The 2024 salmon season is well under way and we’re waiting for the grilse run, but having spoken to anglers around the country it appears that numbers are still down and following a similar path to 2023.
However, if you’ve been despondent and down in the dumps about the salmon, fear not, for this week’s guest on Ireland on the Fly, Sean McLaughlin, who is a salmon angler based outside Derry, is here to put some positivity and hope back into the season.
He gives us reasons why we should remain optimistic and eternally hopeful and always enjoy our salmon fishing, no matter what.
‘Never stop in search of happiness,’ as Sean tells Daire & Tom.
Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple or Spotify and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.
Ireland on the Fly are running another of their popular webinars. This time it is all about salmon: A Salmon Masterclass with Paddy McDonnell
See info below…
Are you passionate about fly fishing but struggling to catch more salmon? With declining numbers, having the right tactics and understanding how and where to catch salmon is more important than ever before.
At 8pm on Thursday 20th June, join us for a special Salmon Masterclass with one of Ireland’s most renowned salmon anglers, Paddy McDonnell, to learn how to increase your catch rates on the water.
Born near the famed River Moy, Paddy had already caught thousands of salmon by his 20s and has dedicated his life to helping others catch salmon on the rivers and lakes on the west coast of Ireland.
For this Masterclass, Paddy will be sitting down with Ireland on the Fly presenters, Tom Doc Sullivan and Daire Whelan, with tips and advice to catch more salmon this season.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity where you will also get the chance to ask Paddy the salmon questions you’ve always wanted to know.
And don’t worry, if you can’t make it on 20th June, you will still receive a recording of the webinar to watch back at any time.
The annual Whit weekend competition took place on Lough Conn on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June. Eighty-five anglers took part on both days. Conditions were tough on the first day with light winds and bright sunshine. Denis Goulding led after day one with two trout followed closely by Stephen Brown. Day two was the perfect fishing day being cloudy with a nice steady wind, but the lack of Mayfly meant fishing proved very difficult even for the most seasoned of anglers. A total of thirty trout over the 13-inch competition limit were caught and weighed in over the two days. Stephen Brown came out the winner for this year with two fish weighing 1.2 kg in total with Peter Roche in second place also with two fish weighing 1.085kg. Third place went to Denis Goulding with his two trout from day one weighing 1.035 kg. Ian Wise took the prize for the single heaviest fish weighing in at 800 g.
An Garda Síochána held the Coiste Siamsa Fly Fishing Championship 2024 on Lough Conn midweek, an annual event going out from Gortnor Abbey. A total of twenty-two trout were caught over this two-day event. Fourteen on day one and eight on day two with four competitions within the headline to be fought for.
Firstly, the retired members section was won by John Donohoe with two trout weighing 2 lbs 6.3 oz. Second was Dessie Mc Entee also with two trout weighing 2 lbs 6.2 oz and third place going to Paul Corcoran again with two trout weighing 2 lbs 5oz.
The Serving Members section was won by Colin Dodd with three trout weighing 3 lbs. Second place went to Mark Devian with two trout weighing 2 lbs 5 oz and in third place Barry Carolan with two trout weighing 2 lbs 3 oz.
The team event was won by Cavan/Monaghan with five trout weighing 5 lbs 6 oz and second place to Galway with four trout weighing 5 lbs and in third place Sligo/Donegal with three trout weighing 3 lbs 8 oz.
Peter McGuinness had the heaviest fish in the competition weighing 1 lb 14 oz.
An enjoyable and closely run competitive two days on Lough Conn with a decent return in favourable conditions.
Vincent Appleby reports from the shore of Lough Currane…
7 June: Where do I start, well at the beginning and I can tell you that the Currane anglers ended their day the same way they started except for their silence and that sums up today’s manipulations and if my report is incorrect, I would be delighted. Wind NNW light to fresh followed by good cloud cover and a few showers. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 0.7mm, amount of sunshine 1hr.9 min, maximum air temperature 14.8°C.
Streams are nearly dry
8/6/2024 They say anglers have the patience of a saint, going by the last reported fish taken there’s no argument to that and today’s facts there is no exception to that either, but the Currane anglers patience will have to continue. Wind NNE light to fresh followed by reasonable cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 0.9mm, amount of sunshine 5hrs.5mins, maximum air temperature 15.6°C.
9/6/2024 Most Currane anglers tried their best this day and that’s all they can do, it’s like a Carry-on film so keep carrying on fishing lads. So it’s great to report that UK Currane angler Mr. Marcel Guillou while flyfishing with his gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy of www.fishingwithdom.com, caught and released a specimen 6lb Sea Trout. Wind NNW light to fresh followed by good cloud especially in the afternoon. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 1.1mm, amount of sunshine 9 hrs, maximum air temperature 14.8°C.
10/6/2024 We start with www.fishingwithdom.com who reports there were just two boats out today and all quiet in all departments. Staying with the amount of boats out, it was made quite clear to me that I have been failing in my duties in this department, all I have to say to this Currane angler, yes guilty as charged so let’s put the record straight, in the past three weeks average of five boats out? on a daily basis. Wind NE light and variable, followed by reasonable cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 0.3mm, amount of sunshine 3hrs.mins, maximum air temperature 15.0°C.
Blue skies…
11/6/2024 Local Gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy of www.fishingwithdom.com reports there were six boats out today, plus their boats were much lighter by the end of their day’s manipulations.
Currane anglers Quote of the day,
I can’t believe they let just anyone have babies but you gotta have a licence to fish.
Wind NNE light and variable, bright and sunny throughout the day. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 0.5mm, amount of sunshine 8hrs.4mins, maximum air temperature 15.1°C.
Derrynane Bay
12/6/2024 Local gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy of www.fishingwithdom.com reports that there were just two boats out today and no rod benders to report. On the weather front the Kingdom of Co. Kerry is on a yellow warning, click www.met.ie/weather-forecast/lough-currane-kerry#forecasts but just for the record the amount of rainfall for Lough Currane is 20.4mm. Today’s weather, wind SW fresh and variable, followed by plenty of sunshine throughout the day. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 0.0.mm, amount of sunshine 14hrs.3mins, maximum air temperature 15.5°C.
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 :-
the river Inny (Knockmoyle) and its tributaries
the waters of the Waterville system, including the Waterville River, Lough Currane, the Cummeragh River and all their tributary rivers and lakes
The rivers and lakes of Waterville drain a large catchment and are regarded by many as the foremost Salmon and Sea-Trout fishery in the country. The lake system is well developed with access to boats and guides being readily available to the tourist angler. The Sea-Trout caught here are renowned for their size and quantity. For more details see:
Notes: Located at Lakelands House Bed and Breakfast and Self Catering Accommodation, on Ireland’s best sea trout lake, Lough Currane. Frank is a professional angling guide and boatman.
Sea angling can be arranged with local operators.
Boat Hire
Boats for hire. All boats and engines are moored on the farm, 300 metres from the house, with easy access from the road with car park and boat shed.
Notes: Having ghillied on Lough Currane for over 30 years Vincent is a great choice for those looking for a guided service or flyfishing instruction on the Lake. All ages are catered for and even experienced anglers will benefit from the watercraft and fly-lore unique to Lough Currane. All tackle is provided and accommodation can be organised if required.
12 June: It’s been over a month since we have had rain in West Kerry but there is rain forecast for later on tonight and tomorrow. The ground is so dry that we will need a good dollop of rain.
There are a good few fresh fish under the bridge so hopefully the rain will come and the rest will follow.
Go fishing…
Contact Frank Maunsell for up to the minute information on water levels, fishing conditions and runs of fish.
Mark Gannon reports from Courtmacsherry Angling where there is good fishing, plenty of species, plenty of specimens and a special Father’s Day offer…
05 June: Nice start to the week for Jerome and his crew! Plenty pollack in the bay on light tackle and finished off the day with Patrick landing a soaker of a female skate who had a missing tail but the fish was tipping the 200 pound maker for sure!!
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Nice pollack
A big skate, missing her tail
09 June: What a great week we had with our Dutch friends. We had 3 specimen skate largest fish came in at 192cm. We also had great conger fishing up to 25lb, pollack up to 9lb and near specimen bullhuss!
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tagged skate
Conger eel
Playing a skate
One of many specimen skate from Courtmacsherry
Bullhuss getting on for specimen size
Another big skate
12 June: Dean and his friends were blessed with lovely weather for 3 the days they were over from the UK. We had specimen spur dog and plenty of specimen common skate which they were targeting biggest coming in at 204cm.
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Specimen spurdog
Specimen skate
Blue Shark
Ling
We then had a day on the sharks and managed to get 3 to the boat averaging 60lb.
We spent a day on the offshore wrecks where we had difficult fishing due to red tide in the water but we still managed to pull up few decent sized ling. We even managed two hake off the bottom!
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A hake off the bottom
An elusive hake
Go fishing…
We are offering individual spaces on our charter boat on this Sunday 16th June,What a lovely Father’s Day Present! Fishing is from 10 am to 6pm and the cost is €80 per person,rods can be hired for €10 .The fishing has been very good lately!
Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre offers charter boat fishing and inshore small boat hire.
Lady Patricia
Aquastar 38′. 370 HP Skipper: Mark Gannon Licence: 819 Base: Courtmacsherry Operational Area: 30 miles out from Courtmacsherry
Notes: Mark has two Aquastar 38’s, Lady Patricia and Lady Louise. Specialising in wreck fishing, Mark’s boats have consistently provided specimen fish over the years. Shark, reef and general inshore angling also on offer.
Lady Louise
Aquastar 38′. 370 HP Caterpillar Skipper: Sean Maxwell Licence: 818 Base: Courtmacsherry Operational Area: 30 miles out from Courtmacsherry
Authorised blue fin tuna boat 2026
Notes: Mark has two Aquastar 38’s, Lady Patricia and
Lady Louise. Specialising in wreck fishing, Mark’s boats have consistently provided specimen fish over the years. Shark, reef and general inshore angling also on offer.
Inshore small boat hire
With our Self Drive boats several different activities can be enjoyed. Our self drive 16′ Boats are equipped with 8 HP Yamaha 4 stroke engines. Equipment includes:
• Set of oars
• Life-Jackets
• Anchors
• Charts of local area
It’s been a week for big, toothy fish on the Clare Dragoon. Although some reef fishing was done, producing mackerel and plenty of pollack, windy conditions meant much of the fishing was in the estuary targeting predators. Bull huss and tope were both boated, a nice consolation for being confined to shelter.
Bull huss
TopeTope
Luke and crew then got out offshore for a crack at some really big fish – six gill shark. Luke takes it up: Lovely out there today and we could see bites and movement on the line and even had a fine Bullhuss! But no missing the bite we got just before anchor up time. Took over 200 mtrs of line in first run and then we had a heavy fight for 37min but unfortunately we lost the fish after that.
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The following day was a different story, with a successful hunt resulting in a Sixgill to the boat for Andrew. It was a 37 minute fight for a fish just over 10 feet long, and estimated between 800 to 900lbs!
Now that’s a big fish!Look what it did to that hook!
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
The mayfly season is drawing to a close on Lough Sheelin, but Chris Oliver reports that there are still a few fish moving to them. He was on a drift just outside Chambers Bay when he saw a few fish moving to spent and duns. He managed to tempt one of them with a Green Wulff.
Fine fish caught on a Green Wulff
He was back on the water the following day, and while there were some mayfly still about, there seemed to be more sedge activity on the water. He noticed a fish move well down his drift, and a couple of strokes on the oar got him on the right line. He flicked his sedge out, and the wait began… Luckily, the fish stayed on course, and Chris was happy to see his sedge disappear to a good rise.
37 anglers lined the banks of the Royal Canal at Longwood and Blackshade last week to compete for the Progressive Genetics Cup over a 2-day event hosted by the Royal Enfield Coarse Angling Club. They had to deal with a huge variation in conditions, with blazing sun on Day 1, followed by lashing rain on Day 2.
Dean Murray, the reigning All Ireland Canal Champion, flew into the lead on Day 1, bagging an impressive 18.54lb to leave him in first place, ahead of Liverpool angler Jeff Stirrat in second with 10.94lb.
Dean Murray flew out of the traps on Day 1
Unfortunately for Dean, the fishing gods didn’t grant much luck to him on Day 2, and Jeff put in a strong performance with a fine bag of 22.88lb, giving him a combined total of 33.82lb and landing him the trophy. Dean’s strong Day 1 showing was enough to keep him in second place on 20.20lb, with Donal McGurk coming third with 16.38lb.
Senan Stanely was back out Lough Derg at the weekend…
Brilliant craic again today on the Lough with Daniel. It was a chill Sunday on the water looking for some big mammas! We had 18 pike to the boat. The top 5 pike measured 105cm, 103cm, 98cm, 97cm and another 97cm, with loads in the 90s!
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Senan with a pike
Another pike for Senan
Daniel had a unit of a perch at 39.5cm, loads more perch kept us entertained throughout the day, they were really active in that wind!
Irish Fishing Tours provides customised fishing holidays based in the picturesque harbour village of Garrykennedy on the shores of Lough Derg. Our comprehensive fishing trips include a guiding service, tackle hire and food and accommodation.
Choose from my list of existing fishing holidays or contact me to tailor one to your specific requirements. Airport transfers can be arranged on request.
Irish Fishing Tours is owned by Paul Bourke. Paul has lived and fished here all his life. As a guide, he will show you the best fishing locations, advise you on baits and methods and then allow you the freedom to explore the lake yourself. He fully understands the needs and interests of the experienced enthusiast.
Boat Hire
Salmon and Sea-Trout fishing Guide
Lady Patricia
Lady Louise
