Bodo Funke of Angling Services Ireland was guiding for pike on the fly this week. Please read his report below…
“The plan was to catch some hungry post-spawn pike on the fly…Avid fly angler Stephen had booked with me for the second time this year. The day was planned well in advance. This time, he brought along Northern Ireland based pike fly fishing guide and well known fly-tyer Pike On The Fly Guide Stuart Wylie.
The day started with action straight away, but more missed takes and plucks than landed fish to begin with. Nevertheless, a few nice fish came to the boat and after trying several favourite drifts we went back to where I had marked some good fish on the Solix earlier. Three drifts later, Stuart hooked into a serious lady which gave some serious battle and turned out to be a new PB for Stuart with 110cm and 22lbs.90z.
Was an absolute pleasure to have Stuart and Stephen out today. Not often you get to guide the guide and even better when it’s Mr. Pikeontheflyguide aka Stuart Wylie himself. Great fun in the boat and some very skilful pike fly angling all around, with a cracking Top Fish at the end”
Go fishing
Bodo Funke, Angling Services, Ireland
Pike, Game and Coarse fishing Guide
Notes: Angling Services Ireland provides the very best in angling and angling tourism. We are based in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, in the North-West of Ireland, an area with many superb angling opportunities.
The Proprietor Bodo Funke holds the Marine and Countryside Guiding Certificate (achieved with distinction) and his expertise and local knowledge will be to your avail when you go on a guided angling trip or angling holiday with Angling Services Ireland. Pike fishing, Fly-fishing for Pike, Game fishing for wild Brown Trout, Float- tubing, Coarse fishing. Salmon fishing and Sea-angling can be organised.
Spring salmon fishing on Carrowmore Lake continued to be excellent. On Monday 4th April, Sean Moogan from Westport who was fishing with his boat partner Gareth Lloyd was amongst the lucky anglers. Sean managed to land a fine 12 lbs. springer in Paradise Bay. The fish came to a size 8 Green Peter variant fished on a sinking line.
With a fair stock of fish in the system, the good spring fishing should continue throughout April and May. However, the windy conditions of late could slow down things for a few days.
Please note that Carrowmore Lake is a Brown Tag Fishery! For fishing on Carrowmore Lake contact Seamus Henry on +353 (0)97 83487 or visit www.bangorerrisangling.com.
What a week this has been! The weather saw temperatures on par with the Mediterranean, with day-time highs of almost 20°C dropping to sub-zero in places during nights. Winds were generally light, but when the wind picked up, it was mainly easterly in direction, which usually never helps with fishing.
What usually impacts negatively on the loughs can be a game changer on the rivers where the first warm days in spring can entice trout to become more active and respond well to wets, nymphs and the occasional dry fly. The River Nore for instance is such a river. So it was no big surprise that the recent warm spell and dropping water levels brought the trout on the take on one of the “Three Sisters”.
Pike anglers, however, achieved great results throughout the country. Up north, the river Erne was “on fire” for fishing guide Gerard Smyth and one of his clients, while Pike angling guide Damien Culliney had a great day out recently on Lough Derg fishing with a couple of friends. The warm spring day seemed to spark the pike into action with nine fish to the boat, including PBs for both anglers which makes our Catch of the Week.
While game angling largely laboured under the bright calm conditions, some charter boats made use of the mild weather. The recent settled spell allowed Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters to get back out on the water again and he was delighted to find that the spurdogs were on form with some specimen fish showing. Charter skippers in the northwest also ventured out after months of “winter hibernation” recording some nice catches of mainly pollack.
Fine spur for Wicklow Boat Charters
Killybegs Mariners were active as ever, reporting good numbers of beach sea trout up to 53cm while enjoying stunning Sahara dust sunsets over Donegal Bay.
What a stunning sunset over Donegal Bay!
In contrast, South Shore SAC was forced to change the venue for their latest leg of the Leinster League as the chosen venue, was blown out by high winds. Menapia SAC were also greeted by high winds on arrival at their venue near Kilmore along the south coast, but with fish showing from the first cast, the winds were soon forgotten as anglers concentrated on bagging up. Lastly, we received a report of a surprise mullet from Jeremy Smith while targeting bass on Inchydoney Beach in Co. Cork.
Great surf at Dunworly, Co. Cork
Other News
Ireland on the Fly Podcast
The latest episode of the Ireland on the Fly podcast will be online on Friday 1st April and it features an interview with Tipperary’s, George McGrath, of Gundog & Fly YouTube fame.
Primary school students around the country are being asked to design a poster that encourages greater conservation of Ireland’s native fish. To enter, primary school students are being asked to create a poster with the ‘catch, photo and release’ message, take a photograph of it and then submit it by email before the closing date of Friday, April 15th 2022. For more information see Primary school artists wanted for conservation campaign
And now the weather
The mild and sunny weather of late will unfortunately come to a drastic end. Tomorrow morning will be cold and frosty with sunny spells. However, cloud will increase from the north through the day and outbreaks of rain will develop in Ulster and north Leinster during the afternoon and evening. On Friday night outbreaks of rain will affect east and northeast counties and may turn to sleet at times over higher ground, becoming more widespread towards morning. Lowest temperatures of zero to plus 2 degrees, coldest in Munster where under clearer skies there may be a touch of frost locally. Current indications suggest westerly winds will bring a more unsettled spell of weather with rain or showers at times and temperatures closer to the seasonal average of 11 or 12 degrees.
Angling effort was relatively low last week due to the bright sun and light wind conditions. Despite these conditions regular anglers Peter Roche and Gary Binley fished south Conn and had one fish each on two separate days best fish estimated at 1lb. and 1.5lbs. respectively. Flies that were doing the business were Fiery Brown Dabbler and Cock Robin, with some interest from smaller fish to a Watson’s Fancy.
Given the bright sunny conditions at time of writing anglers are seeing some fish starting to move to buzzers on Lough Conn.
Reports of decent hatches of Duckfly have been seen on Lough Cullin in the last few days which should improve angling in the coming weeks.
The latest episode of Ireland on the Fly will be online on Friday 1st April and it features an interview with Tipperary’s, George McGrath, of Gundog & Fly YouTube fame.
George talks about his fifty years fishing on the River Suir, gives an insight into what works for him on the water as well as recounting magical spinner falls in the summer and he laments how wet fly fishing has fallen out of vogue in recent years in favour of a culture of instant gratification. Plus George and co-presenter, Tom Doc Sullivan, spend a few minutes discussing as gaeilge their love of fly fishing and the Irish language.
Listen and follow the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. See IrelandontheFly.com for more.
Decent pollack for anglers aboard Sarah MarieGood pollack for Killybegs Fishing Trips
Go fishing…
Sarah Marie
Sligo Boat Charters are based in Rosses Point, Sligo (10 mins from Sligo town on local bus route). Services available include deep sea angling, reef fishing, shark fishing (August-October) and eco tourism cruises. Trips can be tailor made to suit anglers and include modest half day, full day and evening trip rates for groups, individuals, and children. Rods and tackle are available for hire on board and skipper can arrange accommodation if contacted in time. Gift vouchers are also available. Sight seeing tours for non anglers.
33′ Interceptor. 300HP Caterpillar Skipper: Michael McGettigan Licence: 961 Base: Mullaghmore Operational area: Donegal Bay. Within 30 miles of land.
Notes: With over 40 years experience in Sea Angling in Donegal Bay, we bring you to the best locations and guarantee the best that angling in Donegal Bay has to offer. The MV Fiona Tee is equipped with all the latest technology ensuring all our fishing charters are monitored and offer real time tracking. We are also fully equipped with the latest in onboard safety equipment.
Killybegs Mariners were active as ever last week and reported some great beach fishing for sea trout. Gavin Dorrian did particularly well on a couple of evenings not only enjoying some stunning Sahra dust sunsets but also catching good numbers of fine sea trout up to 53cm!
Gavin with a fine Donegal beach sea troutWhat a stunning sunset!
Mariners also had a great day offshore out the bay during the week with a total of nine species between them, which is not bad for so early in the year. Gavin Dorrian and Daragh Mc Guinness had seven species each but with sheer skill and bait presentation Cormac Walsh beat them with 8 specie.
Nice day offshore for Killybegs MarinersDab…one of the 9 species caught
Mariners sea angling club Killybegs Co Donegal. The club runs a shore league and boat competitions and angling trips around Ireland doing the sport we love. Get in touch at www.facebook.com/mariner.sac
After salmon fishing kicked off on Lough Beltra last week it was just a matter of time until Carromwore Lake would produce the first salmon of the season.
On March 25th, local lady angler, Chloe McDonnell who was ghillied by her Dad Martin got the ball rolling on Carrowmore and landed the first salmon of the season.
Chloe McDonnell with the first salmon of the season
Another fish was caught on Saturday 26th March by visiting angler Didier Letourme.
Didier Letourme also lucky on Carrowmore
The rising temperatures certainly helped to get the fish moving and fishing is expected to improve from now on as more anglers will be venturing out on news of the first fish being landed.
Please note that Carrowmore Lake is a Brown Tag Fishery! For fishing on Carrowmore Lake contact Seamus Henry on +353 (0)97 83487 or visit www.bangorerrisangling.com.
Gerard Smyth from Borderfishing was in touch with us again to tell us about some of the fantastic fishing he and one of his clients have experienced over the past week. Read his report below…
So this week we had gig game angler Thadd Cheng over from Singapore. It was Thadd’s first time fishing for pike and a big change from jungle trekking for peacock bass and snake heads.
Speaking to Thadd over last few months I knew he was a very capable angler and his track record spoke for itself.
It was a day of plenty hits with multiple double and triple rod hook ups and plenty of action which kept us busy. However, it did take bit to see what the pike wanted on the day but then it was all action right until sunset. Between casting and trolling the numbers stacked up to 23 in total landed plus a few lost.
All in all it was a fantastic day with a great guy and plenty of laughs. Looking forward to our next few outings while he is here in Ireland. Wild Irish trout is next on his list, then back on to the pike to chase down a few big Esox for him.
An angler fishing on East Mayo Anglers Association waters
Osgur Grieve reports from the River Moy…
River Moy Angling Report week ending 27/03/2022
There have been four salmon reported for the week. First off the mark was Mick Duffy on the 23rd with a fine 10.5 lbs. salmon, caught on a worm on East Mayo Anglers Association (EMAA) waters in an area between Ballylahan Bridge and their disabled access point. This was the first fish reported from EMAA waters this season!
With water levels dropping every day due to the fine weather the river was coming into good order for the fly. Joey Casey read the water correctly and fished the fly on EMAA waters downstream of their disabled access and was rewarded with a fine 11 lbs. springer, which is the first salmon on the fly for EMAA this year.
James McMordie fished on the Moy system and had a fine salmon estimated to be in double figures on the 26th in bright sunny conditions, while Peter McHugh got things rolling on Ballina Salmon Anglers waters with their first salmon of the season! Peter’s fish weighed 10 lbs. and was caught on spinner from an area above what is known locally as “the flag” in Ballina town. This is Peter’s third time in a row catching the first salmon of the season on Ballina Salmon Anglers waters!
Water levels were dropping slowly all week from 0.8m to 0.53m at Ballylahan Bridge monitoring station and water temperatures stayed in around 9˚C.
The day started with action straight away, but more missed takes and plucks than landed fish to begin with. Nevertheless, a few nice fish came to the boat and after trying several favourite drifts we went back to where I had marked some good fish on the Solix earlier. Three drifts later, Stuart hooked into a serious lady which gave some serious battle and turned out to be a new PB for Stuart with 110cm and 22lbs.90z.
