John Fleming skipper of Brazen Hussy II reports from Galway Bay…
Our season has finally kicked off and we have a new power plant in the Hussy. A brand new Iveco NEF boasting 450 horse power which has given us increased range and speed.
Pollack
We had our first trip on Saturday and the fishing was fantastic. Plenty of good size pollack and coalies were caught. The fishing was pretty good and our biggest pollack up around 10lbs.
Coalfish
We will also be hitting spurdog in the next couple of weeks. Last year we had our highest number of specimens to date, and we can’t wait to see how the fishing goes this season.
A brace of pollack
We have some weekend availability left in April so don’t hesitate to get in contact.
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
Lough Beltra has seen a couple of springers landed this week. Rocky Moran got the ball rolling when he landed a lovely fish at the Dock on 25 March. This was followed by another fine salmon the following day caught by Eddie Manthorpe. Eddie got his fish at the Buoy.
Eddie Manthorpe with a lovely fresh fish at the Buoy todayEddie’s salmon goes back. #CPRsavesfish
Go fishing…
The Glenisland Anglers Co-operative was set up to provide anglers access to salmon and sea-trout fishing on the East side of lough Beltra. Membership of the Glenisland Anglers Co-operative is currently open and the club is actively enrolling new members. Day tickets are also available. For more information see http://www.loughbeltra.com
If you are interested in fishing Beltra West or the Newport river please contact Newport house.
Leixlip and District Anglers Association held their St Patrick’s Day competition on 24 March due to poor conditions earlier in the month…
The Paddy’s day competition was fished on Sunday 24th March. The event was delayed due to the aftermath of storm Emma and the rolling flood which kept the river un-fishable for nearly 2 weeks.
Playing a trout on the Ryewater
We all got out Sunday and were greeted by a lovely sunny morning, all be it not a warm one, and the yearly fry up which is always welcome.
Ryewater trout – #CPRsavesfish
The biggest fish fell to Gianluca with a lovely trout of 14.5 inches winning him the Jimmy Carroll trophy for the first time. Well done Luca and all who fished on the day.
The Ryewater is a fly only river. Leixlip and District Angling Association control the stretch of the Rye Water from Kellystown Lane to Leixlip Village. Day tickets are available for visiting anglers who wish to fish the Rye Water. They can be obtained from The Leixlip Amenities Centre. Tel: 01 624 3050
After a long wait there are a few reports in of salmon from the Munster Blackwater. Glenda Powell tells us that Blackwater Salmon Fishery had its first of the season on 23 March. The silver springer, which was released was caught on the Upper Kilmurry beat.
Over on the Ballyduff Bridge Salmon Fishery, Jason Corcoran caught and released another lovely looking fishing on March 26. The fish was taken on a 3/4 inch Willie Gunn at Churchill’s stream. The following day saw quite a bit of action and Connie Corcoran caught and released a sea-liced fish estimated at 10lbs in the morning at Ballincurrig. Jason lost one on the fly and Connie met two more fish.
Connie’s salmon about to be released #CPRsavesfish
Eileen Murphy in the MAcroom office says that prospects are good for the week ahead as there is good water clarity and temperatures are to rise midweek 11 to 14 degrees being predicted and to remain dry so fishing should be good.
Go Fishing…
Blackwater Salmon Fishery
Blackwater Salmon Fishery has 3 beats downstream of the weir and 2 upstream of the weir. Blackwater Salmon Fishery offers fishing on approximately 5 miles of the river Blackwater. The fishing is spread throughout the middle section of the river to offer good sport throughout the fishing season. Due to the location of the beats, fishing can still usually be offered in low or high water. Contact Glenda Powell: Lismore, Co Waterford, Email:[email protected] Mobile: +353 (0) 872351260 Telephone: +353 (0) 5853929 Web: www.blackwatersalmonfishery.com
Ballyduff Bridge Salmon Fishery
Ballyduff Bridge fisheries control a number of beats of the Munster Blackwater. The Ballyduff Bridge beat is almost a mile long offering a huge variety of water and is particularly suited to fly fishing. Upstream near the village of Ballyhooley (a few miles outside the town of Fermoy, Cork) we have two beats. The Ballincurrig Beat is one of the most beautiful locations along the river and has an excellent piece of fly water flowing into a deep pool. Just downstream on the opposite bank we have a short but productive beat, called Magners. This beat fishes also well in high water.
Fortwilliam Fishery offers two miles of double bank salmon and trout fishing over five beats on the river Blackwater.
Our salmon include – Springers, May Salmon, Grilse, Back End Salmon, and in Summer sea trout.
Our beats provide a wide variety of water, suitable for both beginners and the more experienced fishermen.
Fortwilliam Fishery, Glencairn, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland Web: www.fortwilliamfishing.ieEmail: [email protected] Tel: (00353) 87 8292077 or 058 75299
23 March: Five more fish have been landed since my last update here at Delphi, which brings our season total to 29. There were three fish landed on the 15th, one of which was included in my last update. Alan Molloy who had returned a fish on the 14th had a fish off Finlough of 7lbs7ozs at Boat Point on a Willie Gunn. Well done Alan, two fish in two days is no mean feat this time of the year. About the same time Claire Moore, under the watchful eye of Peter Joyce, had a fish of 5lbs14ozs from the Whin Pool on a Delphi Collie, her second ever salmon.
We had heavy rain on Friday night and the river was running at 85 so fishing was difficult. On Sunday, Paddy’s Day the river was at 65 and there were five anglers including four experienced Midland men who managed to land two between them. Wayne Byrne had a fish in the Whin Pool on a Red Snaelda of 7lbs4ozs. In the afternoon Mick Kelly had a nice fish from the Turn Pool of 9lbs11ozs on a Willie Gunn. We had more rain on Sunday night and the river was over 70 again. Michael O’Kane had a fish from the Waterfall of 8lbs8ozs on a Nightstar.
The water has dropped off nicely since then and is now at 55. No fish have been landed by our Swedish group, although they had a few handshakes and there was once fish lost after some time. We have a very experienced group coming in this week and conditions should be good for a few days anyway. Hopefully we will see a few more fish landed this week!!
At Delphi Lodge, with many years of experience with the timing of the best runs of fish, we have in place a price system that offers both great value fishing and lets our anglers know when they have the best chance to catch a fresh run spring salmon or a summer grilse or Delphi sea trout.
20/3/19 Lough Currane was all quiet on all fronts this day in all departments and that’s a fact so we leave it at that because all the Currane anglers could say at the end of their day was oh drat and I know what I would say to that? Wind W light and overcast with misty rain at times. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 3.0 mm. Maximum air temperature 10.9C.
21/3/19 There was some nice action in all departments today and we start in the fly department and no stranger in taking the headlines with the fly is Mr. Tom Nugent of Kilkenny, while fly fishing with his Gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy of www.fishingwithdom.com caught a fine 9lbs. Salmon. Now we head for the trolling department, local Gillie Mr. Bob Priestley caught a cracker of a 10 lbs. Salmon for his efforts and for the rest of the Currane anglers it was all quiet on all fronts. Wind SW light to fresh and overcast. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 0.5 mm. Maximum air temperature 12.7C.
22/3/19 The Currane anglers were all quiet on all fronts this day. There was a nice breeze from the SW this morning and veered NW around midday give or take and one would have thought a Currane angler would get a crack when the wind veered but sadly the Wild Atlantic Salmon had other ideas. Wind as already stated. Yesterday’s weather, 1.4 mm. Maximum air temperature 12.3C.
23/3/19 The Currane fly anglers had a tough time of it today and for good reason, the wind was light and variable and to be fair to the Currane fly anglers, their not like Maradona, they haven’t got the hand of God and as I say that, Mr. Robert Elson of http://thecrescentwaterville.ie/ would beg to differ and for good reason, while trolling with his good friend local Angler Mr. Brod O’Sullivan, caught a fine 9 lbs. Salmon. You could say they had all hands on Rod and the Net. Wind variable and reasonable cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 3.4 mm. Maximum air temperature 10.8C.
24/3/19 Again the Currane fly anglers were left sitting and waiting for a nice breeze, but sadly all they got was a light breeze from the NE which we know if you’re a Currane Angler, doesn’t make for good fishing? In the trolling department it was all quiet on the SW front. Wind as already stated with reasonable cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 10.1C. Well that raps up this weeks manipulations.
25/3/19 The Currane fly anglers were in a frustration mode today and for good reason, for starters there was light to calm NE wind and to make things worse there was bright sunshine all day. In the trolling department it was quiet on all fronts. Yesterday’s weather maximum air temperature 10.1C.
26/3/19 Either it’s too wild or as in today’s case too bright and too calm for the Currane fly anglers and that’s sums up today’s slack but bright manipulations. Wind West light and bright sunshine all day. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 10.1C
27/3/19 Today was calm and reasonably warm, which is not surprising with clear blue sky’s and bright sunshine all day and a light to calm SW wind. You could say the Currane anglers blood pressure is rising fast, sadly the same can’t be said about the Wild Atlantic Salmon. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 12.1C.
That is your ration from your Gillie and the Waterville Fishery, no spin no fly’s just facts.
The Waterville Lakes & Rivers Trust, formed by concerned volunteers in 2016, is one of the new Rivers Trusts to be set up in Ireland and is currently aspiring to Charitable Status. Its remit is to protect the fresh and coastal waters of the Iveragh Peninsula.
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
The Bandon was in flood for much of last week. There was one salmon lost on the Association waters before the weekend. Prospects are good for the next few days as there is good water at the moment and temperatures are to remain warm. However, there is still no news of a springer on the Bandon despite near perfect conditions all this week.
Go Fishing…
Bandon Angling Association have set up a guiding service in conjunction with Jason Nash, Peter Aspinwall and Phil Dewey. Details of the guiding service are provided on the website and they are looking forward to making memories and enhancing people’s fishing experiences on the river Bandon. Day tickets and club membership are also available. Web: https://bandonangling.com/
Kilcoleman Fishery, Enniskeane, is renowned for its hospitality. The owners David and Patricia Lamb make a particular effort to make their guests feel at home. Past visitors have described the atmosphere as ‘laid back’ and the accommodations as ‘cosy’. Kilcoleman is “fly only” throughout the entire season. However, in certain water conditions, spinning is permitted for salmon. Trout angling is “fly only” at all times. web:http://flyfishing-ireland.com
Fishery manager Colin Folan reports on their first fish of the season…
I am delighted to report that the first salmon of 2019 has been caught by regular UK angler Andrew Crouchman. The fish weighed 11.5lbs and was caught on Greenpoint Beat on a Black Shrimp on Saturday, March 23rd. This is the third time that Andrew has landed the first fish in Inagh.
Loughs Derryclare and Inagh lie in the lovely Inagh Valley with the Twelve Pins (Bens) of Connemara rising steeply to the west, and the Maumturk Mountain range to the east. There are two short connecting rivers, which contain four river beats. The fishery has spring salmon, grilse, sea trout and large indigenous brown trout. In recent years the fishery has seen a resurgence of fish numbers, and in 2010 – 2012, the fishery has produced Salmon to 15lbs, Sea Trout to 5lbs and Brown Trout to 12lbs.
Traditionally the month of March came in like a lion and out like a lamb; well the lamb came first in 2019, then the lion and now we’re back to the lamb, with very mild conditions over most of the country in the last few days. The forecast remains cool but calm for the week ahead in most areas, although strong winds will affect the Atlantic coast in the next 24 hours.
In the west, the trout fishing is picking up with reports of the duckfly coming off in numbers on Corrib with fish feeding well when conditions suit. Fishing should really start to improve in the next couple of weeks.
The first Kylemore salmon of 2019 was landed by Geoffrey Fitzjohn; the fish, at 4lb 9oz, was certainly not the largest first fish in the river but was very welcome all the same. This was the third year in succession that the first Kylemore salmon has been landed on the 15th of March and with other anglers reporting near misses this week, with fish moving to flies, the omens are good for the coming weeks.
David McEvoy reports that conditions were excellent at times over on Delphi where seven fish were landed for the week up to Friday March 15th; Yvonne Zirngibl kicked off her season with when she landed two fish from the Horseshoe Pool in 15 minutes. The first weighed in at 7lbs 14ozs and the second was about 7lbs. Both fish were taken on a Delphi Collie fished on a floating line, the same combination that saw Werner Zirngibl land a sea-liced fish of 7.5lbs from the Stream on Finlough. Ciaran Boland landed a lovely fish of 10lbs 15ozs on the Monday afternoon in the Meadow Pool on a Delphi Collie; Alan Molloy, on his first outing of the year managed to land a fish in the Whin Pool of 7.5lbs on a Black and Yellow copper tube and Steve Jones, also on his first outing of the season, landed a lovely fish of 8lbs in the Waterfall on a Willie Gunn.
A wild salmon being released this week at Delphi, where all wild fish are released as a rule. #CPRsavesfish
St Patrick’s Day saw an upturn in the south west where some fine salmon were landed on Lough Currane. Dermot Sammon of Athlone caught his first salmon of the season – a cracker of 12 ½ lbs on the troll – a feat matched by Noel Clancy who also caught a 12 ½ lbs fish on the troll.
Steven O’Neill of Cork, while fly-fishing with his Gillie Dominic McGillicuddy of caught a fine 8 lbs Salmon on St Patrick’s Day and followed that up on Monday with two fine fish; one of 8lbs on the fly and one of 9lbs on the troll.
Steven O’Neill of Cork releases a salmon on Lough Currane
Staying in the south west, Inniscarra hosted the Munster Open and St Patrick’s Coarse Fishing Festival. Despite high water levels the weather was moderate and the fishing good. Congratulations to the top three Munster Open anglers Stu Blunsom (22.59kg), Martin Bob (20.89kg) and Paul Hallen (15.6kg).
The St Patrick’s festival saw 36 anglers battle a storm, sleet showers and high water levels over three days before Cathal Hughes emerged to take the title with the top weight of 56.32kg. The 2018 Feederfest champion from Co. Galway impressed with some superb angling throughout the three days of the competition, starting with 33.190kg on the Garden Centre on day one, 5.620kg at Turtle Bay on the Greenway on day two and then finishing with 17.510kg at Graveyard on the final day to take the match. Julian Kendrick finished in the runner-up position whilst Lurgan angler Philip Jackson’s 23.130kg on the whip at the Graveyard on day three catapulted him from 9th position to finish in third.
Cathal Hughes was overall winner of Inniscarra’s St Patrick’s Festival
The Munster Coarse Anglers held their final Winter League match at O’Briensbridge where the Shannon was high, coloured and flowing like a train. With the fish coming to the edge of the bank to feed, the whip came to be the method that would win the day. Steve Wright finished in first place (15lb 5oz) followed by Kevin Leahy (12lb 4oz) and Ian Kelsey (10lb 7oz). Kevin Leahy’s second place finish consolidated his lead at the top of the Winter League for 2018/2019.
Further north the St. Patrick’s two day event on the Bann proved to be a difficult match with high water levels affecting the catches, poor conditions meant that only eight anglers took part. Gary Radcliffe took the honours with 7.22kg followed by Ron Jordan (6.82kg) and Johnny Keith (6.72kg).
On the east coast Kit Dunne reports that finally, after a number of weather caused cancellations, he got back out to sea on March 18th and what a time he and his anglers had. Heading out to one of Kit’s favourite spurdog grounds soon had the guys in fish. They finished the day with six specimen spurs, including a 19.5lb fish for Des Chew one of three specimens he landed on the day.
Des Chew with the Big one, 19.5lb, more than 4’long, 47cm girth. #CPRsavesfish
In Donegal, the Killybegs Mariners held the tenth round of their winter league where nineteen hardy anglers took to the shore targeting flounder, turbot and coleys. Longest fish went to Declan McGettigan with a 41cm flounder, 2nd place went to Stefan Martin and the winner, with most points, was John Cunningham.
Finally, Inland Fisheries Ireland is inviting expressions of interest from suitably qualified individuals to become or continue to be members of Fishery District Committees in the following Fishery Districts where commercial fisheries exist:
The primary purpose of the Fishery District Committees is to recommend the allocation of the available salmon surplus as identified by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon between the commercial and recreational sectors for those fisheries which have a surplus.
Written applications should be sent to: Inland Fisheries Ireland, Fishery District Committees, Sunnyside House, Macroom, Co. Cork, P12 X602 or by email to: [email protected]. Closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 12th April 2019. For more information on qualifying criteria or relevant ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ please see the ‘About Us’ section of the Inland Fisheries Ireland website: www.fisheriesireland.ie.
And now for the Weather..
The outlook is for colder weather over the weekend, but there will be a lot of dry bright conditions with frosty nights and mostly settled during the early days of next week also.
Cold on Friday night with clear periods and well scattered showers in northern and northwestern counties, dry elsewhere with clear periods. Overnight lows of 0 to 3 degrees Celsius and a sharp frost and some mist or fog patches in southern areas.
A cool, mostly dry and bright day on Saturday with sunny spells and just the very odd shower in northern counties. Winds light and afternoon highs of 8 to 11 degrees Celsius. Cold on Saturday night with widespread sharp to severe frost away from northern areas and patchy mist or fog in light winds. Overnight lows will range from -2 to +2 degrees Celsius (coldest in south midlands). Sunday will be rather cool, dry and bright in most places, with frost, mist and fog clearing during the morning. Cloudier in northern counties with some showery outbreaks of rain developing in these areas during the day. Highs of 8 to 11 degrees Celsius. Some frost in southern counties on Sunday night with temperatures falling to 1 or 2 degrees Celsius, but cloudier skies further north should prevent significant frost, but some patchy mist and fog may form.
A cloudy start to next week in many areas but mostly dry settled weather with light winds and variable cloud, daytime highs of 11 to 13 degrees Celsius, some frost by night when skies are clear.
Stefan Martin reports for the Killybegs Mariners on Donegal Bay…
Surfs up!
18 March: As the storm subsided the hearty band of 19 anglers took up position on the beach with easing winds and a lovely surf flowing white suds into the beach for the 10th winter league outing last night (2 to go). A coming tide for the evening brought on some nice flounder with fish in the 20s cm before a nice 33cm for Christy and a huge 41cm for Declan. Big numbers of small coleys were robbing the baits most below our minimum size of 23cm with a few breaking through to make the measure. Well done to Katie getting her first Turbot and she landed another for good measure with both making the size.
Fishing was hard enough with no big numbers keeping scores close back at the van for the count for prize giving. Longest fish cash went to Declan McGettigan with s 41cm flounder. 2nd place cash went to Stefan Martin and the winner with most points 1st place John Cunningham. Well done to all who took part and welcome to the new members who fished always great to see new faces enjoying the fishing.
