Boyne Valley Fishing guides have been in touch with some news about Lough Sheelin. The mayfly has finally arrived but hatches are reported to be sporadic in places and the fishing has been described as fairly tough going. Although good catches have been reported from certain areas, overall, it still needs to click up a gear. Peter Cunningham was guiding for local couple Patrick and Sinead on Lough Sheelin over the weekend. It was overcast with some light showers and there was a decent hatch of mayfly. This was Patricks’ first time on Lough Sheelin and as he got to grips with the lake and the conditions he managed to catch his very first Lough Sheelin trout on the fly. A big well done to Patrick!
Elsewhere on the lake John Baker had a number of fine fish with the best weighing in at around 5lbs. If you fancy a days guided fishing with Peter Cunningham or one of his team of guides at Boyne Valley Fishing Guides he can be contacted below
Brian Reidy reports for Galway Bay SAC on last week’s leg of the West Coast Shore League…
Joe Chambers – super turbot
On a bright but deceptively cool day in a fresh north-westerly, John Cunningham, Galway Bay SAC, added to his zone win in leg 1 with an overall win. He had 9 fish with a 38 cm turbot and 40 cm flounder of note. Joe Chambers, Corrane SAC, was 2nd connecting with the fish of the day a fine 44 cm turbot and 7 fish in total. Shane Gilvarry (Killala BC) added to his first day win with a third for his 5 fish.
Joe Chambers – flounder
Fish baits were most effective on the day and the higher scores were on the northern end. 12 seniors and one junior (Ryan Chambers) fished on the day.
Twaite Shad fishing in St. Mullin’s in Ireland has become my annual fishing tradition. It’s a mecca of fishing for shad in Ireland and souls from all over the country come down to the picturesque village of St. Mullin’s as soon as the first fish start running the river around April / May each year.
Fishing for Twaite Shad is an event in itself. The atmosphere, the people, the views are second to none and once you try this shad fishing you will be coming back there every year…
The Month of May has already accounted for numerous firsts for Wicklow Boat Charters. The first Tope of the season fell to Noemie Finklers group on the 9th, the first Smooth Hound went to Roberto Carcoba on the 11th, this was followed by his first Specimen Smooth Hound of 9.4lb, Roberto took the Wicklow Boat Charters Polo Shirt prize. As the fishing improves by the day we counted 10 species on Leong’s group trip in the bay while Anthony clocked up the first Thornback Ray with an individuals trip on the 18th. A lot of the fishing has fell on Springs so we look forward to next week when the Neap tides fall in.
There’s still first Specimen Tope polo shirt up for grabs, and first Black Bream, while the Free Customer Competitions are running again this year, make sure to get the skipper to record your catches.
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 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.
Available spurdog dates:
TUESDAY 26-03,
THURSDAY 28-03,
SUN 31-03 Mothers Day, start at Mid-day
TUE 02-04
SPECIALIST ANGLING CHARTERS
Specialist Angling Charters are offered for those who wish to target specific species, specimen fish or try new methods of angling.
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.
Friday was the final day of the 2019 Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival, organised and funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, assisted by Inland Fisheries (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) and sponsored by Waterways Ireland.
James O’Doherty, Enniskillen – overall winner takes home over £5,000
After a week of sunshine, the clouds gathered and the two hundred and five anglers lining the banks of the Erne considered changing from tee-shirts to waterproofs. Young James O’Doherty from Enniskillen emerged victorious, his 13kg 200gms catch from the Boa Island section bringing his total for the week to an impressive 71kg.870gms, winning him the coveted crystal chalice and the top prize of £5,000. In second place overall, collecting £2,000 and a Belleek Pottery trophy, was Brian Nesbitt from East Sussex, with 43kg 860gms, followed in third place by another English angler, Ian Benton, with 36kg 710gms, who won £1,500 and a trophy for his week’s efforts. Fourth was Classic regular Pete Bagshaw with 36kg 050gms and fifth was Manchester angler Michael Smith, who has been travelling to Fermanagh with his father and two brothers since he was a junior angler. Rounding off the top six overall was another Classic regular, Paul Boothby from Penkridge in Staffordshire.
Final results
Classic Fishing Festival 2019 Champion James O’Doherty, Pictured centre, with John Boyle Waterways Ireland – Director of Business Development ((left) and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Chairman, Howard Thornton (right)
1st James O’Doherty – Enniskillen, 71.870kg £5,000
2nd Brian Nesbitt – East Sussex, 43.860kg £2,000
3rd Ian Benton – Spalding, 36.710kg £1,500
4th Pete Bagshaw – Inkersall, 36.050kg £1,000
5th Michael Smith – Manchester, 34.650kg £500
6th Paul Boothby – Penkridge, Staffordshire, 33.840kg £350
The Friday daily winner was Paul Clarke from Birkenshaw, whose 28kg 900gms from the anglers’ favourite section, Ely Lodge, netted him £500. In second place was Ray Thompson from Manchester, third was previous Classic winner Malcom Brown from Coventry and fourth was Mark Silman from Doncaster.
The Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival is sponsored for the 16th year by Waterways Ireland and is organised and funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
• The National Biodiversity Data Centre and the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording for Northern Ireland (CEDaR) are launching a new all-Ireland survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies.
• The survey – ‘Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024’ – enables and encourages volunteer citizen scientists to record sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies, and to assess the state of the freshwater habitats they live in – helping to improve our knowledge of their distribution and to explore their use as bio-indictors of water quality and climate change.
• Over the course of the next five years Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024 is looking for people across Ireland to volunteer to survey their local freshwater habitats, and to submit records of any Dragonfly and Damselfly sightings they make.
• Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024 is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Wednesday, May 8th, 2019 The National Biodiversity Data Centre has today launched a new all-Ireland survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies as part of an Environmental Protection Agency funded citizen science project. The survey, called ‘Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024’, is being conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording in Northern Ireland, and will update our knowledge of dragonfly and damselfly distributions in Ireland.
The project is calling on members of the public to get involved by reporting their sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies via the biodiversityireland.ie website or using the National Biodiversity Data Centre App. The project is also seeking volunteer citizen scientists to survey their local river, stream, lake or bog for Dragonflies and Damselflies, and to conduct a short assessment of habitat quality at their chosen survey site. As part of the project, a series of survey and identification workshops will be held across Ireland.
The data will be used to map the current distribution of these charismatic species across Ireland. With the last all-Ireland atlas having been published almost 20 years ago, the timing is perfect to launch this new study. The project will also prepare an updated Red List for Dragonflies and Damselflies in Ireland, as some of these species are now known to be in decline; due to a combination of habitat loss and other environmental impacts.
Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024 will also explore the use of Dragonflies and Damselflies as indicator species for water and habitat quality, and monitoring the impacts of climate change.
Dragonfly larva
“Dragonflies and Damselflies are charismatic insects that are easily recognised by their large size and their dazzling body colours. Their presence at a site can also provide an indication as to the water quality at that location, as they spend much of their lives as aquatic nymphs living in freshwater.” said Dave Wall, Citizen Science Officer with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, based in Waterford.
The Centre’s Director, Dr Liam Lysaght, added: “we already know that dragonflies need warm temperatures to survive and some species are currently expanding their distribution northward in response to global warming. They are therefore a very good candidate for use as bio-indicators to monitor the impacts of climate change on our environment”.
Dr Damian McFerran, Centre for Environmental Data and Recording Manager stated: “the project is a perfect example of the relationship that now exists between Ireland’s two data centres”. He added: “CEDaR welcomes this development and looks forward to developing the Citizen Scientist Dragonfly Ireland recorder base”.
The project offers three levels of participation to volunteers. Initially, ‘Dragonfly Spotter’ encourages the submission of casual sightings of any Dragonfly or Damselfly species. The second level is ‘Dragonfly Recorder’ which asks volunteers to conduct timed surveys of a freshwater site, recording all Dragonfly and Damselfly species that are present, estimate their numbers and assess their habitat. Two surveys must be completed, one in May/June and the second between July and September. The third level of survey, ‘Dragonfly Monitor’ asks volunteers to conduct a minimum of four surveys at their local site, and to repeat surveys annually.
If you would like to participate in Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024, further details, survey forms and other resources are available at http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/recordbiodiversity/dragonfly-ireland-2019-2024/. The National Biodiversity Data Centre App is available to download for iPhone or Android via their website www.biodiversityireland.ie
Sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies in Northern Ireland can be submitted at: https://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/dragonflies.
Dragonfly Ireland is possible thanks to funding provided by the Environmental Protection Agency to promote citizen science and awareness of water quality in Irish freshwater and coastal aquatic habitats.
IFPAC, the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs, has just published the dates of All Ireland juniors qualifiers…
We have just finalised the dates for the Junior All Ireland qualifiers. Entry is FREE so please get as many young anglers along as possible. We usually get a good turnout of girls attending which is most welcome.
All young anglers who catch a pike will qualify to fish in the Final on October 12 for Cups and lots of tackle prizes and medallions.
These junior qualifiers are open to ALL young anglers, you don’t have to be a member of a club. These events are fully insured under our comprehensive insurance policy.
On the day of the Final we will also have a 4 member inter club team event. While teams will mainly comprise of anglers who have qualified to fish in the Final non qualifiers can be part of a team.
For full info phone Andrew on 085 8123333
The dates and locations…
1. Newbridge District Pike Anglers.18th May.Fishing canal and part of Barrow river. Check-in Vicarstown bridge Co. Laois 10.30am fishing at 11am -3pm.
2. North Longford Angling club sat 25th May. Fishing Gortemone lake 12 -4pm.Prizes and bbq after.Phone John Boyle on 0861963986 for info.All welcome.
3.Limerick and District Anglers 8th June.Fishing part of Shanon river.Check-in Annacoty Pump House (Ballyvolane) Co. Limerick at 10am, fishing at 11am -3pm.
4. Ardee Pike Anglers 13th July. Fishing Corraneary (Church) Lake Co.Cavan.Check-in 10.30 am at the church car park. Fishing at 11am-3pm.
5. August 8th no decisions have been made yet.
6. September 14th will be organized by Keady Pike Anglers. Please follow the IFPAC page for more details later.
There will be trophies for three categories U-18., U-13., U-8.
There will be a barbeque(and/or refreshments) after each qualifier if the club wants to have it on the day.
The sun shone on Lough Erne on Wednesday for the second day of the 2019 Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival, organised and funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, assisted by Inland Fisheries (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) and sponsored by Waterways Ireland.
James O’Doherty, Enniskillen – his huge catch puts him in first place overall
The top three weights today came from an old favourite stretch of Lough Erne, the Ely Lodge section. James O’Doherty from Enniskillen won the daily top prize of £500 with a very impressive haul of 39Kg 860Gms from Ely 18, Brian Nesbitt from East Sussex was second with 32 Kg 320 Gms from Ely 15 and another English Classic regular, Pete Bagshaw, was third overall with 31Kg 610Gms from peg 14 on Ely Lodge.
1st James O’Doherty – Enniskillen E 18 39.860kg £500
2nd Brian Nesbitt – East Sussex E 15 32.320kg £350
3rd Pete Bagshaw – Inkersall E 14 31.610kg £250
4th Chris Simpson – Manchester O 9 24.050kg £15
Inkersall’s Pete Bagshaw on Ely
James O’Doherty’s winning catch today propelled him to the top of the leaderboard going into the final day of the Fermanagh Classic on Friday, with a lead of over 20 Kilos separating him from Brian Nesbitt in second place. In third overall is Pete Bagshaw, with Chris Simpson and first day winner Gary Whalley in fourth and fifth. The Classic is once again living up to its reputation for unpredictability, with good weights of fish coming from some unexpected sections, so all eyes will be on the draw box in the Lakeland Forum on Friday morning.
The Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival is sponsored for the 16th year by Waterways Ireland and is organised and funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
• The National Biodiversity Data Centre and the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording for Northern Ireland (CEDaR) are launching a new all-Ireland survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies.
• The survey – ‘Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024’ – enables and encourages volunteer citizen scientists to record sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies, and to assess the state of the freshwater habitats they live in – helping to improve our knowledge of their distribution and to explore their use as bio-indictors of water quality and climate change.
• Over the course of the next five years Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024 is looking for people across Ireland to volunteer to survey their local freshwater habitats, and to submit records of any Dragonfly and Damselfly sightings they make.
• Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024 is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Wednesday, May 8th, 2019 The National Biodiversity Data Centre has today launched a new all-Ireland survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies as part of an Environmental Protection Agency funded citizen science project. The survey, called ‘Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024’, is being conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording in Northern Ireland, and will update our knowledge of dragonfly and damselfly distributions in Ireland.
The project is calling on members of the public to get involved by reporting their sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies via the biodiversityireland.ie website or using the National Biodiversity Data Centre App. The project is also seeking volunteer citizen scientists to survey their local river, stream, lake or bog for Dragonflies and Damselflies, and to conduct a short assessment of habitat quality at their chosen survey site. As part of the project, a series of survey and identification workshops will be held across Ireland.
The data will be used to map the current distribution of these charismatic species across Ireland. With the last all-Ireland atlas having been published almost 20 years ago, the timing is perfect to launch this new study. The project will also prepare an updated Red List for Dragonflies and Damselflies in Ireland, as some of these species are now known to be in decline; due to a combination of habitat loss and other environmental impacts.
Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024 will also explore the use of Dragonflies and Damselflies as indicator species for water and habitat quality, and monitoring the impacts of climate change.
Dragonfly larva
“Dragonflies and Damselflies are charismatic insects that are easily recognised by their large size and their dazzling body colours. Their presence at a site can also provide an indication as to the water quality at that location, as they spend much of their lives as aquatic nymphs living in freshwater.” said Dave Wall, Citizen Science Officer with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, based in Waterford.
The Centre’s Director, Dr Liam Lysaght, added: “we already know that dragonflies need warm temperatures to survive and some species are currently expanding their distribution northward in response to global warming. They are therefore a very good candidate for use as bio-indicators to monitor the impacts of climate change on our environment”.
Dr Damian McFerran, Centre for Environmental Data and Recording Manager stated: “the project is a perfect example of the relationship that now exists between Ireland’s two data centres”. He added: “CEDaR welcomes this development and looks forward to developing the Citizen Scientist Dragonfly Ireland recorder base”.
The project offers three levels of participation to volunteers. Initially, ‘Dragonfly Spotter’ encourages the submission of casual sightings of any Dragonfly or Damselfly species. The second level is ‘Dragonfly Recorder’ which asks volunteers to conduct timed surveys of a freshwater site, recording all Dragonfly and Damselfly species that are present, estimate their numbers and assess their habitat. Two surveys must be completed, one in May/June and the second between July and September. The third level of survey, ‘Dragonfly Monitor’ asks volunteers to conduct a minimum of four surveys at their local site, and to repeat surveys annually.
If you would like to participate in Dragonfly Ireland 2019 – 2024, further details, survey forms and other resources are available at http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/recordbiodiversity/dragonfly-ireland-2019-2024/. The National Biodiversity Data Centre App is available to download for iPhone or Android via their website www.biodiversityireland.ie
Sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies in Northern Ireland can be submitted at: https://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/dragonflies.
Dragonfly Ireland is possible thanks to funding provided by the Environmental Protection Agency to promote citizen science and awareness of water quality in Irish freshwater and coastal aquatic habitats.
John Fleming reports from aboard the Brazen Hussy II fishing out of Spiddal, Co Galway:
We had 2 more specimen spurs from last week. It was a very slow start to the day especially after getting the 34 a few days previous. But anyhow we fished hard and got a result in the end.
Spurdog
Tom lynch was first of the mark with a nice spur of 111cm and weighed 14.5lb
Things went very quite on that mark so I suggested a change of mark and that made the difference.
Liam Mellerick
Young Liam mellerick landed a fine specimen spur of 114cm and a whopping 17lb. Well done Liam.
We’ve also been doing well on the reefs over the last couple of weeks with some fine pollock being taken on lures. We also had some nice cuckoo wrasse and there is plenty of mackerel about too.
Go fishing…
To book fishing with John aboard the Brazen Hussy II, give him a call on 087 7571320
A regular day is between 9am- 6pm from either Rossaveal, Spiddal or Galway depending on species being sought after. Fishing on the inshore reefs for pollock, cod, ling, wrasse, conger eel and mackerel can be reached in 10 minutes from departure, while our offshore reef marks are within 45 minutes of departure. Our ground fishing for tope, spurdog, ray, bullhuss, turbot, plaice and the giant common skate can all be reached within the hour which ensures the most amount of time is spent fishing.
The shark season usually starts at the end of June and runs into late October, this is the ultimate angling adrenaline rush with these hard fighting blue and porbeagle sharks all being tagged and released safely.
Package deals available
![Spurdog](/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/spur1-480x360.jpg")
![Liam Mellerick](/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Liam-Mellerick-480x480.jpg")
![pollack](/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/pollack-480x360.jpg")
