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Munster Fly Fishing Fair 10 & 11 April

The Munster Fly Fishing Fair will be held this weekend, April 10 & 11, at Clonanav Fly Fishing in Co. Waterford. Fly anglers are invited to come and see fly fishing and fly tying demonstrations from world-renowned anglers and fly tyers including Darryl Mooney, Jim Curry, Jim Fearn, Martyn Robinson, Steve Peterson, Marc Petitjean, Shane Hickey, Kevin Sheridan, John Maduro and more!

This is an event not to be missed!

  • Fly Tying Demonstrations
  • Casting Demonstrations
  • Top Brands on Display
  • Great Atmosphere all weekend!

Some of the amazing ranges of fly tying also available on the weekend will include: Whiting, Veniard, Metz, Partridge, Semperfli, Gulff, Ahrex, Fulling Mill, C&F Design, Regal, Anvil, Stonfo, Loon, Hends, Fulling Mill, Kamasan, Hanak, Dr Slick, Swiss CDC, Polish Quills, Future Fly and lots more!

Fly Fishing gear will be on display from the following brands: Simms, Guideline, Hardy, Greys, Sage, Patagonia, RIO, Airflo, Scientific Anglers, Yeti, Umpqua, Fishpond, Vision, Cortland, Lamson, Vosseler and lots more!

MUNSTER FLY FISHING FAIR 10 & 11 April

  • Friday 10am to 6 pm
  • Saturday – 10am to 4pm

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS, CLICK THIS LINK: MUNSTER FLY FISHING FAIR

Connaught Open Shore Gold Medal match report

Colin Reilly - longest fish

This report courtesy of the IFSA Connaught Council:

On the 29th of March, Killala B&S held the Connaught Open Gold Medal Shore at Lacken Strand, Co Sligo – a change of location from the original venue due to weather and beach conditions. Eighteen anglers travelled from around the country for the day. They had a 5-hour match, with just over an hour on the drop and the rest on the incoming tide.

As expected, anglers caught only a few fish before the low water mark, one in each of the two zones. As the tides changed, fishing got quiet until the third hour. Turbot and flounder began to show up evenly across the beach, with Billy Gilvarry on a center peg and Fionn O’Higgins and Sammy Sterling both on the end pegs. Tensions were high with all knowing that there was only a fish was needed to be in the lead and with the added bonus of the optional longest pool at stake.

The latecomer to the match, Eoin Gilvarry, got in the mix with a decent flounder. The sight of a fish being landed provided the anglers with the much-needed motivation to resume their fishing, with only two hours remaining. Colin Reilly from Lough Foyle Sea Angling Club landed a fine turbot, which would put him in front, although he had a lead of only a few centimetres. Fionn O’Higgins from Galway Bay complimented his earlier turbot with another fish, and on the very next cast, he landed a decent flounder.

Sammy Sterling from White Wave Sea Angling Club fought back with a second fish to put him in the lead of Zone A, and local Shane Gilvarry also made his day worthwhile with a turbot.

Connaught Open Shore Gold Medal final results!
  • 1st overall – Fionn O’Higgins (Galway Bay S.A.C.) – 3 fish (70 points)
  • 1st Zone A – Sammy Sterling (White Wave S.A.C.) – 2 fish (50 points)
  • 2nd Zone A – Billy Gilvarry (Killala Boat & Shore) – 1 fish (27 points)
  • 1st Zone B – Colin Reilly (Lough Foyle S.A.C.) – 1 fish (31 points)
  • 2nd Zone B – Shane Gilvarry (Corrane S.A.C) – 1 fish (25 points)
  • Longest fish – Colin Reilly (Lough Foyle S.A.C.) – 26 cm Turbot
Fionn O’Higgins – 1st Overall

Connaught Council would like to thank all at Killala boat & shore angling club for organising this years Open Shore Gold Medal, a great job was done. We also thank all anglers who travelled from near and far who took part in this years competition.

Sea Fishing in Killala

 

Super 112cm River Pike for Artur Pike Seeker

Pike specialist Artur ‘Pike Seeker’ was in touch to tell us of a super river pike he caught recently:

Last weekend I went fishing. I got up early and headed to the Inny River. Now is a good time to target a big pike, and that was my plan. I started casting near the bank because there was nothing happening in the open water. As it turned out, I didn’t have to wait long for a bite. The fish hit my lure with tremendous force. The fight was epic. The fish was incredibly strong and fought hard. Fortunately, I managed to win the fight, and the beautiful 112-centimetre female landed in the landing net. An incredible day.



Go Fishing…

Pike fishing on the River Shannon, Lakes and Tributaries

 

 

All quiet on the South Western Front

Vincent Appleby reports on the latest difficult week in South West Kerry:
1/4/2026. Just two Currane boats out, in the words of one gillie, no good, and just for the record I’ve left out the effing and blinding. On that note, we head for the Currane weather chart: wind moderate, fresh SW veered WNW, followed by good sunshine and clouds. Yesterday’s weather rainfall 0.4mm, maximum air temperature 12.1⁰C, amount of sunshine none.
 
2/4/2026. The Currane anglers were all quiet in all departments this day, so on that note we head for the Currane anglers weather chart. The wind was moderate to fresh from the southwest, veering to south-southwest, accompanied by rain on and off throughout the day. Yesterday’s weather recorded 0.5mm of rainfall, a maximum air temperature of 12.1°C, and 6 hours and 8 minutes of sunshine.
 
3/4/2026. Happy Easter to all the Currane anglers and the Good people of Waterville, Caherdaniel and the Island of Ireland.
So, picture this Good Friday: just two hardy souls out on the water, and let me tell you, the fish were having none of it. You could practically hear them laughing from the lake bed. Wind danced from West to WNW, clouds gave us a good cover story, and we got a sprinkle of showers here and there.
And yesterday? Well, the sky drizzled 15 mm of rain on us, the max temp gave us a polite 11.6°C, and sunshine? We got a whole 60 seconds of it—just enough time to blink.
 
4/4/2026. All Salmon and Sea Trout stations were closed for good reason; it was wild out there. If a Currane boat did venture out, no comment. On that note, we head for the Currane anglers weather chart: Wind: South 42 km/h, gusts 64 km/h, 1pm: 54 km/h ,4pm: 72 km/h. Followed by heavy showers throughout the day, then sunny spells late this afternoon. Yesterday’s weather: Amount of rainfall: 2.0 mm. Maximum air temperature: 12.1°C. Amount of sunshine: 5 hours and 1 minute
 
5/4/2026. Six Currane boats were out on this Easter Sunday, all working on their skills. By all accounts, their lines stayed slack throughout the day. I was talking to a UK Currane angler and mentioned it would be nice to see a few more Currane boats out there. He politely opined, “Vincent, I don’t think it would make a scrap of difference.” After today’s lack of action, I have to concur.
Currane Weather Report. Wind: Moderate to gentle Sky: A good mixture of cloud and sunshine. Yesterday’s rainfall: 11.5mm Maximum air temperature: 12°C
Amount of sunshine: 1 hour and 9 minutes
 

 

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

Sea Trout – Catch and release only

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 waters of Ballinskelligs Bay

Go fishing….

Guides and boat hire

Fishing with Dom

Address Spunkane Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 2051515 Website: https://fishingwithdom.com/

Fly Fishing on Lough Currane

Address Termons Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353(0) 87 922 8659 Phone: +353(0) 66 9474146 Website: flyfishingatloughcurrane.com

Lakelands Farm

Address Lake Road Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 4160200 Website: lakelandshouse.com

Neil O’Shea

Address Caherbarna Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 9942792 Phone: +353 66 9474527 Website: oshealoughcurrane.com

Old Daly’s Supermarket & Filling Station

Address Murreigh Waterville V23 X459 Ireland Mobile Phone: +353669474842 Website: dalysfoodstore.ie

Salmon & Sea Trout Fishing

Address Eureka Lodge Caherdaniel West Waterville Kerry V23 XD63 Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 87 2074882 Website: salmonandseatrout.com

Waterville Boats

Address Spunkane Waterville Kerry Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 (0)87 2202355 Phone: +353 (0)66 9474800

Makeshift lure makes the difference on Blessington

Artem Novikov was in touch with us about a recent trip to fish for pike on Blessington Lakes. Artem likes to make his own lures and caught a fine pike on one of his own creations. If you’d like to try and make your own lures for pike fishing, Artem will show you how on his Makeshift Lures YouTube channel! We’ll let Artem tell his story:

I was out fishing in the middle of the week before Storm Dave came. I went to Blessington Lakes, where the river flows into it. I was using a big bucktail spinner that I made, with a copper blade and an articulated tail at the back, dressed with feathers, bucktail, and flash.

I managed to catch one pike that measured 82 cm. I am estimating the fish to be 3 to 4 kg or 8 to 9 lbs. That fish chased the spinner a couple of times at the mouth of the river. And then, by staying persistent, I tempted the pike to bite toward the evening, when it was getting dark. Fishing was surprisingly hard, as that pike was the only fish to show interest in my lure. Maybe the upcoming storm had something to do with it!

After a short fight and few photos and measurements, the fish went back to the water. I’ve made a video showing how to make and fish with that spinner, in case it’s of any interest. It is out on the Makeshift Lures YouTube channel.

 

 

Mulroy monster for citizen scientist Darragh (12)

This great report came from Simon McLarnon on a recent trip out of Mulroy Bay:

It is amazing what lives in the waters around this island!

Twelve-year-old Darragh Wilson was fishing with his dad and brother on their boat, the Miss Daisy, for thornback rays off Kerrykeel, Mulroy Bay, when he hooked an impressive fish.

He was using a long flowing trace baited with mackerel for thornback rays, which we were hoping to tag as part of the Marine Sportfish Tagging Programme run by Inland Fisheries Ireland. He is involved in this programme as a ‘citizen scientist’ along with his dad, Chris, and brother, Ronan. He thought he had finally hooked a fine thornback on his light spinning gear, as they have proved elusive of late, and the fish fought hard before coming to the surface…which was when he realised it was not a thornback at all! Something even rarer and more impressive had come up from the depths of Mulroy Bay – a huge lobster!

This royal blue crustacean was far larger than any that dad Chris, a lifelong fisherman and diver, had ever encountered and would have been a shame to put into the pot! The lobster measured 72cm long and weighed in at 8 lb 6 oz. This impressive creature was around 80 years of age and was returned to roam around the seabed once more and hopefully preserve its species for future generations…and possibly grow larger for a future capture!

The largest lobsters ever caught in Ireland were around 11 lbs, with “Big Dessie”, an approx. 5 kg / 11 lb, 70-year-old+ lobster caught off Portrush, County Antrim, in 2011 that now lives in Galway Atlantaquaria. Another massive lobster, weighing 5.3kg (11.6lbs), was caught in 2010 off the Blasket Islands. Preserving such large lobsters is vital to maintain their population.

While Darragh didn’t manage to land the thornback ray he was hoping to tag on this trip, he did manage to get one or two last year, as the photo below can prove!

Charter Boats in Co. Donegal

UK and local anglers enjoy their stay at Melview Fishing Lodge.

Steve from the UK is all smiles.

Angling Guide Kevin Lyons reports on some pike fishing in the Longford area:

Regular Pike angler Steve from the UK was over once again for one of his annual Pike fishing trips to stay with host and guide Kevin of Melview Fishing Lodge in Longford, despite some of the bad weather conditions, Steve still managed to catch a few nice Pike to around 15lb using dead baits.

Steve from the UK is all smiles.

Regulars John, Sean and Bill from Dublin were here for their second Pike visit of 2026, some days were better than others due to some extreme weather conditions and high water levels which have since returned back to normal levels pretty much. They were able to tempt a number of Pike to 14lb but none of the big girls they normally have during their stays here, they always enjoy being out on the water regardless of the conditions and we look forward to seeing them again in the future.

Sean with an 11lb Pike
Biill with one of his Pike.
John with a nice fat 14lb Pike.

ALL FISH RETURNED UNHARMED.



Go Fishing…

Melview Lodge

Address Drumlish Road Clonrollagh Longford Ireland Phone: +3534345061 Website: melviewlodge.com

Newbridge Pike Anglers get a couple of 20s in latest competition

This post was compiled from angling reports shared on the Newbridge District Pike Anglers Facebook page:

Last Sunday saw the Newbridge District Pike Anglers hold their second competition of the year. Although members had been eager to fish the rivers, heavy rain once again affected plans, and the original venue was retained as most rivers were in flood.

A total of 16 members took part, with 13 fish landed, including two impressive river specimens weighing up to 21lb 11oz—the largest also marking a new personal best for its captor. Despite high water levels, the river was running clear, allowing members to fish where conditions permitted. The morning brought difficult weather with strong wind and rain, though conditions improved significantly by midday.

Congratulations were extended to all prize winners, with particular delight among members for this month’s winner, who secured his first official club victory while also achieving a new personal best. Mark Horgan was noted as unlucky, landing a fine specimen of 21lb 4oz, just 7oz short.

The next competition will take place over both Saturday and Sunday next month, with hopes of another strong turnout.

Results:
1st – Wally Geoghegan – 21lb 11oz (heaviest fish and new personal best)
2nd – Dan O’Reilly – 23lb 6oz (bag)
3rd – Dave Murphy – 23lb 3oz (bag)

A full report and more photos can be viewed on the the Newbridge District Pike Anglers Facebook page.



 

Loughanure Anglers Open Competition this Sunday

The Loughanure Anglers will be hosting their first event of the season this Sunday. The event will be an open competition, with an entry fee of €25. New members are very welcome to join on the day.

Refreshments will be available before the start, and as always, hot food will be provided at the end of the event.

Leinster Coarse Anglers Fish 7th Qualifier Round at Daingean

This post was compiled from angling reports shared on the Leinster Coarse Fishing Federation Facebook page:

The seventh outing of the Leinster Qualifier 2025/26 took place on Sunday. Due to weather warnings, the venue was changed to Daingean, where 10 anglers faced a cold, windy day along the Grand Canal.

Catches consisted mainly of small roach and skimmers, with a tench also recorded at the weigh-in.

Results:
1st – Jack Langan – 4.08
2nd – Aidan Gill – 3.05

Section A:
Pat Bartley – 3.03

Section B:
Sean Ward – 3.04

The next and final outing (8th) is scheduled for Sunday, 3rd May, with further details to be confirmed closer to the date. This is how the leaderboard stands in advance of the final round: