The Piscari-Fly team discuss all things fly-fishing in their latest newsletter:
Peter and Mark got out midweek last week and were having some really good sessions on the Nore and its tributaries. Fishing was excellent for Dry Fly, Dry Dropper and Euronymphing. Unfortunately, we then got too much rain for a little while. It was no harm really, as it gives the rivers a good wash out before the end of the Trout season, which is only around the corner. It was still very good fishing up until it got a bit too heavy; thankfully, it has fallen back now, and the rivers look to be in excellent order for the last few days of the wild trout season on the Irish rivers. So make sure you get out and enjoy it. It will be the last chance for a while.
We find that Caddis nymph patterns and Hares Ear nymphs are working well for the nymphing, while Peters No.6 nymph was taking a lot of fish on Dry dropper and Euro dinking.
There are some good reports out that there are some salmon running throughout the systems in different parts of the country. So all of you salmon anglers who fancy their last cast for a pull this year it’s the time to get out. For any questions or other information, get in touch at piscarifly@gmail.com or info@piscari-fly.com.
Piscari-Fly Club
The Road to Italy
So the winter Fly-tying sessions are starting back soon on the club. At the moment, Peter is tying all his top competition nymphs for the European Fly Fishing Championships in Italy, to which they are heading in three weeks’ time. There are some really good videos going up on the club with their top competition patterns, and of course, as ever, full of tactics and tips.
While Peter and Mark were out on the river there last week they have posted some great videos on the club from those sessions and how they are preparing for the championship in Italy. So make sure you check those videos out. You will find them under the Rsoad to Italy trip and the flytying ones in the flytying section under Italian competition flies section.
Winter Live Fly-tying
The winter live Flytying sessions will start back soon on the club. As the lads also prepare for Wales after Italy Peter will do live tying sessions on the patterns he will be taking with him. Once he gets home from Italy, these Saturday night slots will start up in earnest early November at the usual time of 8.30pm. So make sure you are all set up for these great nights of flytying, chats and craic. Some great tips and flytying over the winter months.
With the last week of the season to come hope everyone gets out for a cast and enjoys it before the main part of the Trout season closes for us here in Ireland. We look forward to a busy winter ahead with the European Championship in Italy in October and the Grayling Championship in December, and we have the Tafi Leinster Senior Bank Qualifiers, which is being kindly hosted again this year by Laois Angling Centre, Coolrain, Co.Laois. On the 9th of November.
So lots of things happening over the winter months. Thanks for following us and for all the support and stay tuned for all the happenings over the winter months.
TAFI Irish Masters Team
The FIPS Mouche World MASTERS Fly Fishing Championship 2025 in Oviedo, Spain takes place this coming Monday. We would like to wish the boys all the best and we will keep an eye and update you as team news and results come in.
T.A.F.I Leinster Bank competition
TAFI Leinster Senior Bank Qualifiers is being kindly hosted again this year by Laois Angling Centre, Coolrain, Co.Laois. On the 9th of November. Entry is €55 per Angler. Deadlines for entries is 31st of October with practice closing on Wednesday the 5th of November. Contact Mark on 0860349273 for information on placing your entries. You must be a member of a Leinster Tafi-affiliated club to take part. We hope to see a great turnout this year. Please note Leinster is hosting this year’s All-Ireland Bank Qualifiers, so it would be great to have a full team representing. So more in these Qualifiers the better.
For all your fly tying and fly fishing needs. Stocking rods, reels, clothing water etc
Guiding
Want to improve or learn any aspects of your fly fishing? Then why not give us a shout and we will look after you. Fishing available locally on the River Nore at Thomastown and other club water by arrangement. We have also teamed up with Blackwater Trout and Salmon fishery to offer you an amazing fishing experience with over 8km of amazing river to be discovered.
Full & Half Guided days
One to one coaching
Master classes
Groups and Clubs welcome
Nymphing. Dry Fly. Wet Fly. Streamer. Dry Dropper
Instruction
Peter Driver is a qualified casting instructor with APAGI, and advanced qualified fly dresser with APAGI. He specialises in competition nymphs and fishing, Irish lake flies, streamers and lures.
As a qualified casting instructor with APAGI I Peter offers casting clinic’s and lessons, to suit your desires. Being able to cast correctly and have a good understanding of the mechanics of casting is a solid foundation in fly fishing that will pay off in your fishing, be it rivers or lakes.
Steve McDonagh from the Fishing With Steve YouTube channel is back on his first piking mission of the new season. Steve has an epic day of pike fishing as he scores multiple bites, including a stunning 19.5-pound monster on lamprey! In this action-packed episode, discover his favorite tactics for targeting big pike, bait tips, and the gear that makes it all possible. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to pike fishing, you’ll love the incredible captures and the excitement of the start of the season.
Steve is sponsored by Sportfins Tackle, they help him to get kitted out for all his pike fishing needs.
If you like Steve’s videos, don’t forget to like and subscribe to the channel, and hit the bell to stay updated on more fishing adventures!
Website – www.fishingwithsteve.ie
Check out Steve’s Instagram – www.instagram.com/fishingwithsteveireland
After postponement at the start of the month due to poor weather, the Lough Ree Predator Challenge took place last weekend with twenty four teams scrapping for the title. It was an early and chilly start for the teams, who gathered at Coosan Point on Sunday morning, September 21st, ready to launch for the 5th edition of this annual multi species competition. The rules are simple, the goal of each team is to catch the biggest pike, perch and trout that they can! Teams who manage to catch the three species get bonus points to bump up their final scores.
Each team had their own plan prepared before the event, and after the check in and official start to the competition, each boat shot off to their favourite locations within the fishing sector to try and land the big three that would win the top prize.
Not long after, the organisers reported that competitors started to catch fish, with each recorded on the FishDonkey app, which the organisers always use to track the scores.
As the day wore on, the light breezes that had been forecast began to strengthen, making it difficult for lighter boats to hold position in open water – giving the bigger boats, with heavier engines, an advantage over the smaller ones! Still though, fish were getting caught and at the end of the day 112 fish above the minimum sizes were recorded on the app (19 trout, 2 perch and 68 pike). Fifteen of the teams did manage to catch the three target species and a 100cm bonus was added to each of their final scores.
After checking and rechecking all of the photos and videos that were uploaded, the final standings were:
Team Boat Junkies 398cm (3 longest fish + bonus 100cm)
Team Bag Up 395cm (3 longest fish + bonus 100cm)
Team RLX_Predator_Fishing 392cm (3 longest fish + bonus 100cm)
Longest Fish – Team Boat Junkies 106cm Pike
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First place and longest fish for Boat Junkies
Bag Up in second
Team RLX Predator in third
One of the sponsors, Dennett Outdoors, supplied with lures from Strike Pro for 3 teams.
Team Brema Boat
Team Tajnos Agentos
Team Carlow Predator Angler
Special mention to Team The Wet Bandits who managed to catch a fabulous 63cm long trout – well done! Longest Perch was caught by team Guppie Chuckers at 34cm, also well done!
Next up for the organisers is preparation for Perch Master Ireland, the last round will take place on the 5th October then Pike Master Ireland on the 12th October – busy few weekends!!
John McKernan from Belfast (AKA The Fisherman) sent us in a report from his day’s fishing in the north west last week.
John, who now resides at Lough Allen for purely piscatorial reasons, was fishing Lough Arrow last Friday under the expert guidance of Jackie Mahon. John’s boating partner had 3 very good fish to 3lb before The Fisherman produced a cracking personal best fish of 5lbs.
While it was John’s good skill that hooked, played and landed the fish, like a true gentleman he gave credit to his guide, who donated the fly that the fish took a shine to in the first place! Conditions were perfect with wind and wave all contributing to a memorable days fishing.
Notes: Provides guiding on Lough Arrow, Melvin, Glencar Lake & Lough Gill .
Clients from all over the world from England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Usa and South Africa. Total C&R on Jackie’s boat while guiding.
Flies for sale
2023 started off for me with an email from Fulling Mill to say that my fly patterns have just arrived in the UK and are up on the Fulling Mill website. The range consists of wet Mayfly, Spent, Stimulators and Daddies. The patterns have been working the last number of seasons throughout Ireland, the United States and the UK with great success. I will also be working closely with Fulling Mill on some new products which will be launched soon, so keep an eye on my page for updates.
We have had strange weather for September with high winds and high-water levels for most of the month. Anglers have done well to land a few salmon and sea trout.
9 September
George Dawson landed a 5lbs salmon on beat 6 Black banks on an Erriff non-descript.
12 September
Paddy Donegan landed a 4lbs salmon on beat 9 Middle Garden pool.
13 September
John Geary landed a 7lbs and a 8lbs salmon on beat 6 on a Posh Tosh
14 September
Peter Coyne landed a 4lbs and a 5lbs salmon on beat 9 squares pool on a Ally shrimp and a Collie dog. J. Jacques Calvar landed 4 sea trout the biggest around 2lbs on beat 3 School house on a Collie dog.
15 September
Francois Calvar landed a 3 ½ lbs salmon on beat 2 on a JF black.
17 September
Francois Calvar landed a 3lbs salmon on beat 1 Cattle pass on a JF black.
The last opportunity in 2025, for women interested in learning about flyfishing, will be happening at Laois Angling Centre near Portlaoise on 1st November 2025.
The Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association (ILFA) is on a mission to get more women out enjoying flyfishing and to increase the percentage of women on the shores and banks of Irish waterways.
Organized by the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association (ILFA), the Introductory Day will be held at Laois Angling Centre on 01 November. It begins at 11am and will include a short indoor session followed by 4 hours of casting instruction and practice outside.
Angling has always been seen as a male-dominated sport, but more women from a range of backgrounds are becoming interested and for good reason. Fishing can help women boost their self-esteem and confidence levels.
The course is aimed at beginners or novice anglers aged over 18 and all equipment will be provided.
Women will be travelling from all over Ireland to take part and full joining instructions will be sent to those who book.
Dan O’Neill from Kilkenny who is an APGAI Qualified Fly-Casting Instructor will be the lead instructor.
Dan O’Neill from Kilkenny who is an APGAI Qualified Fly-Casting Instructor will be the lead instructor. He will be assisted by Maddy Kelly from Co Down who is the current President of the International Ladies Flyfishing Association representing Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, Myles Kelly a qualified fly casting instructor from Inland Fisheries Ireland and Julie Gerry from the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association who is the only woman to have won the World Cup which is one of the oldest fishing competitions to be held in Ireland and which is fished annually on Lough Mask in Co Mayo.
Julie Gerry with the World Cup
Anne Kerrin, Chair of the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association said,
“Fishing is the perfect hobby because fish live mostly in beautiful places and the water, the fish, and the wildlife all combine to make angling a source of peace and relaxation in natural surroundings.
It not only gives the angler time to unwind and to take in nature’s tranquility, but it also gives the opportunity to observe and to interact with the natural environment. It really is of great benefit to mental health because it is the perfect mindfulness exercise as it requires concentration, patience, attention to the surroundings and attention to what is happening in the moment helping to improve focus and distract from worries.
Flyfishing is especially good as the physical aspects of it, for example, wading through streams, casting, scrambling 5 miles along a river bank, maybe rowing a boat, and sometimes hiking to remote locations are exercises to work your inner core.
Learning and mastering the skills of fly fishing – from understanding aquatic environments to tying flies and refining casting techniques – provides a sense of achievement and personal growth. This aspect of fly fishing can boost self-esteem and confidence, contributing positively to mental health.
I hope that this encourages women to think about trying out flyfishing. All equipment will be provided and participants just need to wear warm clothes and to bring waterproofs.”
The Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association is a national organization that encourages women to take up flyfishing and runs a league of 4 trials annually to select a team to represent Ireland at the Ladies International Flyfishing Championships.
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Women beginners at Laois Angling Centre in August 2025
Mum and daughter Brid and Georgina Walsh
Noreen O'Farrell Laois Angling Centre
Emma Flanaghan's Laois Angling Centre
Delivery Team for the Introductory Day at Laois Angling Centre
Maddy Kelly from Co Down, PRO for the ILFA and International President for 2025 said,
‘It will be great to be back at Laois Angling Centre running another event to introduce women to flyfishing. It is an excellent venue for people new to flyfishing as it is very well located just off the M7 near Portlaoise which makes it readily accessible.
Fly fishing is meditative. I have attended several courses on Mindfulness and have carried out the practice. The focus required to cast a fly, watch the water, and anticipate the movements of the fish encourages a state of mindfulness where the fly fisher is fully present and aware of the moment. I know from personal experience that fly fishing looks after my own well-being.
I found this quote from the mid-nineteenth century which was made by avid fly-fisherman and physician James A. Hensall, MD. He may never have heard the term mindfulness but he knew for sure what he was describing.
‘Fly-fishers are usually brain-workers in society. Along the banks of purling streams, beneath the shadows of umbrageous trees, or in the secluded nooks of charming lakes, they have ever been found, drinking deep of the invigorating forces of nature—giving rest and tone to over-taxed brains and wearied nerves—while gracefully wielding the supple rod, the invisible leader, and the fairylike fly.’
It really is a secret that has been known for a long time but mostly by men. However, women are now catching on and they are making their way to river banks rod in hand.
Hopefully women who attend our introductory day will discover the secret.”
For more information about the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association or to take part in this event please email Maddy Kelly PRO at proirishladiesflyfishing@gmail.com
There are other events throughout Ireland for women who wish to learn to flyfish including one at Straid Fishery in Co Antrim on Saturday 4th October. Information available from Maddy Kelly at proirishladiesflyfishing@gmail.com Book Now
After eight rounds of qualifiers up and down the country, the twenty four golden ticket winners took to their pegs on loughs Sillan and Skeagh over the weekend to decide who would be Ireland’s FeederKing for 2025. There was also a practice match on Friday, where eighteen of the finalists got to sharpen their hooks ahead of the finale.
And on to the main event, where Tony Hopkins put in a masterful display on day one, with 19.975kg of mostly big roach on peg 4 to win on the Deeps. Mariusz Killan had another 19kg, a brilliant display, this time with skimmers to weigh 19.250kg from peg 6. Tony Green was 3rd Overall with an all roach catch to weigh 16.225kg from peg 12.
Neil Mazurick continued his good form of late to win Skeagh with 8.150 kg of small skimmers from peg 13. 2nd overall was Damien Foltyn who had 7.650kg of skimmers and hybrids on peg 20, this was closely followed by Brenton Sweeney who had 7.625kg on peg 19.
Day two saw some better weights on Skeagh, with the top three weights all above 8kgs – with Pavel Tkachenko on 8.525kg (peg 23), Paul Leese on 8.175kg (peg 13) and Charlie Richards on 8.125kg (peg 15). Lough Sillan didn’t reproduce the good weights from day one, with none of the top three managing over 17kg. They were Darren Fairhurst with 17.000kg from peg 11, Brenton Sweeney with 13.350kg from peg 5 and Robertas Zilaitis with 11.500kg from peg 3.
After netting 19.975kg on day one, Tony Hopkins finished strongly with 7.900kg from Skeagh on day two to take the Ireland’s FeederKing title for 2025 with 27.875kg overall. Mariusz Killan came in second on 26.125 with Paul Leese third on 23.975kg.
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Before the main event was the practice day on Friday, where the organisers held two separate matches, one on each lake.
On Lough Sillan’s Deeps, it was last year’s FeederKing champ, Charlie Richards, who won the with a weight of 15.959kg of roach, skimmers and hybrids off peg 9. Pavel Tkachenko, who is improving each match he fishes, had a mixed bag of fish for 13.175kg of peg 4 to finish 2nd. Philip Jackson continued his fine form of late with a nice bag of roach and skimmers to weigh 12.875kg to come 3rd Overall from peg 2.
Tony Hopkins pre-empted his FeederKing final win with a fine net of roach skimmers and hybrids to weigh 11.850kg and win Skeagh from peg 23. Ireland feeder boss Brenton Sweeney caught skimmers on peg 15 to weigh 9.800kg to come 2nd overall. Charlie Richards wasn’t the only Richards to do well today, his dad Nick caught 9.050kg of skimmers, hybrids and roach on peg 14 to come 3rd Overall.
And that’s a wrap for the 2025 series – well done to all involved!
We just can’t seem to shake that nagging wind at the moment, and it seems like almost every day since the last week of August has brought its fair share of gusts, gales, breezes and blasts. It has disrupted a lot of our fishing plans, particularly at sea, with many boat and even shore competitions rescheduled in the hope of better weather to come. The past week has seen that wind accompanied by a fair amount of rain, with all parts of Ireland receiving a good dousing, but Mayo getting the worst of it, with 88.3mm (340% of the average) recorded at Knock. Somewhat surprisingly, sunshine levels have been at or above average for the time of year, but it hasn’t been enough to offset the autumn chill, as temperatures have been below average across most of the island.
The windy weather in recent weeks has created particular challenges for charter skippers around our coast, with numerous days lost due to wind and swell. Some are lucky enough to have relative shelter on their doorstep, and anglers fishing with Luke Aston of the Clare Dragoon made the most of the sheltered Shannon Estuary, enjoying some good sport with tope, ray, and huss. They also got some excellent reef fishing on the odd day they were able to venture further afield. Anglers fishing with skipper Mark Gannon in Courtmacsherry didn’t have the luxury of a sheltered estuary, and as a result, found their days at sea limited. When they did manage to get out, bullhuss, ling and the odd spurdog featured amongst the catches.
A ‘sheltered’ Shannon Estuary tope
Rathmullan was the venue for the IFSA Boat ‘Fish-off’ to choose the team to compete in the World Boat Championships in Spain next year. The weather made things tough for all competitors, and the winning five anglers may well be hoping for some sunnier stuff in Spain… Wind and swell affected the shore anglers as well, and the Killybegs Mariners had to change venue for the second round of their winter league to avoid them. Fishing on Manor Beach, they landed some good-sized flatties, with John Cunningham taking the win on the night with 6 flats and a whiting.
Trout angling has been hampered by wind on the loughs and by floods on the rivers, but we do have a couple of reports despite the adverse conditions. Firstly, to the loughs, where forty-three anglers turned out on Lough Conn last weekend to compete for the Kieran Lynn Perpetual Cup. Fifteen trout of 13 inches or over were caught, and Patrick Kelly took the heaviest trout prize. Next, to the rivers, where angling guide Paddy Dunworth found the water levels on the River Maigue to be fluctuating all over the place, but when they eventually settled, he enjoyed a successful day’s fishing with some clients from Oregon.
We would like to remind all sea trout anglers that we are looking for your help to understand a bit more about this species and are hoping to tap into some of your knowledge to help us better understand the changes in fish stocks and their supporting ecosystems over time. You can help by filling out a short survey, which is available at this link.
Open days and angling fairs
In other news, you may be interested in hearing of a few open days and angling fairs which are coming up in the not-too-distant future. Southern County Resort will be hosting an open day this Saturday, 20th September, and Ardaire Springs will be running a similar event on Saturday, 4th October. Details of both events are available here. –[News just in is that the Southern County open day has been cancelled due to adverse weather]-.
Following that, the Irish Fly Fair, will take place in Enniskillen on 25 and 26 October. Visitors to the Irish Fly Fair will have the opportunity to watch the best international fly dressers practice their art, while champion fly casters will be available to demonstrate and advise on fly casting techniques and fly fishing tactics.
Anglers and angling associations are some of the organisation’s key stakeholders, and this document will guide IFI’s role in any future involvement with recreational angling and the angling sector.
The public consultation will be open for submissions until Friday, October 17th, 2025.
Extract from the IFI Statement of Strategy
And now the weather…
Unfortunately, the weekend looks like it’s going to see a continuation of the windy conditions of late as an unsettled weather pattern remains dominant. After a drizzly start to the day, Friday will be mainly dry with some bright sunny spells in the west, but it will be wet in the south and east with the highest temperatures between 15°C and 18°C. Rain will spread into the south and east on Friday night, but it should remain dry elsewhere.
Saturday will see some cloud and rain in the south and east, but it will brighten up later in the day. In the west and north, it will be mainly dry with a mix of cloud and sunny spells at first, but cloudier conditions with showers, some heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms, will spread from the northwest through the day. It will become increasingly windy on northern and western coasts, approaching gale force in places.
Sunday will be cool and bright with sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly in the north and northwest. Sunday night will see temperatures drop, with a chance of frost in places!!! 🥶
Due to a yellow rain warning forecasted for Saturday, the Southern County Open Day is cancelled.
The organisers hope to reschedule for another time.
Next Saturday the 20th of September, Southern County is hosting a demonstration day with top anglers Dan O’Neill, George Burdess and Joseph Conway.
This day is not to be missed for all fishing enthusiasts.
The day will be about autumn and winter tactics for rainbow Trout,pike fishing with the fly and also coarse fishing on lakes and rivers. A great day that is for everyone of all ages to learn how to have some successful autumn and winter fishing trips. For full details see this link.
Entry is as follows:
Adults €20 (Includes fishing on the day)
Children under 14 free! (This does not include fishing)
If children want to fish on the day it’s €10 per child.
Adaire Springs
Another date for your calendar is Saturday 4th of October. Adaire Springs are holding an end of season sale and Open Day. There will be fly tying demos, casting clinics and lots of bargains to be had.
Amongst others taking part will be…
CASTING CLINICS with Maurice Cahill at our upcoming open day /end of season sale and official launch of the Irish Spring Angling Fair 2026
Pat Quigley will be tying some of his top patterns for use at ardaire springs at our upcoming open day and end of season sale on saturday the 4th of october
Jason O Riordan will be tying some of his saltwater patterns at our upcoming open day and end of season sale on Saturday the 4th of October at Ardaire Springs Angling Centre
Killybegs Mariners held their 2nd winter league outing last Friday 12 September. Check out their report below…
Mariners league outing number 2 took place on Friday after a change of venue due to the big Atlantic swells this week for a safer venue at the Manor beach.
Fishing was good despite some anglers being hampered by the usual autumn weed.
Species caught were bass, flounder, seatrout, coley, whiting, dogfish and turbot.
Some big flatties were caught including a nice 35cm flounder for Pat Cunningham which was pipped by a 36cm flounder and winning longest flattie prize for Pat Byrne.
2nd overall on the night with 4 species of flounders, turbot, whiting and dogs with 216pts was Stefan Martin.
And in 1st overall with 6 flounders and a whiting making 223pts was John Cunningham.
Nice double 1st cast for Stefan Martin
Well done to all taking part. Next outing will be in two weeks’ time keep an eye for updates.
Meanwhile, two more club record length fish were caught this month with an Irish specimen length corkwing wrasse of 25cm for Daragh McGuinness for a joint record length fish and also an 8cm Clingfish for John Higgins; both fish caught from the shore.
