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Getting to grips with kayak angling in West Cork

By
Myles Kelly
-

David Norman of Angling Adventures West Cork reports from West Cork…

Had a great first Guided Kayak trip of the season with Graham from the midlands.

I first met Graham when walking the beach here last year and he contacted me to book a “Try before you buy” kayak trip with me which was duly arranged for him. By the time the trip came round he’d already purchased a Vibe Kayaks Shearwater 125 from Darrens Kayaks so the brief changed to a fast-track coaching!

 

Maiden voyage
Maiden voyage

I spent 2 hrs talking to Graham on the pre trip call about tides, weather, how to read beaches, surf and anything at all he wanted to ask me that would keep him safe and help him get started as a saltwater kayak angler.

Getting to grip with the kayak

When the day finally came for the trip we were blessed with amazing sunshine, moderate winds and some swell which created the ideal training environment for us to work with.

When we finally got round to the fishing part I focused on fine tuning all the angling basics to the kayak fishing scenario (Which can differ a fair bit from shore fishing) – and eliminating the bad habits that cost you fish and easily damage rods!

Pollack!

As the coaching kicked in we started to pick up Pollack of a good average size, including a double hook up and a couple of larger fish. No monsters and no Wrasse yet but it’s only just beginning and results will improve as the season progresses.

Standout bait again was the Orange Pirate Lures Corsair Baitfish (Cheb rigged).

I’ll be back…

Graham assures me he’ll be back soon to continue the journey, if anybody else is in a similar stage their kayak fishing or just wanting to try it all for the first time get in touch and we’ll make a plan with you – [email protected]

Make a booking…

Angling Adventures West Cork

Address Clonakilty Cork Ireland Mobile Phone: +353858492691 Website: anglingadventureswestcork.ie
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30th Clones Coarse Angling Festival – July 31st to Aug 3rd

By
Paul O'Reilly
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The landmark 30th edition of the Clones Angling Festival will be taking place from Friday 31st July to Monday 3rd August 2026.

Four days of top-class angling, great craic, friendly competition and the famous Clones hospitality await once again in the heart of County Monaghan.

Sections fished in 2025 included Mullinary, Annaghmakerrig, Drumate and Bream Rock, it was a close-run finale in the end, with John Potters pipping Mick Schopen by 270 grams on the final day and Perry Fairclough bagging a super final day 25kg+ to take third overall.

The festival is going from strength to strength, and there are even more anglers signed up for 2026; with places running out fast, anyone interested should get in touch.

  • Daily Draw: 9am
  • Venue: Creighton Hotel, Clones
  • Bookings: 086 837 1169 or 07711 607200

Clones coarse angling centre

No Muckno magic this week for match anglers

By
Paul O'Reilly
-
Muckno

The CM Lakelands Feeder Club held a match on the Yellow Island section of Lough Muckno on Sunday with 15 anglers competing. As could be expected on the match stretches, fishing was very hard, with many of the target species away from the sections on their annual spawning migration.

Kevin Norcliffe won the match on the day, catching perch, hybrids and a few skimmers to weigh in with 5.180 kg from peg 208.

Adrian Van Der Heever wasn’t too far behind Kevin. Adrian caught nearly all perch and some hybrids to weigh 5.080 kg from peg 211, finishing 2nd overall.

Yevhen Kuslyvyi finished 3rd overall from peg 203; he caught hybrids and skimmers to weigh 4.320 kg.

SECTION WINNERS

  • Robert Nolan: 2.450 kg
  • Mick Smith 1.200kg
  • Graham Worley 3.080 kg

Lough Muckno

UK regulars have some good catches of Bream and Tench.

By
Shane O'Reilly
-

Angling guide Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge had some UK anglers visiting to experience some wild bream and tench fishing in the Midlands:

Len and John from the UK were once again over for their annual fishing trip and once again produced results, prebaiting the night before and then out at 04:30 in the morning certainly paid off for them. Host and guide Kevin said, every year these guys put in the work and 9 out of 10 times always have some good catches of fish. Well done, guys, and thank you once again for your company and a great week, and we look forward to seeing you again next year.

Len with part of his Bream catch.

John with a few of his Bream and Tench.

Len with a great mixed catch of Bream and Tench.

ALL FISH RETURNED UNHARMED.

Elvin, a long-time visitor to Melview Fishing Lodge, was here for his yearly fishing trip. At the time of his visit, the weather really started to warm up and seemed to slow things down a little. He started on a venue using the feeder fished at 25 yards and managed a few Bream, Skimmers and Roach, but it soon became apparent that the fish really were not in the feeding mood due to the change in the weather. That did not stop him, he just went back to what he likes doing best, and that is pole fishing the canal, and he managed a few nice Tench during that time, so fair play to him. Thanks again, mate, and hope to see you again soon.

Elvin with a nice couple of canal Tench.

ALL FISH RELEASED UNHARMED.

Go Fishing…

Melview Lodge

Address Drumlish Road Clonrollagh Longford Ireland Phone: +3534345061 Website: melviewlodge.com
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Regular Pike anglers from Italy have a nice four days at Melview Fishing Lodge

By
Shane O'Reilly
-

Kevin Lyons from Melview Lodge was hosting some Italian guests last week:

Regular Pike angler Diego from Italy decided to bring his friend Igor with him for his annual fishing trip to Melview Fishing Lodge. Igor has never been fishing in Ireland before so it was a bit of an adventure for him.

Igor with his first-ever Irish pike

Using mainly lures they managed 29 Pike to 90cm in 3 days fishing along with a few good one’s lost, thanks for the company and laughs over the 4 days and look forward to welcoming you back next year.

Diego with one of his pike

ALL FISH RETURNED UNHARMED.

Go Fishing…

Melview Lodge

Address Drumlish Road Clonrollagh Longford Ireland Phone: +3534345061 Website: melviewlodge.com
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Cloongee Fishery, Galway Fishery and River Erriff close as water temperatures climb

By
Myles Kelly
-
The Galway Fishery

Salmon anglers are advised that Cloongee Fishery on the River Moy, the Galway Fishery and the River Erriff have closed due to high water temperatures.

We are monitoring the Ballyvary Fishery currently and will advise if the criteria for closure are met.

Closed fisheries will only re-open where at least two water temperature readings, taken 6 hours apart, measure less than 18°C.

Anglers in areas where warm water temperatures are being experienced are urged to minimise fish handling and report any fish in distress to 1890 34 74 24.

Please be advised that there may be further closures at fisheries if water temperatures continue to rise.

Bass and pollack on fly for tourists fishing Cork Harbour

By
Myles Kelly
-

Richie Ryan the Eire Bass guide was out with clients during the week, the guide takes up the story. And so my guiding season has started. I haven’t been aboard Sea Hawk very often due to the unrelenting wind.

For me, Pollack on the Fly has been really good , not normally this productive this early.

Nadya Shewczyk with a fly caught bass aboard SeaHawk
Nadya Shewczyk with a fly caught bass aboard SeaHawk

Two Americans, Nadya Shewczyk and David Mills had a look online and found my business. Interestingly, I put a question to ChatGPT recently, “where can I  go saltwater Fly Fishing from a licensed  boat in Ireland“. There was only one answer, Eire Bass in Cobh Co. Cork! The American couple both had Bass in the first couple of casts, not what you’d expect. As my great friend Kevin McLaughlin said when I told him, “If you told anybody that they wouldn’t believe you!”.  In addition we had plenty of Pollack on the fly, a new experience for them. 

Australians, Steve, Brook Hormung and his son Ted fishing with Richie Ryan
Australians, Steve, Brook Hormung and his son Ted fishing with Richie Ryan

 

Three Australians also decided to book me this week. Brook Harmung, his son Ted and his father-in-law Steve also decided to have a crack off my saltwater Fly Fishing experience aboard Sea Hawk. Plenty of Pollack on the fly were netted and released during a 3 hour session. Even 4.5year old Ted managed to land a few fish. They were thrilled with the outing. Overall a productive few days.

Make a booking…

Eire Bass

Address Cobh Cork Ireland Mobile Phone: +353 86 1940744 Website: corkbass.com
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IFI advises high temperatures may close fisheries

By
Myles Kelly
-

Updates: As of 28 May Cloongee, the Galway Fishery and the River Erriff have closed due to high water temperatures.

We are monitoring the Ballyvary Fishery currently and will advise if the criteria for closure are met.

Please be advised that there may be further closures at fisheries as water temperatures continue to rise.

27 May 2026

Over the last few days water temperatures have been climbing and on some rivers the temperatures are a cause for concern. During periods of warmer water temperatures, all anglers should take extra precautions while fishing to ensure the welfare of the fish they catch. We recommend keeping any fish you catch in the water while unhooking and limiting exposure to air where possible.

Moy Fishery and Cloongee

In addition, IFI advises that the Moy Fishery and Cloongee on the River Moy in Mayo may be closed to protect fish from potentially lethal thermal stress.

Water temperatures above 18°C can cause species such as Atlantic salmon and brown trout to suffer thermal stress.

Fisheries will be closed when two individual spot checks record water temperatures at or in excess of 20°C  in a single 24 hour period.

Anglers should contact the Moy Fishery Office to check the latest advice before travelling.

Moy Fishery: 096 21332 or 096 22669, [email protected]

Please remember to report any instances of distressed fish, fish kills, illegal fishing, pollution to IFI’s confidential 24/7 number on 0818 34 74 24.

Reminder: Three fish daily bag-limit for pollack from 01 June

By
Myles Kelly
-
Well-fed pollack

A daily bag-limit of three pollack per angler comes into force on 01 June 

The Pollack Fishing Conservation Bye-Law (No. 1028 of 2026) gives national effect to EU measures relating to recreational pollack fishing, as set out in EU Regulation 2026/249 on Fishing Opportunities.

These measures are being introduced in response to scientific advice from the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which indicates that pollack stocks in the Celtic Seas areas, including waters around Ireland, are at low levels and that catches should be restricted in order to support stock recovery.

This bye-law introduces a daily bag-limit of three pollack per angler. Once this limit is reached, anglers may continue to fish on a catch and release basis. Daily bag limits and catch and release are a commonly used fisheries conservation measures, both nationally and internationally, to reduce fishing pressure while continuing to allow recreational angling activity. The bye-law will come into effect from 1 June 2026.

Pollack is an important species for recreational angling in Ireland and is a key target species for many sea anglers and charter boat operators. This sector has demonstrated a strong commitment to conservation and, for many years, have voluntarily practised catch and release angling and supported data collection under the Irish Marine Recreational Fishing Survey (IMREC), managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is helping to improve our scientific understanding of recreational fishing activity.

All ireland Feeder Club Championship – This Weekend @ Inniscarra

By
Shane O'Reilly
-

The NCFFI are hosting the All ireland Feeder Club Championships this weekend on Inniscarra Reservoir:

A reminder to clubs that the 2026 All Ireland Feeder Club Championship takes place this weekend at Inniscarra Lake.

New for 2026, club teams now consist of four anglers, making it easier for more clubs to get involved and submit one or more teams.

This two-day feeder-only event gives clubs the opportunity to compete under full international rules in a team angling format, returning to one of Ireland’s premier feeder venues, with quality fishing expected across all sections.

Inniscarra Lake
Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st May 2026
Entry Fee – €25 per team
€100 pools collected on the day and shared among the top teams and individuals
Check-in: 08:30 O’Callaghans Bar & Guest House
Draw: 08:45
Open to all NCFFI affiliated clubs
Register Here: https://www.ncffi.ie/events/26ffcq/

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