Munster Coarse Anglers fished the second match of their winter series on Clondorney at the weekend. Kevin Leahy reports…
Two wins out of two for league debutante Leon.
Clondorney is always a difficult lake to fish with the difference in depths along the shore a little more than 6ft to almost 20ft on your pole line. The shallow pegs were a lot more productive with small fish coming to the pole and whip while the deeper peg struggled for bites with the skimmers not showing in any numbers on the feeder line.
Section 2 had only 1oz separated 3 anglers for valuable section points.
Munster Coarse Angling Club are affiliated to the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland, NCFFI the National Governing body for coarse and predator fishing and casting. www.ncffi.ie
Going into the second-last league match at Cushendun, the leaderboard for the Ulster Krakens league was tight between Ally Nicholl and Raymond “Fish Whisperer” McCann, with several others competing for third place and a possible Master Angler qualification.
Bad weather once again forced a venue change, and there were mixed feelings during the peg draw as some anglers missed out on the better side of the beach. Early on, Ally Nicholl took a strong lead with 15 fish, while David Rainey and Gavin Mahaffy also started well.
Catches mostly consisted of small whiting and a few dogfish, with flounder, coalies, and pollock notably scarce. As the tide turned, fishing slowed dramatically for most anglers, except for Stephen Kinning, who found a few fish from peg 1.
In the end, Raymond McCann’s late whiting earned him the win, followed by David Rainey in second and Ally Nicholl close behind in third—leaving Ally and Raymond tied on the leaderboard ahead of the final match. Gavin Mahaffy caught the longest fish, a 33 cm flounder.
The winner of the TAFI youth fundraising raffle which took place last June, Martin McCoy, picked up his new boat on Saturday November 1st.
The boat was built to suit Martin’s specifications by William Ganly of Ganly Boats.
Youth team manager, Frank Dempsey, presented the boat to Martin.
On behalf of the 2025 youth team, Frank would like to thank William Ganly for doing a fantastic job on building the boat which is finished to a very high standard. Frank also would like to take this opportunity to thank Martin and everyone else who bought tickets for the raffle, for supporting the 2025 youth team.
If you are interested in supporting Irish teams who are attending international events held overseas, keep an eye on the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland Facebook page for details of other fundraising activities in the future.
The Oaklands 2-day all Methods Match was held at the weekend. There were a few great bags of fish weighed in on both days, but one angler fished particularly well.
On Day 1 Kieran Reeves netted 77.020kg from end peg 10. This put him 30kg ahead of 2nd placed Adrian Browne on 47.630kg and nearly 40kg ahead of Andreis Pirchio on 37.880kg.
1 of 3
Kieran Reeves
Trev Platt, best on Day 2 but not enough overall for a podium finish
Michael Urbanski
There were no doubts going into Day 2 that Kieran Reeve’s lead but to hard to catch. Trev Platt gave it a good rattle from his end peg, 26. He weighed in 56.160kg at the end of the day. Andries Pirchio was bot too far behind on 44.740 but in 3rd was Kieran Reeves who had 40.520kg and more than enough for an easy victory.
Results
1st Kirean Reeves 117.970 kg
2nd Andries Pirchio 82.620 kg
3rd Trev Platt 78.230 kg
4th Peter Poprawski 55.460kg
Juniors
Best junior on both days was Michael Urbanski with 12.080 kg on day 1 and an overall total of 34.580kg
A very popular carp fishery. Popular with competition anglers and novices alike. Alway a great chance of a bumper bag here. Friendly staff more than happy to advise beginner anglers. Caters to all sorts of clubs and groups.
Angling guide Johannes Bulfin reports on pike fishing recently in the Midlands…
The pike fly fishing has been challenging at times this autumn but thankfully has now settled down into a more predictable rhythm, with some great excitement and a lot of boat side takes providing solid evidence of why fly fishing has to be the most exciting way of catching these predators.
I’ve had several people out who had never fished for pike in any form before. To be able to guide them to their first pike on a fly has been a real privilege.
I’ve also now invested in Livescope technology for the boat and look forward to developing the expertise in combining the latest technology with the traditional skills of fly fishing, a learning curve for me too. I’ll be more than happy to leave it turned off but it’s better to be looking at it than for it, as they say.
As the water continues to cool, a slower retrieve with pauses has been a real key to success. And silver has been by far and away the most dominant fly colour.
There is a real beauty in the autumn colours and the bite of winter coldness out on the water, the fish have been in fantastic condition lately and I’m looking forward to creating more memories:)
Watershed Fly Fishing is a full time professional guiding service specialising in pike fly fishing operating from Banagher, Co. Offaly. In season we also guide for trout on the Shannon tributaries. Get in touch to make your own memories at 085 7386944 or www.watershedflyfishing.ie
Watershed Fly Fishing is owned and operated by Johannes Bulfin who grew up fishing the waters he now guides on.
As a child the pike, that would often be as long as I was tall, would fill me with awe. Pursuing these monsters, as well as the aesthetically beautiful native Brown Trout, became an obsession that never waned.
I have lived in Finland for over eight years which gave me invaluable insights into pike fly fishing, the Nordics are traditionally known for their innovation and pushing boundaries. Various techniques and flies have been born there. Perch fly fishing is a prime recent example of this. I have also fished in England, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, across the US, South Africa and Kenya.
It was a cooler week for most and generally fairly wet with heavy rain in places. Land is getting water logged and inland waters are rising. The rosy glow of our autumnal evenings is quickly pushing towards miserable wet winter nights (and days!) since the clocks changed last weekend…
But enough of that! It’s Halloween, and tonight children around the world will be out and about in masks and costumes avoiding the puca and the banshee and hoping for a good haul of sweets. At this stage we all know that Halloween is derived from the ancient Irish festival Samhain with its roots in Celtic Ireland. But it’s actually older and far more ancient than that, originating from an even earlier invasion of this island.
Before the Celts and before the Tutha de Danann came the Fomorians, raiders or sea demons who conquered Ireland and ruled it from their stronghold on Tory Island. After decimating the Nemedians, the Irish people of that time, the Fomorians imposed a grim tax. And the tax had to be paid every Samhain. A tax of thirds was due each Halloween; one third of all their grain, one third of all their milk. Normal enough, but the last part was more horrific – one third of all the children born that year. The practise of paying the tax is thought to have changed over time to offerings being thrown into the sea, and it has come full circle with sea anglers up and down the Irish coast firing out the best of squid, mackerel and lugworms in hopes of appeasing some ancient sea gods…
Trout fishing is over until next year but there’s still room for stories of the season just past. In Keith McDonnell’s latest blog, The Dark Side of the Lough: Streamers for Connemara’s Ferox Trout, Keith brings his experimental approach to the loughs of Connemara with some spectacular success. Well worth a read…
In other news
Irish Specimen Fish Committee
The deadline for submitting specimen claims is on us. If you were lucky enough to catch a specimen fish this year and want to claim it, get your paperwork into the Irish Specimen Fish Committee now so that the ISFC can assess it. All specimen claims to be submitted by tonight, 31st October. Further information on how to claim your specimen award are available here.
Salmon angling logbooks
A quick reminder for all salmon and sea trout anglers — don’t forget to return your 2025 salmon angling logbook and any unused gill tags. These returns are vital for managing and monitoring our wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout stocks. Anglers can submit returns via the business reply envelope provided with their licence, or by posting directly to the IFI office listed on their logbook or licence.
Sharks le Chéile
Sharks le Chéile (“sharks together”) — an independent group linking scientists studying sharks, skates, and rays in Ireland with the public — is inviting interested anglers to get involved. Working in partnership with government agencies, the group’s mission is to bring marine science closer to the public and foster collaboration. Anglers who’d like to learn more or participate can visit their website at https://sharkslecheile.org/ for details.
There’s more rain forecast for tonight with winds staying in the southwest. Tomorrow will start bright and mostly dry with some showers on Atlantic coasts. These showers will spread east during the day. They will be heavy at times with a chance of hail. Breezy with moderate to fresh south-westerly winds. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12°C. With persistent low pressure dominating the weather the unsettled and mixed conditions will continue into next week. Though temperatures might climb a degree or two, winds will be switching southwest to westerly blowing, moderate to fresh and fresh to strong.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, here’s to finding a ring in the barm brac!
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected] and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.
22 October: Robert was back for some pike fly fishing with us last week! And that he did!!! Resulting in a new Pb for him, measuring 114cm/ 25lbs. Along with some other nice fish.
Robert
19 November: Jarno and Maurice were back for their annual pike fishing weekend with us. A new Pb once again for Jarno of 111cm and a double hook up were amongst the highlights.
Jarno and Maurice
13 November: Our regular guest, Austrian fly angler Gerald was back recently for his autumn pike fly trip. And what a week he had. Storm Amy was approaching and rapidly rising water levels and gale force winds put a few obstacles in our way (literally!!!) But surprisingly the pike were on the feed that week and big fish kept on coming.
Good pike on the fly for Gerald
Gerald was able to finish his week with 12 pike over the meter, 7 of which over 20lbs: 2x20lbs, 2x22lbs, 24lbs, 24.5lbs, 25.1lbs. The biggest fish came last with 113cm/ 25.1lbs.
What’s best? Every fish was landed on fly with barbless single hooks Well done and thank you for fishing barbless!
See you next year…
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.
Gavin Tivy, Skipper of the charter boat Sea Hunter out of Youghal, has been getting out amongst the bluefin tuna this month when the weather has allowed.
They started the catching on 09 October with some big bluefin tuna caught and released with the largest measuring 90″, approximately 560lb. This were followed by another top Tuna day off Youghal just a couple of days later. There were lots of busts and plenty of bird activity. The boat had 4 hook up and got 2 fish to the boat. One was a monster of 101”, estimated to weigh 660lb.
Weather took its toll for a while, but on Wednesday, 22 October, his willing crew had 2 fine bluefin tuna early on. The first was estimated at 220lb and the second at 300lb. They fished on and as luck would have it they met another couple of bluefins before the day was out. These were slightly smaller at around 195lb and 205lb.
All the fish were measured, tagged and released as part of the TunaChart programme.
Notes:I have many years experience as an angling guide on the Moy estuary and I have an intimate knowledge of this area and the excellent sea trout angling available here. For more details about my guiding service and some photos please visit my website.
A reminder that Friday, 31st October, is the last day to enter the Sharks le Chéile (“sharks together”) angler survey, open to anyone who has caught a shark, skate or ray in Irish waters. Your views will help us to understand which species are most important to anglers, as well as the benefits of angling to coastal communities and the wider economy, and the opinions of the angling community on important issues such as conservation and promotion of angling. All entrants will be in with a chance to win one of twenty-five €50 vouchers from participating angling stores, or one of two fishing day charters, so you might just bag a prize in the process.
Most Irish fly anglers will be familiar with Keith McDonnell of Impact Fly Fishing, and his often innovative and always interesting take on fly fishing for trout. Keith has pioneered targeting large brown trout, often with streamers of his own design, which are things of beauty in their own right. In his latest blog, “The Dark Side of the Lough: Streamers for Connemara’s Ferox Trout”, Keith brings his experimental approach to the loughs of Connemara with some spectacular success. As always, reading one of Keith’s blogs leaves you full of excitement for the endless possibilities of fly fishing, and the photography is invariably first-class. So grab a cup of tea and a few dunkers, and give yourself 10 minutes to enjoy his tale of angling adventures in the west of Ireland…
Anyone who would like to fish the Munster Coarse Anglers Winter League can contact us by commenting on our Facebook page
The deadline for submitting specimen claims is on us. If you were lucky enough to catch a specimen fish this year and want to claim it, get your paperwork into the Irish Specimen Fish Committee now so that the ISFC can assess it. All specimen claims to be submitted by tonight, 31st October. Further information on how to claim your specimen award are available 
A quick reminder for all salmon and sea trout anglers — 
