brilliant weeks fishing. Our flies were simple weighted slim streamers and fished slowly and some flat wings doing the business. We found Chartruese to be the best colour over the few days.

Huge thanks to our good friend Morgan O’Brien for putting up with with us and putting us up. It truly is a fabulous part of the country to visit for a few days fishing saltwater. Something different. and I look forward to going back

Give us a shout here at piscarifly if you ever need some fly selections to suit your fishing needs and here are some other handy flies to have for saltwater fishing. A full video will be put up on piscarifly club in the coming week or two once we get to edit the footage make sure and check it out.

Contact [email protected] for any gear you might need, we have it all here.

River Nore

The Nore has been fishing quite decent this week. From all reports are there are good trout feeding about at the moment. There is a sign of a run of grills up there now also with some been hooked and returned.

Over the last week some quality trout fishing was had by a good few of our customers and some quality trout being caught. If you are in the area it is worth getting out for a cast. The weather seems to be unsettled again this week but hopefully see it settling down some. If in the area call in and we give you some pointers and locations to hit.

Masterclasses

Ireland on the Fly

Peter is doing a masterclass with Ireland on the Fly on the dry dropper technique for river brown trout.
At the height of the summer there’s no better way to target river trout than with the deadly combination of dry fly and nymph underneath. Whether they’re taking on top or sub surface, Peter will be giving invaluable tips and advice.
​
For river trout anglers this will be a must-see webinar on Thursday the 25th of July.

Tickets cost €10 and to register and pay go to:
​https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2927294018476207710​

Piscari-Fly Club

Peter has started his masterclasses on euronymphing on the Club and they will run for the next 3 weeks so there will be a segment posted every week. 2 Masterclasses are up already on the Club.

Feedback so far is very positive. So make sure to check that out. Once all the sessions have been posted on the club we will host a live questions and answers for our members.

https://club.piscari-fly.com/​

What’s Coming

Lakes Junior Flyfishing competition

TAFI Leinster Youth Lake Qualifier Championships on 21st July. Venue – Laois Angling Center. Entry – €30 Youths from 12yrs upwards to compete. Anyone with youths who wish to compete contact Mark Driver to register. Aim to meet at Venue for 9am. Fishing Approx from 10am to 3pm.

Tafi Leinster are holding an Open Fishing Day at Laois Angling Center. An Introduction into Fishing & Social event for all ages. Admission is free on the day. So why not come along and bring the youths to enjoy a few hours out learning about fishing, ask questions, get tips and much more. A fun filled day for all. Contact us or TAFI Leinster if you would like further Information.
​
​Dont Miss it

Laois Angling Center in Coolrain, Co. Laois.

About us

Based on the River Nore just outside Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, Ireland. Piscari-Fly is a growing Fly Tying and Fly-Fishing business with a vast amount of experience and knowledge. If there is ever anything I can do to make my service better for you please feel free to suggest it to me and I’ll gladly try my best to accommodate your requests. Thanks again. Peter Driver.

As a small business we depend on the satisfaction of our customers and there word of mouth reference, google reviews are important to our online presence and we sure would appreciate your review. Just head over to this link and give us a quick review.

Thanks for the support its greatly appreciated

Peter Driver.

Piscari-Fly, Woolengrange, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, R95 Y860, Ireland, 0879787040

More grilse reported from the Moy but water levels remain low

By
IFI staff
-
An angler about to release a fresh grilse on the Frenchman’s Pool of the Foxford Fishery

Michael Murphy reports from the River Moy…

River Moy Angling Report

Monday 1st July to Sunday 14th July 2024

Water levels remained low for this two-week period with levels at Ballylahan reading 0.25 m on Monday 1st July incrementally dropping to 0.19 m by Sunday afternoon 14th July 0.47. One gentle rise occurred late Saturday night 6th July where levels reached 0.47 m briefly. Over the past fortnight rainfall amounts were generally below or near average across most of the catchment and current indications suggest it will continue in the same vein for the coming week.

Moy Fishery

A total catch of 116 salmon was caught over this two-week period of which 58 were released, accounting for 50% of fish returned to the water. The Ridge Pool accounted for 86 while the Cathedral beat produced 21 salmon. The Weir Pool produced 9 salmon for the fortnight. Weights varied from 2.5 lbs to the heaviest fish weighing 8 lbs. The majority of fish weighed in the 3 lbs to 6 lbs mark.

Tim Boote just about to release his first salmon caught on the Ridge Pool
Kenneth Mc Donnell, Castlebar with a salmon weighing 4.5 lbs caught on 11th July at the Ridge Pool

Ballina Salmon Anglers

A total of 40 salmon were reported caught this fortnight with 32 caught on the worm, 4 on the fly and 4 spinning. The majority were grilse from 2.5 lbs and 5 lbs.

 Mount Falcon Estate

A total of 36 salmon reported caught with 17 being taken and 19 released with weights ranging from 4 lbs to 5 lbs and the best for the week weighing in at 8 lbs.

 Knockmore Salmon Anglers

Kenneth reported 10 salmon caught on the prawn showing weights from 4 lbs-5 lbs.

Attymass Angling Club

Kevin reported 3 salmon caught showing weights from 4-5 lbs and all being taken on the prawn.

Coolcronan Fishery

Nick reported 10 salmon caught showing weights up to 6.5 lbs.

 Byrnes Fishery

Roy reported of 15 salmon caught for the fortnight with weights ranging from 3 lbs up to 7 lbs. Most fish were taken on the prawn and worm.

Armstrong Fishery

George reported of 15 salmon for the fortnight with weights up to 8 lbs all taken on the shrimp.

Gannon’s Fishery

Pat reported of 33 salmon caught mostly on the prawn with weights up to 8 lbs with 5 of them returned to the water.

The Foxford Fishery

Granville reported 117 salmon caught for the fortnight using all methods with the best on the prawn and 29 of them returned to the water. Best weights for the week were 8 lbs.

Reports were received of 10 salmon caught in the Foxford town area.  The bubble and fly and the worm appeared to be most successful method with most fish ranging between 3 lbs and 5 lbs with the best weighing 9 lbs.

Foxford Salmon Anglers                                                                                                 218 salmon were reported caught in Foxford Salmon Anglers waters for the fortnight. All methods were attempted, with the heaviest fish weighed 9 lbs and a number of these being released back to the water with the bubble and fly proving most successful. 

Cloongee Fishery

A total of 33 salmon were reported caught with 24 of these reported as being released.  Weights ranged from 2.5 lbs to 7 lbs, and most were caught on the fly and spinning. 

East Mayo Anglers Association

A total of 74 salmon were reported caught of which 37 were released.  Successful methods included the fly, spinning and worming with weights from 3 lbs to 9.5 lbs.  The heaviest fish weighing 9.5 lbs. Their best day of the week being Thursday 4th July. East Mayo Anglers Association would like to announce their Youth Angling Event will take place on Wednesday 24th July at the Disabled Anglers Facility, Criillaun Straide. Enquiries can be made by phoning 086 3946837 and the poster below outlines the activities.

 

Record-breaking shark fishing in Galway Bay

By
IFI Staff
-

Some nice settled weather and calm seas allowed the Brazen Hussy to get offshore for some shark fishing this week, and what a week it was. Thomas Markey’s crew were out on Saturday and had 12 fine porbeagles to the boat. A couple of the sharks were tail wrapped and had to be boated to untangle them, but most were unhooked safely alongside.

If Saturday was good, then Sunday was unbelievable, with another crew bringing 14 sharks to the boat to beat the boat record of 13! I was lucky enough to be aboard to witness it, and it truly was a great day of fishing, with constant action right from the start and sharks regularly circling the boat at close range. It is great to see a resurgence in porbeagle shark numbers, and the size is growing too, with quite a few fish over 200lbs.

On Monday the crew felt like something smaller might give aching muscles a rest, but sharks were still on the agenda, with tope the quarry. As soon as the anchor was down and baits went over the side, they were straight into fish, with 10 tope to about 40lbs landed in 2 hours, and quite a few more dropped runs.

Rik with a nice tope

After a couple of hours we moved to fish for other species on the drift, but even there a couple of tope were caught, as well as pollack, ling, whiting, pouting and more.

 

Go fishing…

 

To book fishing with John aboard the Brazen Hussy II, give him a call on 087 7571320

A regular day is between 9am- 6pm from either Rossaveal, Spiddal or Galway depending on species being sought after. Fishing on the inshore reefs for pollock, cod, ling, wrasse, conger eel and mackerel can be reached in 10 minutes from departure, while our offshore reef marks are within 45 minutes of departure. Our ground fishing for tope, spurdog, ray, bullhuss, turbot, plaice and the giant common skate can all be reached within the hour which ensures the most amount of time is spent fishing.
The shark season usually starts at the end of June and runs into late October, this is the ultimate angling adrenaline rush with these hard fighting blue and porbeagle sharks all being tagged and released safely.
Package deals available

Address: Baile an tSagairt, Spiddal, Co. Galway.
Telephone: +353 (0)87 7571320
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueSharkAngling

Blue Shark Angling Galway,
Phone John Fleming : +353 (0)87 7571320

Fantastic seabass and pollack flyfishing in Cork Harbour for Eire Bass

By
IFI staff
-
Alessia with a chunky fly-caught pollack

Eire Bass guide, Richie Ryan, hasn’t written a report in a while, fortunately he’s penned a recent diary entry. Check out his report below…

My bass fishing on the fly kicked off in May this year when I had the usual suspects on board Sea Hawk, namely Kevin Mc Loughlin and Dr. Jacques Bronkhorst. I had an inkling there was a bass shoal forming outside Cork Harbour waiting to head our direction. What luck to find a massive shoal clearly visible on the sonar but also swimming nonchalantly under the boat. Jacques looked at me astonished as we were both amazed at what was a most remarkable and rare event. Double figure fish mixed in with bass of all sizes. A quick change from pollack flies to bass flies started what was to be a frenetic hour of pure magical synchronised fly fishing. Jacques was to send a text later that evening to say it was one of the best days fly fishing of his lifetime, a serious compliment I can assure you. Almost 30 bass were caught and released on that red letter day!

A few clients managed to eke out a few more bass on the fly at that mark before they moved on, the last being my great friend Dr. Shane Flood, his first ever on the fly.

Jaques with one of many Cork Harbour sea bass that took the fly that day
Big pollack on fly for Richie

May was my best start to pollack on the fly season ever. A nice settled spell of weather encouraged the bigger fish to move in to shallower water where we could target them on the fly. An Irish woman bought a birthday voucher for her Italian husband to go fishing with me. An extra request was could I bring her daughter Alessia along also. To say she aced the fly fishing is a…As can be seen from the photograph Alessia is a natural. She had a competition to see who would catch the most fish, we lost count, always a great sign!

Go Fishing

Eire Bass – Richie Ryan

Saltwater fly fishing Guide.
Web: www.corkbass.com E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +353 (0)86 1940744

Ireland on the Fly – Mick O’Farrell and what he learned fly fishing in Ireland and the UK

By
Shane O'Reilly
-
Mick O’Farrell is an Irish fly angler and is that rare breed who moved to the UK and subsequently established a high reputation for himself on the stillwaters in England in addition to his prowess in Ireland.

He became well known for his book, ‘A Passion for Trout’ and could often be read in UK fly fishing publications discussing stillwater tactics and flies.

With best intentions to retire to Ireland, he has a new book out called, ‘Trout and Grayling Flies: An International Masterclass’ and he joins Daire & Tom on this week’s Ireland on the Fly to discuss his fly fishing life in Ireland and England and how anglers from both countries have helped to develop and improve fly fishing techniques on the two sides of the Irish Sea.

Listen & follow on Apple/Spotify:

If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of Mick’s new book, you can email him directly at [email protected].

1...195196197...2,001Page 196 of 2,001
Fishing in Ireland

EVEN MORE NEWS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© Inland Fisheries Ireland