The collapse of Scotland's Loch Maree - a warning for Irish anglers
The collapse of Scotland’s Loch Maree – a warning for Irish anglers
The Ireland on the Fly podcast talks about Loch Maree which was once the jewel in the crown for Scottish loch fishing…
Since the 1980s and the arrival of fish farms nearby, Loch Maree’s fish numbers have been decimated.
So, for this latest episode of Ireland on the Fly, Tom and Daire wanted to highlight how quickly a fishery can collapse, the effects on the fishing, the environment and the economy, whilst also finding out about some possible green shoots that are now emerging.
Eoghain Maclean has been a ghillie on Loch Maree all his life and has been outspoken about the damage that has been done to the loch from fish farming and so he joined Tom and Daire to give his perspective on the changes that he has seen in his lifetime.
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Round two of the the Belturbet Winter League was fished on Sunday. With water very high finding venues was tricky. The jetty in Belturbet had been fishing fairly well and we were looking for another section. Looking for something different we decided to clean out some old pegs on the canal in Ballyconnell. The weather conditions were as good as could be expected and everyone had a great days fishing. In fact all the anglers had more then 3kg.
Overall winners
1st Paul Smith 7.500kg
2nd Stephen Leddy 6.080kg
3rd Mick Schopen 5.340kg
Section winners
Section 1 Paul Smith 7.500kg
Section 2 Nicky Harrison 5.800kg
Thanks to all that fished and to Tony Swift for helping me clear the pegs.
Join the Club
Belturbet Angling and Conservation Club is taking on new members. Contact them via their Facebook page for details. €20 membership. Lots of matches and leagues. All welcome.
NCFFI
Belturbet CAA are affiliated to the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland and are members of the Angling Council the National Governing Body for coarse and predator angling. www.ncffi.ie
C/M Lakelands Feeder Club held an open match last Sunday on Church Shore, Lough Garadice. Twelve hardy anglers fished a wet one with odd skimmers and hybrids showing.
Rimantas Kondrackas was first with just over 4kg of 3 skimmers and some hybrids and Roach from peg 11. Next was Charlie Richards with just under 4kg of hybrids and roach from peg 8, closely followed by Brenton Sweeney with hybrids and roach from peg 13. Nigel Houldsworth was last in the money, coming 4th with a roach weight of 3kg from peg 1. Conditions were difficult for all competitors, hopefully the going will be easier for their next Open Match which will take place on November 27th – to which all are welcome.
Wet nets, wet everything
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The first round of the club’s Muckno feeder league will take place this Sunday, 20th November. Up to forty anglers will participate and sections to be fished are Black, Yellow, White and Concra. Van draw allowed.
Anglers are asked to meet at the Old coach Inn, Castleblayney. Registration for league 8.15am to 8.40am. Draw 8.50am. Fishing 10.30am to 3.30pm (there will be no change to these times).
Entry to League is €50 with entry to each match €25 with €5 going into overall pot, 100% payout. For queries contact them on the C/M Lakelands Facebook page.
The team from Guided Predator Angling welcomed regular visitor Raymond from Scotland over for his annual trip last week. Expectations are always high with Raymond as he comes in search of monster Pike! Raymond is the current record holding client for Guided Predator Angling with a fish of 28lb 1oz, he has also a good few 20lb+ fish from previous trips!
Raymond’s 115cm fish
Well this week he continued with the tradition and landed a 115cm monster as well as several smaller fish (which were still a very good average size!). This week’s fish, which weighed in at 24lb 10oz, was actually a recapture from one of last week’s clients, Jason, who caught the same fish several hundred metres away from the Raymond’s capture point! Jason had been fishing with son Calvin and the duo managed to land eight fish on their day out, with seven of those over the magic 100cm mark. Keeping on the move and locating bait fish has been the key to finding pike with the higher water levels recently.
Jason with the same fish one week ago
So not a bad couple of weeks at all for Guided Predator Angling and further evidence that by catching fish, taking good care of them while unhooking, and then releasing them unharmed, the fish we catch can possibly give the same joy to another angler in the future (or at least they may spawn to ensure healthier, sustainable fish stocks into the future).
Over the closed season Jackie Mahon will be posting a pattern per week for fishing on Irish Lough’s. This will include flies for Brown Trout, Seatrout and Salmon. This week’s tying is the Claret Dabbler.
The Dabbler is definitely one of the most popular Irish patterns to have on your cast here in Ireland. For visiting anglers coming to Ireland it’s definitely a must for your fly box for Irish Lough’s.
Claret Dabbler
Claret dabbler, standard pattern
The Claret Dabbler would be one of my most popular flies to tie over the winter months, I nearly always give one a swim on my cast of flies during the day.
Dressing standard Dabbler
Hook : Fulling Mills heavyweight 10s,12s
Thread: Black Uni 8/0
Tail : Pheasant tail
Rib : Oval Gold
Body : Claret seal’s fur
Body : Hackle Claret cock
Wing : Bronze Mallard cloaked
Claret Dabbler Variant Arrow
Claret Dabbler, Lough Arrow variant
For this one I used the new dubbing range from Fulling Mills, which will be launched next year. I was asked to tie a range of wet fly and dry fly with the new range of colours. This variant has caught plenty of fish for my clients over the last few months of the season on Lough Arrow and Lough Melvin. The dubbing definitely added a bit of life to the fly .
Dressing
Hook: Fulling Mills heavyweight 10s and 12s
Tag: No 4 Globrite
Thread: Uni 8/0 Black
Rib: Red Wire
Dubbing: Fulling Mills Claret
Body Hackle: Blood Claret
Under wing: Pearl Twinkle
Wing: Bronze Mallard
Cheeks: Red Holographic
Go fishing…
You can purchase some of my patterns in the new Fulling Mills brochure for 2023 which will be out soon.
Notes: Provides guiding on Lough Arrow, Melvin, Glencar Lake & Lough Gill .
Clients from all over the world from England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Usa and South Africa. Total C&R on Jackie’s boat while guiding.
Flies for sale
2023 started off for me with an email from Fulling Mill to say that my fly patterns have just arrived in the UK and are up on the Fulling Mill website. The range consists of wet Mayfly, Spent, Stimulators and Daddies. The patterns have been working the last number of seasons throughout Ireland, the United States and the UK with great success. I will also be working closely with Fulling Mill on some new products which will be launched soon, so keep an eye on my page for updates.
This report on the Five Nations International held back in September from their Organising Committee:
The Five Nations Fly Fishing Championships were successfully completed in Ireland again this year. Based in The Mills Inn Ballyvourney, Macroom, Co. Cork which is in the epicentre of some excellent wild brown trout fishing in counties Cork and Kerry.
TAFI (Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland) granted the honour to host this International to us and Macroom Angling Club in their Centenary year who were delighted to organise the event along with Gougane Barra Club, Kanturk Anglers, Lough Lein Anglers of Killarney Salmon and Trout.
The venues as before were in Gougane Barra Lake, Allow River in Kanturk and Lough Lein Killarney, with two sections (East and West). The clubs involved along with Mallow Trout Anglers provided all the controllers and sector judges, a total of 45. The whole event was coordinated by Don O’ Leary an international organiser along with the committee of Caroline Breen (Ballyvourney), Denis Cronin (Macroom), Maurice Willis (Mallow), Michael Twohig (Kanturk), Tim Corbett (Kanturk), Tom Lofts (Kanturk), Pat Lehane (Gougane Barra), Finbarr Lucey (Gougane Barra), PJ O’Brien (Mallow) and Richard Willis (Mallow). Two nations were unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances but seven teams still participated. The event was very well supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Cork County Council, Udaras na Gaeltachta, Keary’s Car Sales, Jons JCL, Dermot Casey Tree Care, The Bridge Bar Mallow, Twohig’s Supervalu and Jones Engineering.
This event is a great boost to the economy of the local area and participating venues as it introduces the overseas participants, as well as those from many counties in Ireland, to the area and what it offers. Local Buses were used to ferry the anglers between venues and to and from the airport. The Mills Inn staff were highly praised for the friendly atmosphere provided and the relaxed and efficient service. Anglers have indicated that they will return to the area again for some leisure due to the variety of opportunities it provides. The organising committee received many messages of support from the teams even “as Gaelige” from the France team offering their positive reaction to the fantastic week of fishing, hospitality and good food.
The Irish Teams and Committee Members
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Our fisheries in Cork and Kerry are up there with the best in the world and all are Wild Brown Trout venues. Everyone was impressed and in awe of beautiful location in which we fish.
The Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland and our organising committee would like to thank Inland Fisheries Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Killarney, Controllers, Boatmen, Kanturk Anglers, Gougane Barra Anglers, Lough Lein Anglers, Killarney Salmon and Trout Anglers, Macroom Anglers for their help and co-operation in hosting this event.
Congratulations to the winners and all participants and thank you to the visiting anglers for their co-operation throughout the event.
This is a very important international competition in the annual fishing calendar and will grow in the next couple of years. Next year teams are looking forward to travelling to the north east of England. Once more we would like to thank all our sponsors who were of great help to us.
Ireland had a very good result with Ireland White Team in First place, England in Second Place and Ireland Green in Third place:
Ireland White – Campbell Baird (Captain), Shane Callen, Michael Drinan and Sean Kirwan.
England – Lee Cartmail (Captain), Del Spry, Chris Micallef, and Joel Beeney
Ireland Green – William Tanner (Captain), Gerry Molloy, Dinger Murphy and Paudie Fahy.
Guiding for the Irish team for the Home International fly-fishing championships on Lough Melvin
Along with Tony O’Sullivan from Cork, I was the official fly tyer for the Irish team that won the international fly-fishing championships on Lough Melvin earlier on June this year.
With captain Darren and his dad Sean playing a big part, we covered the lake and put the work in beforehand. I had to take 4 days off afterwards to recover from the early starts in the morning tying flies, covering the lake and tying again at nighttime preparing the flies for the next day. It was worth it though, I was thrilled to see the team getting the gold, even though I didn’t get the gold, it felt like I got the gold doing it for them. It was really fantastic.
I can’t share all the flies we used as they might be called upon again, but below are some of the flies that worked, and some kind words from Denis Goulding who was involved on the day of the competition and won the coveted Brown Bowl.
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Being part of the team
Catch 22 ready for action for the international
The Del Boy Mayfly, one that worked
Jackie's UV Mayfly
Getting bagged up
Ready for the international
From Denis Goulding, Oct. 2022
“I first met Jackie a few weeks before the international, as he had offered to guide anyone on the team that wanted a day on Melvin. Peter Byrne and I took up the offer. I have known about Jackie for many years and he was held in high esteeem by everyone I had talked to. His knowledge of the Lakes he guides on and the the locations of hatches on those lakes I was told was a joy to experience. Not to mention the flys he designs to represent the hatching Insects.
I was met the morning of our trip with a smiling face a a hearty handshake. Jackie had his boat kitted out and ready to go, all we had to do was sit in the boat. The first half of the day was flat calm with rain, so Jackie literally brought us on a tour to his best drifts for Sonaghan, Gillaroo and Brown trout. Believe it or not we caught and moved fish on every drift in such terrible conditions. After lunch we fished in earnest as the smallest of ripples appeared.
I caught fish on nymphs and drys while Peter caught on wets, but I really wanted to get among the Gillaroo… Jackie reached into his box and handed me a Mayfly Pattern. During my many years of fly tying and teaching I have come across all sorts of patterns of flys. As I took the fly from Jackie I could feel the hackles resist my grasp. Its very rare you come across commercially tied patterns with such high quality hackles in them. During the next hour or so I actually can’t remember how many fish I caught on his flies, many many Golden Gillaroo and a few double hooks as well.
I learnt more in that day about Melvin than I did in all the years I had previously fished it. I used the knowledge Jackie shared with me during our day out, on the match day and I was fortunate to be part of an Irish Team Gold win and claim the Brown Bowl for the top rod in the International. But I must go further, Jackie boated the team by day and tied by night, it did not matter what we wanted tied Jackie had them done for us. To this day I do not know how he kept going and I have no doubt that Jackie had a huge part to play in our win.
Months after the event I visited Jackie at his home. We chatted about this and that and then he showed me some of the material he uses to tie his flys. I was like a kid in a candy shop, the seals fur, colours I had only dreamt of, clean clear deep colours, all dyed by Jackie, the capes, the boxes of french partridge all dyed again by Jackie. No wonder he is renowned throughout Ireland for the quality of the flys he produces. Jackie leaves no stone unturned to get the best of the best ingredients for his Flys.
I have no hesitation in recommending Jackie as a guide and a fly tyer. If you want a good day out or patterns for the wild brown trout you need to look no further.”
Here’s to two years time and more of the same.
Thanks, Jackie Mahon
Go fishing…
You can purchase some of my patterns in the new Fulling Mills brochure for 2023 which will be out soon.
Notes: Provides guiding on Lough Arrow, Melvin, Glencar Lake & Lough Gill .
Clients from all over the world from England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Usa and South Africa. Total C&R on Jackie’s boat while guiding.
Flies for sale
2023 started off for me with an email from Fulling Mill to say that my fly patterns have just arrived in the UK and are up on the Fulling Mill website. The range consists of wet Mayfly, Spent, Stimulators and Daddies. The patterns have been working the last number of seasons throughout Ireland, the United States and the UK with great success. I will also be working closely with Fulling Mill on some new products which will be launched soon, so keep an eye on my page for updates.
The Sensas Riverfest final was held on the River Barrow at Monasterevin on Saturday and Sunday, November 12th and 13th. As with most of the country, water levels were very high on the Barrow and the six finalists taking part had to contend with an extra two feet of water and a much faster flow compared with normal conditions.
Andy Burnett drew peg 5 on day one and set to work with one of his favourite methods – stick float and bolo rod! Andy managed 107 fish for 28lb 8oz for the day which meant he topped the leaderboard by a mere 3oz from Robbie Smithers.
The fishing wasn’t quite as good on day two and the only angler to improve on his day one weight was Trevor Platt. Trev added 28lb 14oz to his 22lb 13oz from day one to break the 50lb barrier with 51lb 11oz and put himself over 8lbs in front of Robbie Smithers in second on 43lb 04oz. After the early promise of day one, Andy Burnett had to settle for third place with 42lb 11oz.
On a silver platter – Sensas Riverfest Champ 2022 Trev Platt receives his prize
Event organisers are looking to grow this event and hope to see as many anglers on the bank as possible trying to qualify to become the Sensas Riverfest Champion for 2023 – so watch this space!
I was driving to Dublin one morning this week, and crossing the River Suck on the M6, the flooded fields downstream covered a vast area. The River Shannon in Athlone was also out over the banks, flooding the Callows. Turloughs were full, and ditches and streams were channeling rainwater downstream everywhere. Anyone who grew up in the 80s may remember the pop group Wet We Wet. Well that was certainly an apt way to describe the weather of late. I believe the position of the jet stream is to blame. Unfortunately, said jet stream appears to have no intention of adjusting its position this week, so we can look forward to more Atlantic depressions being steered our way.
Check out the clip below from Galway, where the River Corrib is in full flow this week.
Risk and Reward
With rivers in flood, lakes flooding farmland, and gales whipping up the sea, it is fortunate that we have any angling reports this week. But quite a few intrepid anglers have been out braving the elements, and some have been richly rewarded.
Predator Angling
Pike angling is really coming into prime season now, and the Barrow has started to produce some nice fish. High water levels didnt stop a group of crazy Belgians from enjoying great sport in Carrickmacross. Anglers in Longford had to search out new spots that weren’t flooded, but found the pike eager to feed when they did find them. Father and son Neil and Sam Byrne also enjoyed some good pike fishing around Killeshandra.
A fine pike for Craig
Sea Angling
Sea anglers have been keeping a keen eye on the weather forecast, waiting for a window to get out fishing. Getting afloat has been rare, but skipper Kevin MacGabhann managed to get out to enjoy some great fishing in Galway Bay, with cod to 11lbs landed.
A fine 11lbs cod
The bluefin tuna season for licensed boats closes tomorrow, but the Fiona Tee managed a late trip on Donegal Bay during a weather window last Friday. They had 2 lovely fat tuna to the boat and another fish lost. We have 2 delayed reports from Cork also, with a roundup of the recent Cork Small Boats Festival, where an incredible 27 species was required to win! Evan McGovern and friend Tony had a wreck trip before taking out the boat for winter, and Tony was rewarded with a specimen conger, our Catch of the Week.
Tony with his specimen conger
Also in Cork, JP Molloy took the Munster Closed Gold Medal competition, coming out on top after a tough weekend with 3 sessions in the Youghal area. In Donegal, the weather didn’t deter the Killybegs Mariners crew, with some nice fish reported from the shore, including some good cod.
Coarse Angling
The coarse angling festival scene may have quietened down, but clubs will be holding regular competitions throughout the winter months. The high water will certainly have an impact, with many venues unfishable, and current affecting fishing too. That was the case on the Barrow this week, where despite the conditions, Neil Keane managed a very creditable bag of 6.4kgs to win the Naas Anglers competition. Flood conditions also saw difficult fishing at Clondorny Lake for Leg 2 of the Munster Coarse Anglers winter league, where 7lbs 6oz was enough to win.
Trout Angling
The season may be over but angling guide and flytier Jackie Mahon is back at the tying bench, and he shares with us some of the patterns he is working on at the moment.
Daire Whelan and Tom Doc Sullivan host the 50th episode of the Ireland on the Fly podcast this week. This week’s episode is the Book Club, and this week they discuss Kingsmill Moore’s A Man May Fish, the seminal work on fly fishing in Ireland.
Other News
Specimen Fish Awards
For the first time since February 2020, anglers who caught and recorded specimen fish received their awards in person last weekend. The Irish Specimen Fish Committee awards were held in Dublin last Saturday and saw anglers from all over the country meeting to chat and celebrate their achievements. You can read about it here and see the photos on the ISFC website.
Funding
Inland Fisheries Ireland has activated the Habitats and Conservation Funding Call for 2023. Grant funding is available to Inland Fisheries Ireland and to eligible third parties throughout the Republic of Ireland to support sustainable fisheries habitats and conservation projects. The fund is made up from licence and permit contributions.
Friday will remain very mild, with temperatures of 14-16 degrees, and dull drizzly conditions slowly clearing from the west. Continuing mild, dull and misty tomorrow morning with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Becoming dry for most through the afternoon and evening with hazy sunny spells developing. Highest temperatures of 13 to 15 degrees in moderate, occasionally fresh, southeast winds.
On Sunday, outbreaks of rain will spread across the western half of the country in the morning, turning heavy in places. The rain will extend into eastern areas in the afternoon and evening. Staying very mild in light to moderate southeasterly winds.
The outlook is for mild and unsettled weather to continue, with further spells of rain and blustery winds at times.
Apparently the Barrow is throwing up a nice few pike at the start of the season. That’s according to Susan Corrigan who was in touch with a report of a successful first day deadbaiting for angler Craig Kelly and his 2 sons Jayden and Padraig. They had 5 pike on their first session- all good healthy fish released to fight another day.
A fine pike for CraigGoodThis young man will want to be on the river every week!
Baits were fished hard on the bottom with a ledger set up and multiple choice of baits to choose from, but the lamprey seem to be doing the job with 4 fish hitting the net on it and one on the roach. Looking forward to the rest of the season!
