July and January on Sheelin as Mayfly gets going

By

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May 18, 2020

May 11th – May 17th, 2020

‘I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains’
Anne Frank

A persistently cold north to north easterly wind coupled with night time frosts caused a staggered and somewhat patchy start to Lough Sheelin’s 2020 mayfly season. Despite the unwelcome chill Ephemera danica still made its presence felt here with a particularly impressive hatch around 3pm last Thursday followed by a heart stopping rise of fish.

Covid-19 has made this a very difficult season to be writing any kind of an angling report and I am very conscious of the pain that I might be inadvertently inflicting on those that live too far away from this water and for that I apologise. The gradual easing of lockdown on May 18th is of little or no consolation to the majority of trout anglers, the Governments tentatively flagged date of July 20th effectively wipes out the best of the buzzer, olives, mayfly, murrough and even the bloodworm fishing here.

‘Never let a good crises go to waste’ a quote from Winston Churchill in the mid-1940s as we were approaching the end of World War two, referred to the fact that opportunities can be created in the midst of a crisis. The Coronavirus is our crises and the ensuing lockdown resulted in weeks and weeks of human inactivity on Lough Sheelin, the opportunity was the rest that this enforcement gave to the lake – no boat traffic, no snagging on hooks, no noise, no killing and no clumsy releases.

We are now entering, allegedly, the most revered fishing time for most trout anglers – the mayfly season but before we get to this, there have been other things happening here. Buzzer fishing has been excellent, with dry buzzer patterns resulting in some hefty trout catches. As the weather temperatures swung from being July one day to January the next, buzzer fishing seemed unaffected. Artificials like the Shipman’s Buzzer, Bobs Bits (in claret, black, ginger, olive or grey), Klinkhammers, Shuttlecock Buzzer and the Grey Duster generally got great results. Silty areas of the lake were the places to head for – Goreport, Bog Bay, Sailors Garden and down by Corru.

Now into Mayfly time, many anglers are blinded by these large delicate flies and ignore the large hatches of their smaller relation – the lake olive. This week saw good hatches of these delicate insects in the more sheltered bays neglected by the anglers who were in search of the open-water mayfly drifts. A good combination for the olives is an Olive Bumble on the top dropper and two nymphs on the middle and point. Nymphs such as Pheasant Tail, Diawl Bach, Hare’s Ear and Olive Nymph, in sizes 12 and 14 worked well. Deer-wing Emerger patterns and Muddler patterns were good as top droppers if a bit of movement is needed.

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The Mayfly season has started here. The numbers of anglers fishing this lake are increasing and anglers targeting the mayfly trout are being most successful using Mayfly nymphs and traditional mayfly patterns of grey, ginger, green and yellow. The fall of spent has been sporadic but if you were in the right place at the right time, using the right fly then you stood a fairly solid chance of catching a trout. Towards the end of the week the lake shifted up a gear and most anglers were catching three or more trout averaging 3 to 4½ lbs.

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The biggest fish for the week was a 6 ½ lb trout caught on a Mayfly nymph.

Total number of trout recorded: 131

The best areas for fishing this week were Stony Island, at the back of Church Island, Merry Pt, Wilsons pt, Inchacup, Chambers Bay and from Kilnahard down to Crover. Bog Bay, Sailors Garden and into Goreport.

happiness is a sheelin trout — Happiness is a sheelin trout

It was all buzzer and mayfly patterns for this week with dry buzzers and wet mayfly patterns topping the pole. Goslings, Mosley May, French Partridge and a hundred and one versions of the Mayfly both wet and dry were the favourite certainly for the later part of the week with Claret Bumbles, Bibios, Klinkhammers, dry Buzzers, Spent Gnat patterns, Dabblers (Green and International), the Octopus, Sooty Olives, Muddlers and Wulffs (Grey, Yellow and Royal) featuring in the catches as well.

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Go Fishing

House Rules

A permit is required to fish Lough Sheelin. Buy your permit online at: shop.fishinginireland.info or from any of the permit distributors listed here.

Catch and release

A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times.

Extra care is needed when playing and releasing trout during periods of high water temperatures as additional stress at these times will decrease the survival rate of hooked and released fish.

BYE-LAW 949 strictly prohibits:

The taking of any brown trout of less than 36 centimetres.
For a person to fish with more than 2 rods at any one time.
To fish with more than 4 rods at any one time when there is more than one person on board the boat concerned.
For a person to take more than 2 trout per day.
All trolling on the lake from March 1^st to June 16th (inclusive).
To fish or to attempt to take or to fish for, fish of any kind other than during the period from March 1st to October 12th in any year.

Join the Club…

For anyone interested in joining Lough Sheelin’s Angling Club – The Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association please contact Thomas Lynch @ 087 9132033.

Guides and ghillies…

Lough Sheelin Guiding Services
www.loughsheelinguidingservices.com
087 1245927

Christopher Defillon
[email protected]
+33685964369
evasionpecheirlande.net
https://m.facebook.com/christopher.defillon?refid=0&fref=seaperch#

Michael Farrell
087 4194156
Telephone: +353 43 6681298
Email: [email protected]

Grey Duster Guiding
Kenneth O’Keeffe
Tel: 086 8984172 Email: [email protected]

John Mulvany
[email protected]
086 2490076

D.C Angling & Guiding Services
– contact David @ 087 3946989

Michael Flanagan,
Trout and Pike Guide.
Email: [email protected] Web: www.midlandangling.com

Lifejackets

We would implore anglers and all other users to wear life jackets for their own safety as well as it being the law.

Life jackets are required by law – SI No 921 of 2005 – Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations 2005. Water rarely gives second chances and a life jacket is just that – it saves your life.

Please put on and keep on that life jacket until you are back on dry land.

Please remember All anglers are required to have a Fishery Permit to fish Lough Sheelin which must be purchased BEFORE going out on the lake.

Finally some fishing to report and a reminder of current guidelines – Irish angling Update 15 May 2020

By

myleskelly

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May 15, 2020

It was another dry week here in Ireland and the majority of the country experienced well below average rainfall over the past seven days. Although its been sunny temperatures are also below normal in nearly all parts of the country during the past week. Some of the evenings have been bitter, in stark contrast to the sunny days we had seen.

Now that angling is underway locally there is a bit of angling to report on, and we expect to have more updates for you next week.

On Lough Sheelin trout anglers have seen some dramatic hatches of fly (buzzzers were out in clouds) and there were a few decent trout caught. Mayfly is only getting going now so hopefully the catches will pick up as more anglers within 5km of the lake can get out on the water.

Gina Tanczos with her beautiful 63cm trout (released)

As lockdown eases local anglers get out on Sheelin

In other new anglers in the Waterville area having been trying their luck on Lough Currane. A mix of bright weather, thunder and strong winds have not made for easy fishing and in the last 10 days there was only 1 salmon recorded.

Kerry anglers back on Currane, but not many salmon about

Updated Angling guidelines

Fishing is permitted within 5km of your home
Maintain social distancing at all times, especially at car parks, access points and launch sites.
Anglers from different households should not share transport e.g. car/van when travelling to fish.
Limit contact with other anglers and providers.
Permit/licence sales online where possible
Maximum 2 persons from different households in small boat for inland/inshore fishing
Angling businesses may only open once classified as an essential service and should only operate if they can provide online/contactless services.
Charter fishing or guided fishing may only operate where skippers/guides can guarantee compliance with social distancing measures.
Recommend no competition fishing
Facilities where anglers could gather to remain closed – lunch huts, etc. Where such facilities are essential fishery should remain closed.
Recommend anglers/guides/skippers to carry hand sanitiser and to use it after touching surfaces such as gates, stiles, pier railings, ladders, etc.

More information at: New 5km limit, IFI and ESB fisheries reopen, permits and licences available

And now the weather

Met Eireann tell us it will be bright with sunny spells tomorrow morning and isolated showers affecting the west and north. Through the afternoon, cloud will increase from the west with outbreaks of light rain or drizzle pushing into the west and north by evening. Highest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees, coolest in northwestern areas with moderate west to southwest breezes. Sunday is shaping up to be a mostly cloudy and breezy day across the west and north, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, becoming persistent and heavy in northern parts of Ulster later in the day. Monday will see an improvement and Tuesday and Wednesday look to be lovely days with temperatures in the high teens to 20C.

Stay safe wherever you are,

Myles Kelly

Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].

Kerry anglers back on Currane, but not many salmon about

By

myleskelly

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May 15, 2020

Vincent Appleby reports from Lough Currane

4/5/20 All quiet on all fronts. Wind East strong and veered Southeast at times and cold followed by good cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.6 centigrade.

5/5/20 All quiet on the South West front, the same could not be said for the wind and for good reason, there was a strong South East wind blowing, as the odd Currane Angler looked up to the overcast sky. That sums up today’s notes. An angler’s quote of the day, a great fisherman’s confidence to catch a fish comes from his passion, not his gear, mind you your good wife might have a different opinion, if you get my drift. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 17.0 centigrade.

6/5/20 Here’s today’s meteorological report from Lough Currane, Wind Southeast fresh and overcast and followed by heavy showers and prolonged at times. Now for some good news on the Angling news from Inland fisheries Ireland. Click and read. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 13.6 centigrade.

7/5/20 The Currane Anglers were as quiet as the Lambs, in all departments. Wind SSE. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 15.2 centigrade.

8/5/20 The Currane Anglers were all quiet on all fronts, to be fair to the anglers, Lough Currane is lacking fresh water, plus with bright sunshine all day, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know their chances of catching a Salmon are as low as the Lake. Wind South light. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 8.1 mm. Maximum air temperature 14.6 centigrade.

9/5/20 Light and variable winds all day and very thundery, that sums up today’s manipulations, or I should say the lack of, but what would you expect when there is thunder in the air. All I can say you might get a good strike if one is fishing with a carbon fibre rod. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 17.4 centigrade.

10/5/20 No thundering reports this day as the Currane Anglers headed out in flat calm conditions this morning, finally the wind did get up from the North East and that sums up today’s manipulations. As they say the picture tells the story. Yesterday weather, maximum air temperature 20.5 centigrade.

11/5/20 All quiet on all fronts on this cold and sunny day. Wind Strong East. Now for all you anglers who sadly live outside the 5 Kilometres fishing line, like my good self, all I can say is be patient, because It is far better being lockdown at home than being lockdown in the graveyard! Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 16.2 centigrade.

12/5/20 Here is the Lough Currane meteorological report, early this morning, wind was East and then veered Southwest in the afternoon with reasonable cloud cover at times. The Currane detective agency reported that there were two boats out manipulating and one Salmon caught on the troll. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 12.6 centigrade.

13/5/20 We start with the sad news that Mrs. Betty McGillicuddy, of Baslicon Waterville Passed Away, on behalf of the Lough Currane Anglers and all the good People of Caherdaniel, Waterville and all of Kerry, we send our Sincere sympathies to Dan and all the McGillicuddy Family and friends. Special note from the Lough Currane Anglers, to renowned Gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy, again our Sincere sympathies on the passing of your good Mother R. I. P. And on today’s manipulations, all quiet on all fronts. Wind light North East and variable. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.1 centigrade.

14/5/20 All quiet on all fronts and that includes the one that got away. Wind NE light, bright sunshine all day. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 13.9 centigrade.

Vincent Appleby
www.salmonandseatrout.com

Go fishing…

Vincent Appleby

Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0)66 9475248
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com

Find out more about Lough Currane…

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

Waterville lakes and rivers system

As lockdown eases local anglers get out on Sheelin

By

Brenda Montgomery

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May 11, 2020

May 5th – May 10th, 2020

‘To Thine Own Self be true’
(William Shakespeare)

This year’s angling season has been radically knocked askew by the onset of our pandemic – Covid-19. On March 27th we essentially fell asleep in one world and woke up in another.

Waiting in Lockdown - boats at Kilnahard, May 1st 2020 — Waiting in Lockdown – boats at Kilnahard, May 1st 2020

Forced into Spring hibernation, the anglers at Lough Sheelin initially struggled with a 2km distance restriction until the ESB finally closed all of its Shannon waters on April 9th terminating fishing altogether on this lake. Minimal easing of lockdown on May 5th, included Lough Sheelin reopening, with a 5km limit on travel. July 20th has been tentatively marked as the date when people can move from county to county and so for the majority of anglers this will be D day for them to return here. The lead up to this date will undoubtedly be painful for those anglers who are forced to stay away but this will not last forever and it is useful to know at what stage the lake is at when returning to fish these great waters.

April 2020 was recorded as being the driest and sunniest month on record and this resulted in a radical drop in water levels leaving that familiar faded hemline look of grey exposed winter reeds and bleached stones, bordering the lake. Warm daytime sunshine raised water temperatures to the present 15.6 degrees. Regardless of our viral crises, nature moves on and as April progressed into May, the foaming blossom of blackthorn bushes has now been replaced by the budding and blossoming of whitethorn or may blossom. New growth is already pushing its way over decaying winter vegetation.

The Hatches

While we were in lockdown insect life increased dramatically here and the trout moved upwards to surface and sub surface feed. With the warmth buzzer hatches were (and still are) excellent and anglers could only dream about the great emerger fishing that could of been. Buzzers are however around all through the season and this type of fishing will be ready and waiting for the returning angler, all he/she must do is to figure out at what stage of the lifecycle of this chironomid the trout are feeding on, for instance July can be excellent for bloodworm fishing in certain silty areas of the lake.

Lough Sheelin's Buzzer — Lough Sheelin’s Buzzer

There were impressive hatches of lake olives towards the end of the month. I always feel that these dainty little flies are a forerunner to the much acclaimed/exalted ‘mayfly’ . A member of the same Ephemera family, these beautiful little creatures usually hatch any time from mid April to the end of May. They are not as big as their cousin, the Mayfly, so generally it’s a size 12 or perhaps a 10. Their colouration, while mainly olive can be in varying shades, depending on the area they are hatching and also to the light levels on the day.

A beautiful trout caught on a dry Olive pattern

The down side to olives is that if the weather is very bright they tend not to hatch, preferring instead darker overcast days or evening light. Great fishing can be had on all different methods, wet fly, dry fly and nymphing (it cannot be over stressed that for success with nymph fishing, the speed of the retrieve should be as slow as possible and that contact with the flies should be maintained at all times) but I’m assured that to caught a trout on a dry Olive pattern is the ultimate.

'Two's company' - Lake Olive and Apple Green Midge — ‘Two’s company’ – Lake Olive and Apple Green Midge

One or two mayfly were first spotted at the beginning of this week at Kilnahard and Crover with a few shucks scattered on the water at Plunkett’s pt. Numbers increased significantly on Saturday only to become sparse again on Sunday with the onset of cold north easterly winds. It is still early days here for the Sheelin Mayfly, which normally kicks off mid month and can last till mid June .Weather of course is a big factor and with the promise of more northerly gusts and dipping temperatures the forthcoming week does not bode well for an exciting kick off to this most anticipated part of the fishing season.

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Lough Sheelin is alive with potential trout food so along with buzzers, olives and mayflies there are hawthorn flies, terrestrials, apple green midges, damsel flies and a plethora of insects that would take a lifetime to identify . Following on from these will be the sedges which are reportedly ‘the cream ‘ of the fishing on Sheelin.

The Catches

With the crippling restrictions only a fraction of anglers could fish the lake. The majority of trout were caught on buzzer patterns. A total of 21 trout were recorded including two fish measuring in at an impressive 63cm each.

Best areas were Stony Island, at the back of Church Island, Merry Pt, Inchacup, Chambers Bay and from Kilnahard down to Crover. Bog Bay, Sailors Garden and into Goreport.

A well conditioned trout caught on a Sooty Olive in Bog Bay

The Flies

With the lures a distant memory it was the buzzer and nymph patterns that took centre stage – the Pheasant Tail Nymph, the Diawl Bach, the Hare’s Ear and Olive Nymph (size 12 & 14). A combination of an Olive Bumble on the top dropper and two nymphs for the middle dropper and point worked well. The Claret Bumble, the Sooty Olive, Mallard & Claret Nymph, the Bibio, Shuttlecocks, Klinkhammers, Black Buzzers and Silver & Fiery Brown Dabblers.

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The humble frog - one of the best indicators of a good clean environment — The humble frog – one of the best indicators of a good clean environment