For the past six months, Naas & District Anglers have been holding a knockout competition where members face off against each other until there are only two left standing. The final two this year were Paul McLaughlin and defending champ from 2022 Aivaras Zymancius, and they headed down to Oaklands Lake in New Ross for the final shoot-out.
Travelling light…
Fishing was superb on the day, and Paul managed a very creditable 159lb. But, unfortunately for him, Aivaras was on top form on the day and bagged a monstrous 330lb, making him uncatchable and giving him the title for the second year in a row.
Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters has found the wind to be a bit of a nuisance of late, hampering his plans to target tope with any regularity. But any time the wind dies away, he’s back on the water, and luckily the tope are still there in good numbers.
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Earlier this week he managed a couple of trips out which yielded plenty of decent tope including one specimen for Ed van der Ham and crew. An evening session also produced a couple of specimens for Dylan Condron’s crew.
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Inch Lewins crew had a total of 9 tope to 153cm the previous week, while a trip out after hounds was less successful, but the lack of fish was somewhat sweetened by Bert McGregor’s birthday cake… Happy Birthday Bert 🎂🎣🎁🎈
Happy Birthday to Bert
Kit has also made a trip out deep to a wreck at 20 miles during a recent weather window, and that trip produced well, with some quality pouting and pollock. And they even had a rare but welcome bass on a recent trip. So it’s all happening down in Wicklow now, so you know where to head for a bit of angling action!
Super wreck pollackRare but welcome bass
Go Fishing
Angling Charters are offered on a full-day, half-day and evening trip basis and can be tailored to suit your needs. Two boats are available – Lisin and Castle Maiden. All levels of anglers are catered for. Anglers will benefit from your skipper’s angling experience and local knowledge with advice and guidance on-hand at all times.
SPECIALIST ANGLING CHARTERS
Specialist Angling Charters are offered for those who wish to target specific species, specimen fish or try new angling methods.
ANGLING COACHING
Whether you’re a Club, Individual, School or Junior, you can have an angling coaching session or programme tailored to suit your needs.
Dave Edwards from the West Cork Charters reports that the weather has been playing havoc with offshore charters recently, which has hampered his usual trips after blue shark at this time of year. So he decided to have a day fishing inshore, thinking that some skate might be active. His hunch paid off, and he managed to land three nice skate on the day, all of which were tagged as part of the Marine Sportfish Tagging Programme.
Two of the skate, caught by brothers Conor and Sean Ward, were in the 130lb range.
Sean Ward with his skateConor Ward with his skate
The third one was a real belter as Mick from Kildare landed a beauty of approx 220lb.
Danni from the Skate programme had fun collecting parasites from all three skate.
Mick’s big skate, estimated at 220lb
Go fishing…
West Cork Charters operates the Silver Dawn, a 41′ Rodman 1250 with twin 430 HP Engines out of Courtmacsherry. 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.
As we head into mid-summer, bass anglers will be hitting their favourite marks all around the coast in search of their quarry. Over in the USA, the striped bass season is also in full swing, and US-based anglers will be heading to their favourite marks in search of stripers. The Keep Fish Wet organisation has launched a campaign to promote good fish handling and has produced this handy guide on how best to handle stripers when practising Catch & Release. As much of their advice applies to our European bass, it’s worth taking a minute or two to read through their advice. In fact, they have a whole host of interesting info on fish conservation that applies to much of our sport so it’s a valuable resource for all conservation-minded anglers.
“The 1993 Irish Ladies Flyfishing Team that fished the first International Ladies Flyfishing Championships to be held in Ireland and which took place on Lough Conn in September 1993, with the late Anne Geary (front row 2nd left) of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, founder of the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association and Team Manager for 1993. Mary McGovern from Co Cavan (back row 2nd left), and Madeleine Kelly from Co Down (back row 3rd left), have both qualified for the 2024 Irish Ladies Flyfishing Team to fish in Wales.”
“The 1993 Irish Ladies Flyfishing Team that fished the first International Ladies Flyfishing Championships to be held in Ireland and which took place on Lough Conn in September 1993, with the late Anne Geary (front row 2nd left) of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, founder of the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association and Team Manager for 1993. Mary Mary McGovern from Co Leitrim (back row 2nd left), and Madeleine Kelly from Co Down (back row 3rd left), have both qualified for the 2024 Irish Ladies Flyfishing Team to fish in Wales.”
The Irish Ladies Fly Fishing Association (ILFA) will be running the 2nd trial of their 2023 league on Lough Conn on Saturday 15th July 2023.
The League is an important fixture for members of the ILFA as it determines the team to represent Ireland the following year at the International Ladies Flyfishing Championships fished against teams from England, Scotland and Wales. The next 4-Nations international event for the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Team will be held on Llyn Brenig in 2024.
Ann Kerrin, Chair of the ILFA said,
“Lough Conn was chosen on that weekend as a venue for our trial because the Ballina Salmon Festival will be happening. A number of our members are keen salmon fishers and it was felt that the festival atmosphere would provide a good social event for our members. It is also 30 years since the ILFA held its first trial (March 1993) which happened on Lough Conn. So it seemed an ideal time to be on the beautiful Lough Conn and it will be great to meet up with old friends”
Women will be travelling from all over Ireland to take part.
For any woman interested in taking part in this event please contact our PRO Liz Dermott on [email protected]
There are training days for women new to fly fishing happening over the late summer. More information can be found on our website www.irishladiesflyfishing.com or by contacting Liz Dermott on [email protected]
The 3rd trial will be at an Ulster Venue – Holy Lake in Co Cavan on 10th September.
Finally, the extremely hot and sunny weather came to an end as most parts of the country saw longer spells of rain and cooler temperatures for much of the past week. Particularly salmon anglers felt relieved when the long dry spell was broken by several floods contributing more oxygenated water and making water levels rise. The fresh water and lower temperatures mainly improved salmon fishing in the spate rivers but other rivers such as the Moy also saw an increase in catch numbers. Anglers enjoyed good fishing on the Galway Weir where grilse have been running the river in better numbers every day since the fishery was closed due to high temperatures.
Fishing the Galway Weir, June 21 2023
The long-awaited rain also brought good sport to the Erriff and other spate systems in the west. There were encouraging reports from Kerry, where the rains that fell last week improved the fishing on the Laune, Maine, Roughty and Lough Leane, while anglers on Lough Currane had a handful of salmon and sea trout as well. There was similarly good salmon fishing reported from the West Cork rivers and the River Lee. Also the Bandon got a good run of grilse, and as a consequence, salmon anglers had some productive days, particularly in the lower part of the river. On the Munster Blackwater, it was also the lower reaches that saw the best of the fishing during the past week.
A summer flood at Aasleagh Falls, River Erriff, Co.Mayo
Over to coarse fishing, where a number of matches were fished during the past week. The Leinster Coarse Fishing Federation fished the last leg of their 2022/23 Leinster league on the Royal Canal. After thunder and lightning had passed, some great fishing for roach, rudd, perch, bream, tench and pike was had.
Coarse angler on the Royal Canal
The weather also impacted on the last match of Athy & District Anglers’ summer league. Strong and gusty winds forced most anglers to stay close to the bank with their poles, but nevertheless, some exceptional fish were caught in some pegs. On Muckno, a fine bag of 18kg for Rimantas Kondracas won first prize of round two of this year’s Feedermaster competition, while down south, Leo Lynch landed a massive 135kg in the latest round of Oakland’s Summer League.
Nice bag from Muckno
The windy conditions last week impacted on charter boat fishing, resulting in fewer sea angling reports than in previous weeks. However, Luke Aston skipper of the Clare Dragoon benefited from having the more sheltered Shannon Estuary right on his doorstep. His clients enjoyed some excellent fishing for thornback ray, bull huss, the ubiquitous doggies and also had a couple of lively tope.
Fine tope from the Shannon Estuary
We also received a great report from Shane Nugent who had some super smoothhound fishing at a Wexford venue including a number of PBs. Smoothhounds were also the order of the day for the Killybegs Mariners crew up in Donegal together with some good lure action from local rock marks. Switching to lures also payed off for Craig Murphy when fishing Tralee Bay. After trying for ray in the morning, himslef and his friend changed to lures, and after a few schoolie bass, Craig was rewarded with his fish of a lifetime. Craig’s specimen size bass of 76cm (10lb 6oz) deserves to win our Catch of the Week!
Craig Murphy with his 76cm sea bass before release
Our “Junior Catch of the Week”, however, goes to 6-year old Ziggy Hatton who showed his flyfishing skills while guided by fly expert Richie Ryan in Cork Harbour.
A very happy 6-year old Ziggy with his fly-caught pollack
Lure anglers might like to tune into episode 13 of Cormac Walsh’s “Lure Fishing Podcast”. This week, Cormac chats with top striped bass angler Brandon Sausele from Long Island, New York.
Another podcast of note is Daire Whelan’s and Tom Doc’s “Ireland on the Fly”. We would like to recommend two episodes this week. For a start, there is a special book club episode this week as Tom & Daire speak to Kirk Wallace Johnson, author of the acclaimed best seller “The Feather Thief”. However, Ireland on the Fly also talks water quality and what it means for angling…
In other news, Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched an open call for youth clubs, community groups, and schools in the greater Dublin area to take part in its fishing programme – the Dublin Angling Initiative. The project aims to promote, develop and improve angling among children and young people. In 2023 Inland Fisheries Ireland is once again looking for interested parties for the summer, autumn and winter months to learn how to fish.
Finally, we would like to congratulate Sixth class learners in Scoil Mhuire agus Iosaf, Collooney, Co. Sligo who landed top prize in IFI’s Something Fishy competition.
(L-R) Elisha Hickey (class teacher), Markus Müller (IFI), Emily Mannion (class representative), Paul Colreavy (principal)
Something Fishy is an educational programme aimed at primary school pupils aged between 10-13 years old. It informs and educates students on fish, water, angling, and the Irish environment. On completion of the programme, primary school students were challenged by IFI to create a project to demonstrate their learnings based on the theme of ‘life along the river’.
And now the weather…
Saturday will be fresh and blustery with sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly over the northern half of the country. Highest temperatures of 15 degrees in the northwest to 20 degrees in the southeast in fresh and gusty westerly winds. The outlook for most of next week is for more unsettled weather with rain or showers at times. However, it looks like becoming a little warmer with temperatures in the high teens to low twenties.
Killybegs Mariners SAC enjoyed more great fishing for smoothhound during the week. Read their report below…
A great run of smoothhounds for the Mariners out enjoying the catching and releasing of these very hard fighting fish on our local marks which is great to see. A good night’s fishing which included two double hound hook ups on the two snood traces for Chris Whyte.
Night Smoothhound
Later in the week, a few casts with the lures after work close to home on the rocks was called for and great to see so much life about the bay with humpback whales and dolphins feeding on the smaller shoals in the bay.
Carrying light and just walking and flicking in lures to the galleys is a great way to fish and you can remember big fish from years ago that you would have caught from each location which always draws you back to that spot.
Nice pollack on light gear
Was hard to get through the mackerel shoals with the metals so switching to the plastics produced a few decent pollack with one brute breaking the line whilst staying deep and rubbing the line in close. Shads bounced in close produced some wrasse which always give a good account of themselves. An enjoyable evening out!
If young anglers want to catch a fish on the fly then Eire Bass guide Richie Ryan would appear to be the guy.
Reports to the diary every year from the guide invariably include smiling happy young anglers with big fish. And so it was during the week with 6-year old Ziggy Hatton’s outing, a treat from his uncle Neil. On one occasion Richie had to reach forward to help Ziggy hold the rod as he was having difficulty holding on to a very large pollack. The guide enthused that he absolutely loves getting youngsters hooked on fly fishing.
Skipper Luke Aston says having the Shannon Estuary on the doorstep is a great boon, especially when weather conditions don’t suit getting out to the open sea. Having the mackerel move in this week certainly helped with bait, and the fishing, with some nice fish caught in the estuary. Fish caught included thornback ray, bull huss, the ubiquitous doggies and a couple of lively tope. Prior to that, offshore fishing produced great fishing on long drifts over the reefs out west.
a nice tope for this lady anglerAnother nice topePlentiful mackerel – great bait for the estuary predatorsBull hussA fine spurdog
Thornback ray
MegrimBull hussCuckoo wrasse
Go fishing…
Clare Dragoon
Clare Dragoon is a LOCHIN 366 powered by 650HP engine, skippered by Luke Aston and operating out of Carrigaholt Co. Clare…
I have some offers up on my web site www.fishandstay.com and if anybody is interested in putting a trip together please do get in touch. Also I Twitter from the boat on @fishandstay and try to update my face book page www.facebook.com/CarrigaholtSeaAngling fairly often!To experience some of the best deep sea fishing available in Ireland contact Luke. Telephone: +353 65 9058209 or +353 87 6367544 Email:[email protected]Web:www.fishandstay.com
Despite continuing warm weather and little rain, a few showers early and at the end of last week coupled with cooler nights improved catch numbers on the whole system quite significantly. In total 217 salmon were reported caught, with the vast majority of those salmon being grilse. This seems to be a good indicator that the grilse run has started. Water levels at Ballylahan Bridge only slightly rose on Tuesday and Saturday night but were still at low water level.
The Moy Fishery reopened on Tuesday 20th, after being closed due to elevated water temperatures and recorded a total of 50 salmon for the week. Of this, the Ridge Pool produced 33 salmon, the Cathedral Beat produced 13 salmon and the Weir Pool produced 4 salmon. Of those 50 salmon, 16 were released.
Garrett Ruigrok about to release a nice 8.5lbs salmon on the Ridge PoolColm McAndrew releasing a beautiful fresh springer of 11.5lbs on the Ridge Pool
The first pink salmon of 2023 was also caught on the Ridge Pool. Anglers, or the public, should report encounters with pink salmon to IFI’s 24/7 phone number, 0818 34 74 24, or via [email protected]
Anglers who catch pink salmon are also asked to carry out the following actions:
Photograph the fish
Retain the salmon and don’t put it back into the water (even in rivers only open for catch-and-release angling).
Record the date and location of capture, and the length/weight of the fish.
Tag the fish and present it to IFI staff, and a new tag will be issued to replace the tag used.
The nearest local IFI staff will arrange collection of the fish for further examination.
Ballina Salmon Anglers reported 4 salmon for the week, weighing 6lbs, 5lbs, 3lbs and 3lbs.
Mount Falcon reported 3 fish. Two of those were caught spinning (4.5lbs and 3.5 lbs) and one on the worm (4lbs).
Knockmore Salmon Anglers recorded 4 salmon. The best fish weighed 7lbs and was caught on the prawn.
Coolcronan Fishery reported 6 salmon for the week. All 6 were grilse and were caught on prawn, spinner, bubble and fly.
Armstrong Fishery recorded 12 fish, 1 springer and 11 grilse. 8 salmon were caught on bubble and fly, 2 on the spinner and 2 on the worm.
Gannon’s Fishery reported 2 salmon weighing 5lbs and 4.5lbs respectively. One was caught on bubble and fly and one on the worm.
Foxford Salmon Anglers had 37 salmon for the week mostly caught on bubble and fly and the prawn.
Local reports from the Foxford Rocks Fishery suggest that 12 salmon were caught, mostly on bubble and fly.
The Foxford Fishery recorded 36 salmon caught for the week, all of them grilse up to 6lbs.
CloongeeFishery reported 20 salmon for the week, with 13 of those being released.
East Mayo Anglers reported 31 salmon for the week, 9 of which were released. The best fish weighed 7 lbs. while the majority was in the 2.5lbs to 5lbs range. The most successful methods were fly and worm.
