Paddy Dunworth of Celtic Angling has been busy guiding in the Limerick area over the past week or so. During that time, he has welcomed guests from Essex in the UK, as well as Missouri, Colorado and California in the USA. Some were newcomers to the sport, while others were experienced anglers, and all tried their hand at fly fishing on the River Maigue. Breezy conditions made things tricky, but they all managed to get a trout or two, and will no doubt bring back plenty of memories when they return to their home waters.
Visiting anglers enjoy some fishing with Celtic Angling
Badged Fly-fishing Guide and Instructor for wild brown trout on Co. Limerick’s rivers Deel and Maigue.
Notes: Based near the picturesque village of Adare(Ireland’s Prettiest Village)
Paddy has been delivering personal guiding for wild brown trout on local streams and rivers for 25 years now. He is a qualified Marine and Countryside Guide and offers Fly-casting tuition for beginners and improvers.
Paddy replies promptly to all queries, email best so I have reference record of details in the event of a follow-up booking. Deposit not usually required as advice of accommodation suffices in lieu.
Tackle and gear hire
Full fly outfit/waders etc. on hire also for those wishing to go alone.
Innovative lure maker and angler Artem Novikov of Makeshiftlures was in touch to tell us of his pursuit of tench with custom-designed homemade lures:
My theory was that tench eat natural food sources such as caddis, mayfly, damsels, dragonfly and other nymphs. So if I make a lure small enough and buggy looking so it can imitate a nymph but nothing in particular, then tench surely will take a bite at it.
I came up with a pattern that has rubber legs, dubbing on the body two hen pheasant feathers at the front and more rubber legs. Colour of the lure is olive, as it seems to be the most common colour of the nymphs.
Arrived at the lake before sunrise and cleared the spot with a rake and fed it with my usual mix of Weetabix, digestive biscuits and bread. The feed was only needed to attract tench to the spot, and once they are there, to be casting around with a tench lure in hopes of a bite.
I would cast to the far end of the clear spot, let the lure sink and retrieve it very slowly with pauses letting it sink each time to the bottom. Bites would come suddenly usually when I least expect it. When the lure would sink to the bottom and I would start ro real it in again usually Tench already have taken it and I would feel first heavy fish at the end of the line and when tench knows he is hooked then the runs pulls and head shakes would come.
It’s great fun to be catching tench on a light spinning rod and a small lure. It is definitely an unusual way of catching them for me.
I fished all day from the morning to about 8pm. Managed to catch 5 fish all in around 45cm to 48cm”
Not content with fishing the usual haunts, Alin Dragan likes to beat his own path to the water, searching for unfished swims that hold their own secrets. In the latest episode on his YouTube channel, Alin explores a new water, seeking specimen tench and bream – here’s his intro:
Fishing in Ireland for specimen tench and bream during early spring can uncover some truly forgotten waters, and this hidden Irish lake felt like stepping back in time. In this session, I explore an overgrown, rarely fished lake in Ireland in search of wild tench and big bream that still thrive untouched in these quiet waters.
With old boats, dense cover, and barely any angling pressure, this place had all the signs of a forgotten specimen fishing paradise. After hearing stories about this abandoned-style lake, I decided to set up for a short early spring fishing session targeting tench and bream on traditional tactics. What I found shocked me – beautiful dark fish, untouched surroundings, and a water that genuinely feels like nobody fishes anymore.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to Alin’s channel – you can also check out his socials below:
After the hot weather last week, several IFI managed fisheries closed due to water temperatures exceeding 20C on Thursday. Cooler weather followed in the second half of the week, and water temperatures have declined sufficiently by yesterday evening to allow the Galway and Erriff fisheries to reopen from today, June 2.
The Cloongee Fishery was closed earlier this week due to elevated water temperatures. It will reopen for angling on Saturday morning 30th May as the water temperatures have cooled sufficiently.
Anglers are reminded that they must make a “Catch/No Catch” return and place it in the catch return boxes located in the two car parks. Catch/No Catch returns can also be made by email to [email protected]
Well, it seems we went from spring to high summer overnight this week, as temperatures soared from the mid-teens to the high twenties earlier in the week. An intense high pressure zone spread westwards from Europe, bringing a very warm airmass and very light winds, and boy did it feel warm! The previous May high temperature record of 28.4C from 1997 was broken at several weather stations in the south and west of the country, as well as many stations recording their local May record highs.
High temperatures are not good for many of our fish species, and IFI has implemented its warm water protocol on several fisheries, which have closed due to water temperatures breaching 20C. The Galway, Erriff and Cloongee fisheries remain closed, while others are being monitored. Thankfully, the heat has broken since yesterday, with temperatures reaching just 17-23C today, and hopefully water temperatures will react accordingly.
Coarse fish are not as badly affected by the heat, and we have plenty of coarse angling reports to bring you. Festivals and competitions are in full swing. On Inniscarra, Dale Malpas weighed in over 34kg to take the three day Ottewill Trophy.
On the Grand Canal, Monasterevin Anglers faced tough conditions with heat and bright sunshine, but Colin Oliver still managed a very respectable 15lbs to take the win. Oaklands Fishery in Wexford is fishing very well, with John Browne weighing an incredible 86kgs to take the second leg of the summer league there. Back to the canal, and Athy Anglers had difficult fishing conditions, where just under 4lbs was enough to hand Willian Coughlan a win in the club match there.
Elsewhere, visiting UK anglers in Longford were not restricted to match pegs and took full advantage of prebaiting to land some great catches of bream and tench, while staying at Melview Lodge, showcasing some of the incredible wild coarse fishing that can be found in the Hidden Heartlands.
Sea angling really takes off at this time of year, with sea temperatures improving and more species showing up. Mark Gannon reports the first skate of the season for clients of Courtmacsherry Angling Centre, a lovely female flapper skate of 122cm.
Simon McLarnon won’t be forgetting a measuring mat next time, after catching and releasing what could have been a specimen ballan wrasse without measuring it while fishing out of Lough Swilly, in Co. Donegal. Measuring mats can be purchased from our online shop here, just saying… 😉
It looks the part, but was it a specimen? As Simon says “I suppose I will just have to go back and catch it again!”
Bass were plentiful for the Mick Kearney Open, hosted by South Shore SAC at Kilmuckridge, where Alby Allan had 13 bass to take a zone win, but 6 valuable dogfish in a haul of 17 fish gave James Ryan the overall win.
Speaking of pollack, we have a reminder that from Monday June 1st there is a 3 fish catch limit of pollack per angler per day.
In Cork Harbour, Piotr Nowakowski won the Cobh SAC competition, with 38 fish, and fishing was reported as very good with nice rays and bull huss among 6 species and some potential specimen fish.
And in the Shannon Estuary and west Clare, charter boats reported good mixed fishing. Sean Maguire reported good pollack and coalfish, while Luke Aston says there are some nice mackerel about, and a run up the estuary for tope proved fruitless for tope, but did produce a beautiful, and rare, angel shark, which wins Catch of the Week.
And a late report, straight from skipper David Edwards from the boat (still at sea) of the first blue shark and porbeagle for the year. Well done David!
To pike angling now, and the Nations Cup was held on Lough Ree last Sunday, in glorious warm sunshine that made for difficult fishing. 84 anglers from various nationalities competed in pairs, with Ireland and Poland tied at the top. You can read more on the competition here.
Bodo Funke reports great pike fishing, both on fly and lure, for clients in the Boyle area over the past couple of weeks. Plenty of fish over the metre mark gave quite a few anglers some fine memories to take home.
Salmon fishing has been pretty quiet this week, given the warm conditions. A few grilse were reported from the Flesk in Co. Kerry last week, as well as one spring salmon from the Laune. Lough Currane is very quiet in the heat, with no fish reported. There were fish reported from a number of fisheries along the Moy last week, with East Mayo the most productive with 14 salmon landed. However, the warm weather has resulted in a number of IFI fisheries being closed until water temperatures fall back.
Dan O’Neill reports that early and late fishing is the order of the day on rivers this week, given the high temperatures. Quite a few mayfly have been hatching on the Nore, as well as sedges, but trout are taking very small nymph patterns and small dries.
Over on Lough Conn, wet and dry mayfly patterns were working well for Padraic Traynor, while good fishing was reported from Loughs Fadda and Barfinnihy in Co. Kerry. On Lough Sheelin, the Kilbride Anglers endured tough conditions, and fishing, in a daytime competition on Saturday, where Conor Graham won with a trout of 20.8 inches in the catch-and-release event. Many competitors stayed on for the spent gnat going out in the evening, with perfect conditions, and reported some great catches for the evening rise.
Cooler than earlier in the week, although mainly dry and bright for the rest of today.
Mostly cloudy conditions in the west to begin tomorrow, Saturday, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, gradually spreading eastwards as the day goes on. Some bright or hazy spells of sunshine will develop in the afternoon and evening but there’ll be some heavy showers around too, particularly across parts of Ulster, where there is a chance of an isolated thunderstorm. Highest temperatures of 15 to 21 degrees, with light to moderate southerly breezes.
Variable cloud, sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday. It’ll turn cloudier from the southwest later in the day, with patchy rain and drizzle developing along Atlantic coasts in the evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, warmest in the east, with light to moderate southwesterly winds.
Mostly cloudy and damp to begin on Bank Holiday Monday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, breaking up into showers and sunny spells as the day goes on. Some of the showers could turn heavy later. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, again warmest in the east, with moderate southwest to west winds.
Further Outlook: Changeable and at times unsettled with a mobile Atlantic regime dominating. Temperatures trending near average, with daytime highs in the mid-teens generally.
Don’t forget to double-check the forecast before heading off, and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.
Skipper David Edwards was in touch today to to report the first blue shark and the first porbeagle we have heard about this year. He is fishing about 8 miles off the Seven Heads (he called in this report from the boat) and drifting towards shore with the southerly winds.
He met the sharks closer to shore than he would have expected for the time of year. So far he has had one blue shark and one small porbeagle and they lost a third larger fish.
1 of 2
First blue shark of 2026
First porbeagle shark of 2026
David is no stranger to catching sharks early in the season. Last year he caught the first blue shark of the season on May 11th. In 2024 he did the double as well, catching and releasing the first porbeagle of the year on January 10th and the first blue shark of the year on May 24th.
41′ Rodman 1250. Twin 430 HP Engines Skipper: David Edwards Licence: P5 Licence Base: Courtmacsherry Operational Area:60 miles to sea from ports from Kinsale to Portmagee
Authorised blue fin tuna boat 2025
Notes:The range of fishing found within close range of Courtmacsherry is superb, with trips producing anything between 6 and 15 different species as a norm and in excess of 20 is possible if anglers are prepared to change methods and use different baits and lures throughout their trip. As a rule mackerel, pollock, cod and ling are usually encountered but several species of wrasse along with whiting, pouting, coalfish, bull huss, conger and many more are often added to the catch.
If you do choose to head offshore to sample the superb shark fishing available within 10 miles of Courtmacsherry, there is a very strong chance of encountering blue sharks and an increasing chance of bringing a porbeagle shark to the boat.
Padraic Traynor reported being out on Lough Conn on Monday 18th and Friday 22nd May with a good return of 10 trout over the two days weighing approximately 14 lbs in total.
Both dry and wet flies worked well mainly in Mayfly patterns.
The Aiden Connor Cup Competition was fished on Lough Conn on Sunday 24th May with eighteen anglers returning five trout.
Water continued to fluctuate at Ballylahan from 0.45 m on Sun 17th up to 0.53 m by noon on Sunday 24th May. An improvement in weather conditions locally this past week and water levels dropping consistently now combined with rising temperatures should make angling a more enjoyable pursuit than during the recent cold spell.
Gannon’s Fishery
Pat reports of four salmon caught for the week of which two were released with the prawn working best.
Foxford Fishery
Granville reports of three salmon caught of which one was released with the best being 13 lbs, caught spinning.
Foxford Salmon Anglers
Harry Reports of six salmon caught for the week of which three were released. Grilse were reported as starting to appear.
Cloongee Fishery
Four salmon were reported caught for the week of which three were released with the heaviest being 16 lbs caught spinning.
East Mayo Anglers Association
Kathleen reports of fourteen salmon caught for the week of which three were released. The heaviest fish weighed 11 lbs with all methods working.
Warm Water Protocol
Temperatures rose sharply this week, with air temperatures in the high twenties, and water temperatures rising quickly. If water temperatures rise over 20C, the State fisheries will close. Already Cloongee Fishery has risen over 20C and is now closed. IFI are monitoring water temps at Ballina and Ballyvary. Anglers are advised to check with the fishery before travelling.
Notes: Based near the picturesque village of Adare (Ireland’s Prettiest Village)
Silver Dawn
