The weather in the past fortnight has had a mixture of heavy rain, very low temperatures and some warm days for anglers trying to catch fish in somewhat difficult conditions.  At this time of year many inland anglers turn their attention to pike in particular and although water heights are extremely high there was some fine fishing reported from the Cavan Monaghan Lakeland area.

There were reports of many fine pike over a metre i.e. 20 lb. and for one French visitor in particular, Thomas Lechat a 16 year old student from the South of France fishing with angling guide, Pat McLoughlin. Thomas had 49 pike for his week and his best 3 fish were 103 cm (19 lb 12 oz) 105 cm (20 lb 3 oz) and 109 cm (22 lb 7oz).  His biggest fish earns Thomas the catch of the week.  Angling guide Peadar O’ Brien had some clients out in lakes in the Carrickmacross area and they enjoyed excellent fishing with recording pike to over 20 lb. There was some excellent pike fishing for Dutch anglers fishing with Kevin Lyons over in Longford in the small lakes and they too took pike up to 20 lb. on mainly lures. Elsewhere there was some pike recorded in a competition on Lough Ree and Michael Flanagan is very impressed at Lough Glore as a venue for Pike fly fishing.

There has been a fair bit of angling on some of the Rainbow lakes which are open over the winter and some nice fish were reported from the Cashel Fishery in Derry and in the Curragh Springs Fishery in Co Kildare.

The high water levels have hampered coarse angling on many venues at present but there were reports of good roach fishing on the Boyle River (Canal) where an Irish team qualifier took place.  Up in Fermanagh, the winter league is going well with good roach fishing for the competitors fishing on the Roslea Lakes.

At sea, the Cobh SAC hosted the IFSA Boat Fish-Offs over the October bank holiday in somewhat difficult weather conditions.  Conditions on the Sunday were better and several competitors recorded over a hundred fish each on the day.  Dabs were also plentiful with many touching specimen size.  Other fish recorded included dogfish, codling, pouting, poor cod, and plaice.  By competition’s end over 2000 fish had been recorded.  Up in red bay in Co. Antrim, anglers fishing with Hamish Currie had good sport with a range of species including some good congers and several small skate.  Down in the beara peninsula in west cork parties of English and Irish anglers had very good shore fishing mainly off rock marks catching some lovely pollack among a range of species.

Tight lines especially in Ireland

Paul Bourke
Catch, Photo, Release

Coarse fishing reports

• Good catches of Roach reported from the Roslea Lakes
• Winter League match report from the Boyle Canal
• Small fish dominate the Irish Team Qualifiers on the Boyle Canal.
• Report on the Erne Anglers Float only Match held on the Roslea Lakes.

Pike fishing reports

• Very good Pike fishing reported from the Cavan Monaghan lakelands area.
• 17lb pike wins Lough Ree competition
• Lough Glore an ideal pike fly fishing venue
• Pike anglers in Longford area get some good fish
• Good Pike fishing reported from the North East

Sea angling reports

• Big congers and small skate on Predator II
• Excellent shore fishing reported from the Beara area in West Cork
• 2011 IFSA Boat Fish-Offs report
• Cork harbour winter light line series

Trout fishing reports

• Dry flies, nymphs and wet flies accounting for good Rainbows at the Curragh Springs Fishery
• Good Rainbow Trout reported from the Cashel Trout Fishery
• Good Rainbow Trout fishing at the Cashel Trout Fishery Annual Competition.