A reminder of a post we put out a couple of weeks ago about the Newbridge Pike Anglers Open Pike Competition this weekend at Blessington:
Anyone interested in a great day out pike fishing should hold the date of 26th November free, as Newbridge District Pike Anglers are holding their annual open pike competition at Poulaphouca Lake (aka Blessington) on that date. You don’t need to be a member of the club to compete, and you don’t even need to buy a permit for the lake on the day, as your entry fee will cover all of that. There will be heaps of prizes, both for adults and for younger anglers, with a raffle and refreshments after the competition, so it promises to be a great social occasion as well as a day out fishing. Anyone interested should contact the club via their Facebook page.
The CM Lakelands Feeder Club finally got their Lough Muckno winter feeder league up and running over the weekend. A great turnout of 27 club members hit the lake shore to kick the league off, with tricky conditions facing the competitors on the day, as water was still very high and this attracted a lot of very small roach.
Some of the silvers
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Damian Folytn had his tactics fine-tuned to continue his fine run of late and he won the match with around 100 small roach for just under 5kg on South Lodge. In second place was the ever consistent Darren Fairhurst with 61 fish, which included a small bream to weigh in with just over 4kg from the Yellow Island section.
Piotr Horbiński was 3rd and Graham Worley was 4th both with 3kg plus weights from South Lodge.
Angling guide and instructor Dan O’Neill reflects on the Irish Fly Fair 2023:
For quite some time now anglers have been looking forward to the Irish Fly Fair. Following the lineups on social media built so much excitement and drew many enthusiasts from far and wide. I have been to the Irish Fly Fair many times and always came away feeling like I could conquer the world. Something else that I found special was that all the people who made the event were never afraid to give information and have a certain way of putting it across. Casters from all over the world demonstrating casts, fly tiers from every corner, producing art. This event is very special and the people who are there want to be there to pass on their information and what they learned at such events; what a wonderful community we have.
This year it was to Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen. Arriving with Marta at 8am Saturday morning I met up with my fellow APGAI colleagues and Cadence team members. Brilliant to meet them all again and see that they have kept safe since our last meetings. When in organisations like this, the people that make them up become family. Most guide and travel in Ireland and abroad so seeing them safe and happy is always special.
Suited and booted for a day’s casting instruction
After the meeting and greeting, it was time to get the rods out and set up our locations for the free tuition slots provided by APGAI. I was lucky enough to be working with Pauline McClenaghan, Chris Bryant, Martin Barrera Ora and Ian Gamble. What a wonderful group of people, so willing to help. Listening to their stories and of course, tips really made my weekend. Just watching the way they were with people and how they got their point across when teaching was superb and a huge learning curve for me, as is most of my angling journey.
A good crowd watching and listening
Cadence had a stand to ‘try before you buy’, which was a great opportunity to test the rods and see what suits best. I fell in love with the 9ft 9 8wt as most of you will see on my Facebook page. Working with James Robbins, Glenda Powell, Ian Gordon, and Pascal Grillot was also a learning curve for me. Seeing their attention to detail, knowledge, and passion inspired me in many ways.
The fair for me was very special as I was giving a casting demo which, like all, I was nervous about. Slight nerves are always good as it keeps me focused. Watching the casters on before me also helped me a bit as they were just doing what they loved, which is what I was there to do. As my audience approached, I went into the “zone”, and everything after that was a blur. I truly enjoyed the Irish Fly Fair and came away feeling a little sad it was over, but with many many new plans for 2024 to work on to improve myself as an angler, guide and caster.
The kid’s casting was great and the layout was fantastic, Ray McKeeman led a great team to make the kids casting fun and informative, I even saw Stevie Munn give it a whirl at one point.
In the “zone”
My wife Marta joined me for the fair and helped Dani at the front door. It was great as Marta got to meet and see the people and things I do. I may even convince her to go for a cast with me during the coming season. The fair gave her an understanding and insight into the angling world, and I think she saw what attracts me to casting, angling and guiding.
Finally, I would like to thank Stevie Munn for the invitation to give a demonstration. Stevie’s invite helped me in many ways and showed me there are many levels to casting and angling. No matter where you think you are in your angling journey, keep moving because the levels are endless; there is no final level.
So this week Mark and I headed across the Shannon to Co Leitrim. We were heading across primarily for Mark’s wedding on the Thursday but managed to pack some rods in there too. We headed off to the canals on Wednesday morning to a few spots that a local angler had pointed out for us. While the spots looked amazing with nice canals flowing in and out of small lakes the water clarity was fairly bad from the recent weather we had and it seemed that meeting a few fish was going to be difficult.
However, after a bit of mooching about we stumbled across a piece of canal where the clarity was improved and immediately we meet fish. Mark was pulling a black pike fly with a silver flash cloak on it along some weed beds coming out from the bank and it was attacked by a Jack who was using the weeds as cover. 2 casts later and Mark had the fish on his hook.
Unfortunately we found this location a bit late in the day and we were summoned back to headquarters to get the prep finished for his wedding. But we got about an hour there and I also managed to hook and land one fish while getting chases and pulls from a few other fish also. I had a red fly tied with red Sulky Hair cloaked with silver flash.
Overall, it was an enjoyable day out and about and always nice to find a few fishing spots after searching about for the day. This area of Ireland is a fisherman’s haven there is water absolutely everywhere and I am sure fish in the most of it. I was super impressed by the infrastructure surrounding the canals and some of the lakes with amazing access and really well built walkways. Def a place I will revisit this winter for another session on the pike.
For more information and details about where to fish drop me a line piscarifly@gmail.com.
What’s New?
Protective Rod Sleeve
Mesh Protective Rod Sleeve, ideal to protect rod from bumps and scratches and breakages when out and about fishing.
We are up with Trim Angling club giving a presentation on river fishing this Friday night, 24th November. We will be tying some flies and sharing knowledge on all things river fishing. I am an advanced qualified Fly dresser with APAGI Ireland and Fly casting instructor, I have spent most of my life tying and educating myself in all fly-tying techniques. Here at piscari fly we tie all our own flies and use our own tried and tested patterns that catch fish. We have a vast amount of experience in tying all types of flies and I am constantly learning by travelling the world and being open to new ideas.
We are really looking forward to it. It promises to be a very interesting and educational evening. Check the club out here: https://www.trimathboyanglers.net/
If you have an angling club and would like an evening with piscari-fly we would be delighted to present a flytying or flyfishing evening, please get in touch via info@piscari-fly.com or 0879787040.
Join the Club to keep up to date with the lads fishing travels. This week they will be heading to the Shannon Blueway Canal in Co.Leitrim to target some pike and get some good action in. So make sure to subcribe and join the action and see how we get on.
What’s Happening?
**PISCARI-FLY CLUB** Grayling Night
Tomorrow night at 9pm Peter is sharing all his tactics and tips for grayling fishing with particular emphasis on the Welsh Dee. Peter has competed many times there in the Hanak European Grayling Festival in December.
Massive thanks for all the continued support from our followers. We are very close to 5000 followers. So we are having a free giveaway €50 voucher for Piscari-fly & Piscari-fly. Goodies thrown in. So to have a chance of winning head over to facebook
Then you must do the following: 1. Like our page 2. Share the post 3. And tag two friends. Winner will be announced on next Saturday Night’s Live Show. Live on our Facebook Page or youtube channel at 8.30pm every saturday night.
About us
Based on the River Nore just outside Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, Ireland. Piscari-Fly is a growing Fly Tying and Fly-Fishing business with a vast amount of experience and knowledge. If there is ever anything I can do to make my service better for you please feel free to suggest it to me and I’ll gladly try my best to accommodate your requests. Thanks again. Peter Driver.
As a small business we depend on the satisfaction of our customers and there word of mouth reference, google reviews are important to our online presence and we sure would appreciate your review. Just head over to this link and give us a quick review.
Steven Powell of Lure Guides reports on his weekend’s adventures…
We had some casting anglers for the day here at lureguides.com.
Husband and wife Tom and Amie arrived here in Enniskillen to brush up their lure fishing skills.
Arriving mid day due to work commitments it was going to be a make or break session on this short session.
After carefully choosing a nice spot some perch were quickly boated by Amie on the drop shot. This can be highly addictive fishing especially when the perch are really active and also a good chance of a big pike on light gear.
After a hour of not landing any pike Tom tailed walked a nice double into the net followed by another a few minutes later on bigbait rod jerkbait tactics making their short time with us well spent and already guaranteed to go home happy faced.
As the day progressed various lures and techniques were tried and tested. It was great to see another angler going home with knowledge under their belt after a guided tuition trip with Steve from lureguides.
Go Fishing…
We at lureguides offer not only guided trips but a great learning experience – Steve and Andy are both high profile tournament anglers recently taking the 2023 King of the lake title on Lough Ree. We are world lure championships anglers fishing in many different country’s across Europe, experienced and knowledgeable without bounds with the latest sonar and mapping technology available. To book your trip contact lureguides on whatsapp or the online contact us form on https://lureguides.com/ and enjoy the alumacraft experience
Fishing in Enniskillen, Lough Erne, Co. Monaghan, Lough Muckno and Co Cavan areas
The undisputed winner of the Lucky Anglers Club members league of 2023 is Piotr Poprawski.
The final match of the season took place on Gill’s Pond with the kind permission of Ballinakill Angling Club. The fishing was tough with only a few silverfish caught, but the enthusiasm was mighty.
Throughout the league running from February to November matches have been on venues including the East Clare Lakes of Doon, Bridget, Killgory and Graney and the accessible venues of the River Shannon around Portumna. This year it has been difficult to source suitable fishing locations due to high waters, as a result the catches have not been great but its been fun trying.
At the end of the season Piotr was first overall. Taking second position in the 2023 league is Damien Zrałek and just few points behind in third place Tomasz Brus.
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The club would like to thank their match sponsors as they look forward to the 2024 season.
Join the Club…
A member of the NCFFI the Lucky Anglers Club welcome like-minded individuals who would like to join them in their fishing pursuits, contact Tomasz at brustomash@gmail.com
New Patterns and meeting old friends at the Irish Fly Fair
What a fantastic weekend tying at the Irish Fly Fairtying on behalf of the Fulling Mill Team. First of all I would like to thank Steve and Elaine Munn for all their hard work in organising this event. It was just a brilliant weekend from start to finish and tying with over 70 fly tyers from around the world. Secondly I would like to thank everyone at Fulling Mill for putting their trust in me to be part of the team, it’s a great honour.
I’d like to thank everyone that stopped by to say hello and watch me tying, and thank you as well to the 2 tyers that I sat beside on “Fly Tyers Row” for the two days; Fergal Collery and Anthony McCann, thanks boys the “craic” was just brilliant.
On Saturday I spent my day tying CDC Mayflies, Dabblers with micro dubbings, and Parachute Olives; all of which are a must to have in your box for Irish loughs. On Sunday my day was spent tying Dabblers and Sedge patterns from button sedges to Chocolate drops, these are a must to have in your box for later in the season. All of the flies that I tied over the weekend are from materials from the new Fulling mill range, all of which can be purchased directly from Fulling Mill or your nearest Fulling Mill stockist.
For my next outing I am heading to Italy on the 3rd and 4th of February with the Fulling Mill team, tying at the Pescare International Fishing fair on behalf of Fulling Mill, bringing some Irish style patterns to show over the two days.
Show patterns
UV Irish Golden Dabbler
Dressing for the UV Irish Golden Dabbler:
– Hook: Fulling Mill 1530 competition heavy weight
– Tail: Fulling Mill Marabou Orange
– Body Dubbing: Fulling Mill UV Golden Olive
Jackie’s CDC Mayfly
Dressing for Jackie’s CDC Mayfly:
– Hook: Fulling Mill 1550 all purpose medium
– Tail: Fulling Mill Bucktail Tan
– Body Dubbing: Fulling Mill CDC pale yellow
– Hackle: Fulling Mill CDC olive
– Wing: Fulling Mill natural grey
Parachute Olive
Dressing for the Parachute Olive:
– Hook: Fulling Mill 1130 light weight Grub
– Body: Fulling Mill goose biot sooty olive
– Post: Fulling Mill ultra dry yarn Dark dun
Jackie’s Hatching Button Sedge
Dressing for Jackie’s Hatching Button Sedge:
– Hook: Fulling Mill 1160 grub
– Body: Fulling Mill ultra dry yarn tyed as a bubble, over mixed seal X dubbings yellow and brown
– Wing: Fulling Mill CDC rusty brown
Notes: Provides guiding on Lough Arrow, Melvin, Glencar Lake & Lough Gill .
Clients from all over the world from England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Usa and South Africa. Total C&R on Jackie’s boat while guiding.
Flies for sale
2023 started off for me with an email from Fulling Mill to say that my fly patterns have just arrived in the UK and are up on the Fulling Mill website. The range consists of wet Mayfly, Spent, Stimulators and Daddies. The patterns have been working the last number of seasons throughout Ireland, the United States and the UK with great success. I will also be working closely with Fulling Mill on some new products which will be launched soon, so keep an eye on my page for updates.
The Piscari Fly Live Fly Tying Session IS Live Every Saturday night at 8.30
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 where he focused on patterns like the Halfhog Peter Ross variant, G&H Sedge variant and Extended body Daddy that feature deerhair and the techniques you need to master this sometimes tricky material.
Deerhair wing
Muddler heads
Extended bodies
Deer hair dubbing brush
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.
Catch this season’s previous episodes
As ever you can catch up on past episodes at the PiscariFly YouTube channel where all the episodes can be watched at your leisure.
For all your fly tying and fly fishing needs. Stocking rods, reels, clothing water etc
Guiding
Want to improve or learn any aspects of your fly fishing? Then why not give us a shout and we will look after you. Fishing available locally on the River Nore at Thomastown and other club water by arrangement. We have also teamed up with Blackwater Trout and Salmon fishery to offer you an amazing fishing experience with over 8km of amazing river to be discovered.
Full & Half Guided days
One to one coaching
Master classes
Groups and Clubs welcome
Nymphing. Dry Fly. Wet Fly. Streamer. Dry Dropper
Instruction
Peter Driver is a qualified casting instructor with APAGI, and advanced qualified fly dresser with APAGI. He specialises in competition nymphs and fishing, Irish lake flies, streamers and lures.
As a qualified casting instructor with APAGI I Peter offers casting clinic’s and lessons, to suit your desires. Being able to cast correctly and have a good understanding of the mechanics of casting is a solid foundation in fly fishing that will pay off in your fishing, be it rivers or lakes.
arlier this week, Storm Debi swept across Ireland, leaving a trail of destruction including many fallen trees and coastal flooding in places. Over 100,000 households and businesses were without power but fortunately no lives were lost. Along with the storm came torrential rainfall causing severe flooding on most inland waters. Therefore, it is no big surprise that angling reports have been fairly scarce this week. However, we still received a fair number, mainly pike and some coarse fishing reports.
Over to coarse fishing, where Munster Coarse Anglers report on the second match of their winter league fished at the O’Briensbridge rowing course. Further east, the Sensas Riverfest was held on the River Barrow at Monastarevin. Day one saw Andrew Burnett leading the way closely followed by Robbie Smithers in second and Trev Platt in third. At the end of day two, however, Trev Platt scooped first prize with 28 lbs. for the day leaving Robbie Smithers in second place, pipping Andrew Burnett in third by ounces.
Trev Platt on the River Barrow at Monasterevin
Further matches were fished in Leitrim, Fermanagh and Monaghan. For results and detailed info on how the anglers got on at each venue check out our coarse fishing round-up.
For pike anglers we have a number of reports this week. Starting in Boyle, it was quality over quantity for Michael from Germany. Michael, who is a repeat guest of Angling Services Ireland topped his three-day visit with an impressive pike measuring 108cm. Staying in the Midlands, avid pike angler Barry ‘Fitz’ Fitzpatrick from Meath had a surprise capture when the same pike fell for his dead bait twice in the space of four hours!
The pike that took twice
Lawrence Peile from Co. Armagh was in touch to report a cracking pike session over the weekend just before Storm Debi hit the island. It was a fantastic day for Lawrence with two 20’s in the space of 10 minutes (best at 26 lbs.) followed by two more takes as the day progressed resulting in a 16 lbs. and an 18lbs. 8 oz fish. Without doubt, Lawrence’s red-letter day deserves to win our Catch of the Week! Well done Lawrence!
Lawrence with his 26lbs opener
Elsewhere, 15 members of the Limerick County Pike Angling Association (almost) drew blank on a Midlands canal venue, while Leinster Pike Anglers endured a drenching during the third leg of their winter league fished in Co. Cavan, but at least the fishing was good for the Leinster anglers.
For anglers pursuing pike with the fly rod, Peter Driver of Piscar-Fly has some valuable tips and tricks in his current Piscary-Fly Newsletter.
Finishing off this week’s pike angling news, lure anglers might like to tune in to the latest short video by Norbert Renaud of L’ile Verte Pike Fishing Lodge on how to better balance your pike fishing lures.
During the closed season for brown trout Ireland’s rainbow trout fisheries provide great opportunities for trout anglers to pursue their passion during the winter months and to take a break from just casting. So did Dan O’Neill of South East Casting when he decided to head for Southern County Fishing Resort in Carlow to chase some well-fed rainbows. Check out Dan’s full report here.
Meanwhile at Annamoe Trout Fisheries, twenty anglers competed over four hours in the third qualifying heat of the Fly Fishing Winter League. Nicholas Madden won the event with a total of 9 trout, mostly taken on intermediate lines fishing buzzers and blood worm imitations.
Nicholas Madden with a chunky Annamoe rainbow
On this week’s episode of Ireland on the Fly, Daire and Tom are joined by Mike Cosgrave, the former coach and centre for Connacht who is also a passionate fly angler and who fished Corrib and Mask as a kid growing up.
Mike Cosgrave enjoying his passion on a Montana river
Flytying enthusiasts shouldn’t miss Jackie Mahon’s and Tom Doc Sullivan’s latest fly tying tutorial. This time, they tie a CDC Mayfly pattern which will perform well on Loughs Corrib, Arrow, Mask, Sheelin and Melvin but should also be an excellent choice for river mayfly fishing.
Glenda Powell has some great opportunities for anglers looking to get started in salmon angling, fine tune their cast and more. Activities include skagit, spey casting and a wet fly fishing for trout course to mention but a few.
Finally, a reminder to all the fly fishers and fly tiers out there that the Irish Fly Fair will take place this coming weekend at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen. The fair will open from 10.00 – 17.00 on Saturday and 10.00 – 16.30 on Sunday.
In other news
Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, gives statutory notice of his intention to make the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023, to provide for the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fishery by Inland Fisheries Ireland from 1 January 2024. A copy of the draft regulations is open for public inspection at our the Department offices in Cavan. The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm on 15 December 2023.
Riverbank habitat restoration works on the Stonyford River, Stonestown Co. Meath – showing recovery of riparian vegetation following fencing works.
And now the weather…
Tonight, after a wet and blustery start, the rain will clear northeastwards through the night with clear spells and squally showers following from the west as fresh to strong southeast winds veer south to southwest by morning, moderating a bit. Lowest temperatures early in the night of 4 to 8 degrees, rising overnight to be in double figures by morning. The weekend will be breezy with widespread heavy or thundery showers, merging to longer spells of rain at times. Highest afternoon temperatures of 12 to 14 degrees in fresh southwest winds, stronger near coasts. The beginning of the week will see a continuation of the wet and windy conditions. However, current indications suggest drier conditions for the rest of the week as the winds ease.
That’s it for this week’s Irish angling Update, safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.
Killybegs Mariners report from their recent daylight league outing fished on Streedagh Beach…
What a beautiful day at the beach today was for the Mariners league daylight outing under Benubulben under blue skies and fantastic conditions with a filling tide all day and no weed or surges on the famous surfing coast that made headlines around the globe this week as the red bull world surfers descended to surf the areas’ 40 foot waves.
One of 7 turbot for Stefan Martin
The first casts today for the 21 anglers hit the feeding zone as doubles and singles of turbot and flounders were being caught all along the stretch. Some lovely turbot were got today with quite a few over the 30 to 35cm range. Flounders to 38cm. And a few trout all for the measure and release.
Lovely turbot for Cormac Burke
Flounder 36cm for Proinnseas Doherty
Longest flattie prize of €61 today was won by Darren Rawdon with a 38cm flounder.
2nd overall prize today of €61 with 7 turbot and 2 flounders over the minimum size of 20cm was won by Stefan Martin.
And 1st overall today winning €122 with 12 fish turbot, flounder and trout over the 20cm was won by John Cunningham with a great fishing.
And the lucky peg draw of €42 was won by Robert Mallin Jr. Well done.
An enjoyable day out well done to all that travelled.
