Trout anglers looking to up their game this season will be interested to hear that Blackwater Trout and Salmon Fishery has teamed up once more with Peter Driver to host a Trout Masterclass…
We are delighted to announce our first Trout masterclass of 2023.
On the 1st of April, Peter Driver of Piscarifly will be giving a full day’s masterclass in an early season of Trout fishing.
Peter is the current National TAFI River champion and has years of experience fishing rivers all over the world. On the day, Peter will cover topics such as River Craft, Trout Behaviour, Beat Managment, Nymph, Wet Fly and Streamer Fly Fishing, and lots more.
Spaces will be limited, so get in and book early.
For the full day, including masterclass, one to one coaching and lunch cost is 90 euros per person.
Blackwater Trout & Salmon Fishery offers fantastic wild brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon fishing on the Munster Blackwater, with one of the best beats the Blackwater river has to offer.
They offer guided days on a daily or weekly basis and also cater for full packages to include, fishing, guide, accommodation and packed lunch.
Rod and wader hire is also available, airport pickup and drop off can also be provided.
Guiding
Guided fishing on the Blackwater Trout and Salmon Fishery beats.
Casting instruction
Individual tuition on all aspects of fly casting. Single spey, Double spey, Snap T, Roll cast, Jump roll etc. plus salmon behaviour and river craft.
For all your fly tying and fly fishing needs. Stocking rods, reels, clothing water etc
Guiding
Want to improve or learn any aspects of your fly fishing? Then why not give us a shout and we will look after you. Fishing available locally on the River Nore at Thomastown and other club water by arrangement. We have also teamed up with Blackwater Trout and Salmon fishery to offer you an amazing fishing experience with over 8km of amazing river to be discovered.
Full & Half Guided days
One to one coaching
Master classes
Groups and Clubs welcome
Nymphing. Dry Fly. Wet Fly. Streamer. Dry Dropper
Instruction
Peter Driver is a qualified casting instructor with APAGI, and advanced qualified fly dresser with APAGI. He specialises in competition nymphs and fishing, Irish lake flies, streamers and lures.
As a qualified casting instructor with APAGI I Peter offers casting clinic’s and lessons, to suit your desires. Being able to cast correctly and have a good understanding of the mechanics of casting is a solid foundation in fly fishing that will pay off in your fishing, be it rivers or lakes.
For so many of us, fly fishing is also about the people, places and experiences we have, especially whilst discovering new places.
And so, for this latest episode of Ireland on the Fly, Daire and Tom speak to Cork fly angler, Ronan Collins, whom Daire first met in Greenland last year.
Ronan has fished in many far flung places around the world and is a particularly keen salmon angler with incredible stories from Russia and elsewhere, plus he also introduced Daire to the wonders of yacht-rock, but more on that later in the show…
Speaking to Ronan and hearing his stories about fly fishing around Ireland and the world is a reminder that it’s about fly fishing and about so much more.
Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
THE COUNTDOWN is on folks for the Irish Spring Angling Fair 2023…
Th Irish Spring Angling Fair is sure to be a cracking weekend for all anglers and not to be missed. The date has been set for 29th & 30th April 2023 in Ardaire Springs, Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny…
Munster Coarse Anglers were back again at O’Briensbridge 0over the weekend, this time to fish Round 5 of their winter series…
It was downstream to the rowing course this week and not having fished it for over 3 years, ie. pre-covid, the place had changed a bit, looked like a bomb had hit it but that was the point! We found our selves fishing in a movie set the peaceful Shannon acting as a stand in for The Danube in a new WW2 blockbuster.
The Shannon was up and high and flowing like a train when we got there. We managed to dot our selves along the bank between bushes and trees and sit close to the high bank at all in, only to have most of reset our seat boxes when the river dropped 2 feet after 2 hours…
The fishing was OK for some but a bit of a grueller for others. Oscar for best fish of the day went to Richard for his convincing portrayal of a 5lb hybrid.
1st Steve 8lb 8oz
2nd Kevin 7lb 3oz
3rd Richard 6lb 11oz
In terms of what worked on the day most of the fish came to the feeder with only Kevin and Clive catching on the whip.
Munster Coarse Angling Club are affiliated to the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland, NCFFI the National Governing body for coarse and predator fishing and casting. www.ncffi.ie
On the Erne System, Guided Predator Angling have been out on the water in challenging conditions. Check out Simon’s short report below…
Strange day on the lough today…one of the busiest I have ever seen and under a thick cloud of fog until lunch time! I was really questioning my sanity for being out.
Majority of the boats I spoke to except for a select few really struggled. We were no different but thankfully we did land a nice fish to save the day.
To boost conservation efforts, anglers who wish to catch and keep wild salmon from the Lower River Lee in Cork this year, are being advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that ‘brown tag’ regulations are coming into force from Wednesday, February 1st 2023.
The measures are included in the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations, recently signed into law by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, T.D.
Under brown tag regulations, an angler who wishes to ‘harvest’ a wild salmon i.e., take or keep it, must attach a brown tag as well as a standard blue tag to the fish. To help conserve stocks of wild salmon within the Lower River Lee, No. 5 or Cork District, a total of 180 brown tags will be available for the season and will be distributed to anglers with a 2023 rod licence through a series of online lotteries.
Up to a quarter of the available number of brown tags can be issued at one time, under the Wild Salmon and Seatrout Tagging Scheme Regulations. Therefore, 45 brown tags will be selected through the first online lottery on January 27th 2023.
Anglers with a 2023 rod licence who are not allocated a brown tag are only permitted to fish for salmon on a ‘catch and release’ basis on the Lower River Lee, where the salmon is returned safely to the same waterbody.
Further details are available from the Inland Fisheries Ireland’s website at www.fisheriesireland.ie or by phoning its Macroom office on (026) 41221.
The brown tag regulations come into force on the Lower River Lee in Cork from February 1st and will remain in place until midnight on September 30th 2023.
Full Notice
Salmon Anglers – Lower River Lee, No. 5 or Cork District: Brown Tags Required
Salmon anglers are advised that from 1st February 2023 to midnight of 30th September 2023, Brown Tag regulations will be in force on the Lower River Lee.
180 Brown Tags are available for the season and distribution of these brown tags will be by four electronic lotteries throughout the 2023 angling season.
The Wild Salmon and Seatrout Tagging Scheme Regulations permit a maximum of 25% of the available tags to be issued at one time. IFI will therefore select 45 anglers to receive a brown tag on 31st January 2023.
Anglers must provide their Name, Contact Address, Telephone Number and 2023 Salmon Licence number. This is the only method to apply for a brown tag. Anglers may only fish one brown tag over the full season. Multiple applications will disqualify. Salmon Licences are available online at: https://store.fishinginireland.info
Salmon anglers not in possession of a Brown Tag must fish using Catch and Release methods i.e., single or double barbless hooks. Use of worms is not permitted. A Salmon cannot be taken unless the angler is in possession of a Brown Tag. If a Salmon is taken both a Blue and Brown Tag must be affixed to the fish. Failure to do so may result in penalties. Catch details must be recorded on the Anglers Logbook promptly.
IFI will send all applicants an entry number for the lottery by email on Thursday 26th January 2023, before the draw which will take place at 09:30 on Friday 27th January 2023. No personal information will be shared. 10 reserve licence numbers will be drawn in case the initial offer of a brown tag is not taken up. Tags will be issued to successful applicants by post.
For further information contact Inland Fisheries Ireland, Macroom on 026 41221.
Information about angling quotas
Quotas for how many fish an angler can catch and keep (harvested) are set by Fisheries Managers every year, on the basis of scientific advice.
These quotas reflect the ‘exploitable surplus’ in any river, as follows:
In cases where the exploitable surplus cannot sustain angling, that particular fishery is closed for the season.
Where it can sustain angling, but not exploitation (harvesting the fish for consumption), the river is opened on a ‘catch and release only’ basis where the fish is returned safely to the same waterbody.
Where there is a modest harvestable surplus with a risk of over exploitation, a brown gill tag system is introduced where it is considered necessary in the interests of conserving stocks to closely monitor the angling quotas. This is to ensure that river-based quotas are not exceeded. Where these restrictions apply, you must be in possession of a brown tag specific to that river to harvest salmon, to be used in conjunction with a blue tag. Similar to blue tags, brown tags issued contain a unique serial number specific to that licence holder and are not transferable between licence holders.
And finally, where there is an adequate exploitable surplus, the river is opened with the standard 10 tag allocation issued in lots of 3 or 4.
Regular contributor Andrew McGall was in touch and he has posted up another nice video on his YouTube channel. This time Andrew is fishing an afternoon on the mighty Mourne near Sion Mills with pal Chris Adams. The Mourne is a big river and, in this video, water levels are good and summer fish are running through.
Andrew and Chris catch some lovely fish on small flies and, to finish off the video, Andrew gives some great insight into likely areas to focus on when trying to intercept fish on a big river. He also gives some sound advice on safe wading on big rivers and some pointers on what to look out for in order to avoid danger.
The first week of 2023 is almost over. A new year and a new season. So far, it’s been pretty wet nearly everywhere. Blustery winds accompanied the rains at times but it has been very mild. Overall not terrible angling conditions but enough to keep most anglers at home and so we don’t have many angling reports to start the year with…
Salmon anglers are probably looking for confirmation of what rivers are open and which ones are catch and release in 2023, and what about brown tags? Well, we have all the information here: Salmon Angling Regulations
The Killybegs Mariners had a great day out at Rossnowlagh to end the year. Their charity competition raised a load of money and there were some great fish caught too.
There 6 specimen sized spurdogs in the 60 fish haul
On the the east coast of the country Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters kicked off the new year in style as anglers onboard his charter landed over 60 spurdog on his first trip of the year.
Angling clubs, groups and associations all over Ireland are being invited to apply for sponsorship funding before the January 20th deadline and in 2023, the €30,000 fund will have a particular focus on initiatives aimed at beginners and young anglers, as well as events that promote sustainable angling tourism in rural areas.
And now the weather…
The outlook is for very unsettled conditions with wet and windy weather as low pressure dominates over the weekend and into next week. Strong blustery winds with heavy rain and some hail on Saturday. On Sunday the showers will be heavy at times in the west, with hail or thunder possible at times. It will be a little bit cooler and temperatures are unlikely to rise above 10C. Winds turn west on Monday and slacken a bit, becoming warmer on Tuesday as temperatures rise to 12C. Interesting weather, not the worst for sea angling and might bring on the pike or see a salmon take…
Tom Doc Sullivan is a well-known guide on Lough Corrib in the west of Ireland. He was recently online with Peter Driver from Piscari Fly on Peter’s popular live flytying poscast/video show, where he mentioned that the previous time he was on the show, he was contacted by Chris Rownes from The Floating Fly.
The Floating Fly is “a website dedicated to promoting the fine art of Dry fly fishing with special emphasis on techniques used by master dry fly fishers from around the globe”, and Chris invited Tom to pen an article on Irish lough fishing using the dry fly. Well, Tom eventually got around to sharing it with the rest of us, and we have to say it is great reading!
You can read Toms article Fishing The Dry Fly (On The Irish Loughs) here. We recommend putting on the kettle and having a nice cup of whatever you fancy, putting the feet up and enjoying a very informative and entertaining read.
Go Fishing
Tom Doc guides on Loughs Corrib and Mask mostly, and can be contacted below for enquiries and bookings.
What a great occasion 27 December turned out to be after a week of weather charts showing capital L’s surrounded by concentric circles we landed to the beach to see salt spray curling back over the top of the wild Atlantic rollers crashing onto Rossnowlagh beach.
Fingers crossed as anglers from all over Ireland north, south, east and west with some driving through the night just to be there to fish and raise some money for great local causes in the good and new charity shop cancer bus fundraiser and the local Bundoran RNLI lifeboat on Donegal Bay.
A decision was made to start an hour later and now conditions were just perfect with a cracking surf with no weed which allowed the 66 anglers to enjoy fishing hassle free.
It sure was an impressive sight on one of Donegals longest surf beaches fully lined with busy anglers wading out to cast at the off before enjoying the day mingling and baiting up.
1st in Zone B Stefan Martin with a 31cm turbot
Some nice fish were landed on the first casts including a fine 35cm flounder for Cara Boyle and a few sea trout for Gerry McBrearty and Michael Patton having a double hook up of trout.
As the tide receded the fish also did and kept numbers low until near the end of the competition with a few more fine fish showing including flounders of 36cm for Michael Burke and turbot of 31cm for Stefan Martin and junior angler Aisling McGettigan with 2 fine flounder.
2nd zone A and best Mariners member John Cunningham with a flounder
Lines up and into darkness the anglers gathered around the Mooney boats van as scores were tallied up we had another opportunity to purchase more raffle tickets for the huge array of spot prizes donated by all the competition sponsors including hampers, rods, reels, vouchers, seat boxes, tackle etc and raise more money for the charities.
Results
Results counted and the overall win went to top local angler Michael Patton with a great fishing of trout and flounders winning 1st prize of a two night stay in the Clayton Hotel in Galway.
Overall winner Michael Patton (right) with Mariners chairman Cormac Burke)
Winning Junior was Aisling McGettigan winning a rod sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
1st zone A was Nicholas McNeill winning a Kali Kunnan slayer rod sponsored by Tuna Mick angling charter Killybegs.
1st zone B was Stefan Martin winning a Kali kunnan slayer rod sponsored by Killybegs s.a.c
Winning junior angler Aisling McGettigan with a flounder
2nd zone A and also winning best Mariners member was John Cunningham winning a
Dam reel sponsored by Swords angling centre and a rod reel combo and Mariners body warmer sponsored by Swan net gundries and Daragh McGuinness.
2nd zone B was Gary McCurry winning an akios reel sponsored by the angling hub Tralee.
3rd zone A was Frank Kane winning a Shakespeare seat box sponsored by wide wind transport services.
3rd zone B was Sean Ivory winning a Shakespeare seatbox sponsored by Mooney boats
4th zone A was Aaron Vambeck winning a hat and rain gear sposored by Emerald hygiene.
4th zone B was Michael Burke winning an led lenser headlight sponsored by Dessie O’Keeney taxi and bus hire killybegs.
5th zone A was Declan McGettigan winning a Mitchell reel sponsored by Belfast angling Centre.
5th zone B was Gerry McCabe winning a Leeda reel sponsored by Bridge guns and tackle Strabane.
Longest flattie in zone A was won by Cara Boyle with a 35cm flounder winning a Kali Kunnan seat box sponsored by Taranto
Longest flattie in zone B was won by Michael Burke with a 36cm flounder winning a kali kunnan seatbox sponsored by Taranto
After the winners got their prizes there was another half an hour with the volume of great prizes being handed out in the raffle draw from the van with stacked hampers from Supervalu and Centra killybegs, a Ryobi casting reel from Tuna.ie, a daiwa bucket full of tackle from Shannonside bait and tackle, lures from Rooneys fishing supplies, tackle from Rigcraft, jackets from Inver tool hire, €250 vouchers from Killybegs fishing trips, knife set from Irish fishing and seafood alliance, €150 local tackle shop vouchers from inland fisheries, waders reels and clothing from club members Cara, Diarmuid and Daragh, Mooney Boats Killybegs donated more seat boxes, rig winners, sand spikes, reels etc, vouchers from Bonnyglen Frosses and the Skipper newspaper giving hats to all juniors.
Amazing generosity on the day also with the crew receiving vouchers during breakfast on the way from Texaco in Donegal town and the brew box Coffee pod in Rossnowlagh in the morning and Dolores O’ Neill walking the beach with the donation bucket in the wind and rain to help out on the day.
It all worked out in the end great credit to the organisers especially Noel Kennedy doing trojan work on the laptop and keeping the event running along with Brian Smith and Cormac Burke and Kieran McGowan and Pat Byrne pegging the beach.
it showed the great heart and spirit in the community and the anglers of the island to come together and help those in desperate need
It wasn’t easy fishing and some of the top anglers in the country drew a blank but there was alot more at stake yesterday, it showed the great heart and spirit in the community and the anglers of the island to come together and help those in desperate need in the worst of sickness to get to Galway from Donegal for treatment and those braving the wild Atlantic swells to save the lives of those in danger.
Thank you to everyone that helped in any way and well done to all for making the day one to remember. Fantastic
