The Limerick County Pike Anglers Association had a great day out last weekend as 13 anglers braved a wet and windy day but were rewarded with plenty of action. There were plenty of smaller fish landed but a couple of better ones too, with the largest tipping the scales at over 16lb. Bigger fish we lost too.
Ronan Murray from irishpikefishingguides reports on the pike fishing in the midlands over the month of January. Ronan had many customers out during the month and all were extremely happy with their trips and caught a lot of fish. The weather has been extremely mild for January and water temperatures were high for this time of year and the fishing has been brilliant, with the fish taking a shine to the dead baits drifted under floats.
Brendan Aherne junior angler braved the windy conditions and was rewarded with a Personal Best Pike and the smile on his face says it all.Brendan and his dad Brendan senior with another lovely Pike.
Gerad and Cathal showing off their big catch from a two day tripMichael Murtagh with a big Irish Pike
Irishpikefishingguides provide a top-class guided service in the Cavan/ Monaghan area and can be contacted via www.irishpikefishingguides.com or on Facebook or Instagram
On Monday 31st January 2022, a draw took place to allocate an initial 38 Brown Tags for the taking of salmon on the Lower Lee. The requirement to hold a brown tag is set out in Schedule 4 of S.I No. 729 of 2021 Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2021. A total of 229 valid entries were received from salmon rod licence holders.
43 numbers were randomly generated. The 38 numbers were matched to pre-assigned to applicants and these successful entrants will be issued a brown tag today. The final 5 numbers are reserved in case an angler declines or returns the tag allocated to them.
The draw was observed by Sean Long (RBD Director), Michael O’Donovan (Cork District Assistant Inspector) and Catherine Dwane (Assistant Inspector).
The numbers selected are:
2
4
14
17
26
30
32
33
36
41
43
45
47
71
74
77
87
94
104
105
107
109
117
121
129
130
139
142
148
154
161
165
170
185
194
199
200
201
These 5 reserve numbers are:
206
208
214
218
223
The Brown Tags will be issued by post today. All anglers are asked to acknowledge receipt of their Brown Tag by email including the tag number to 2022corkleebrowntag@fisheriesireland.ie
If you entered the lottery before the close date and did not receive a number or acknowledgement, please check your spam folder in the first instance.
It has been a very dry week, with some parts of the south and southwest of the country experiencing no rainfall at all. The highest amount of rain (4.77mm for the week at Knock) is just 16% of average rainfall for the time of year. Despite the lack of rain, it has still been rather dull, with sunshine well below average. But the cloud cover has kept the frost at bay, and temperatures have been a degree or two above average in most places.
Winter piking is normally synonymous with clear, crisp mornings and the crunch of boots or waders on frosty grass. We’ve had little enough of that sort of weather so far this winter, and it seems to be showing in our angling reports, as we have far fewer pike reports than usual for the time of year. Lough Muckno is a lake that is always capable of throwing up a good pike or two, and Navan based angler John Doyle has been putting in the hours on it this year and has some impressive pike to show for it. Over in Longford, angling guide Kevin Lyons took his first guided trip of the year, and all the action seemed to come early in the day as most of the pike were caught in the first 40 mins of the session. Up in Cavan, a group of German anglers staying at Carafin Lodge had some fine fishing on the sprawling Lough Oughter system. With over 100 pike recorded for the week, they win this week’s Catch of the Week.
A lovely double for a visiting angler from Germany
The winter period is also the prime time to target flatties, and plenty of our shore angling experts were out on the beaches this week armed with beads & bling, looking for a flat or two. For those who are new to the game, Chris O’Sullivan, aka Inshore Angler, has put together a nice video as he targeted flats from the beach. Over in Galway Bay, members of Galway Bay SAC were also getting in on the act with flounders and ray close in, and plenty of coalies appearing after dark. Up in Donegal, flounder and coalies were also on the menu for Killybegs Mariners SAC, but with the added bonus of some nice turbot showing up.
Today Friday will be mild and breezy with patches of light rain and drizzle in places. The wind will strengthen through the night, becoming fresh to strong. These westerly winds will bring a band of rain over the country on Saturday morning as the winds increase, sometimes reaching gale force in the north of the country. The wind will lighten on Saturday night, and Sunday will start off dry, but a front will move in from the west during the day bringing rain to many areas. The weather will remain unsettled with fresh winds, clouds and rain forecast into the early days of next week.
Kevin Lyons from Melview Lodge reports on his first guiding trip of the year:
James and John were up at Melview Fishing Lodge for another few days for a Pike session with host Kevin. James and John who fish both pike and coarse come to Melview Lodge several times a year were facing some very cold conditions. Not put off by this we made our way out onto the water and decided to dead bait using various baits to see what the pike preferred. We were only settled for around 20 minutes before I was into the first pike.
Kevin starts the session off.
It looked like it was going to be a great day due to John having another Pike only 6 minutes after Kevin and then James followed up with another 5 minutes after that, the bites dried up a little we then started to try a few other spots. We did manage a few more fish that day with 5 fish lost, the second day was pretty much the same but it was great fun and great to have the first trip of 2022. Other trips are planned over the next few weeks and we hope water temperatures improve to get some even bigger ones feeding.
John with his first of the day.James follows up with his first of the day
Kevin has over 30 years experience of fishing in Ireland and is happy to offer a guided tour on your arrival, and to advise where the on-form waters in the area are. We can arrange your bait order so it’s here when you arrive. Melview offers free use of 17ft lake boats with engines to our guests (pay fuel only) and Kevin is happy to assist with any pre-baiting requests. Maps and other information regarding fishing are also available.
Ian ó Connor brought the specimen tally back up late in January with another at 108cm.
Wicklow Boat Charters Skipper, “Kit Dunne”, reports on a great start to 2022 with plenty of Spurdogs and Specimens. With 4 of 9 trips cancelled due to weather, we were blessed to get plenty of Specimen Spurdogs 3 of the 5 days fished. They are still very elusive, there for 2 days, then gone, then back the next day.
With the first 2 trips cancelled, we pushed it on the following day in a fairly lumpy sea but it was worth the effort. John Millerick’s crew produced about 30 Spurdog 12 of which were Irish Specimen size, it was a hectic few hours to say the least. Father & Son Alan & Adam bagged 4 specimens between them, while the biggest of the day was 111cm x 40 girth, estimated at 14lb.
qrfFather and son, Alan and Adam and Ed 4 specimen Spurdog between them. Not sure who’s Adam or Alan.
The following trip was an individual’s day, which ended with many smiling faces. We caught maybe 16 Spurdog with 6 of them over the 105cm long, the best fish went 112cm x 42 girth for Tom Lynch, estimated 15lb. Top class angler Dan smith bagged his 3 specimens while his buddy Ken Garry worked very hard but to no avail.
2 days later another individual’s trip saw us disappointed. We didn’t have the pleasure of Spurdogs but a couple of nice Huss, the outcome was the same for the following day that’s Spur for you !!
The end of the month saw the return of the Spurdogs. On the 24th another individual’s day produced more Spur and a fine Specimen for Ian O’Connor from another local mark.
Roll on the next day….
Ian ó Connor brought the specimen tally back up late in January with another at 108cm.
We have a few individual seats coming up for Feb & March and a few nice days left for charters. Looking forward to the Spring season and the first trips on our new Swiftcat Catamaran.
Go Fishing
Angling Charters are offered on a full-day, half-day and evening trip basis and can be tailored to suit your needs. Two boats are available – Lisin and Castle Maiden. All levels of anglers are catered for. Anglers will benefit from your skipper’s angling experience and local knowledge with advice and guidance on-hand at all times.
SPECIALIST ANGLING CHARTERS
Specialist Angling Charters are offered for those who wish to target specific species, specimen fish or try new angling methods.
ANGLING COACHING
Whether you’re a Club, Individual, School or Junior, you can have an angling coaching session or programme tailored to suit your needs.
There were about 8 pike anglers and a similar number of coarse anglers enjoying a day’s fishing on Lough Muckno yesterday. Pike anglers were happy to share stories about some of their fishing trips during the previous few weeks. John Doyle from Navan said he had started his 2022 pike fishing season on January 1 on Lough Muckno. That day he was rewarded with a very nice fish just over 9 kg. which was caught on a popped-up dead bait.
Back to the Muckno
Then, just over a week ago John was back on the Muckno and had a magical day catching 5 pike. The largest weighed 9.5 kg. In addition, he had another double figured fish of 7.7 kg and three smaller pike weighing from 3.6 kg to 2.7 kg. All fish were taken on popped-up dead baits and were carefully returned to the water.
Peadar from Dublin enjoying a day out on Muckno this week.
Lough Ramor and the Carrickmacross Lakes
Peadar from Dublin was also fishing on the Muckno today. He didn’t catch any fish in the morning, but he shared the story of his last fishing trip over the weekend. Peadar and his friend fished on the lakes around Carrickmacross over the weekend and caught some nice pike. Two of the fish weighed in at 5.4kg and 6.8kg. respectively.
Feeding fish
Reports indicate that pike are very active in some areas at the moment. They are reportedly feeding avidly on the fodder fish. Pike anglers have also been catching pike recently on lures, not normal for the time of year. On the Muckno last Sunday, the anglers were pestered all day by pike chasing their catches as they brought them to the net. So, it might be worth a cast at the weekend!
After the first salmon of the new year was caught on January 13th, Paul Cardy landed the 2nd fish of the season on the River Drowes. Paul’s 7 lbs. fish took a banana fly on January 21st.
The successful pattern – a “Banana Fly”
Make a booking
River Drowes
The Drowes Fishery is one of Ireland’s premier spring salmon and grilse fisheries. The river is some 5 miles in length, with over 70 named pools, flowing from Lough Melvin at Lareen Bay and entering the sea at Tullaghan, just outside Bundoran. The Drowes has a wide variety of water suitable for all fishing methods, including several miles of good fly water and deeper slower moving pools suitable for spinning and bait fishing.
For information and bookings on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see http://www.drowessalmonfishery.com Tel: 071 9841055 (8am to 12 noon). Mob: +353 (0) 87 8050806
The flats are fattening up before heading off to spawn, the settled weather is making ray available inshore and the coalies are about after dark – get out and wet a line!
Waiting for a bite in the darkFat flattie
Go Fishing
Galway Bay Sea Angling Club is a progressive club based in Galway, but fishing competitions along the west coast. New members are always welcome, and every level of experience is catered for, with social outings right up to competitions held throughout the year. If you’re looking to get into sea angling in the west, check them out here
Members of Killybegs Mariners SAC enjoyed lovely flattie action on the local beaches during the week.
Please see their reports below…
A very enjoyable evening out with that amazing winter light as the low sun fires up the sky at sundown and gives a flurry of colour above and to have an empty beach all to yourself sitting back catching some nice fish is a bonus.
Lovely winter colours
Double turbot
Making the most of the settled mild weather there were plenty of small turbot in the low 20s and a few better size fish over the 30s giving those big bites as they hunt the shallows on the move in ambush mode. Flounders also in the mix before the 3 at a time coleys as the cover of darkness hit with quite a few well over the 20cm minimum. All released back to the cove.
Fine turbot in the dark
A great fishing of flounders and turbot on the beach for Mariners secretary Noel Kennedy out enjoying the good weather with the best of the fish hitting 36cm.
Noel with one of many flounder
Decent flounder
Also a rather sad yet interesting find is the large number of little Auks washing up on Donegal beaches. These are offshore birds that live well out in the Atlantic and can “fly” underwater as well as above. Luckily Cormac rescued one that was struggling and got it back to sea.
Little Auk rescued by Cormac
All images courtesy of Killybegs Mariners SAC.
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
