Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters has vouchers available for anyone looking for a last minute Xmas pressie for the angler in their life. Fishing with Kit gives you a great chance of catching a specimen fish, so a voucher could make a memorable gift!
Peter Driver was back once again at the weekend hosting his live fly tying session on his Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Peter had a great show on Sunday night [featured below] where he focused on lighter beaded nymphs for Eurodinking, Long line nymphing and summer conditions. Flies tied include a Black bead, Spikey olive, Coq de Leon qill and a Primrose nymph. This is the last episode before Christmas when Peter heads off on his Australian adventure. Good luck Peter!
As ever you can catch up on past episodes at the PiscariFly YouTube channel where all the episodes can be watched at your leisure.
The Piscari Fly Live Fly Tying Sessions will be back in January 2024
Peter has a great show lined up every Saturday at 8.30pm on the Piscari Fly facebook page. If you can’t watch live on his Facebook page you can always watch back on YouTube.
The live fly tying sessions go out LIVE on the Piscari Fly Facebook page. Tune in at 8.30 on Saturday and don’t miss a great night of fly tying & chat
If you’re a fan of fly fishing writing and magazines then you’ve most likely heard of The Drake – an American quarterly that’s been running for 25 years featuring some of the best writers covering the why rather than the how of fly fishing.
It’s got a unique voice run by its founder, publisher and editor, Tom Bie, who is also a regular visitor to these shores, sampling the brown trout and salmon fishing to be had.
Soon after Tom visited Ireland earlier this year, Tom & Daire caught up with him to get his impressions of the fishing and how some of it compares to the waters he fishes in the States. Plus of course, they had to ask him about Drake mag and its 25 years of success…
Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify at:
Munster Coarse Anglers were back at O’Briensbridge at the weekend. Kevin Leahy reports…
First off sorry about the photos… and no the Grim Reaper did not fish with us today but it’s Ray with a credible 4lb.
All the weights came from the shallow end of the lake with the others who had drawn the deeps were left eyes glued to the tip of the rod wishing it to go around…
Results
Happy Christmas and a Fishfull New Year
To all our Members and Followers
I’m off to get some photography lessons for the new year!
Anyone who would like to fish the Munster Coarse Anglers Winter League can contact them by commenting on their Facebook page
Munster Coarse Angling Club are affiliated to the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland, NCFFI the National Governing body for coarse and predator fishing and casting. www.ncffi.ie
Following the weekend’s back to back storms it’s no surprise to hear that the last 7 days have been, to put it mildly, wet. There were no shortages of floods as even the driest parts of country got almost 200% more rain than normal. Not only that but there was some wind with it too, and a tornado in lovely Leitrim to boot. That’s right, a feckin’ tornado. As excuses for poor fishing conditions go, that’s pretty high up there. Now having said all that the temperatures were mild following the wild weather, and winds more settled, which can lead to good fishing. So with that here’s our weekly round up on what’s going on for anglers in Ireland…
Pike anglers who could get out after the storms found fish to feeding well. It’s a time of year Lough Derg pike guide Paul Bourke really loves as the bigger females are feeding hard ahead of next spring’s spawning season. Congratulations to junior angler Ollie Whitely who’s 11lb pike with Newbridge and District Pike Anglers at the weekend saw him win the competition and emerge as the overall club Champion of 2023.
In coarse angling news, Velimer Mozart won the fourth round of the Oaklands winter league, Nick Howell won the 6th round of the Erne Anglers winter league at Enniskillen and Nigel Houldsworth won a CM Lakelands Feeder Club match on Lough Garadice.
In other coarse angling news we received a great email from Martin Strike, the editor of a newsletter for his local Newbury Angling Association in England. He shares a wonderful story from Keith Hallis who fished an Irish festival at Clones 60 years ago, of which he still holds very fond memories.
It’s not just coarse angling clubs that are busy over the winter. Many sea angling clubs are in the process of wrapping up their yearly league competitions at this time of year, and South Shore SAC had the final leg of their Master Angler at Dodds Rock over the weekend. Congratulations to Alby Allan was crowned the Club Master Angler for 2023. Chris Whyte landed a coley of 42cm from the shore in a Killybegs Mariners match, a new record for the club. Fishing was good on the day, with coalfish, turbot, flounders and sea trout all making an appearance.
In rainbow news, the final of Annamoe winter league was fished at the weekend. Stewart Mc Grane won the day, but the angler who caught the most fish through the league was Nicholas Madden. Meanwhile at Ardaire Springs anglers competed in the third round of the AWOL league. There were only 2 fish separating fifth and first place but it was Denis Goulding with a catch of 10 trout for 6280 points who won on the day.
Salmon anglers are looking forward to the start of the new season in 2024, especially those anglers that fish the Drowes. This iconic spring fishery will be open on January 1st, it’s not long away now. Meanwhile, for those anglers who couldn’t wait, Glenda Powell hosted an open day at the Blackwater Salmon Fishery where guests could dust down their salmon gear and get some instruction and advice on the season ahead. Today is the last day of the consultation on the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023. If you want your voice heard make your submission by 5.30 this evening.
The Irish Specimen Fish Committee have announced that the awards ceremony for the 2023 season will be held in the Clayton Hotel Leopardstown on the 17th of February 2024 at 14.30. It’s worth mentioning that the ISFC recently published Irish Specimen Fish Atlas would make a great stocking filler for that special angler this Christmas.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is launching its 2024 Sponsorship Programme today (Friday, December 15th). In 2024, the €30,000 fund will have a particular focus on promoting sustainable angling tourism in rural areas while also supporting initiatives aimed at beginners and young anglers. Angling clubs, groups and associations all over Ireland are being invited to apply for sponsorship funding before the January 19th deadline.
As promised last year we’re trying to post details of all the tackle shops, charter boats, guides and instructors offering Christmas vouchers and gift ideas for anglers this festive season.
The outlook is for the weather to remain mild for the time of year. Generally cloudy with some rain or drizzle at times. Most places will be dry on Saturday, with patches of light rain or drizzle, mainly near coasts. Becoming breezier with a moderate to fresh southerly wind developing. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13°C. Sunday is likely to be cloudy and damp with outbreaks of rain or drizzle extending to most areas. Breezy at first with moderate to fresh southerly winds, becoming lighter as the day goes on. Mild again with highest temperatures of 11 to 13°C. It looks like Monday will be another generally cloudy day with scattered light rain or drizzle. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13°C in a light to moderate southwesterly wind. If you haven’t any presents left to buy get out and make the most of it…
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland. If fishing in the sea, don’t forget to check the tides.
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.
Inland Fisheries Ireland will launch its 2024 Sponsorship Programme at 5pm today (Friday, December 15th).
Angling clubs, groups and associations all over Ireland are being invited to apply for sponsorship funding before the January 19th deadline. In 2024, the €30,000 fund will have a particular focus on promoting sustainable angling tourism in rural areas while also supporting initiatives aimed at beginners and young anglers.
The IFI Sponsorship Programme awarded funding to 71 angling events and initiatives across the country in 2023.These included national or international competitions and festivals that showcased Ireland’s angling resources and contribution to local economies; coaching and juvenile outreach events that helped to increase participation in the sport, public awareness events, support of international teams competing overseas and other angling-related initiatives.
Notable events from 2023 include the World Club Feeder Championships, where over 260 anglers from 18 nations spent over a week in Monaghan fighting to become club world champions and the Lough Ree ‘King of the Lake’ International Pike Festival, where 160 anglers fished to be crowned King of Lough Ree.
Interested parties can find more information on the programme and details on how to apply here.
Shane Gallagher reports from the Drowes Fishery…
Just 3 weeks to go until the start of the 2024 salmon fishing on January 1st. The fishing tackle shop at Lareen will be open for permits and licences on Friday 29th, Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st December from 9am and on Opening Day, January 1st from 6am.
Prices of 2024 permits and licences remain unchanged.
Gift vouchers for fishing/accommodation are available from our website at
https://drowessalmonfishery.voucherconnect.com/product/1911
Our 2024 online availability/booking calendar can be viewed here
https://lareenestate.com/our-cottages/
The 2022 Salmon and Sea Trout Statistics Report has been published and can be viewed here
https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/
The total salmon catch for the fishery for 2022 was 827, (307 spring salmon and 520 grilse).
Water level are currently high at 0.89 metres, following heavy rain during the past week.
Causeway Lass and Saoire Mara Charters are both offering gift vouchers this Christmas.
Causeway Lass are offering 10% off gift vouchers:
Our gift vouchers are a brilliant gift for that person who is impossible to buy for! You can either instantly download them, then print off for put in a physical card. Or you can choose to forward them on to the recipient’s email at checkout to along with a personal message form you!
Some ideas
vouchers are available online at our website https://causewayboats.com/vouchers/
While Saoire Mara are also offering vouchers to their customers:
As promised last year we’re trying to post details of all the tackle sops, charter boats, guides and instructors offering Christmas vouchers and gift ideas for anglers this festive season.
