Most of the country was relatively dry over the last week with the exception of the south west which saw nearly twice the normal rainfall amounts. In fact, most anglers outside of Kerry would have been commenting on how sunny it was. So it should come as no surprise that there’s a bit of something for everyone in this week’s Irish Angling Update…

Starting with coarse fishing, Athy & District Anglers fished the second leg of their winter league at the weekend. It was a far cry from round one which was fished in summer sunshine at the start of last month. The fishing was good enough though with roach feeding well in the flood conditions and Ollie Flynn took top spot with 9lb 14ozs. Staying in the south east, Oaklands also fished the second leg of their winter league at the weekend. Leo Lynch did well to take first place with 72.510kg.

To the north east now where CM Lakelands fished a club match on Annaherrin Lough in Cavan. It was a day for small fish and Rimantas Kondrakas won the match with nearly 100 roach, perch and skimmers for 8kg. A little further north, VDE Baggers headed to the Movanagher Canal for the fourth match of their Winter League. Despite a lot of topping roach good fishing did not materialise but Aaron Hutchman still won comfortably with creditable 8.8kg.

Pike angling now and we start with two great reports from junior anglers. First we have a triumphant Ben O’Brien who caught a double figure pike with his first cast on the Rinn River at the weekend. This smashing pike wins Catch of the Week. Next we have Anthony O’Neill, well known to readers of the Update, who had some great pike fishing in Cavan catching lots of fish with guide Ronan Murray of Irish Pike Fishing Guides.

Meanwhile reporting from Lough Derg, Senan Stanley shares his pike set up in a great video, while Karoly Gyorfi shows what to do if you accidently catch a trout this winter while pike fishing. Continuing up the Shannon system our next stop is at Melview Lodge where Belgian anglers caught 163 pike despite high water levels and a UK angler had plenty of pike to over 20lb. We finish our journey at Boyle with a group of very happy Italian anglers who enjoyed super fishing with Bodo Funke of Angling Services Ireland.

Competition time – 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.

In sea angling news Chris O’Sullivan, The Inshore Angler, returns to the beaches of Kerry where he’s surf casting for bass and flounder. Meanwhile anglers charter boat fishing with John Fleming on Galway Bay enjoyed catching a mix of fish over reefs. To Donegal now where anglers  aboard the Fiona Tee enjoyed some great fishing for ling, cod and pollack. Shore anglers also did well in the Killybegs area where the Mariners club caught flounder, bass, dogs, pollack, coley and whiting in a night session at the weekend. The Irish senior men’s team are in action this week at the World Shore Angling Championship, which is being held in Sicily. Today is the last day of the competition – we hope it goes well for them. In podcast news the Lure Fishing Podcast is back and this week host Cormac Walsh is talking to Pat Gahan, a vastly experienced boat angler based out of Kilmore Quay in Wexford. To wrap up the sea angling report we remind everyone that the bluefin tuna season closes on the 12th of November.

For trout anglers we have a report from the latest AWOL match which was fished at Laois Angling Centre and won by Denis Goulding with 13 rainbow trout. We also have some great fly tying content. Jackie Mahon ties a Claret Dabbler with Tom Doc Sullivan and Peter Driver has lots of updates in his newsletter including details of his live fly tying show which is on every Saturday at 8.30pm.

Finally, for salmon anglers we have two items of interest. First off Glenda Powell is offering hosted fishing and casting instruction at Careysville next year. For those of you who enjoy a good podcast why not listen to Daire Whelan and Tom Doc Sullivan of Ireland on the Fly talk to John Murphy from Salmon Watch Ireland about the impact of salmon cages on salmon and sea trout fisheries here.

And now the weather…

Saturday will begin cold with fog in some areas, while others will have sunshine. Highs of 8 to 11°C and mostly dry with rain in the far southwest later in the evening. Rather wet and windy weather expected on Sunday as a band of rain moves over from the south early in the morning, extending to all areas by midday. The rain will clear to showers as blustery southeast winds change southwesterly in the afternoon. Highs of 10 to 13°C. Next week will start dull, wet and blustery with highest temperatures of 10 to 14°C and Tuesday will be much the same. There are small craft warnings in place today and Saturday, so as ever make sure to check the forecast before going afloat and if you’re going to sea, don’t forget to check the tides.

That’s it for this week’s Irish angling Update, safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

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.

All the angling news

Coarse Angling Reports

• Pumphouse pegs bring best weights for C/M Lakelands
• Leo Lynch wins Round 2 of Oaklands winter league
• Floods bring change of venue for VDE Baggers club match
• Flooded Barrow and cold rain didn’t dampen fishing for Athy winter league

Pike Fishing Reports

• Italian group enjoys super pike fishing in Boyle
• Senan shares his simple setup for lake pike
• Pike fishing and catch a trout? Just safely release it
• Calling all pike anglers – Newbridge District Pike Anglers Open Competition
• Ben there done, that on the Rinn River
• Great day’s fishing for apprentice piker

Sea Angling Reports

• The Lure Fishing Podcast – Bass Fishing from Afloat with Pat Gahan
• Surprise bass and some flatties for Killybegs Mariners
• Nice ling and some chunky pollack for Killybegs Fishing Trips
• Good late season sport in Galway Bay
• Men’s Team In Action At World Shore Championships
• Bass and flounder fishing on Inch beach with harbour ragworm

Trout Fishing Reports

• Fly Tying Tutorial: A Traditional Claret Dabbler for Irish Loughs with Jackie Mahon and Tom Sullivan
• Denis Goulding wins 2nd leg of AWOL at Laois Angling Centre
• Piscari-Fly Newsletter 7 November 2023

Salmon Fishing Reports

• Ireland on the Fly Podcast- latest episode – The rise of salmon farming & the decline of wild salmon and sea trout in Ireland
• Careysville House and Fishery Courses, Hosted Trips with Glenda Powell