25 anglers scrapped it out on the Grand Canal at Sallins last week for the chance to become the All Ireland Senior Canal Champion. Conditions conspired to make it tough going as an easterly wind combined with bright sunshine made the fish flighty, and they were constantly on the move, making them difficult to target. Unfortunately, there were even a few blanks on the cards… But Codin Jurj didn’t let any of that put him out of his stride as he made light of the tough conditions to land 12lb 3oz of large roach to take the title. Full details and photos are available on the NCFFI Facebook page.
Streamer fishing is a branch of flyfishing that is gaining in popularity in Ireland, due in no small part to the guys at Impact Fly Fishing, who are evangelical when it comes to streamers! Streamers often pick out the bigger trout, and are just as good for salmon. Check out this springwer that Keith McDonnell from Impact caught recently.
For anyone thinking about trying streamer fishing, Impact have published a brilliant introduction post on their blog, with everything you need to know to get started.
Starting with the most important element, the fly, the post is full of great information on the tackle, techniques, setup and watercraft you will need for successful streamer fishing.
An olive woolly bugger from Impact
So if you’re thinking of trying a new technique, one that will definitely get you on those bigger fish, maybe even a specimen, check out the post here.
A fresh 10lb salmon makes a bid for freedom at Navan today
The water level in the River Boyne has been on a downward trend since the 17th April and the water remains clear. Conditions on the river are still good for salmon fishing.
Rain needed
However, it is getting to the point where some rain is needed, not too much though! In saying that, I can’t remember seeing the water level being this low in April over the years. And if it has been I simply don’t remember. Angling pressure could be described as moderate to low. Occasional fish are still being recorded in and around the Navan area.
Latest catch reports
The latest fish was caught this afternoon by local Navan angler Johnny Coffey. The fish took whilst I was speaking with Johnny. The float went under Johnny struck and the fish was on.
To say the fish fought hard was an understatement. It gave Johnny as good a workout as if he had been to the gym. The salmon was finally netted and only removed from the water for a very quick photo before being released.
A fresh 10lb salmon makes a bid for freedom at Navan today
It was a beautiful fresh salmon that had only been in the river a matter of a few days. A bar of silver but there were no sea lice on the fish. Johnny also had two fish last week weighing in at 10lb and 12lb respectively.
Johnny Coffey from Navan with a nice fresh 10lb salmon caught on the River Boyne at Navan today
In addition, two fish were reportedly caught in the Slane area weighing in at 17lbs and 10lbs with no fish reported yet lower downstream on the river. A couple more fish were reported from the lower Blackwater and another few fish were reported on the main Boyne just below Navan. We will keep you posted as reports become available.
Salmon angling on the Munster Blackwater for the week ending 24 April improved steadily, especially throughout the lower beats. However, during the early part of this week higher water levels brought a flurry of activity along the upper reaches of the system from Millstreet downstream to Fermoy also, with reports of good numbers of Salmon also taken here.
John Quinlan with his fine spring fish est.8/9lbs released off the Ellis Beat on the Fort William Fishery. Conditions are very good at the moment at .40m on the gauge
River conditions during the early portion of the week would have been above normal, but they have since fined out to ideal levels.
Go Fishing
This large and broad river has a lot of fine salmon fishing spread among many private and club fisheries. They are all easily accessible and most welcome visiting anglers. Spring run improving in recent years. The best grilse fishing is towards the end of the season. For more information see:
Fortwilliam Fishery offers two miles of double bank salmon and trout fishing over five beats on the river Blackwater.
Our salmon include – Springers, May Salmon, Grilse, Back End Salmon, and in Summer sea trout.
Our beats provide a wide variety of water, suitable for both beginners and the more experienced fishermen.
Fortwilliam Fishery, Glencairn, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland Web: www.fortwilliamfishing.ieEmail: fishing@fortwilliamireland.com Tel: (00353) 87 8292077 or 058 75299
Blackwater Salmon and Trout Fishery
Blackwater Salmon and Trout Fishery control a number of beats of the Munster Blackwater. The Ballyduff Bridge beat is almost a mile long offering a huge variety of water and is particularly suited to fly fishing. Upstream near the village of Ballyhooley (a few miles outside the town of Fermoy, Cork) we have two beats. The Ballincurrig Beat is one of the most beautiful locations along the river and has an excellent piece of fly water flowing into a deep pool. Just downstream on the opposite bank we have a short but productive beat, called Magners. This beat fishes also well in high water.
Blackwater Salmon Fishery has 3 beats downstream of the weir and 2 upstream of the weir. Blackwater Salmon Fishery offers fishing on approximately 5 miles of the river Blackwater. The fishing is spread throughout the middle section of the river to offer good sport throughout the fishing season. Due to the location of the beats, fishing can still usually be offered in low or high water. Contact Glenda Powell: Lismore, Co Waterford, Email:info@blackwatersalmonfishery.com Mobile: +353 (0) 872351260 Telephone: +353 (0) 5853929 Web: www.blackwatersalmonfishery.com
Careysville Fishery
Careysville Fishery offers some of the best salmon fly fishing in Ireland and includes 26 named pools. It is considered by many to be one of premier beats for salmon fishing in Ireland. Wading is excellent and among the numerous streams, pools and glides there is a great variety of fly fishing to suit both complete novice and challenge the most competent of fly casters.
At Lismore Castle & Golf Course Fishery, we offer nearly two miles of two inter-linked beats, the Castle Beat & the Golf Course Beat.
The legendary Castle Beat consistently ranks as one of the top Salmon beats on the River Blackwater, for the number of Atlantic Salmon caught per rod. The Golf Course Beat offers about 1.5 miles of fishable water through meandering majestic countryside. The Golf Course beat offers a number of bewildering pools suitable for unmatched spinning and bait fishing.
We provide Day Tickets for some prime Salmon fishing in Mallow Co. Cork. We have excellent fly water, shrimping worming and spinning also. We also have very competitive Day rates and we have very recently upgraded our fishing.
Tickets available from “The Bridge House” and “Vincent Downes Menswear” Mallow.
Located on the Munster Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Situated mid river between the towns of Fermoy and Mallow. A productive left bank beat in stunning surroundings.
For bookings contact Conor Arnold: +353 87 755 4682
For details on availability and conditions of fishing for salmon and trout on the Longueville House waters please contact them at Contact : Longueville House Hotel, William O’Callaghan Address : Mallow, Co. Cork. Telephone : 00 353 22 47156 Email:info@longuevillehouse.ie Website: www.longuevillehouse.ie
The Bride continues to fish very well for Trout, with Nymphs being the most productive method of taking Trout.
River conditions and water levels on the Bride River for the period started out a little above normal during the week but fined out to ideal conditions later in the week.
Trout angling has also been described as excellent on the main channel Blackwater & also on its tributaries such as the Funshion, Awbeg & Allua.
River conditions during the early portion of the week would have been above normal, but they have since fined out to ideal levels, especially for Trout angling.
ANGLING REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING SUNDAY 24TH OF APRIL 2022
Last week we had a good improvement in water levels and with it came the salmon. There were 5 fish reported 3 on fly 1 spinning and 1 on worm. There were many more lost with one angler hooking 3 in a few hours . All these fish were reported on Bandon angling association waters. The water has dropped off now but there is still plenty water to bring fish in off the tide.
Go fishing…
A popular river with a good name for salmon and sea trout fishing. Most of the fishing is held by clubs, but day tickets are widely available. Find out more at:
Bandon Angling Association have set up a guiding service in conjunction with Jason Nash, Peter Aspinwall and Phil Dewey. Details of the guiding service are provided on the website and they are looking forward to making memories and enhancing people’s fishing experiences on the river Bandon. Day tickets and club membership are also available. Web: https://bandonangling.com/
21/4/2022 Nice to see a few boats out this day but sadly their lines stayed slack and believe it or not. It made a nice flood early this morning and there was a fine current in the Mouth of Commeragh, followed by a nice light to fresh SE wind with good cloud cover. Even though the conditions were in favour of the angler, the Wild Atlantic Salmon stayed deep. Now back to yesterday, I failed to report that there was a fine C&R 3 lbs Sea Trout caught by Currane Angler Mr. Timm Van DER Lean of Holland, just for the record Timm caught his fine Sea Trout on the troll while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Terence Wharton Snr. My apologies again to Timm and his Gillie Terence for miserably failing in my duties in reporting their fine Sea Trout. Now we head for the RTE archives and it’s a mighty cracker of the old days and we can all learn from these words of wisdom.
22/4/2022 Good fishing conditions this day with a nice wind again from the SE. Sadly there were no takers in the fly department but the same could not be said in the trolling department there was a great C&R of a Salmon in the 10 lbs class by a Currane client and his Gillie.
23/4/2022 All Salmon headlines go to Canadian Currane angler Mr. Dan Benvenuti and for good reason. While fishing out of Waterville Boats and at Watervilleboats@gmail.com caught and released a fine Salmon on the troll. For the rest of the Currane anglers it was all quiet on all fronts. On the weather front, there was bright sunshine all day, wind ENE light.
24/4/2022 Just a few boats out this day and for all their efforts their lines stayed slack in all departments. Wind E and come afternoon veered WSW light with good cloud cover.
25/4/2022 Currane anglers were all quiet on all fronts this day in all departments. Just for the record there were five boats out. Wind SE light to fresh with reasonable cloud cover.
26/4/2022 Lough Currane was all quiet on all fronts and that includes the Currane anglers, sadly nowhere to be seen on the Currane waters. Wind SSE light and variable, bright and sunny but with reasonable cloud cover at times.
27/4/2022 All quiet on the SW front in all departments this day. Wind SE light to fresh, mainly bright and sunny but at times there was good cloud cover.
The rivers and lakes of Waterville drain a large catchment and are regarded by many as the foremost Salmon and Sea-Trout fishery in the country. The lake system is well developed with access to boats and guides being readily available to the tourist angler. The Sea-Trout caught here are renowned for their size and quantity. For more details see:
Skipper Sean Maguire and his guests took advantage of some lovely spring weather over the last week, getting offshore from Loop Head and enjoying some great fishing.
Fine spring sunshine
Mackerel, pollack, haddock and even megrim were among the species caught, with some very happy anglers enjoying the glorious weather too.
A full house of mackerel, a welcome sight on any charter boat!PollackMegrim are not a very common catchAnother nice pollack in glorious sunshineLovely weather and a fine pollack for this angler
Go Fishing
Lady Gwen II
Fishing Adventures on Séan Maguire’s Lady Gwen II, a Lochin 33 M265Ti Perkins charterboat which operates 15 miles from Kilbaha, Carrigaholt, and Kilrush.
Whether you want to go to the Atlantic Ocean for a large selection of species, including different types of shark, or fish the estuary for ray conger tope etc, Fishing Adventures will cater for whatever fishing you desire. Telephone: +353 (0) 877508758 or +353 (0) 894431182 Email:fishadven@gmail.comWeb:www.fishingadventures.ie
Loughs Barfinnihy and Fadda open on Sunday, 1st of May, and offer a great option to anglers looking for somewhere to go this bank holiday Monday.
Lough Fadda and Barfinnihy Lake in Co. Kerry open to angling once more on May 1st. Both lakes have been generously stocked with top quality triploid rainbow trout ahead of the opening day. These hard fighting fish should be well rested and raring to go on Sunday.
IFI’s other stocked fisheries in the South West, Lough Bofinne and Shepperton Lake in Co. Cork, both opened on April 1st and anglers are reporting good fishing from both venues.
As another skipper said recently, “There are two good days when you own a boat – the day you buy her and the day you sell her“. Hat tip to Luke Aston for the quote. We anglers turn up on our booked day, step aboard and go fishing for the day. We don’t see all the hard work, maintenance, cleaning and upgrading that skippers do on a daily, weekly and annual basis to keep their boats in top condition for us to enjoy.
John Fleming certainly worked hard this week, up in the middle of the night to get his boat, the Brazen Hussy up on the slipway on the high tide at 3.30am. Then followed a hard day of washing, cleaning and replacing the prop. If he’d remembered to order the antifoul he could even have done that job too! Next time, John!
Drying out and ready for cleaning
After that it was back to the water to test out the new prop, or rather the old prop back on to replace the disappointing new one. Did we mention two good days owning a boat?
Cruising speed! Back in action.
After all that, there was still some fishing done, and John says the pollack fishing was excellent over the weekend, with really nice conditions in shelter at the back of the islands. If you ask us, there is no more scenic place to fish than offshore from Aran on a fine day! Just the one mackerel came aboard, but there were plenty of coalies mixed in with the pollack too.
A nice pollack aboard the Brazen Hussy II
Lovely fishing in blue sky weather
Another nice pollack
Go fishing…
To book fishing with John aboard the Brazen Hussy II, give him a call on 087 7571320
A regular day is between 9am- 6pm from either Rossaveal, Spiddal or Galway depending on species being sought after. Fishing on the inshore reefs for pollock, cod, ling, wrasse, conger eel and mackerel can be reached in 10 minutes from departure, while our offshore reef marks are within 45 minutes of departure. Our ground fishing for tope, spurdog, ray, bullhuss, turbot, plaice and the giant common skate can all be reached within the hour which ensures the most amount of time is spent fishing.
The shark season usually starts at the end of June and runs into late October, this is the ultimate angling adrenaline rush with these hard fighting blue and porbeagle sharks all being tagged and released safely.
Package deals available
