The Cloongee Fishery was closed earlier this week due to elevated water temperatures. It will reopen for angling on Saturday morning 30th May as the water temperatures have cooled sufficiently.
Anglers are reminded that they must make a “Catch/No Catch” return and place it in the catch return boxes located in the two car parks. Catch/No Catch returns can also be made by email to [email protected]
Well, it seems we went from spring to high summer overnight this week, as temperatures soared from the mid-teens to the high twenties earlier in the week. An intense high pressure zone spread westwards from Europe, bringing a very warm airmass and very light winds, and boy did it feel warm! The previous May high temperature record of 28.4C from 1997 was broken at several weather stations in the south and west of the country, as well as many stations recording their local May record highs.
High temperatures are not good for many of our fish species, and IFI has implemented its warm water protocol on several fisheries, which have closed due to water temperatures breaching 20C. The Galway, Erriff and Cloongee fisheries remain closed, while others are being monitored. Thankfully, the heat has broken since yesterday, with temperatures reaching just 17-23C today, and hopefully water temperatures will react accordingly.
Coarse fish are not as badly affected by the heat, and we have plenty of coarse angling reports to bring you. Festivals and competitions are in full swing. On Inniscarra, Dale Malpas weighed in over 34kg to take the three day Ottewill Trophy.
On the Grand Canal, Monasterevin Anglers faced tough conditions with heat and bright sunshine, but Colin Oliver still managed a very respectable 15lbs to take the win. Oaklands Fishery in Wexford is fishing very well, with John Browne weighing an incredible 86kgs to take the second leg of the summer league there. Back to the canal, and Athy Anglers had difficult fishing conditions, where just under 4lbs was enough to hand Willian Coughlan a win in the club match there.
VDE Baggers ventured to the (northern) Blackwater, but the skimmers were absent and scratching for ounces was the order of the day. Aaron Hutchman took the win with 1.48kgs. Lough Muckno also proved tough, with many fish away spawning, and Robert Nolan weighed 2.45kg for a win in the CM Lakelands match on Sunday.
Elsewhere, visiting UK anglers in Longford were not restricted to match pegs and took full advantage of prebaiting to land some great catches of bream and tench, while staying at Melview Lodge, showcasing some of the incredible wild coarse fishing that can be found in the Hidden Heartlands.
Sea angling really takes off at this time of year, with sea temperatures improving and more species showing up. Mark Gannon reports the first skate of the season for clients of Courtmacsherry Angling Centre, a lovely female flapper skate of 122cm.
Simon McLarnon won’t be forgetting a measuring mat next time, after catching and releasing what could have been a specimen ballan wrasse without measuring it while fishing out of Lough Swilly, in Co. Donegal. Measuring mats can be purchased from our online shop here, just saying… 😉
Bass were plentiful for the Mick Kearney Open, hosted by South Shore SAC at Kilmuckridge, where Alby Allan had 13 bass to take a zone win, but 6 valuable dogfish in a haul of 17 fish gave James Ryan the overall win.
Richie Ryan reports good bass, and plenty of pollack on fly for visitors to Cork Harbour.
David Norman of Angling Adventures West Cork reports from West Cork on good pollack fishing on an introductory coaching trip with Graham.
Speaking of pollack, we have a reminder that from Monday June 1st there is a 3 fish catch limit of pollack per angler per day.
In Cork Harbour, Piotr Nowakowski won the Cobh SAC competition, with 38 fish, and fishing was reported as very good with nice rays and bull huss among 6 species and some potential specimen fish.
And in the Shannon Estuary and west Clare, charter boats reported good mixed fishing. Sean Maguire reported good pollack and coalfish, while Luke Aston says there are some nice mackerel about, and a run up the estuary for tope proved fruitless for tope, but did produce a beautiful, and rare, angel shark, which wins Catch of the Week.
And a late report, straight from skipper David Edwards from the boat (still at sea) of the first blue shark and porbeagle for the year. Well done David!
To pike angling now, and the Nations Cup was held on Lough Ree last Sunday, in glorious warm sunshine that made for difficult fishing. 84 anglers from various nationalities competed in pairs, with Ireland and Poland tied at the top. You can read more on the competition here.
Bodo Funke reports great pike fishing, both on fly and lure, for clients in the Boyle area over the past couple of weeks. Plenty of fish over the metre mark gave quite a few anglers some fine memories to take home.
Just south, in Co. Longford, Kevin Lyons reports great sport for visitors from Italy, with 29 pike to 90cm on lures for Diego and first timer Igor.
Salmon fishing has been pretty quiet this week, given the warm conditions. A few grilse were reported from the Flesk in Co. Kerry last week, as well as one spring salmon from the Laune. Lough Currane is very quiet in the heat, with no fish reported. There were fish reported from a number of fisheries along the Moy last week, with East Mayo the most productive with 14 salmon landed. However, the warm weather has resulted in a number of IFI fisheries being closed until water temperatures fall back.
Dan O’Neill reports that early and late fishing is the order of the day on rivers this week, given the high temperatures. Quite a few mayfly have been hatching on the Nore, as well as sedges, but trout are taking very small nymph patterns and small dries.
Over on Lough Conn, wet and dry mayfly patterns were working well for Padraic Traynor, while good fishing was reported from Loughs Fadda and Barfinnihy in Co. Kerry. On Lough Sheelin, the Kilbride Anglers endured tough conditions, and fishing, in a daytime competition on Saturday, where Conor Graham won with a trout of 20.8 inches in the catch-and-release event. Many competitors stayed on for the spent gnat going out in the evening, with perfect conditions, and reported some great catches for the evening rise.
Sport Ireland is delighted to invite children and teenagers with disabilities or additional needs to take part in a fun fishing experience this May. The event will take place at Tibbotstown Reservoir, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork on Saturday, May 30th, with sessions running from 10am–12pm and 2pm–4pm and open to ages 10–17 years. Further information and booking options are available here.
Cooler than earlier in the week, although mainly dry and bright for the rest of today.
Mostly cloudy conditions in the west to begin tomorrow, Saturday, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, gradually spreading eastwards as the day goes on. Some bright or hazy spells of sunshine will develop in the afternoon and evening but there’ll be some heavy showers around too, particularly across parts of Ulster, where there is a chance of an isolated thunderstorm. Highest temperatures of 15 to 21 degrees, with light to moderate southerly breezes.
Variable cloud, sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday. It’ll turn cloudier from the southwest later in the day, with patchy rain and drizzle developing along Atlantic coasts in the evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, warmest in the east, with light to moderate southwesterly winds.
Mostly cloudy and damp to begin on Bank Holiday Monday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, breaking up into showers and sunny spells as the day goes on. Some of the showers could turn heavy later. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, again warmest in the east, with moderate southwest to west winds.
Further Outlook: Changeable and at times unsettled with a mobile Atlantic regime dominating. Temperatures trending near average, with daytime highs in the mid-teens generally.
Don’t forget to double-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].
Skipper David Edwards was in touch today to to report the first blue shark and the first porbeagle we have heard about this year. He is fishing about 8 miles off the Seven Heads (he called in this report from the boat) and drifting towards shore with the southerly winds.
He met the sharks closer to shore than he would have expected for the time of year. So far he has had one blue shark and one small porbeagle and they lost a third larger fish.
David is no stranger to catching sharks early in the season. Last year he caught the first blue shark of the season on May 11th. In 2024 he did the double as well, catching and releasing the first porbeagle of the year on January 10th and the first blue shark of the year on May 24th.
Cobh SAC report on their latest summer competition…
We managed to land some lovely fish on Sunday — over 6 species recorded, including some potential specimen fish, nice rays, and some decent bull huss.
Well done to everyone who took part, great fishing and great company all round
w
Michael Murphy reports from Lough Conn…
Padraic Traynor reported being out on Lough Conn on Monday 18th and Friday 22nd May with a good return of 10 trout over the two days weighing approximately 14 lbs in total.
Both dry and wet flies worked well mainly in Mayfly patterns.
The Aiden Connor Cup Competition was fished on Lough Conn on Sunday 24th May with eighteen anglers returning five trout.
The results were as follows:
Michael Murphy reports from the River Moy…
Water continued to fluctuate at Ballylahan from 0.45 m on Sun 17th up to 0.53 m by noon on Sunday 24th May. An improvement in weather conditions locally this past week and water levels dropping consistently now combined with rising temperatures should make angling a more enjoyable pursuit than during the recent cold spell.
Pat reports of four salmon caught for the week of which two were released with the prawn working best.
Granville reports of three salmon caught of which one was released with the best being 13 lbs, caught spinning.
Harry Reports of six salmon caught for the week of which three were released. Grilse were reported as starting to appear.
Four salmon were reported caught for the week of which three were released with the heaviest being 16 lbs caught spinning.
Kathleen reports of fourteen salmon caught for the week of which three were released. The heaviest fish weighed 11 lbs with all methods working.
Temperatures rose sharply this week, with air temperatures in the high twenties, and water temperatures rising quickly. If water temperatures rise over 20C, the State fisheries will close. Already Cloongee Fishery has risen over 20C and is now closed. IFI are monitoring water temps at Ballina and Ballyvary. Anglers are advised to check with the fishery before travelling.
Bod Funke of Angling Services Ireland was back in touch to report another spell of outstanding pike fishing in the Boyle region. Check out his latest report below:
“We enjoyed a superb week of pike on the fly with our regular guest Gerald from Austria last week. It was by no means an easy week, but we made it work. In total, we landed eight pike over the magic one metre mark on the fly, with four of those breaking the 20lb barrier.
Top fish measured 113cm, 110cm, 106cm, 105cm and 105cm – truly outstanding fly fishing action indeed!
The previous week, we had lots of fun with a new Austrian group who also enjoyed some great fishing. Their best fish was Robert’s superb 111cm pike.
Prior to that, father-and-son duo Rüdiger and Jonas from Germany joined us once again. I think the two lure anglers have now been fishing with us for around 14 years, and they certainly know their game when it comes to catching hard-fighting Irish pike. During their latest trip a few weeks back, they also landed several fine fish around the one metre mark.”
Pike, Game and Coarse fishing Guide
Notes: Angling Services Ireland are based in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, in the North-West of Ireland, an area with many superb angling opportunities.
The Proprietor Bodo Funke holds the Marine and Countryside Guiding Certificate (achieved with distinction) and his expertise and local knowledge will be to your avail when you go on a guided angling trip or angling holiday with Angling Services Ireland. Pike fishing, Fly-fishing for Pike, Game fishing for wild Brown Trout, Float- tubing, Coarse fishing. Salmon fishing and Sea-angling can be organised.
Address: Angling Services Ireland, 3 Canal View, Deerpark, Boyle, Co. Roscommon
Telephone/Fax::+353 71 9663580 or +353 86 6011878
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.anglingservicesireland.com
another quiet week passes for Currane’s salmon anglers. Conditions were not too bad at all (until the recent blazing sunshine set in) with a a good push of wind on the lake most days. There were times when it was a frustrating experience and on Thursday anglers got a good soaking and on a more than one day they were led a merry dance by an ever shifting wind.
A good summary of the recent sunny weather, as temperatures hit 30°C, came from Vincent Appleby who quipped, “A local angler said he saw a Salmon jump today… but after 13 hours of sunshine, he admitted it might’ve just been his reflection trying to escape.” I also have to thank Vincent for the headline on today’s report. My Noble Gentleman has quite a way with words.
For more information on the daily conditions on Lough Currane, all the craic and news be sure to check out Vincent Appleby’s Salmon and Sea Trout blog for regular reports with back dates, petitions, public consultation notices, readers letters and videos and more of what’s happening in Waterville and beyond
Inland Fisheries Ireland wishes to remind anglers that the Conservation of Sea Trout (No.7 or Kerry District) Waterville Area Bye-Law No. 971 of 2019 remains in effect. This Bye-law prohibits the retention and possession of any sea trout (Salmo trutta L.) taken by any fishing engine or by rod and line in the Waterville area i.e. that part of the sea eastward of a line drawn from the most westerly point of Bolus Head to the most westerly point of Lamb’s Head and to all the waters discharging in to it.
The Bye-Law mainly affects seatrout fishing on :-
Trout anglers in the Kingdom of Kerry report that Loughs Fadda and Barfinnihy are fishing very well. Trout are being caught on a variety of methods with spinning, float and fly all having their moment.
There are boats for hire on Lough Fadda. Access on Lough Barfinnihy is open and excellent, the rocky shoreline 100% fishable and the sparkling clean, clear lake waters especially attractive.
Salmon anglers in the Killarney area wasn’t great last week as water levels on the Laune, Flesk and lakes remain low. But it wasn’t all bad news as anglers on the Flesk met the first grilse of the season…
The was just 1 salmon reported from the Laune last week. The fish, weighing about 12 lb was caught at Johnson’s Fishery by an angler spinning.
Anglers on the Flesk reported the river’s first grilse of the season. There were 4 grilse caught on Flesk over the weekend.
No salmon reported.
Silver Dawn
Boat Hire
Salmon and Sea-Trout fishing Guide
