When the mayfly season rolls around, most anglers think of long drifts in a lake boat on one of our fabled fisheries such as Corrib, Sheelin or Conn. But, as well-known angler, Keith McDonnell shows in his latest blog, our rivers can also produce some exciting fishing and quality fish at this time of year. It makes a very interesting read and might tempt some of you to explore the rivers near you this time next year…
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.
Address: The Pier, Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork.
Telephone: +353 (83) 449 1403
Email: [email protected]
The Vartry Angling Club are hosting a fun day out this bank holiday weekend. See details below:
Ballinamore Angling Club reports on the Ivan Price Cup and Ballinamore Angling Festival…
Congratulations to this years winner – Andrew Lightbown who receives a lovely crystal fruit bowl from Steve & Sonia Clinch of Abbey Lodge. Andrew won the match of 72 anglers with 8.100kg from Kiltybardan. In second place was Darius Karalaunis with 7.200kg from Haughton’s Shore.
Well done to the top 6!
Ballinamore Angling Club would like to thank everyone for taking part as we remember the contribution of Ivan Price to angling tourism in this area.
Thanks to Steve and Sonia Clinch of Abbey Lodge Fenagh sponsors of the crystal trophy, and Terry Shortt and staff at the Heritage Bar.
The Ballinamore Angling Festival is fished over 5 days. The festival Prize Fund is €7050, with a Winners payout of €1000. The featured match fishing venues are just a selection from a number of good fishing locations in the area;
A Church Shore ‘Grassy Bank’
B Church Shore ‘Deeps’ & Cully’s Shore
C Connolly’s Shore, Lough Garadice
F ‘Pumphouse’ Lough Scur
G Kiltybardan
It was great to see so many new faces as the 47 anglers checked into the festival this morning. Met with a warm breezy day the anglers picked up their supplies from the bait van from Irish Bait and Tackle Limited before making their rotation draw.
There was a good start with reasonable catches all round. Penkridge’s Paul Boothby had a good day on Church Shore #Grassy Bank winning the day with 108 roach on the pole at 11m for 11.800kg. Second was club member Mick Mahoney with 9.700kg at Kiltybarden with Ivan Price Cup winner Andrew Lightbown just behind him with 9.450kg.
Another warm day made for tough fishing on Garadice, but there were some lovely specimen roach caught.
Kiltybardan continued to perform well with local angler and current Youth U20 World Champion, Charlie Richards winning the day from peg 3 with 14.950kg. Second on the day was Wayne Fuller on the next peg with 13.300kg, both fished the pole. Third today was Dave Stewart with 10.250kg at Lough Scur, Pumphouse.
An unexpected tench show at Garadice, Grassy Bank today delights Paul Smith and Bruce Zhou with the 1st 17.450kg and 3rd 10.900kg best weights of the day.
The eight fine specimens for Paul catapults him to the top of the leader board with 30.550kg at the half way stage. The third best weight of the day goes to Kevin Dyer with 13.050kg and moves him to second place for a total of 27.370kg, followed by Paul Boothby 25,650kg in third, Charlie Richards 25.250kg in fourth and Bruce Zhou 24.300kg in fifth place.
We’ll continue to post results as we get them.
Coarse angling in the Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim area. Club membership €15 Adults and €5 Juniors. Annual Festival held in May. for more information see their facebook page Ballinamore Angling Club
Lough Sheelin angling report May 20th – May 28th 2023
“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”
Marianne Williamson
It was all swings and roundabouts on Lough Sheelin over the past week – peaks and troughs with a large dollop of unpredictability thrown in. A Northwest wind dominated on most days bring with it an unwelcome cold which kept jumpers on, the trout down and sometimes stunted the spent going out on the water. Water temperatures hung around the 16-degree mark with daytime heat soaring to a Mediterranean plus 20 on Saturday. So far, there has been a piece missing out of our fishing season here. We have gone from excellent buzzer fishing, brilliant nymphing and straight into ‘ hit and miss’ spent angling. There has been a very noticeable absence of fishing the wet and dry mayfly patterns with only a few takes on the dry Mayfly.
There has certainly been no shortage of mayfly on this lake as we witnessed what seemed like millions of these elegant little insects performing their magical mating dance high above the bushes of Church Island and other tree lined places along the shoreline. Clouds of males and females performing their courtship dance over the water, rising and falling gracefully through the air, a rare environmental spectacle which we were privileged to witness, something akin to an extract from Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ but of huge significance as these insects provide a very visual declaration that there is a healthy ecosystem going on here for their requirements are non-negotiable – clean, clear water, without which they would not be here.
Nymph fishing accounted for substantial catches during the day but I find it a little baffling that although the nymphs are working very well here, bring in good heavy trout, most anglers are reluctant to go over to what they perceive as ‘the dark side’ and engage in this type of angling.
Wet and dry flies get the bulk of attention and praise from the fly fishers, but the reality is that the trout spend most of their time eating nymphs under the water. Nymphs are found in the lake at all times of the year and all hours of the day. And trout spend the majority of their time eating them. You do not need to time your approach or wait for the perfect hatch to start, instead tie one or more artificial flies in colour and size to match the real insects present in the water (which, for now, are mayfly nymphs) and start fishing. Regardless of what is actually working well now, many anglers still refuse to be converted to nymphing, citing boredom as being the main reason – ‘I would rather lick the entire N52 from top to bottom or watch a dry fly for ten hours’ than fish with nymphs. It seems as if it is something to be ashamed of, perhaps their reasoning will become clear to me at some stage.
Mayfly nymph patterns that worked well were in brown colours with glittery red twisted through the body.
Daytime fishing was busy but it was the ‘out of office’ hours that attracted the highest numbers to this lake. When the weather behaved itself there were large falls of spent but with such a volume of food on the surface this in itself made things difficult for the angler because it had to be an extra special fly with an extra special presentation to spark a take from our piscatorial friends when the spread of naturals was huge.
Tuesday was the pick of the days and evenings with good numbers of fish being taken on the spent – predominantly the grey Wulff and CDC spent patterns. The Wulffs have always worked well on Sheelin with Green, Yellow and Grey all bring in good catches.
There were a few fish caught late at night on the Murrough at Lynch’s point. Buzzer fishing has declined but nonetheless there were a few fish caught on dry buzzer patterns in Finea, Boy Bay and Goreport.
Flies that worked best were the Bits-type patterns in claret, fiery brown, black, ginger, orange, hare’s ear, olive and grey, the Klinkhammer, Mick Kelly’s Daoine Dubh , a Griffiths Gnat, Grey Duster, Nymphs – Pheasant Tail, Diawl Bach, Hare’s Ear and Olive in sizes 12 and 14, Mini Muddler as a top dropper, Epoxy Buzzer, Shipmans Buzzer (the scruffier the better), Flashback Buzzers, Black & Peacock Spiders (good snail imitation), CDC Emergers, Greenwell’s Glory, Wickhams Fancy, Bibios and Dabblers (Claret, Olive and Green), French Partridge Mayfly, Golden Olive Bumble, Spent Gnat and Buzzer patterns, sizes 8-12.
The best areas for fishing (wind dependant) were the back of Church Island, Corru, Derrysheridan, Bog Bay, Inchacup, Stoney Island, Chambers, Lynch’s pt and Plunketts point.
This is lake is busy at the moment and every angler is very welcome to fish this incredible stretch of water. We are now three months into the fishing season and at this stage every angler should know the laws on this lake, in particular, no angler can fish this lake without a permit and any angler who does so will be issued with a fine of €150 under Bye-law 178.
On Saturday last, IFI carried out a patrol on Lough Sheelin, checking seventy-eight anglers of which 95% alarmingly were not wearing life jackets.
The word life is self explanatory.
On a lighter note, my two favourite boat names this week were ‘I tell lies’ and ‘Happy as Larry’ both needing no explanation about their occupants.
There is still another week or two left on the mayfly after which the sedge fishing will push in to take top position. There is a lot happening and any fish that have been caught have been magnificent with the top weight of 13lbs released. This is a lake where dreams happen.
Lough Sheelin Guiding Services (www.loughsheelinguidingservices.com) 087 1245927
Christopher Defillon
[email protected] (+33685964369) evasionpecheirlande.net
https://m.facebook.com/christopher.defillon?refid=0&fref=seaperch#
Michael Farrell @ 087 4194156Telephone: +353 43 6681298 Email: [email protected]
Grey Duster Guiding
Kenneth O’Keeffe
Tel: 086 8984172 Email: [email protected]
John Mulvany [email protected] 086 2490076
Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 949 which strictly prohibits from June 14th, 2017 onwards:
Total catches recorded for the week: 98
Heaviest fish: 13lb trout caught by Darren Duffy, Cork on a Mayfly Nymph
Selection of catches
Denis Goulding, Meath – 1 trout at 9.5lbs caught on a red tailed Nymph pattern.
Richard Hunter – 2 trout at 6lbs and 4.5lbs on Mayfly patterns
John Kiernan – 1 trout at 4.5lbs on Dry Mayfly.
Jimmy Brogan – 1 trout at 6lbs
Darren Harten, Kilnaleck – 1 trout at 6.11lbs on a Spent pattern, May 21st
Mark Mayers – 1 trout at 3lbs on a Green Wulff
Kevin Curran – 1 trout at 7lbs, May 21st using a 2 Nymph set up.
Shane Gainley, Mayo – 2 trout at 4 and 5lbs on Nymphs.
Martin Kearney, Dublin – 1 trout at 3lbs on a Spent pattern.
Martin McDaid – 1 trout at 5lbs, May 21st using Mayfly Nymphs.
Rory McCabe, Wicklow – 1 trout at 5lbs on a Peter Ross Dabbler.
Joe McArdle, Monaghan – 1 trout at 7lbs on a Spent Gnat pattern.
Warren Hogan – 4 trout, all on Spent Gnat patterns, heaviest at 6lbs.
Darren Duffy – 1 trout at 31″ on the Spent, May 22nd.
Thomas Harten – 1 trout at 3lbs on a Spent Gnat pattern, May 22nd.
Ken Furlong – May 21st, 1 trout at over 7lbs using Spents.
Chris Oliver – 2 trout, heaviest at 6lbs.
Brian Jameson – 1 trout at just under 7lbs on the Spent.
Kevin Callan – 1 trout at 3lbs on Spent patterns, May 23rd
Frank Kelly, Cavan – 1 trout at 5lbs on a Grey Wulff, May 23rd
It’s been another dry and bright week and northerly winds have kept temperatures more like early spring mainly affecting mayfly fishing at times.
So it is no big surprise that we received mixed reports from the various mayfly venues around the country. While there were days with very little action and almost no spent on the water, some anglers reported great mayfly fishing on dries as well as on wets. This was the case on Lough Arrow where both methods produced some cracking fish to local and visiting anglers alike, while on Loughs Conn & Cullin fishing was rather difficult.
Staying in the west, the mayfly has been providing good sport on Corrib for the last 3 weeks, although weather conditions have affected hatches and fishing at times. Well-known fishing guide and podcast host Tom Doc Sullivan recently filmed a video on wetfly fishing which is well worth watching. Trolling, however, has also delivered brilliant results on Corrib, mainly for big ferox. Another interesting video has been released by prolific YouTuber Senan Stanley featuring spent gnat mayfly fishing on Lough Derg.
River trout fishing is also in full swing during the month of May. Low water levels, however, tested trout anglers’ skills on the Maigue in Co. Limerick as angling guide Paddy Dunworth of Celtic Angling reported. Dan O’Neill, fishery Manager at Mount Juliet, told us about good trout on dry fly from the Nore, while Dan O’Neill angling guide and casting instructor at South East Casting took his 3 year old son on a fantastic journey along the river exploring the wonders of the aquatic environment. Elsewhere, the TAFI Leinster River Championships were fished on the Avonmore River in Co. Wicklow delivering some excellent results.
Low water levels didn’t just impact on river trout fishing, they didn’t help salmon anglers either. Some spate rivers, mainly in the west of the country, have reached critical late summer levels already. The River Moy, however, saw an increase in catch numbers with the Moy Fishery starting to come into swing. Anglers who are interested in the Moy shouldn’t miss this week’s Ireland on the Fly podcast. Daire and Tom talk to Garret Ruigrok to find out how the Moy has fished this year and what’s in store for the rest of the season.
Staying in Mayo, the dry and sunny weather kept catch numbers down on Carrowmore Lake which is awaiting its sea trout run. In Kerry, the situation is not much different on Lough Currane where salmon and sea trout anglers had a rather quiet week. Despite near perfect conditions it has also been another quiet week on the Munster Blackwater and most other rivers in Co. Cork such as the Ilen or the Bandon.
Over to pike fishing, where we received only two reports this week. In the Midlands, a group of French anglers staying at Melview Fishing Lodge braved the difficult conditions and landed almost 200 pike between them.
Tulla and District Angling Club had good fishing on Cullaun in Co. Clare with over 30 pike up to 119cm. The same club fished the Ryan Wright Memorial coarse competition at Ballinakill over the weekend which was won by Ian Kelsey. Staying with coarse angling, Saturday 20th May saw the start of the May ‘any method’ festivals on Inniscarra. It kicked off with the one-day Hogan’s Open, followed by two three day festivals, O’Callaghan’s Cup 21st-23rd May and Ottewill Trophy, 24th-26th May.
While the current weather conditions may impact on game, pike and coarse angling, they definitely provide great sea angling. This is also reflected in this week’s angling update with many excellent sea angling reports received from around the coast.
Starting in the southeast, the Brecon Sea Angling club from Wales visited Kilmore Quay for a two day fishing trip catching a total of 10 different species. Further west, two first-time bass were caught in Cork Harbour with the help of saltwater flyfishing guide Richie Ryan. Bass on fly and lure up to 80cm were also the target for clients of John Quinlan in Waterville.
Skipper Luke Aston reported good mixed fishing on the west Clare reefs this week with plenty of species showing, while a little further north in Galway Bay John Fleming enjoyed more good fishing, including big pollack, ballan wrasse and a few nice cod smashing soft plastics and slow jigs. Also in Glaway Bay, Angling guide Tomi Kurman who is no stranger to specimen trout, with many trout of specimen size boated by himself and clients on Lough Corrib, proved that he can turn his hand to specimen wrasse fishing too.
There was good sea angling in Donegal Bay with anglers on the Fiona Tee enjoying some great fishing having nice catches of cod, pollack and fine wrasse. A number of competitions were also fished along the northwest coast. Killybegs Mariners SAC and Howth SAC fished a successful inter-club competition on the famous Streedagh Beach in Co. Sligo, while Ulster won the inter-provincial at Mullaghmore and John Dennehy scooping first prize at the “Findlater” competition.
Our Catch of the Week, however, goes to 17 year old Jack Jennings who hit the jackpot in West Cork last week. Jack who was fishing with his dad Garry had already a fantastic morning’s fishing including plenty mackerel, over 20 bullhuss up to 15 lbs, large double-figure pollack, ling and conger to mention but a few of the species caught, when he hooked and landed a skate weighing approx. 150 lbs. This surely can be called an outstanding day’s fishing and deserves our Catch of the Week.
IFI announces 24 new projects supported under the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund in 2023. Inland Fisheries Ireland has announced the 24 projects awarded a total of €999,272. A list of the 24 successful applicants can be found here: Habitats & Conservation Funding Call 2023 | Inland Fisheries Ireland
Inland Fisheries Ireland has appealed to farmers to help protect Ireland’s rivers and lakes from agricultural pollution during the silage season. IFI is advising farmers to follow its six-point SILAGE plan for optimum silage and slurry spreading etiquette to reduce the risk of polluting rivers and lakes. Farmers are asked to contact their local IFI office before carrying out works in or near any watercourses.
IFI secured prosecution and fines of €5,500 against a farmer for riverbed destruction in Co Laois. A Co Laois farmer has been found guilty of two breaches of fisheries legislation for deliberate destruction caused at a local river. IFI encourages members of the public, anglers and farmers to report incidents such as this, and those of water pollution, fish kills, and illegal fishing to its confidential 24/7 phone number, 0818 34 74 24.
The weekend will stay mainly dry with sunny spells, the best of which will be in the southern half of the country. Highest temperatures will range between 18 to 21 degrees in light northerly or variable breezes. Next week will start with good sunny spells with just a little cloud building during the day. Highs between 17 to 20 or 21 degrees. The further outlook is for little change, mostly dry with an easterly airflow. Coolest in the east with highs in the mid to high teens. Warmest in the west, with temperatures around 20 degrees or higher.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].
Saltwater flyfishing guide Richie Ryan reports from Cork Harbour…
Barry Boles from Tipperary decided to book another fly fishing trip with Eire Bass guide Richie Ryan and landed and released his first ever bass, a decent size too. His dad Willie had a few bass also, another first for him. “ I had to wait until I was 74 to catch my first Bass “ he chimed !
Some fine big pollack on the fly were also landed during the session. Things are kicking off nicely in Cork Harbour Richie enthused. He reported plenty of small bass about which is a great sign and a prospect of a healthy resource. Nice settled spell if anyone is interested in a booking …
If you want to book Richie then go to www.corkbass.com
Eire Bass – Richie Ryan
Saltwater fly fishing Guide.
Web: www.corkbass.com E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +353 (0)86 1940744
Seamus Henry, Fishery Manager, Bangor Erris Angling Club reports…
The dry and sunny conditions impacted on the angling on Carrowmore Lake. However, despite the poor angling conditions 7 salmon were reported for the week with 5 released. The lucky anglers were l.Righton, D.Costello, N.Duggan and J. Cosgrove.
However, anglers are looking forward to the coming weeks as the sea trout should be arriving any day soon.
Please note that Carrowmore Lake is a brown tag fishery. For inquiries check www.bangorerrisangling.com
Steve Schreck reports from Loughs Conn & Cullin…
ANGLING REPORT week ending 21/05/2023
Fishing on the lakes was rather difficult last week, with very little fly life being recorded and mainly small trout below the size limit being interested.
Peter Roche wet a line on Tuesday, fishing Castlehill, Gallaghers, Victoria’s and Brackwansha. He fished a dry Barbie mayfly but could only tempt smallish trout.
An Garda Síochána held their yearly “Coiste Siamsa” event on Wednesday and Thursday. Michael Bradley from Galway won the Michael Benson Cup for the heaviest fish with a trout weighing 1lb 12.8 ounces.
Results for the individual sections were as follows:
Thursday saw Foxford Angling Club’s evening Catch & Release competition take place. Martin Kenny won the competition and accepted the Foxford Lodge Cup. Michael Tiernan came in second.
On Saturday Foxford Angling Club were facing Westport Anglers in another competition. The 20 team challenge anglers returned to shore having boated 5 fish over the 13-inch limit. The best angler was Billy McGhee with 3 fish, one of them weighing 2 lbs. Second place went to Owen McGreal with 2 fish. Foxford captain Dominic Mc Gowan accepted the John Gallagher Cup.
