The Delphi Fishery opened on the 1st of February, with good water conditions for much of the month. Fisahing has been slow enough, with the first salmon falling to the rod of well-known Westport angler Toby Gibbons on the 12th. The lovely fresh fish took a Posh Tosh tube fly in the Waterfall Pool and was approx. 9lbs. Toby said he “got a great batlle from it, but thankfully it was well hooked”. Our congratulations to Toby on his achievement.
A second fish followed on the 4th of March, a nice fish of approx. 9lbs, caught in the Meadow Pool on a Night Star by Werner, and a third to the same rod on Sunday the 8th, just shy of 8lbs from the Rock Pool, again on a Night Star.
And on Wednesday morning this week, Alan Molly landed a fine fish of approx. 10,5lbs from the Waterfall Pool on a Tosh.
Fishery manager David McEvoy reports lovely water at the time of writing, and hopefully fishing picks up further now.
Go fishing…
At Delphi Lodge, with many years of experience with the timing of the best runs of fish, we have in place a price system that offers both great value fishing and lets our anglers know when they have the best chance to catch a fresh run spring salmon or a summer grilse or Delphi sea trout.
The Irish Angling Adventure Community is a new group set up by James Raymond of Irish Angling Adventures, with the aim of organising friendly meetups at various fishing venues around the south and west coasts. These are a great opportunity for new, or returning anglers, to meet fellow enthusiasts, pick up some tips and enjoy a few hours fishing in the company of new friends.
The next meetup has now been scheduled for Sunday 29th March, at Carrigaholt beach, Co. Clare. Meeting between 10 and 11am, with fishing from 11-3.30 or so.
If you have any friends or know anyone that would be interested in joining don’t forget to share the page with them so that they can stay up to date.
Join In
If you fancy joining the community, and fishing a new venue, learning a few new tricks, or just meeting some likeminded anglers, check out the Facebook page here, or for those not on Facebook, check out Irish Angling Adventures, where you can sign up for email updates from James.
Lough Corrib opened on the 15th of February, with cold and fairly wet conditions prevailing for much of the first two weeks. Guide Jasper Matthews of Wild Atlantic Atlantic Experiences fished with Keith McDonnell from Impact Flyfishing on opening day, and no one will be surprised to learn that fishing streamers was the order of the day. Despite water temps of 5 degrees and changeable weather, the lads met a few fish on articulated streamers, and finished with one trout each to the boat.
Keith with a nice Corrib trout
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Trolling has been the most successful method so far, with angling guide Kevin Molloy of Baurisheen Boat Hire reporting some good fishing on the troll. Kevin was out one day with daughter Katie and they had 8 fish to 3lbs, while another day Bernard McMahon was his guest and he boated 3 nice trout. A couple from Malta braved the weather and had 4 fish to the boat as well.
Flyfishing is starting to pick up, and Kevin reported 4 trout to the fly on Sunday the 8th, fishing with brother Eamon. Kevin reports a few duckfly starting to hatch off in the Oughterard area.
Katie Mpolloy enjoyed her day out with Dad
Guide Padraic Fahy from Birchall Bay B&B also reports reasonable early sport to the fly, with his anglers boating 1-2 fish per angler per day to wet fly. Fiery Brown and Silver Dabbler were the top flies, fished on intermediate lines. Padraic says there have been hatches of the smaller midge, but the bigger duckfly is patchy enough yet.
At the time of writing, the main duckfly hatch looks like starting the week of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, so the fishing should pick up then and we hope to have more reports in soon.
The Connacht Open Shore Gold Medal competition will be hosted by Killala Boat & Shore Angling Club on Sunday, March 29th. The venue is Enniscrone beach, with check-in at 9am and fishing from 10am to 3pm. Presentation in the car park afterwards.
This is always a very competitive event and is sure to attract some top anglers from all over. For details and to enter, see the flyer below:
The Irish Kayak Angling Club have released the dates for their All-Ireland competition series:
Time to start getting excited for the year ahead! The dates have been set for the 2026 series of our All-Ireland Championships meets.
Highlights of the year for both competitive anglers and those who just want to spend time on the water in good company, IKA meets are not to be missed!
For more information on how to take part, head over to the forum!
For information on the Irish Kayak Angling Club, check them out here.
Simon McLarnon was in touch with a report of some tough fishing on Saturday on Lower Lough Erne.
The Aidan McLaughlin Memorial Cup Pike Fishing Competition took place at Muckross Loughshore Path, at Kesh on Lower Lough Erne.
Twelve competitors were expected but only six could make it on the day. Fishing conditions were tough with a chilly onshore breeze in the anglers faces all day, hampering casting and blowing equipment and the odd mobile phone into the Lough!
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Fishing was slow with a single 5lb pike caught by Simon McLarnon who won the tournament and prize for the largest pike in a single stroke. A few of the other competitors had dropped runs and missed bites, but the pike simply were not interested today!
Thank you to Barry McGovern of Dromore Fishing Tackle for sponsoring the event and providing generous prizes, and to Dean Irwine and the members of the Dromore Angling Club for organising and running the event.
The National Biodiversity Data Centre has a number of initiatives aimed at protecting Ireland’s biodiversity. One programme seeks to tackle the problem of invasive species, something that poses a serious threat to our environment, including all our waterways. Over the next while, we’ll be featuring some content from the NBDC, aimed at engaging and informing anglers about invasive species and what we can do to combat their spread. The latest message is below, with more to follow over the coming months.
Personal Biosecurity Kits – The new essential tackle box
Tackle boxes and fishing kits come in all shapes and sizes and the same can be said for biosecurity. Tackle boxes are essential for protecting gear and keeping everything in order and packing a personal biosecurity kit helps anglers in protecting the natural environment.
Personal biosecurity kits contain key tools that help anglers to Check Clean Dry all gear and clothing. It is the must have item to protect the sport we love by stopping the spread of invasive species!
“Personal biosecurityrefers to the measures taken by an individual to minimise the risk of introducing and spreading invasive species through potentially contaminated clothing, equipment and gear.
Even the most basic and simple biosecurity measures are effective, stopping the spread of invasive species. You do not need many items in your kit to practise good biosecurity.
Here is an essential shopping list for a personal biosecurity kit:
Stiff scrubbing brush
Quick drying towel
Hoofpick
Washing up bowl/container
Pump sprayer/spray gun
Method
CHECK all clothing and gear for any visible material. Using the hoofpick and brush, scrub and remove any mud/plant matter off gear and clothing. Any visible material that is removed, leave on site.
CLEAN your gear in the washing up bowl using the sprayer of freshwater (add disinfectant to the sprayer if you cannot fully dry your equipment) and empty the bowl away from the water course or storm drains.
DRY all clothing and equipment at home for as long as possible.
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Note: If you cannot clean at the site, you can pack away your clothing and gear in a laundry bag (or something similar) and clean with hot tap water when you return home, before entering a new waterbody.
Following a biosecurity routine before and after your fishing trip shows good practice to others who visit these water bodies regularly. For more information visit: Angling – Invasives.ie
Florent from Pike Pro Ireland, a guiding and accommodation business on Lough Derg, sent us in a report of a recent day’s pike fishing on Derg.
Quiet Morning
We enjoyed a calm and peaceful day on the water in mid-February, with a gentle drizzle and no wind—a perfect setting for a quiet fishing trip. The morning started slow, with only a few small pike making an appearance, testing our patience.
Afternoon Action!
But the afternoon was pure excitement! The pike were hungry and active, and we ended up landing 8 pike, including 3 over a meter and 3 around 90+ cm. The star lures of the day were large softbaits and jerks, which brought some spectacular strikes and unforgettable action.
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It was a day that reminded us why we love pike fishing—sometimes it takes a little patience, but the rewards are incredible.
If you’d like to experience a guided pike fishing day like this, check out our website and book your adventure here: https://www.pikeproireland.com/contact
Pike Pro Ireland, a company dedicated to organising pike fishing holidays in Ireland, based on one of the country’s most renowned fishing areas: Lough Derg and its surrounding waters.
Our aim is to offer authentic, well-organised and productive fishing experiences, whether for experienced anglers or for those discovering Irish pike fishing for the first time. With a strong knowledge of the local waters and seasonal conditions, we help anglers make the most of the exceptional pike fishing Ireland is famous for.
We provide tailor-made, turnkey fishing stays, including comfortable accommodation, access to selected fishing spots, either independently or with professional guidance.
Every stay is designed to combine efficiency, comfort and enjoyment in a preserved natural environment.
We place great importance on personal service, reliability and a genuine passion for fishing, ensuring each guest enjoys a memorable and rewarding angling experience in Ireland.
We also offer the rental of fully equipped boats and belly boats, perfectly adapted for pike fishing in Irish waters. Each boat is carefully prepared to ensure safety, comfort and efficiency on the water, and all the essential equipment needed for a successful fishing session. ( live jacket, pliers, net, measuring board, sonar, anchor, drift anchor …)
With the arrival of meteorological spring on 1 March, the past week has brought largely settled conditions across Ireland, with plenty of dry weather, cool nights and some pleasant sunny spells during the day. Some areas, however, experienced extended periods of rain, keeping water levels persistently high. While early season salmon and trout fishing remains relatively quiet, as is often the case at this time of year, more trout fisheries have recently opened or are due to open shortly, which should see activity increase in the weeks ahead.
In his latest Piscari-Fly newsletter, Peter Driver highlights some early-season trout action and reports on the TAFI All Ireland Banks, recently held at Laois Angling Centre. He also previews the upcoming angling fairs in Ireland, offering information that will be of interest not just to game anglers but to the wider angling community.
Early season trout success
In the meantime, there have been some encouraging reports from pike and coarse anglers, with a number of good catches reported despite the still cool water temperatures and elevated water levels.
We received a report from Alex, who enjoyed some entertaining bank fishing for pike on the Shannon near Tarmonbarry, while the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs shared the results of their recent qualifier on the River Barrow, which produced some solid catches, including a few doubles. To wrap up our pike section, we’d like to highlight Steve McDonagh’s latest YouTube video, showcasing an incredible session on a Co. Meath pike venue…definitely worth a watch! While on the topic of YouTube, don’t miss episode 5 of “Fly vs. Jerk”, going live this evening, where you can see how the Irish team Wildhunter performed on the final day of this prestigious competition.
Decent bags were caught at the final round of the VDE Baggers winter league
Finally, over to sea angling, where reports have mainly focused on shore-based fishing in the southwest, with charter boat activity remaining limited.
A new angling community has been established by James Raymond of Irish Angling Adventures, aimed at organising friendly meetups at various fishing venues along the south and west coasts. Last weekend, the Irish Angling Adventure Community met for the second time at Fenit Causeway, a well-known shore mark in Kerry. The outing produced plenty of whiting for all participants, with a beautiful 83cm undulate ray providing the highlight of the day. If you’d like to join the community to explore new venues, learn a few tricks, or simply meet like-minded anglers, check out Irish Angling Adventures.
Our Catch of the Week, however, goes to David Norman of Angling Adventures West Cork, who enjoyed a fantastic start to the season fishing for thick-lipped mullet, including two specimens over the 55cm mark!
Specimen Thick-lipped
David Norman with one of his thick-lipped mullet
Other news
Angling guide and casting instructor Dan O’Neill got in touch to let us know that APGAI Ireland has launched a new website. The updated site makes it much easier to get in touch with APGAI instructors and includes links to social media channels, as well as details of the events APGAI Ireland will be attending and what will be on offer.
With the arrival of spring, angling activity on Irish waters is set to pick up. In this context, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is reminding anglers and watercraft owners to help prevent the spread of invasive species by thoroughly checking, cleaning, and drying their boats and equipment when moving between waterways.
And now the weather
Tonight will be dry with clear spells at first, though some cloud will spread in from the south and west towards morning. Temperatures will fall to between -1 and +4°C, remaining a little milder along Atlantic coastal areas.
The weekend will start largely dry, with Saturday bringing sunny spells and just the chance of a few isolated light showers. Conditions will turn more unsettled on Sunday, with plenty of cloud and rain developing in the west and spreading eastwards later in the day.
Looking ahead to next week, low pressure is expected to dominate, bringing changeable conditions with spells of rain, breezy weather and occasional brighter intervals, while temperatures will generally range between 8 and 12°C.
Don’t forget to double-check the forecast before heading off, and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.
Ever wondered what it takes to become an APGAI Ireland casting instructor or fly tyer? Or perhaps you are looking for an instructor or guide in your area? The APGAI Ireland website has had a complete overhaul and is now packed with useful information.
The website not only features a list of our members and the services they provide, but also includes a blog page where you can read articles from some well-known anglers and members of APGAI Ireland. The syllabi for casting and fly tying are also available to view, including both qualified and advanced levels.
The new site makes it much easier to contact one of our members and begin your APGAI journey, should you wish to do so. You will also find links to our social media channels, where we will share updates on the shows and events APGAI Ireland will be attending and what we will be offering there.
With many fly fairs coming up across Ireland, be sure to follow APGAI Ireland on social media for the latest news. If you have any questions about becoming an APGAI Ireland member, the new website provides all the information you need to get started.
When APGAI Ireland attends fairs, there are often opportunities to book time with some of our instructors, whether you want to improve your casting or even try your very first cast. It is a wonderful and valuable opportunity.
The fly tyers within APGAI have a vast amount of experience and, like all our members, they are passionate about helping others succeed. Nothing means more to us than hearing that you have caught your first fish, or perhaps even landed one on a fly you learned to tie with the help of one of our members.
I look forward to meeting many of you at the upcoming shows.
Dan has been guiding on the River Nore from the age of 14. He holds a wealth of knowledge in many different techniques. Dan provides guiding for Trout, Salmon and coarse fish.
All levels from beginner to experienced are welcome.
Available for guided trout and salmon fishing in the South East
Fly Casting Instruction
Dan is a APGAI Ireland qualified single handed fly casting instructor. All levels from beginner to experienced are welcome.
Dan also holds regular fly fishing classes on the River Nore for groups and individuals.
