Irish Angling Update 🎣 18 February 2022
It’s been a wild week for weather but rather less so for angling. There were some notable highlights, including the first two salmon of the season for Lough Currane, but overall it was a matter getting in your angling action between the gales.
Sunday was the day for Currane’s anglers. The lake was holding tight to its salmon but eventually it gave in to the persuasion of Éanna De Buis who caught and released a 10lb springer. This was soon followed by a 9lb salmon for Vincent Donnelly. The lake has not been in a giving mood since, and in fairness the stormy conditions have not helped.
The 15th of February sees a number of trout fisheries open every year and every year anglers flock to their favourite waters to mark the day. Anglers on Corrib were confronted by poor enough weather but the mild water temperatures gave hope to many. Tactics included trolling, the brickeen and artificial lures, and fly. There was some good fishing to be had but it depended on what tactic you used and where you fished it. Was it ever any different?
Some super pike have been landed at Milltown Lake on County Monaghan recently and Catch of the Week goes to this super thirty pounder. The lake has been fishing well all winter, with numerous fish above the twenty pound mark and a few, like this one, above the magical 30lb mark. In other pike angling news Charlene Dillon won a recent Limerick County Pike Anglers competition. Flooding meant they had to pick an alternative local venue, but there was plenty of excitement to be had. Anglers fishing with Melview Lodge in Longford had some great sport catching a string of double figure fish. High water was an issue here too, but quality deadbaits made all the difference.
In coarse angling news, the Leinster Coarse Anglers were back in action last week as they fished the 7th leg of their winter league on the Royal Canal. It was very much a match of halves. The morning session was fished in glorious weather, but afternoon saw a deluge of rain, while anglers in Section A had up to 31lb of fish but those in Section B never got a thing! CM Lakelands fished the 6th round of their Muckno feeder league. Rimantas Kondrakas put it a brilliant performance catching lots of roach and hybrids for a super weight of 7.220kg.
For sea anglers this week we look again at Richie Ryan’s recent mullet on the fly report. Richie has sent in a full description of his set up and tactics for anyone else looking to catch a mullet on the fly. Up in Donegal, Members of Killybegs Mariners SAC enjoyed yet another eventful week’s shore and rock fishing recording a phenomenal variety of species. The week saw a number of new club records set. Finally, we have a video from Chris O’Sullivan featuring a recent match on Ventry beach on the Dingle Peninsula in Co. Kerry. Ventry is well-known in match angling circles as a dogfish venue, and Chris shows us his setup on the night, and talks us through how he approaches the match.
In other news…
We’re Hiring
We’re looking for 49 Seasonal Fisheries Officers to join our teams around the country from April 2022. Find out more about the roles on offer, and the locations, at fisheriesireland.ie/careers
But hurry – the deadline to apply is 5pm next Monday, February 21st!
Lough Lene
The deadline to make a submission on the Lough Lene public consultation is next Tuesday, February 22. To find out more and make a submission see Trout bag limit and size limit for Lough Lene
Tuna CHART
Charter skippers are reminded that the deadline to apply for the Tuna CHART programme is February 28th – details are here Tuna CHART
And now the weather…
Following on from this week’s storms there will be a wet start on Saturday with falls of rain, sleet and snow in the morning, clearing to showers as milder air extends from the west by afternoon. Further outbreaks of rain will move in from the Atlantic through the evening. Afternoon temperatures will recover to highs of 5 to 10°C north to south. Staying quite breezy in fresh and gusty westerly winds.
A wet and blustery morning with widespread rain and localised flooding possible. The rain will clear to sunny spells and showers by the afternoon, some of hail or sleet. Early afternoon temperatures of 7 to 12°C, but much cooler air will extend from the northwest later and some showers will turn to sleet over higher ground once again in fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds.
Gusty conditions continue on Monday with more rain to come. The outlook is for unsettled conditions continuing with further spells of rain and blustery conditions expected through the end of the week
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie.
All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
Trout Fishing Reports
Coarse Angling Reports
Pike Fishing Reports
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- Lough Ree Access For All
- Floods don’t hamper Limerick Pike Anglers
- Dead baits producing fine pike in Longford
