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Third edition of Lough Ree Predator Challenge takes place

By
IFI Staff
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This report from the organisers of the event:

On Sunday 3rd of September 33 teams (66 anglers) took part on our 3rd anniversary of this event. Although the conditions were not quite perfect for Lough Ree Predator Challenge, the highly skilled anglers participating in the event did everything in their power to catch 3 longest fish of the day, but in order to win they had to catch not one specie but 3 species Pike-Perch-Trout and receive extra 100pt/cm to their 3 longest fish.

Over 140 fish were caught and safely released after a quick measurement during the event, with Pike, Perch and Trout being the point scoring fish that all the anglers were after. Altogether, the competing anglers landed:

  • 85 Pike over 60cm
  • 13 Trout over 30cm
  • 29 Perch over 25cm

Longest fish of the day was a impressive 107cm Pike – Trout 57cm – Perch 30cm  which in our humble opinion its very good for 8 hours fishing on the lake.

I have to say this event it’s getting bigger and better year after year and we will keep improving.

After checking all entries on FishDonkey app pictures and videos we managed to finally award the anglers.

  • First place – Team – JERKFLY 398cm Trophies +cash
  • Second place – Team – DISCO TEAM 390cm Trophies +cash
  • Third place – Team – TEAM STRIKE 384cm Trophies +cash
  • Longest fish – Team Strike  107cm Pike

We also had some sponsored prizes from our sponsors for runner-up teams.

Big THANK YOU 🫡 them for support.

  • Salmo Lures prize – The Snipers 384cm
  • Dennett Outdoor Ltd prize – Team Blue Tree 376cm
  • L.Corr  Handmade lures prize – Wildhunter Sniper Time 359cm
  • Inland Fisheries Ireland prize – Brema Boat 355cm
  • Wildhunter prize – Irishfishingtours 288cm

We need to mention FishDonkey Tournaments for their support and I strongly believe a app like theirs makes easier for events organisers.

Big Thank You to all anglers present to this event, for helping us to improve year after year!

RESPECT Gentlemen and Ladies.

Full results can be seen on FishDonkey app.

Check out this video of how the event panned out – compiled by competitor and popular YouTuber Senan Stanley:

Now we need to do some preliminary preparation for Predator Battle Ireland later in September and Pike Master Ireland in October (the only competition in Ireland and Northern Ireland which allows anglers to fish any water).

Athlone Angling Centre

Please fish in a sustainable manner

Big tides bring on the bass

By
IFI staff
-

When he’s not talking the talk on the popular Lure Fishing Podcast, Cormac Walsh likes to walk the walk by getting out there and chasing bass in the south east. This is the business end of the bass fishing season and, with the August blue moon bringing some big 4m+ spring tides, the bass were active and hunting.

Cormac reckons that fish were much more active around the early morning high tide, with the first hour after high water the most productive for him. The fish he caught really wanting the shallow divers he was using, with solid hook ups from aggressive takes. He hopes that, with the spell of settled weather we are currently experiencing, the good fishing might last a few more days as well.

Wicklow to Wexford sea fishing

52 blue sharks and a lot more on the Silver Dawn

By
IFI Staff
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David Edwards, skipper of the Silver Dawn at  West Cork Charters, had some unbelievable blue shark fishing at the weekend…

03 September 2023: A long-range overnight shark trip showed that there is no shortage of Blues. 4 anglers caught 52 Blue Sharks including 2 large specimens of 190 & 195cm fork length 235 & 238cm length overall.

A small Porbeagle was a welcome diversion, as was an unusual double shot of Octopus and Megrim.

All fish (and octopus) were released following research sampling. Well done Paul Kirwan for taking the most and largest fish.

02 September 2023: Shark tagging today for Paul and Nick, who have spent the last 2 weeks on Silver Dawn targeting many different species, including their first ever Bluefin Tuna.

blue shark

We’ve had some great weather and today was no different, 5 Blue Sharks were tagged with a further 5 dropping the hooks.

Silver Dawn

A great end to the fishing holiday for these long time friends and long-term visitors to West Cork, a quick nap on the way back to Courtmacsherry was needed.
Safe home lads.

dolphin

29 August: Tuna were nowhere to be seen today, but at least the Dolphins were happy enough to show off for us.

26 August: While most charters this week have been offshore, we also did spend sometime on the inshore reefs, where some fine Pollack obliged. One angler also learnt the hard way that using a net is always preferable when a large cod needs landing and the boat is rocking!

25 August: It was great to finally have a crack at the Bluefin Tuna today after spending a few days on Sharks.

bluefin
94 inch blue fin tuna

It took a while but we did bring a fine 94 inch fish alongside after watching some brilliant wildlife displays.

Go fishing…

West Cork Charters

Address Courtmacsherry Cork Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 83 449 1403 Website: westcorkcharters.com
More information
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4th International Women’s Fly Fishing Day (9 September 2023)

By
IFI Staff
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Pamela Dunlap from Hurricane, WV, USA.
Pamela Dunlap from Hurricane, WV, USA.

It’s nearly the second Saturday of September and that means that the 2023 International Womens Fly Fishing Day is approaching on Saturday 9th September 2023.

It’s planned that at 11am, in every time-zone across the world, that female fly-anglers will post photos or videos of themselves to Face Book or to Instagram that will show their enjoyment of flyfishing.

For more information please visit International Womens Fly Fishing Day on Face Book https://www.facebook.com/groups/573597536965118/ or email info@iwffd.org

Posts to celebrate International Women’s Fly Fishing Day may be made to the following FaceBook page, and, as it may not be possible to post at 11am the posts can be made all day.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/573597536965118/  Don’t forget to add #IWFFD onto your posts please.

Or post to Instagram (IntlWomensFlyFishDay)

This is an initiative from two women in two very different parts of the world – Maddy Kelly from County Down in Northern Ireland and Pamela Caldwell Dunlap from Hurricane in West Virginia, USA. They met on a women’s Flyfishing site – Women Wine & Waders – (https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/1496931843942254/) that was set up by Pamela and they’ve been sharing fishing tales and life stories for the six years since.

The Mission Statement of International Women’s Flyfishing Day is “To bring women together from all over the world, virtually, for one day in mid-September to celebrate their fly-fishing life and to encourage them to be role models who will support new women who take up fly fishing.”

Because there is always the chance that weather may interfere with fishing plans and as International Women’s Fly Fishing Day is a world-wide event there will be some women in the part of the world that is currently out of the fly fishing season. To allow for those circumstances the photo or video posted can be of anything related to fly fishing e.g. practicing casting, tying a fly, or even reading a book on the topic or watching a fly fishing video etc. Or for women unable to be doing anything related to flyfishing at 11am on 9th September 2023 they can post a photo or video that shows that they do indeed enjoy fly fishing.

Julie Cook from the Southland Fly Fishing Club in Invercargill New Zealand is, at the minute, the most easterly woman planning to take part which means she’ll get the first opportunity to post her 11am photo, and Catrina (Cat) White from Los Angeles is the most westerly. She will close the day of celebrations.

With photos being posted at 11am from all over the world the day will unfold from New Zealand to the west coast of the USA over a 20 hour period.

Maddy Kelly said,

‘Fly fishing, and angling in general, gives so much to the angler. Mindfulness is very popular now-a-days but anglers have known the mindful effects of angling for a long time. And it’s not just peace of mind, there’s also the fitness aspect. Wading into waist-deep water will work your core as will scrambling five miles up a riverbank and back down the five miles to your car with your rod and essentials for the day – that competes with any gym workout. And to complete the scene there’s nothing like lunch alongside the water’s edge with a nice cup of tea and a slice of lemon cake.’

A lot of anglers will also start to care for their rivers and waterways. They organize work parties to clean up litter, fix river banks, create and improve access, build bridges and stiles, remove fallen trees, and clear water blockages that prevent the movement of migratory fish – all very physical work and a great work out.

Then there’s the workout for the brain. Anglers will say that they switch off while fishing and are in another world and that worries and problems just slip away. But the day is spent watching, really seeing what’s there and analyzing everything – the bug life, the water movements, the feeding patterns, watching for clues that might be as simple as feeding birds.

Angling is a work-out in nature. And women are catching on to the secret and they’re passing on the information to other women. More and more are becoming qualified as coaches and instructors or are attending women’s fishing days as volunteer-helpers.

Maddy Kelly has been flyfishing for over 30 years and has fished throughout Ireland. Since 1993 she has been a regular member of the Irish Ladies Fly Fishing team which takes part in the Ladies International Flyfishing Championships fished against teams from Scotland, Wales and England. She has recently gained coaching qualifications and has been organising events to introduce women and young people to flyfishing.

Practice Day at Straid Fishery in Co Antrim Ireland for Maddy Kelly and a monster-trout comes up from the deep.
Practice Day at Straid Fishery in Co Antrim Ireland for Maddy Kelly and a monster-trout comes up from the deep.

Pamela Caldwell Dunlap is a more recent convert to flyfishing. Prior to discovering the joys of flyfishing she was not keen on the outdoors at all. She was introduced to it on a first date 7 years ago and enjoyed it so much that since then she has organised camps for women to learn and has been responsible for a number of women becoming anglers.

The internet friends, Pamela and Maddy, have spent six years sharing stories of the days that they organise for women to enjoy flyfishing. Though separated by 3,590 miles, most of it ocean, it turns out they’ve a lot in common. They are both committed to encouraging and supporting new women into flyfishing.

For more information please visit International Womens Fly Fishing Day on Face Book

https://www.facebook.com/groups/573597536965118/ or email to info@iwffd.org

Posts to celebrate International Women’s Fly Fishing Day may be made online via the following links. And as it may not be possible to post at 11am the posts can be made all day.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/573597536965118/  Don’t forget to add #IWFFD onto your posts!

Or post to Instagram (IntlWomensFlyFishDay)

Specimen smoothhounds hit the beaches as the sun comes out

By
IFI Staff
-

Dawid Kopczynski was back in touch with another great report from the east coast…

With the return of long awaiting but late summer to the Irish coast loads of anglers flocked to the beaches.

Stuart and Josh Maher were among them. Duo specialise in specimen hound fishing. The spirits were high and the fish didn’t disappoint.  the lads were on the hounds instantly,  fresh peelers did the trick again.

Josh started the session with beautiful 12 lber just for a good start.  Fish was coming steady through the course of the day.  But the real highlight was massive fish for Stuart topping scale at 14 lbs and measured nearly 120 cms. This fish took off like train and gave unbelievable fight.  Lads finished off with dozen of fish , rest being in around 6 to 8 lbs mark.

For everyone heading down to the east coast this week, have your fresh peelers handy, smooth hounds season is not over yet.

Irish Angling Update 🎣 1 September 2023

By
IFI staff
-

According to the meteorological calendar, the first day of September marks the beginning of autumn. It is actually hard to believe that our summer, which actually felt more like autumn for most of the time, has come to an end leaving just one more month for salmon and most trout anglers to pursue their passion.

Yet again, the weather this past week hasn’t been very kind to anglers and prospects for a more productive last month of the salmon season, which has been one of the poorest in recent years, aren’t looking promising either. Salmon fishing reports from all over the country have been very poor, to say the least with very few fish being reported from the Cork Blackwater and the other West Cork and Kerry rivers such as the Bandon and Laune. Lough Currane also saw a super quiet week so did the Moy in the northwest. The River Boyne, nevertheless, produced a cracking 18 lbs. fish to the fly but overall fishing was rather slow.

Salmon, Boyne, Ireland
Great 18lbs fly-caught salmon from the River Boyne ready for release

In the light of this and with salmon stocks on the decline and fishing getting more and more difficult and unpredictable, interested anglers might like to tune in to this week’s episode of Daire Whelan’s and Tom Doc Sullivan’s Ireland on the Fly podcast. This week the duo talk to passionate fly angler and conservationist Mark McAndrew about the Liffey Salmon project.

Trout fishing has also been on the slow side for most of the summer with just the occasional highlight for anglers on the big loughs. As far as flyfishing is concerned, the past week hasn’t been much different, at least on Loughs Conn & Cullin. Trolling, however, seems to be producing the better fish on Lough Corrib at the moment with guide Tomi Kurman putting clients over some great trout lately.

Super 73cm Corrib beauty

Coarse anglers continued to be quite active during the past week with a number of matches taking place throughout the country. Starting in the north, where the All Ireland Feeder Club Championships and Qualifiers took place on the River Blackwater at Argory, CM Lakelands scooped first prize qualifying for next year’s World Feeder Club Championships in Portugal.

CM Lakelands

Staying with coarse angling, plenty of junior anglers turned up to fish the Johnny Cunningham Memorial Competition 2023 on the Grand Canal near Tullamore last week, while there were two great performances from young anglers in the final round of the Oaklands Junior Summer League in Wexford with impressive bags of 52kg for John Mulligan (overall winner) and 30kg for Charlie Upton (novice section). Over in the east, Monasterevin and Fisherstown Match Anglers have brought a new festival to the Irish angling scene, hosting a two-day pairs event for the first-time last weekend. Ger Power sent in a report from a Belturbet venue where he enjoyed some great fishing catching a number of big bream together with plenty of other coarse fish such as roach, rudd and hybrids.

bream
Ger with one of his big Belturbet bream

Concluding our coarse angling news, Kevin Lyons tells us that Dutch guests Ron and Bert, who we reported on last week, had a great finish to their week at Melview Fishing Lodge with more fine bream, tench, hybrids and roach. Also staying at Melview (for the second time this year), Belgian anglers Jean-Pierre and son Nick, along with fishing buddy Alain enjoyed great coarse and pike fishing.

Dutch visitor Ron with a nice couple of tench

Mentioning pike, it has been very quiet on the predator front for the past few weeks. From now on, however, pike fishing should become more productive after the usually slower summer months. This is reflected in the reports we received this week. Damien Culliney from Anglers Paradise was recently guiding two anglers from Argentina on Lough Derg who had never fished for pike before. And what a first-time experience they had catching several pike over 90cm with the best fish of the day being a cracking 106cm Esox. Mick Flanagan, of Midlands Angling and Shooting also sent in a report. Mick teamed up with old pal Jimmy Murray who was home from New York, with Jimmy nailing a super 110cm fish on one of his own tyings, putting lures in clear second place on the day. This fly-caught 100cm plus fish deserves to win our Catch of the Week.

A smiling Jimmy with his 110cm fly-caught pike

Over to sea angling, where Donegal Bay based charter boats keep catching and tagging good numbers of bluefin tuna despite unvafourable conditions. Further south along the west coast, Luke Aston of Carrigaholt Sea Angling, Co. Clare, provided a great mix of fishing offshore and targeting predators in the estuary as well. His clients had porbeagle, blues, nice ray, some tope and conger.

Big thornback ray from the Shannon Estuary

On the east coast, Kit Dunne from Wicklow Boat Charters reported on good fishing for bullhuss, smoothhounds and tope, including some big tope up to specimen weight and huss of up to 110cm. Also in Wicklow, Greystones Ridge Angling Club held their annual tope festival last weekend, which attracted small-boat anglers from around the country to the east coast venue. Strong winds somewhat limited angling on the first day, but on day two, the winds dropped and fishing improved considerably.

Super east coast tope

Elsewhere, Killala Boat Club held a very successful fundraising competition for the Irish Youth and Junior shore teams at the weekend, fishing the beach outside Killala.

Finally, we would like to draw your attention to Cormac Walsh’s recent Lure Fishing Podcast where he chats with David Sølling Johnsen, an expert angler from Denmark who has specialized in coastal lure fishing for sea trout. Without doubt, David’s tips and tricks could be easily applied to our own saltwater sea trout fishing.

In other news

Fly anglers from Ireland and abroad will be delighted to hear that the Irish Fly Fair will be back again! The 11th annual Irish Fly Fair and International angling show will take place on 18th & 19th November 2023 at Enniskillen. For further information click here.

Salmon Angling Logbook Returns

Inland Fisheries Ireland is encouraging salmon and sea trout anglers to return angling logbooks (setting out their fishing and catch record) and any unused gill tags from 2023 if they have ceased fishing for this year or once the season has closed.

These returns provide vital information regarding the status and management of our wild Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout stocks into the future.

Clare River Bye-Law Consultation

A public consultation is now open on a proposed new bye-law for the Clare River and tributaries in Co. Galway, which involves a new bag limit for angling of 2 trout per day. Find out about it and how to make a submission here.

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme Funding

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is now open for funding applications, which angling clubs can apply for. The focus of ORIS is to support outdoor recreational infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland that not only provide an outlet for the communities in which they are situated, but that also deliver added value from a tourism perspective. Read our post about it here.

And now the weather…

Tomorrow Saturday will be mostly dry. Dull at first in places with areas of low cloud, mist and fog clearing in the morning to leave a day of sunny spells, turning hazier later, with just the chance of a few light showers. Highest temperatures of 19 to 22 degrees in light southerly or variable breezes. High pressure will dominate at the beginning of the week. It will be mild with plenty of sunshine and temperatures up to 24 or 25 degrees in light southeast to east or variable breezes. The outlook, however, is for the high pressure to gradually decline eastwards allowing for some rain or showers to move in.

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.

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    Good finish to the week for Dutch duo at Melview

    By
    IFI Staff
    -
    Dutch visitor Ron with a nice couple of tench

    Ron and Bert from the Netherlands, who we reported on last week at the start of their holiday, had a great finish to their week at Melview Fishing Lodge. Prebaiting and focusing on just a couple of venues during their week helped them to produce some fine catches of Bream, Tench, Hybrids and Roach.

    Tactics such as feeder fishing at a distance of 30 to 40 yards and experimenting with various hook baits seemed to be the way to go. The guys are no strangers to Ireland as they have stayed a few times now with Kevin at Melview Fishing Lodge.

    Bert with some nice Bream from his catch

    Melview Fishing Lodge host, Kevin Lyons, said, ‘The guys done very well with the water levels still very high at the start of their week and they deserved the catches they had due to the work and time they put into each session. Well done lads and thanks for the company – I hope to see you again soon’.

    ALL FISH RETURNED UNHARMED.

    Please fish in a sustainable manner

    Make a Booking

    Kevin Lyons – Melview Lodge

    Drumlish Road, Clonrollagh, Longford, Co. Longford
    Tel:+353(0)43-33-45061 Mobile:+353(0)87-268-7441
    E-mail: info@melviewlodge.com Web: www.melviewlodge.com

    Kevin has over 30 years experience of fishing in Ireland and is happy to offer a guided tour on your arrival, and to advise where the on-form waters in the area are. We can arrange your bait order so it’s here when you arrive. Melview offers free use of 17ft lake boats with engines to our guests (pay fuel only) and Kevin is happy to assist with any pre-baiting requests. Maps and other information regarding fishing are also available.

    Belgian Anglers enjoy another great week at Melview Fishing Lodge

    By
    IFI Staff
    -

    Belgian anglers Jean-pierre and son Nick, along with fishing buddy Alain, were visiting Melview Fishing Lodge for their second visit of 2023 and this time it was the normal Pike fishing for J.P and a spot of coarse fishing for Nick and Alain.

    As he was not using a boat this trip, J.P. decided to fish for pike in the company of the other two while they coarse fished. It was 14 Pike for J.P. in 5 days and for Nick and Alain it turned out to be some good Tench fishing along with mixed catches of Bream, Hybrids and Roach.

    Melview Lodge Host, Kevin Lyons, said, ‘These guys have now been coming and staying here since 2008; they know the waters very well and we are expecting to welcome them back in late Autumn for the Pike fishing. Thank you again guys and see you again soon’.

    ALL FISH RETURNED UNHARMED.

    Please fish in a sustainable manner

    Make a Booking

    Kevin Lyons – Melview Lodge

    Drumlish Road, Clonrollagh, Longford, Co. Longford
    Tel:+353(0)43-33-45061 Mobile:+353(0)87-268-7441
    E-mail: info@melviewlodge.com Web: www.melviewlodge.com

    Kevin has over 30 years experience of fishing in Ireland and is happy to offer a guided tour on your arrival, and to advise where the on-form waters in the area are. We can arrange your bait order so it’s here when you arrive. Melview offers free use of 17ft lake boats with engines to our guests (pay fuel only) and Kevin is happy to assist with any pre-baiting requests. Maps and other information regarding fishing are also available.

    Some more bluefin tuna reported from Donegal Bay

    By
    IFI staff
    -

    Despite unfavourable conditions for most of the time, some more bluefin tuna were caught in Donegal Bay during the past week.

    Adrian Molloy of tuna.ie reported a good number of fish for his clients, while Killybegs Fishing Trips also had some fine tuna ranging from 120 to 460 lbs.

    Please fish in a sustainable manner

    Go Fishing

    Authorised Bluefin Tuna Boats 2023

    Tuna CHART (Catch and Release, Tagging) Programme 2023

     

    Fishing rather quiet on Loughs Conn & Cullin

    By
    IFI staff
    -
    One of Peter Roche’s trout caught and released on Lough Conn last Saturday

    Steve Schreck reports from Loughs Conn & Cullin…

    Angling Report week ending 27/08/23

    Angling activity on the lakes last week has been limited and therefore not many angling reports were recieved.

    Peter Roche fished Brackwansha on Saturday in a big wave for two hours, catching and releasing two nice trout of about 1.5lbs on a Claret Bumble and Red Arsed Green Peter.

    Ballina / Cloghans Angling Club held the ‘Lodge Cup’ competition on Sunday 27th on Lough Conn.  The conditions were good, but only 4 fish were weighed in.

    Joint winners were Tom ‘Doc’ Sullivan and Mark Deveney with fish of 567g exactly.

    Second place went to Brian Creedon.

    Third place went to Peter Roche.

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