We had an evening match at Silvergrove on Saturday. 12 anglers arrived with hopes of contacting a few Tench in perfect conditions. No one had informed Tench though.
No Tench, loads of small fish, with PJ getting some fish of a better stamp.
1st Kevin – 8lb 8oz
2nd Clive – 7lb 12
3rd Ian “I’ll be lucky if I have 2lb” Kelsey – 5lb 15oz!!
4th PJ- 5lb 11oz.
Special word for juniors who caught loads of fish.
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Go fishing…
Note that there will be a work party on Swan Island this Saturday and a night match is scheduled for the following Saturday.
Join the Club
Tulla District Angling Club is a Pike and Coarse fishing club founded over 50 years ago. They are based in East Clare, Munster, Ireland.
This report from the organisers of the Lough Derg Predator Challenge:
The 4th edition of Lough Derg Predator Challenge 2023 took place on Sunday 28th of May on mighty Lough Derg.
A total of 35 teams, with 2 anglers per boat, registered for this competition – so 70 anglers fished. Included in the seventy competitors were three female anglers and two juniors accompanied by their fathers (we’re really happy to see this!)
All teams were present at the check in before 9am and received everything they needed to be able to fish in the event!
Start was given at the entrance of the lake exactly at 9am, when the boats scattered around the lake hoping to catch longest 3 fish on the day (Pike-Perch-Trout) to win the competition.
With the fantastic weather Ireland got over the last few days (not necessary good for predator fish) everyone knew it will be hard – but nobody gave up until the 5pm finishing time.
During the day anglers managed to catch and release 117 fish above the minimum limit for each species and upload them on a mobile phone app provided by FishDonkey used for this event to receive the results in real time!
After 5pm … and after double check the results from all teams we managed to see the winning teams.
Results for Lough Derg Predator Challenge 2023
First Place – Team “Disco Pike T&J” 372cm 3 fish + Bonus – Trophies and cash prize
Second Place – Team “The Snipers” 306cm 3 fish – Trophies plus cash prize
Third Place – Team “IrishFishingTours” 277cm 3 fish – Trophies and cash prize
Longest Fish Team “Becia&Marcin” Pike 107cm Trophy and cash prize
Prizewinners
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Before the prize giving everyone stayed for it had some well-deserved finger food, pizza and chicken wings provided by Flanagan’s on the Lake supported by Baracuda fishing tackle shop and Romanian C&R Angling Association.
We would like to thank every participating angler for their performance, thrust and perseverance in our event.
Well done to winning teams on tough conditions!
Now in a few weeks’ time another event similar will take place on a different lake Lough Ree Predator Challenge REGISTRATION OPEN TO EVERYONE! and in October Pike Master Ireland (registration will be open soon)
Special thanks to Inland Fisheries Ireland for their support and understanding, we need to apologise to all locals and tourists in Ballina/Killaloe area for any inconvenience caused during the launch and removing the boats. Respect goes long way!!!
This report on the Dunmore East Small Boats Festival from Rinnashark SAC:
The weekend of the 20th and 21st of May was the date for the 2023 Dunmore East small boats held by Rinnashark SAC. Sixteen boats had entered prior to the competition with one having to pull out before the weekend, fifteen boats containing over 40 anglers fished the weekend.
The weather forecast in the days running up to the weekend looked promising and after two bad days of restricted fishing in 2022 we were due some good luck. The weekend arrived and the best two days of the year so far, the sea was like glass on the Saturday and Sunday. This made for comfortable fishing and easy and fast travel, we could not have asked for better. The fishing was unrestricted on both days meaning anglers could travel anywhere, this increased the chances of a big species count.
Day 1: Saturday morning entry took place in front of the sailing club in Dunmore East at the top of the slip. All boats signed in and a day card provided to each boat, also a goodie bag was supplied to all anglers. The radio check was completed at 07:55am and at 8:00am all boats were given the green light to go. Boats raced off in all directions to get to their chosen marks. Fishing hours for day one were 08:00 to 18:00. All boats had to sign in and register their catch back on the dock after 18:00.
With the scores totted up, Joe Mc Peake and his crew on board screaming reels 2 was in the lead with a very impressive 25 species. This included a rare one and a first for the festival – blue whiting. In second place again with a very impressive tally for a day’s fishing was Brian O Neill and his crew aboard Here Fishy Fishy with 21 species, which included some nice spur dogfish. Third place was a three way split between Fin Chaser, Katie and Team Rinnashark. After day 1 things were very tight outside the top two, a review of the catches and plans were put in place Saturday night by all boat, day one showed the species were there.
Day 2: Sunday Morning and once again sign in was between 07:00 and 08:00, weather was the same as Saturday, with glass like seas. Radio check completed at 07:55 and boats all set off at 08:00, with an earlier finish time of 17:00 to allow time for prize giving. Boats again went off in all directions, boats that went out on Saturday stayed in Sunday and vice versa. With large tallies on day one picking up new species was going to be tough. The nine hours seemed to go faster on the Sunday and the story seemed to be the same with most boats with big numbers of fish caught but species hard to come by. Five p.m. came around very fast and boats were back to the harbour and back to check in to register their catches. There was the usual excitement, with bustle and chat around the check in to see who caught what and everyone doing the maths in their head.
Joe on screaming reels added 3 species to put them to 28, Here fishy fishy did well and added 6 but just fell shy to finish on 27. Adding 12 species was Martin and his crew on Shamrock tackle to push them into 3rd with 26 species. Dave and the crew of Fin Chaser did very well and added 8 to take 4th with 25 species. Eddie on shock waves had an impressive day being the best boat on day two added 15 species to bring them to a tie with Fin Chaser and finish a place behind on length tie breaker.
Some of the species landed and the prizewinners
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The prize giving took place in the Haven Hotel at 8 PM and was great to see all boats and anglers mixing and having the chat. We had an impressive prize table, which was kindly sponsored by Akios\Inova Tackle, Waterford Outdoor and Angling Centre, O’Neill and Cunningham builders, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and Suir Electrical. Without these the running and prize table would not be possible.
Over the two days there was 43 different species caught, also taken into account that all Blennies are classed as blennies and all gobies are classed as gobies.
Winner takes all- Gal Charnock won both competitions during the Edenderry Festival
It was festival season at Edenderry last week as 34 anglers headed to the midlands venue to compete in one of Ireland’s foremost canal competitions. In fact, it’s two competitions in one week, as a two-dayer (Tue & Thurs) and a three-dayer (Mon, Wed & Fri) are run side by side. Fishing was always going to be tricky, what with the bright sunshine and warm temperatures, but anglers weren’t put odd with plenty of double-figure bags coming in on day one, and that stamp of fishing was maintained throughout the festival.
The two-dayer finished up first, and it was Gal Charnock who came out on top with a 23lb weight on day two to give him the overall top spot.
Edenderry two-day festival results:
1. Gal Charnock 30-12
2. Peter Keenan 19-10
3. Gavin Charnock 18-14
4. Dara Finnegan 16-14
Gal with one of his bags
Friday saw the completion of the three-dayer, and it was a familiar face that topped the rankings, as Gal Charnock cruised to a second win in the week after some masterful angling across the 5 day festival:
Dan O’Neill angling guide and casting instructor at South East Casting reports on a recent coarse angling trip…
Had a quick walk about the lake yesterday and of course we had a fishing rod which paid off. As my two young boys walked beside each other to the lake edge I felt very lucky to be able to share moments like this with them. Approaching the lake Anthony held Daniel back a little and pointed at the feeding fish. Daniel, amazed at this, immediately knew it was quiet time. He watched his brother’s every move closely. Daniel was given the very important job of getting the fish to feed, throwing in 4-5 riser pellets at a time. Rudd hammered the pellets nearly as they landed. The Rudd then started to back off and as they cleared a shadow began circling underneath the pellets. As the shadow moved it created small boils on the water’s surface. Of course, Anthony at this stage knew exactly what this shadow was and explained to his brother the importance of keeping low and quite as he allowed the fish to gain confidence. A second shadow approached also which was great news. Anthony knows that once the fish start competing for the pellets, they lose a little caution. This means of course that a mistake on their behalf is more probable.
Now came the time for the important cast. Waiting until the fish was a little deeper and facing away Anthony dropped in his offering. Some minutes passed and the fish didn’t show much interest in the hook bait. The fish seemed to drop down a little in the water. The fish were certainly hungry, as they were hanging around under the pellets turning every now and again which we linked to them taking the pellets as they absorbed water and began to sink. This of course brought us to the tackle box to devise a rig. Daniel at this point was watching us and asking what’s that and what’s this. As we told him the different names, he would repeat them back to us.
With a homemade rig we travelled back to the location and approached with caution, Watching closely to see how the fish were now behaving after some alone time. Watching a fish patrol the edge of the milfoil looked inviting but the weeds would pose and issue for us when we hooked up. Slowly we began feeding an area a little distance off the milfoil to try lure the fish out a little giving us the chance to turn it away from the weeds and into open water if we were lucky enough to hook it. After some time the fish moved out a little and we decided it was now our chance. We had left some pellets steeping in water and we now had some sinkable bait.
Watching the fish approach we gently flicked the bait into position. A nice gentle entry into the water and it slowly waved towards the bottom. The carp spotted it and made its way across, using its pectoral fins and magically moving the top and bottom of its tail separately the fish was lining up to take our bait. With a slow suck the hook disappeared into the fish’s mouth. Anthony lifted and the rod pointed straight to the carp. Anthony immediately knew something was different here, this fish was slower but stronger. Long steady powerful runs, it took a lot of skill and there were a couple of times I thought it was going to be “the one that got away”. Turning around I saw Daniel was standing with the net looking at me, he knew what was happening, maybe from all the Mortimer and Whitehouse we watch he knows a hooked fish means grab the net. Eventually the fish was ready so we netted it and left it for a few minutes in the water before taking it out for a quick picture.
Anthony’s Carp with a very impressed Daniel
What a lovely way it was to spend an evening, with the two boys who have that famous bond Ii keep speaking of that only angling can create. Watching Anthony showing his little brother the ropes was superb and shows sometimes even though I don’t think it, he is listening to me. Daniel has a little way to go but is on his journey, with the warm evenings I am sure we will make a trip for some Gudgeon and Tench very soon.
Growing up in the countryside of Gowran, Co.Kilkenny, I started my fishing journey on the River Barrow with my dad, which is where I caught my first fish, a lovely brown trout. The Gowran River was also a short walk from my homeplace, and on the days my dad couldn’t fish, I would walk through the fields and fish the Gowran River. My love for fishing grew and took me to Mount Juliet Estate, where I began guiding at 13. I went on to become fisheries manager at Mount Juliet Estate and, to this day, enjoy taking out hundreds of clients every year fishing on the River Nore. I enjoy all types of fishing and guide all over Ireland. I am an Apgai Ireland-qualified casting instructor and have Ambassador roles with Cadence and Yeti. I joined Fulling Mill as an endorsed pro guide and am part of the Patagonia pro team. My angling journey has been an exciting one and hopefully will continue to be.
I take out all levels of anglers, from beginner to experienced. I enjoy what I do and count myself very lucky to be able to meet and guide new people to what might be their first Irish fish.
Most parts of the country have seen sweltering weather for the past two weeks, with daytime temperatures in the mid-twenties on most days, and feeling much hotter in bright sunshine. It clearly is some of the longest spells without rain and unbroken blue skies in memory. So, it is no wonder that the current heatwave is now taking its toll and trout & salmon fishing has come to a standstill on many fisheries mainly in the west of the country as temperatures were mostly higher along the western seaboard than in eastern parts.
Trout anglers were also struggling due to the present adverse conditions. On many of the lakes such as Lough Conn angling remained most challenging with only smallish trout been caught during the day. The hot and sunny weather has also brought mayfly hatches to an end on Lough Corrib making daytime fishing more difficult. However, early morning Caenis hatches which are in full swing now can provide some excellent trout fishing for the early bird!
Dan O’Neil ready to land a trout for Yellow Dog’s Sarah Delany on the River Nore
Normally, low water levels and hot temperatures don’t provide for good coarse angling either. So, it was a bit of a surprise that we received a number of positive reports from different matches fished around the country. Starting up north, the VDE Baggers AC enjoyed unexpectedly good fishing on the River Blackwater with a more than respectable top weight of 24kg for Gary Cummings.
Tony Santry skipper of the charter boat Tigger fishing out of Caherciveen in Co. Kerry reported on what must be the first blue sharks of the season caught on 2 June.
Our Catch of the week, however, goes to Courtmacsherry. Mark Gannon of Courtmacsherry Angling told us that angling has really taken off the last couple of weeks following the arrival of the summery weather. Pollack fishing has been very good with great sport on light tackle with fish to 5 kg, cod to 6 kg and some good-sized coalfish, while at anchor good conger and ling with specimen skate, specimen spurdog and near specimen bullhuss were caught.
Skate from Courtmacsherry
Finally, we would like to draw anglers’ attention to episode 7 of the lure fishing podcast. Presenter Cormac Walsh talks to British wrasse lure fishing expert Damion Fryer. Damion targets wrasse on lures and really has fine-tuned his skills over the years fishing the rocky coastline around Cornwall. Surely, his techniques can be applied to the waters around Ireland.
And now the weather
The weekend will start warm and humid with a mix of cloud and sunshine. Scattered showers, mainly over Munster at first, will gradually extend into other parts of the country, some turning heavy with the chance of isolated thunderstorms and spot flooding.
The outlook for next week is for warmer or even hot days with sunshine and scattered slow moving showers. There is a risk of some thundery downpours which can be heavy in places. Top temperatures will range from 20°C to 26°C, in just light variable or northeasterly breezes.
Killybegs Mariners enjoyed some great fishing during the week. Read their report…
Tropical weather on Donegal Bay and a great fishing for Gavin and Chrostopher aboard “St Catherine” with 15 species being caught including two double coley and cod along with two fish on one hook and some nice turbot on the sand, decent ling, cod, wrasse, pollack etc. on the reefs.
Gavin and Christy on the turbotLovely coloured cuckoo wrasse
Well done also to Sean Harte and Chris Whyte on a fine fishing of tope out on the boat as their numbers increase inshore this time of year.
Chris Whyte with a nice tope
Finally back to the beaches where Pat and Darren enjoyed the great weather in Donegal having some very good beach sunset fishing with nice bass and trout.
Anglers aboard the “Fiona Tee” enjoyed fantastic fishing all week. Conditions were glorious and so was the fishing. Many different species were caught including some really big pollack up to 77cm!
Anglers were also blessed to experience the fantastic marine wildlife Donegal Bay has to offer with loads of dolphins showing and also a pod of 5 to 6 big minke whales…you can’t ask for much more during a day’s fishing.
Nothing much has changed on the lakes. Conditions are still very much challenging and mostly smallish trout are being caught.
On Saturday Peter Roche fished Gallagher’s very early in the morning, fish seem to turn off after 12 o’clock. He caught a trout of 1.5lbs and another one around the size limit of 12 inches, both were released.
Padraic Traynor reported on Conn and Cullin Anglers’ “Traynor and Tolan Cup” which was held on the 3rd and 4th of June. 81 anglers had 41 trout over 13” for the two days.
1st place went to Tisse Siriwardenna from Sligo, who caught 3 fish for 1.695kg.
2nd place went to Stephen Brown from Cloghans with 3 fish for 1.630kg.
3rd place went to Dennis Goulding from Dublin with 3 fish for 1.45kg.
4th place went to Francis McSharry from Kinlough, who caught 3 fish for 1.4kg.
Padraic Traynor presenting the “Traynor and Tolan Cup” trophy to Tisse Siriwardenna
Steve Schreck reports from the River Moy and the Moy Estuary…
Angling Report week ending 04/06/2023
The heatwave across Ireland is starting to take its toll on the Moy catchment and the anglers. Conditions for the whole week were far beyond favourable, with air temperatures regularly reaching 20 degrees Celsius or more, bright sunshine and not even a droplet of rain to be seen. The total reported catch numbers amounted to 64 salmon. Water levels at Ballylahan Bridge stayed at low water levels all week.
The Moy Fishery reported 13 salmon for the week of which 2 were released. 9 of those fish were caught on the Ridge Pool and 4 were caught on the Cathedral Beat.
Happy young angler Ferdinand Deutsch with his first ever springer of 10.25lbsBrian O’Donohoe with a nice fish of 11.5lbs
Ballina Salmon Anglers recorded 4 grilse for the week.
Armstrong Fishery reported 4 salmon for the week. One of those fish was a 9lbs springer and the remaining three were grilse. All 4 fish were caught on the prawn.
Gannon’s Fishery recorded 4 fish, weighing between 6lbs and 9lbs, caught on the prawn.
The Foxford Fishery recorded 19 salmon for the week. The biggest fish weighed in at 13lbs and was caught on the prawn.
Foxford Salmon Anglers reported 10 fish. Successful methods were prawn and bubble & fly.
CloongeeFishery recorded 2 grilse. 3lbs on the fly (released) and 4lbs on the worm.
East Mayo Anglers recorded 8 salmon for the week, 2 of which were released. 3 fish on the fly and 2 on the worm and 3 on the spinner. The heaviest weighed 9lbs. and the rest were grilse.
Moy Estuary Judd Ruane, however, reports on excellent results on Pegasus and other local boats with sea trout up to 4lb.
