Brian Nally reports on the final of the Annamoe Trout Fisheries Fly Fishing Winter League….
The Final of the Fly Fishing Winter League took place on Saturday 9th December.
The gale force winds made casting a fly very challenging however 80 rainbow trout were landed, measured and returned safely back into the lake. After four hours fishing the 19 competitors were glad to get into the shelter of the log cabin where the were treated to a light lunch of soup, sandwiches and cocktail sausages.
The trout were mainly caught on Buzzers , Damsel Lures , Twinkle Hares Ears and some home made patterns yet to be named.
Results
1st Stewart Mc Grane, 10 trout – 456cm.
2nd Reece Bannister, 11 trout – 450 cm.
3rd Joe Beadmore, 8 trout – 351 cm.
4th Tony Finn, 8 trout – 349 cm.
5th Derek Doyle, 8 trout – 342 cm.
All of the above received a prize along with Nicholas Madden who received a prize for landing the most trout during the series as he fished in all of the qualifying heats including the final.
Go fishing…
The next competition is scheduled for Thursday 28th December.
Annamoe Trout Fishery is a 4 acre fly fishing lake set in the village of Annamoe, Co Wicklow on the banks of the Avonmore River. The Fishery consists of a fly fishing lake and a Junior Bait Pond. The fly fishing lake is open all year round allowing you to fish for brown or rainbow trout from 10am till dusk.
Sunday, December 10th, was the third round of the AWOL league which was held in Ardaire Springs Angling Centre in Kilkenny. This round of the league was sponsored by Peter Driver of Piscarifly and Ned Maher of Ardaire Springs.
Conditions were good for the seventeen participating anglers in the morning session, but after 2 hours the wind started to howl.
Despite the gusting wind, 88 trout were brought to the net, where as per competition rules, they were length measured while in the net, then released. There were some very big fish caught and to no ones surprise Shane Bird caught the biggest of the day – and the biggest one so far this league at a whopping 69cm.
League members would like to thank Ned Maher and family for the use of their fishery to run other event and many thanks to everyone that took part on the day.
When the scores were tallied it was very tight at the top, with only 2 fish between fifth and first.
Situated in Ardera, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny and covering over 4 acres of lakes, stocked with Rainbow and Brown trout ranging from 2lb to 20lb, we cater for family and group fishing activities – clubs, corporate events, associations, school tours.
Our on-site tackle shop, restaurant, BBQ area with covered canopy and ample car parking together with our very experienced staff will ensure you have an enjoyable and pleasant day’s fishing.
Adaire Springs Tackle Shop
We have also just launched our new online tackle shop where you can find all your fly fishing equipment at very competitive prices. Don’t forget to have a look at our combo deals where even greater savings are possible for your customers.
This report in from Dan O’Neill of South East Casting from a recent visit to the Blackwater Fishery:
As anglers, it can be mystery or even beauty that keeps us going to the river’s edge, in a boat on a lake, or just our general favourite spot for what we like as anglers. Before we get to these spots, some of us have little rituals or habits that are a part of our day. For me, the smell of Gillette shaving foam, Old Holburn and a subtle splash of denim aftershave always indicated fishing. My Dad would always have a shave before we went to our favourite fishing spot which was usually Ballyteighleigh in Borris, Co Carlow. When I would wake up on a Saturday morning and get that scent, I knew it was to the river. Just off track a little here to show how my young angling mind worked at the time! When the new fancy razors came out – the ones with 5 blades – I bought my dad one for Christmas as I thought he would shave faster so I could get to the river quicker, good times, good memories.
The reason I told the little story above was that this weekend I was at Blackwater Fishery with Glenda Powell and Noel Fitzmaurice. Glenda and Noel were holding an event at the fishery for people to come along to learn, have an angling chat and try out some Cadence products. I was with my good friend Paul on the trip down and it was great to see him as we seldom have time during the angling season. I have known Glenda and Noel for some time but never had the chance to get to the fishery, as again my own fishing takes over once the new year hits.
On arrival to the fishery, we made our way to the ghillie hut which was just at the side of the river. Lovely decorations and rods outside it made it look like a postcard picture with the river beside. After talking to Glenda and Noel for a few minutes outside, we made our way into the beautiful hut. The smell of mulled wine (non-alcoholic, my new favourite), freshly cooked scones, homemade meatloaf and leak and potato soup (made by Glenda herself) was wonderful. I took a seat and met the other people who came along to the day’s event. I looked up at one stage and the hut was full. What an atmosphere, to be able to create an environment where people who had never met each other before felt like they knew each other all their lives is a very special thing. Angling has a habit of doing that, I have spent many hours in a boat where the only language spoken is fishing, there were laughs, smiles and a little eye rolling at times, but we got by and got fish.
I think helping people to pass hurdles they meet during their angling journey is very important, events like this are very important to gather information and allow people who have faced the hurdles you are now facing to help you get past them. The angling community is a great place to grow and add to your knowledge, you can pass on some of your own knowledge also or take some away with you and pass that on. One day an elderly man who used to help me with my casting and fly fishing said to me
“the things I show you Dan, will you do me a favour when I’m gone and show someone else and repeat to them what I have just said to you”,
this man wanted to help me and ensure that his help continued when he was fishing that river full of fish in the sky.
I now have some new scents to add to my memory that will bring back my wonderful day on the Blackwater learning from true anglers and people who are passionate about their sport – those wanting to pass on knowledge and help our community grow.
Growing up in the countryside of Gowran, Co.Kilkenny, I started my fishing journey on the River Barrow with my dad, which is where I caught my first fish, a lovely brown trout. The Gowran River was also a short walk from my homeplace, and on the days my dad couldn’t fish, I would walk through the fields and fish the Gowran River. My love for fishing grew and took me to Mount Juliet Estate, where I began guiding at 13. I went on to become fisheries manager at Mount Juliet Estate and, to this day, enjoy taking out hundreds of clients every year fishing on the River Nore. I enjoy all types of fishing and guide all over Ireland. I am an Apgai Ireland-qualified casting instructor and have Ambassador roles with Cadence and Yeti. I joined Fulling Mill as an endorsed pro guide and am part of the Patagonia pro team. My angling journey has been an exciting one and hopefully will continue to be.
I take out all levels of anglers, from beginner to experienced. I enjoy what I do and count myself very lucky to be able to meet and guide new people to what might be their first Irish fish.
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.
You’re invited
All anglers who caught a specimen fish will be invited to attend to claim their cert and award.
Please note that the venue is Leopardstown (not the Airport Clayton where the event has been held in recent years).
Venue
Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown, Dublin, D18 K2P1
You can find us in Central Park, Sandyford – one of South Dublin’s largest business districts. It is easily accessible by car and is just off junction 14 of the M50. We are also the closest hotel to the Leopardstown Racecourse. It has great transport links around the city and surrounding areas. The Luas Green line is only a two-minute walk from the hotel. Taxis are available outside the main door most of the time. You may also book a taxi with our reception team.
Luas
The Luas Green line is only a two-minute walk from the hotel. The stop is ‘Central Park’ and can take you directly into Dublin City Centre in just 20 minutes.
Christmas is said to be partly a ‘Christianisation’ of those ancient midwinter festivals that marked the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and today, December 8th, is the traditional start of the Christmas season in Ireland, when country folk would descend on urban areas to do their Christmas shopping. As we draw ever closer to that winter solstice, bitter cold days and longer, freezing nights are what we typically associate with the Christmas period, and we have certainly had those in the past week or so…
The ever darkening evenings and cooling waters affect our fish in different ways. In our lakes, coarse fish will become more lethargic in the next few weeks, seeking refuge in numbers at a depth that they find comfortable. Our hen pike realise that their spawning season is closing in and they will make the most of scavenging winter’s victims to build up their strength. In many of our rivers, our trout and salmon have been digging redds to lay their eggs for the next generation and continue their species’ cycle of life.
At sea, the cold makes some species move offshore as others take their place close to the coast, and it is close to the coast where we begin the angling round up for this week as the darkest, dreariest part of the year hasn’t stopped Kit Dunne, as he has been racking up specimen tope and spurs whenever he could snatch a few hours of decent weather to get afloat.
Our Catch of the Week for this week was also caught at sea, this time man on a mission, Kevin McGowan somehow managed to land a blonde ray from a shore mark. Not the most common catch, blonde ray favour deeper water than other ray species, and are occasionally caught by boat anglers. We had never heard of one caught from the shore, but that is what Kevin was determined to do, we’ll let him tell the story in his own words…
If you have read just about enough about fishing for one day, the Ireland on the Fly team have another great podcast this week, with a focus on east coast sea trout with Mick McShane of Dundalk. Mick will throw a fly at pretty much anything that swims, but he has a special grá for the salty sea trout in the north east.
In other news…
With Christmas just around the corner, the Inland Fisheries Ireland permit shop is now selling fishery permits for the 2024 season, including those for a variety of fisheries in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Cork and Kerry, as well as the ever popular Midland Fisheries Group Permit. The online Salmon licence shop has also opened, just in time for next season or for those looking for a stocking filler for someone special.
*Yellow wind warnings will remain in place in western counties and small craft warnings will remain in place for the entire country this weekend*
It will continue to be blustery on Friday night with rain moving north-easterly across the country. Lows of 5°C to 8°C in strengthening winds.
Very windy on Saturday with rain pushing north-eastwards, followed by sunny spells and blustery, heavy showers and hail. Max temps of 7°C to 11°C. Winds will ease on Saturday night; however, a further spell of rain will extend north-eastwards across the country by dawn on Sunday. Lows of 4°C to 7°C.
On Sunday we will have a mix of sunny spells and heavy and prolonged showers, especially in the west. Strong southwest winds developing through the day. Highs of 8°C to 12°C. Dry and cold overnight, lows of 3°C to 6°C in westerly winds.
Monday looks set to be a mostly dry day with outbreaks of rain are likely to develop from the southwest. Tuesday will be a cloudy day with rain, mist and drizzle. Max temps of 7°C to 11°C in generally light and variable winds.
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.
With Christmas upon us, the salmon season seems a lifetime ago already, indeed we are closer to the start of the 2024 season than we are to last season. And as is customary, Delphi fishery manager David McEvoy has produced another gem to get us thinking about salmon again. The Delphi Fishery annual newsletter is now available on their website here, a must-read for many salmon anglers who have fished this little gem of a fishery, or those who are considering it.
Return to Normal
Fishery manager David McEvoy opens with an appreciation for what we all longed for during the pandemic – a return to normality.
As David writes “2023, thankfully marked our second season in which Covid lockdowns were confined to history – forever we hope. As was the case last year, our season heralded a degree of normality, and this was particularly evident, with the return of an increasing number of overseas visitors, the US in particular“.
Spring
While February was slow, with low water prevailing early on, March proved an excellent month, with 26 springers landed. The last time more springers were caught at Delphi in March was 2009! The first half of April also fished well, with 17 landed by the 18th, but falling water levels thereafter made for tougher conditions. May also proved tough,, low water prevailing, followed by a drought which lasted well into June.
Summer
A heatwave and drought conditions only broke on the 17th, with most of the monthly catch of 31 being caught after that date. This included Joe Burke’s biggest fish of the season, a fine fish of 17lbs 8oz
July was the most productive month with 96 fish landed. In contrast to June, rainfall was heavy, with Delphi being the wettest place in Ireland receiving 333mm of rain!
August started well, but as with elsewhere in the country, fish seemed to switch off, and sport definitely declined after the 19th. there were 40 fish landed for the month.
A heatwave in early September set the tone for a slow first half but sport picked up after that, with 31 fish landed. Sea trout provided some good sport in September with 91 landed; John Deacy having the best of approx. 4lbs.
For the full run-down, with some great writing and even better photos, read the newsletter here.
Go fishing…
At Delphi Lodge, with many years of experience with the timing of the best runs of fish, we have in place a price system that offers both great value fishing and lets our anglers know when they have the best chance to catch a fresh run spring salmon or a summer grilse or Delphi sea trout.
We may be in the darkest, dreariest part of the year, but that’s not stopping Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters from racking up a couple of specimens whenever he can snatch a few hours of decent weather to get afloat. This week, he had a couple of groups out, with Saturday bringing a scatter of small spurs along with huss and a small tope for father & son team Jody & Xavier.
Later in the week, it was the turn of Wicklow Bay SAC, and they had similar fishing but with the added bonus of a couple of specimen-sized spurs and a specimen-sized tope. So, despite the short days and nasty weather, the specimens are still there to be had!
Sometimes the fishing isn’t all about the catching as it is a very special place to be on an Atlantic coast beach for sunrise on a frosty December morning as the clouds were flowing like a river through a gap on Benbulbin that was drenched in the golden morning sunshine.
18 anglers lined out for our daylight league outing and a double trout on the first cast for Aaron Vambeck raised hopes for a good fishing but there were very few flatties to be got on the day of little surf as trout seemed to be the only thing taking the baits.
Aaron Vambeck on the end peg found 3 good flounder to 29cm along with 4 trout to win by a distance scooping €108.
2nd place with 2 trout and a flounder was Chris Whyte winning €54
Longest flattie prize winning €54 was won by Brian Smith with a 26cm flounder.
And the lucky peg draw of €36 was won by Proinnsias Doherty.
We hear plenty of stories of sea trout on the west coast of Ireland, but what about sea trout in the salt on the east coast where the fish are bigger, and if recent catches are anything to go by, fish numbers are improving as well?
Mick McShane is a well known fly angler from Dundalk who will throw a fly at pretty much anything that swims, but he has a special grá for the sea trout around Carlingford Lough and he joins Daire & Tom on this week’s episode to explain the rise in popularity of fly fishing for seatrout in the salt – inspired in no small part by the Danes.
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he Irish Federation of Sea Anglers (IFSA) held the Inter-Provincial Shore Angling Championships last weekend in Northern Ireland. Fishing beaches on the north coast, teams from all four provinces battled it out for the provincial crown over 3 sessions.
Freezing temperatures and lack of surf at times contributed to tough fishing conditions, not to mention seals robbing fish from anglers’ hooks! However, these are top match anglers, battle hardened in their own club and provincial competitions, and they managed to land plenty of fish, including flounder, bass, turbot, whiting, dabs, plaice, coalfish and dogfish.
1 of 4
In the end it was the Connacht team of Brian Reidy, Sean Ivory, Shane Gilvarry, Colin Harty and Ed Kilroy who came out on top in the men’s competition, with 35.5 points, ahead of Leinster in second on 33.5, and Munster on 32.5 in third.
The ladies championship was won by the Ulster team of Sharon Blair, Lisa Gormley, Janet Snoddy, Linda Snoddy and Pamela Stewart, finishing head of Munster.
Munster won the under-21 competition, and Leinster won the nder-16s, so teams from all provinces went home happy in the end.
While February was slow, with low water prevailing early on, March proved an excellent month, with 26 springers landed. The last time more springers were caught at Delphi in March was 2009! The first half of April also fished well, with 17 landed by the 18th, but falling water levels thereafter made for tougher conditions. May also proved tough,, low water prevailing, followed by a drought which lasted well into June.
