Chris O’Sullivan had a pleasant surprise wile fishing for stingrays in Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry when a 156cm tope took his bait. Chris was absolutely thrilled after landing this fish of a lifetime from the shore! The 45 lbs. tope is a specimen and new PB for Chris!
Here is a link to his exciting video:
Vincent Appleby reports from Lough Currane
20/5/20 All quiet on the Western front in all departments, be it fly, troll and mobile. Wind SSE light to fresh and overcast, followed by light misty rain late this afternoon. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.8 centigrade.
21/5/20 There was some good fishing conditions out there on the Lake today, except for the low water conditions in the opinion of the Currane Anglers and there is no argument to that, sadly the Wild Atlantic Salmon kept their mouths shut in all departments this day. Wind Southeast Fresh to strong in the afternoon and overcast, followed by heavy rain this afternoon, expected amount of rainfall for Waterville 13.0 mm? Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 16.7 centigrade.
22/5/20 Lough Currane was like the Wild West and for good reason, there was a strong Southwest wind blowing down the Lake, you do not have to be a rocket scientist to know all the Salmon stations were closed. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 18.9 mm. Maximum air temperature 15.5 centigrade.
23/5/20 The Currane Anglers are at a quandary with their flies and lures, and for good reason, as the rain fell the land took the majority of the rainfall and Currane is still dead low, as well as the angler’s enthusiasm. Wind SW fresh with reasonable cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.3 centigrade.
24/5/20 You can say without any fear of contradiction that the Currane Anglers patience is at rock bottom, talking of rock bottom, Lough Currane has not had a big flood since St. Patrick’s Day, so one can appreciate their lack of enthusiasm and understand that you would need the patience of a Saint to manipulate ones lures. Wind SW light to fresh with reasonable cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.2 centigrade.
25/5/20 Day in day out its been the same fishing lines on this Blog, today’s fishing manipulations is no different and I can tell you the fishing reports are getting as difficult as procuring the wild Atlantic Salmon, all I can say is the Wild Currane Salmon maybe keeping their mouths Shut, but here’s one angler, come reporter who has no intention of shutting down. Wind S light and overcast all day. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 16.6 centigrade.
26/5/20 Going by the Lough Currane post and telegraphs, there were four boats out, three boats trolling and one on the drift, plus a photo of the Bull Rock that gives you a fair idea that the Currane anglers are really up against the elements! Wind West light and calm in the afternoon, good cloud cover in the morning, bright and sunny in the afternoon. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 6.7 mm, maximum air temperature 13.6 centigrade.
Vincent Appleby
www.salmonandseatrout.com
Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0)66 9475248
E-mail: salmonandseatrout@eircom.net
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com
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
Damien Culliney reported great fishing on Lough Derg with 8 pike to the boat. The fish ranged from 80cm to 110cm with the bigger fish coming to lures.
It was great to get out on the boat again for a day’s fishing and prospects for the coming days are looking promising.
Trout and Pike Guide
Anglers Paradise Ireland is owned and managed by Damien Culliney, a well known angler and chef in the Clare region and a man passionate about the inland waterways and natural history of County Clare. At Angler’s Paradise, we love the thrill of Game fishing and Pike fishing in equal measure and can take our clients to some of Europe’s most unspoilt rivers and lakes in search of trophy predators and the realisation of their angling dreams.
Tel Mobile: +353 86 060 2718
Web: www.anglersparadise.ie
Email cullineydamo@gmail.com
Ian O’Keeffe enjoyed great pike fishing together with his two daughters Aoife and Niamh on Lough Derravaragh. He caught a lovely 26 lbs. pike while spinning.
The fish took a rubber lure in shallow water just off a weed bed and was safely released after a great fight. Ian and his two daughters managed to land another three pike on the day which made it a very memorable family outing!
Declan Gibbons reports that angling is very good on Corrib at present and has been of recent weeks, although with so few living close enough to fish it under Covid-19 restrictions, reports have been sparse and only a few regular contributors have been able to contribute. Fishing was very good up to last Thursday, but the stormy weather on Friday and Saturday, and the heatwave underway today will probably bring the end to the 2020 mayfly season.
In the Oughterard area Kevin Molloy had 4 trout on Sunday – best fish 1.5lbs on wet mayfly. Willie Molloy had 3 trout on Sunday – best fish 2lbs.
Basil Shields & Macken Keane had 10 fish on Sunday, all on mayfly with the majority on dries – best fish 3lbs.
Basil & Colman Counihan on Thursday last had 12 fish, all on dry mays – best fish being 2.5lbs.
In the Cornamona area John Somerville & his mother Kathy fished on Wednesday last in the Dooras area. They had 9 fish over the 13inches (all fish returned) on mayfly patterns.
John had other days where he boated 4 and 5 fish.
I got out for a couple of days with Neil Spellacy before and after the recent storm. We had good sport on both days, with 5 trout averaging 1.25bs the first day, and 7 fish of a much better average – 1.75-2lbs on the second day, all on wet mayflies. All fish were returned. Neil even had the fish jumping into the boat, with one of his trout giving several acrobatic leaps when hooked, the final leap landing right inside the boat. Not something you see every day!
https://www.facebook.com/inlandfisheriesireland/videos/1522445567935580/
The weather has taken a big turn this week, with temperatures set to hit 27C tomorrow, and bright sunshine that will probably see the end of any big hatches until July. A settled spell of weather will see Caenis hatches kicking off this weekend. Early risers will be rewarded with good sport over the coming weeks.
Inland Fisheries Ireland offers the following information to anglers as a guideline only. Government advice to stop the spread of coronavirus is STAY AT HOME.
It should be noted, any change to the over-arching ‘Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business’ may result in an amendment(s) to this table. Anglers must follow up-to-date Government advice at all times.
We strongly advise the suspension of all angling competitions until further notice.
To stay safe and keep fishing, stick to protocol, strictly no contact with other anglers and always practice good:
Hand Hygiene Cough Etiquette Physical Distancing 2m Equipment Disinfecting (not sharing) STAY home if you have symptoms
Phase 1 |
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18th May |
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Within 5km |
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Bank Anglers Trout Salmon Pike Coarse |
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Boat Anglers Game Coarse Pike Sea |
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Sea Anglers Shore |
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Phase 2 |
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8th June |
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Within 20km |
|
Bank Anglers Trout Salmon Pike Coarse |
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Boat Anglers Game Coarse Pike Sea |
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Sea Anglers Shore |
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Phase 3 |
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29th June |
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Within 20km |
|
Bank Anglers Trout Salmon Pike Coarse |
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Boat Anglers Game Coarse Pike Sea |
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Sea Anglers Shore |
|
Phase 4 |
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20th July |
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Outside your region |
|
Bank Anglers Trout Salmon Pike Coarse |
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Boat Anglers Game Coarse Pike Sea |
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Sea Anglers Shore |
|
Phase 5 |
|
10th August |
|
Outside your region |
|
Bank Anglers Trout Salmon Pike Coarse |
|
Boat Anglers Game Coarse Pike Sea |
|
Sea Anglers Shore |
|
Business Owners can determine when your business may reopen in accordance with the Government’s ‘Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business’ . The Roadmap gives a list of essential businesses which can reopen in phase 1 (the current phase) and an outline of other businesses which can reopen in subsequent phases. During phase 1, only essential businesses may reopen.
Once you have determined the phase under which you can reopen your business, please ensure you adhere to the ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol’
Angling guides and ghillies should to refer to Government’s ‘Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business’ to determine when they may open. Businesses should ensure that they are able to offer the level of service and experience their clients would expect under current COVID-19 restrictions. For those who decide to offer services we would advise the following, as a guideline only, to help you plan for a safe operation of business.
Charter boat owners should refer to to Government’s ‘Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business’ to determine when they may operate. Charter boat operators should ensure that they are able to operate safely under current Covid-19 restrictions. They should refer in the first instance to any guidance on passenger vessels from the Department of Transport. For those who decide to offer services we would advise the following, as a guideline only, to help you plan for safe operation of business.
Lough Sheelin Angling Report May 18th-24th, 2020
‘Put backing on your line, even if you never use it. It helps you to dream’
Jimmy D. Moore
Lough Sheelin sparkled this week like a well polished jewel in Ireland’s angling crown.
Southerly winds and increasing temperatures stroked the lakes surface to produce large falls of spent and even larger trout heading and tailing to take them. Angling numbers increased signaling to any onlookers that the mayfly was ‘up’ on Lough Sheelin.
Duffer’s Fortnight – a name synonymous to easy pickings – is a myth because although the mayfly hatch does bring the big fish to the surface, it is certainly not easy fishing as such and there is still a certain amount of skill involved to successfully catch a mayfly trout here.
First of all, it often takes 2-3 days of hatching before the trout really turn on to the danica, and even though these insects are large and easy to spot, it’s doubtful a ‘chuck and duck’ effort will work, correct presentation is imperative and covering a rising fish without hesitation a necessity for success.
There is something very special about this time of year – the mayfly season, bring with it long days, increasing warmth and where every part of nature is bursting with life. There is a newness and freshness that is now, more than ever, necessary to replenish our world weary souls.
From a trout angler’s perspective, May is a truly magical time, made so by what feels like the sudden appearance of the mayfly. As if out of the blue, suddenly there they are, freshly hatched duns sitting like little green sailing boats scattered out over the surface water, drying their wings before becoming airborne.
Ephemera danica, coming from the Latin word Ephemeral, or short-lived, is the largest up-winged species in Ireland. Although the mayfly nymphs live two, occasionally three years on the bottom of the lake, once these are transformed into our very beautiful mayfly, one or two days of a life span is all that is allotted to this goddess of trout waters. They are doomed because they have lost their mouth parts and cannot eat. Their sole purpose is reproduction and then death. Their short life-span starts as an energetic green fly and as it ages its fragile wings and body darken. Leaving the cover of the bushes it begins the mating ritual where thousands gather in an elaborate dance which can look like spirals of smoke rising up in the air. After the female lays her eggs on the water she dies and it is this fall of spent along with agreeable weather conditions that can bring on a substantial rise of trout.
Mayflies can emerge at any time from April through to the autumn but the principal hatches on Sheelin are normally in late May and early June. The reason the name doesn’t coincide accurately with the month is because they were named before the Pope changed the calendar and at that time May was a couple of weeks later in the year.
Angling numbers increased dramatically on Sheelin as the week progressed, with some hefty trout being caught. The weather, as always, dictates how good or bad the fishing is here with Friday’s and Saturday’s strong gusting south westerly winds somewhat putting a halt to the gallop of even the most enthusiastic angler. Despite these meteorological hiccups there were plenty of golden moments during the week, when gently warm breezes induced large falls of spent with considerable numbers of trout rising to the occasion. On Tuesday evening there were three falls of spent, each fall punctuated by showers of rain. On Thursday our Sheelin mayfly put on a spell binding aerial dance close to Church Island, something akin to an extract from Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy’ but despite this mesmerizing natural phenomenon, down came the rain and no spent went out.
Changing wind directions and speeds did add an element of challenge into the fishing. I am reliably told that south east winds are best for dry fly fishing because these produce longer drifts whereas south west favour the wet fly anglers.
Lough Sheelin is an unpredictable stretch of water, there is really no definition of what constitutes a good or a bad fishing day and there are times when even the most unlikely weather can produce great fishing. Sometimes it feels akin to a lottery. Bear in mind that with the mayfly it takes some really bad weather to stop a hatch as the mayfly hatches are triggered by seasonal light rather than localised weather so with safety always in the forefront, tucking yourself into a sheltered bay or inlet can bring on some surprisingly good fishing.
The novice and inexperienced anglers are easy to spot on Lough Sheelin, they are the ones that restlessly move from place to place as if being continually on the move will increase their chances of piscatorial success. Fishing on this mercurial stretch of water demands patience and observation, some good advice would be to find a drift and stick with it, fish the edges, repeat and watch for that heart stopping pod of feeding fish and then strike.
148 trout were recorded for this week, with the heaviest trout weighing in at an impressive 8lbs 6ozs caught on the capturer’s own version of a Grey Wulff. Second heaviest fish was an 8 pounder caught on a Spent Gnat with six other fish being reported as tipping the scales at over 7lbs. Trout averaged 2½ to 4½lbs with a heavy scattering of 5 pounders in the mix.
Most fish were caught using a wide variety of spent gnat patterns. Spent Gnat fishing usually kicked off after 5pm and ended around 10.30pm. During office hours mayfly nymphs and a selection of dry fly Mays did the business.
Although now is predominantly about the mayfly there are also plenty of other potential trout food out there – terrestrials, a variety of sedges (Welshman’s button, Long horned, Silver and Cinnamon), buzzer, alder flies and some caenis.
The fish success this week were mostly using spent and mayfly patterns with traditional patterns featuring in the returns – Wulffs (Grey, Royal, Green and Yellow), Melvin May, Ginger & Olive May, Goslings, Mosley May, French Partridge, Green Drake, Cock Robin with Claret Bumbles, Olive Bumbles, Bibios, Klinkhammers, dry Buzzers, Grey Duster (size 10), Spent Gnat patterns, Dabblers (Green, Golden Mayfly and International), the Octopus, Welshman’s Button, Chocolate Drop, Muddlers and small dry sedges.
The best areas for fishing this week were predominantly down along the Western shore of the lake, Stony Island, at the back of Church Island, Merry Pt, Wilsons pt, Inchacup, Chambers Bay and from Kilnahard down to Crover, Crane Island, Bog Bay, Sailors Garden and into Goreport, Lynch’s Pt, Derrysheridan and Derry Pt.
A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times
Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 949 which strictly prohibits from June 14th 2017 onwards:
Lough Sheelin Guiding Services (www.loughsheelinguidingservices.com) 087 1245927
Christopher Defillon
evasionpecheirlande@gmail.com (+33685964369) evasionpecheirlande.net
https://m.facebook.com/christopher.defillon?refid=0&fref=seaperch#
Michael Farrell @ 087 4194156Telephone: +353 43 6681298 Email: loughsheelinguide@hotmail.com
Grey Duster Guiding
Kenneth O’Keeffe
Tel: 086 8984172 Email: trout@live.ie
John Mulvany johnmulvanyfishing@gmail.com 086 2490076
D.C Angling & Guiding Services – contact David @ 087 3946989
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.
The slow but steady return to angling has been welcomed by all especially those living within 5km of their local waters. Some anglers returned to the brown trout fishing on the River Boyne since the easing of restrictions and the fishing has not disappointed. Water levels have been good due to the relatively good and settled weather and there has been good fly activity on many stretches of the river around Navan.
Trout have been actively free-rising and fishing has been good during the day and into the late evening. John Baker and a few other local anglers have had a number of outings to the river recently and produced some nice wild brown trout on dry flies. According to reports there were lots of trout in the .75lb bracket with occasion fish to 1lb and the best trout weighing in at circa 1.5lbs. A fine river trout.
All fish were returned carefully to the river after a quick photo. We look forward to receiving further reports in they coming weeks and we will keep you posted as the news comes in.
For future reference
For information on fishing the River Boyne at Navan please visit http://navananglers.com/
For further information on the River Boyne and its tributaries please visit https://fishinginireland.info/trout/east/meath/
Apart from last night, there has been very little rainfall during the past seven days. Temperatures were down a little on average and some parts of the country were fairly cloudy. Now, having said that there were some lovely days and the odd evening when you could have stayed out fishing all night if the current guidelines didn’t advise otherwise.
Salmon anglers have been champing at the bit all through the lockdown, but the recent easing of restrictions didn’t do them much good. For those lucky to live close enough to a salmon river or lake water levels have been consistently low for the last few weeks. Last night’s rain will have seen a bit of a flood but it remains to be seen if many fish will be caught as a result.
There’s a bit of trout news to report, mostly from Lough Sheelin once again. I may as well quote directly from Brenda Montgomery’s report from the lake: “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…” She goes on to say that the lake has has some excellent buzzer fishing, and that the Olives are still coming out in good numbers too.
Lough Arrow is also seeing some decent Mayfly fishing on both the dapp and spent. There have been good hatches during the day, but the best of the fishing is coming in the evenings. As long as conditions are suitable, the fishing should continue there for a while yet.
Do you know of a story with a water theme – a story that simply must be told? Here is your opportunity to tell it and to be in with a chance to win one of 20 great prizes totalling €4,000, which will support local businesses.
Your story can be from the past or the present day – that’s up to you. It might be about the wildlife that lives or once lived in or around a waterbody – your story might be about fishing, hunting or just watching nature.
As we go to press, there are Yellow wind warnings in all counties – southwestery winds will gust to 110km/ph in places. There’s also an Orange wind warning for all coastal waters, as southwest gales or strong gales will reach storm force at times. Saturday will be a blustery or windy day. It will be mostly cloudy over the northern half of the country with spells of showery rain. Brighter further south with sunshine and showers. Highest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees with fresh, gusty westerly winds, which will be strong to gale force in the northwest. Sunday will be mainly dry, apart from perhaps one or two showers in the north and northwest. The best of the sunshine will be over the southern half of the country. There will be a bit more cloud further north. Highest temperatures will range from 15 degrees in the west to 20 degrees in the east, with moderate southwest breezes. There’ll be a mix of rain and warm, humid weather next week.
It might be a bit windy for much fishing this weekend, but it’s looking good for those with decent fishing 5km from home next week…
Stay safe wherever you are,
Myles Kelly
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie.
Vincent Appleby reports from Lough Currane
15/5/20 Bright sunshine all day, wind NE light and variable at times. Need I say more, I wish I could, but I cannot because they did not if you get my drift! Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 13.4 centigrade.
16/5/20 The Currane Anglers blood pressure is as low as the Currane water level. That sums up today’s manipulations in all departments. If I missed out on any of the 5-kilometre anglers, you have only got yourself to blame! Wind NE then veered SW in the afternoon and overcast. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.3 centigrade.
17/5/20 Lets look at today’s action on Lough Currane, amount of strikes in the Salmon and Sea Trout department, the least said the soonest mended. Wind SW light to fresh and overcast. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 13.5 centigrade.
18/5/20 Lough Currane water level low, my Noble Currane Anglers enthusiasm low as you would expect. Followed by strong winds from the SSW and overcast all day. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 4.4 mm. Maximum air temperature 14.4 centigrade.
19/5/20 Today’s angling proceedings are a repeat of yesterday’s manipulations, in other words lacking action in all departments. Wind SW and overcast all day. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.1 centigrade.
20/5/20 All quiet on the Western front in all departments, be it flie, troll and mobile. Wind SSE light to fresh and overcast, followed by light misty rain late this afternoon. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.8 centigrade.
21/5/20 There was some good fishing conditions out there on the Lake today, except for the low water conditions in the opinion of the Currane Anglers and there is no argument to that, sadly the Wild Atlantic Salmon kept their mouths shut in all departments this day. Wind Southeast Fresh to strong in the afternoon and overcast, followed by heavy rain this afternoon, expected amount of rainfall for Waterville 13.8 mm? Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 16.7 centigrade.
Vincent Appleby
www.salmonandseatrout.com
Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0)66 9475248
E-mail: salmonandseatrout@eircom.net
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com
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
