Dick Caplice reports on the Irish Open Pairs Championships fishing on Lough Muckno last weekend….
Lough Muckno regulars Darius and Vaidas prevail over the best pair around at this time, Browne and Harwood.
23 September: 100 grammes in the end separated these two class pairs, and saw Darius Karaliunas and Vaidas Jagela come home in 1st place, for a superb two days pairs win on moody lough Muckno today.
These two did not by any means defy the odds, as they were identified by us early on, as one of the prematch pairs favourites, and so it turned out to be with their tenacious grafting battle over the two days.
Congratulations indeed to two fine anglers on a very fine achievement, in holding off this formidable duo of Harwood and Browne, the truly in-form people on this venue for the past few seasons.
Cathal Hughes, world individual silver medallist, teamed up with 14 year old Irish under 15 international, Eoin Rogers for a fine 3rd place, with both fishing top matches and acquitting themselves very well.
Spare a thought for the first pair out of the money in the form of the blistering Mick Carr and John Woods, who blitzed the match today, but came up agonisingly short overall, after leaving themselves a little too much to do, day two.
Congratulations to our winners and to all of our competitors who fished great matches, in difficult and testing conditions, for a tight and testing competition.
A huge congratulations to another Muckno favourite and Feedermasters qualifier on this great venue, Robertas Zilatis on coming a very, very commendable 5th in the final at Bough Beach today.
After two extremely testing days fishing this is a spectcular result, in some extremely distinguished feeder company, and his individual achievements in taking top scalps all around him, signifies that he is a true contender at this level .
Michael Parry's 11.5lbs wild salmon being released, 26 September 2018. #CPRsavesfish
Osgur Grieve reports on the latest from the Erriff Fishery.
20th – 26th September.
We have had 10 salmon landed during this period. The day after storm Ali, Thursday 20th, saw the gauge reading 1.58m in the morning. The river was high but running clear after the previous couple of floods that had flushed it out. Regular visitor Archie McCauley took full advantage of his morning and released a 9lbs salmon from Poleen on Beat 4 using a Collie Dog tube. Gael Kerschbaumer fished Beat 5 that morning and released 2 grilse of 3lbs and 4lbs from Glenacally and Boat Pool using a General Practitioner. Later that day Tomas Weiss returned to the Erriff and released a 7lbs salmon from School House on Beat 3 using a Green Cascade variant.
On Friday 21st Sam Dawson released a wild grilse of 4.5lbs from the Quarry Pool on Beat 2 on a Collie Dog tube. Gael Kerschbaumer continued his successful weeks fishing releasing a 4lbs grilse from Mickey’s Run on Beat 7, using a General Practitioner.
Saturday 22nd saw the return of regular angler Neil Spellacy who fished the morning and released a 5lbs grilse from Mike’s Pools on Beat 3 using a Faughan shrimp.
On Tuesday 25th it was regular angler John Phelan’s turn who released a 3lbs grilse from the Lower Garden Pool using a small Cascade.
By the morning of Wednesday 26th the river had risen to 1.25m and was running clear. Regular visitor Michael Parry fished Beat 6 in the morning and had his personal best from the Erriff, an 11.5lbs salmon from the Colonel’s Pool using a Silver Stoat’s Tail. Later that day Lewis Matthews released a 2.5lbs grilse from the top of Doyle’s Pool using a Willie Gunn. There were also 13 sea trout returned ranging from 0.5lb – 1lb from throughout the river. For anyone wishing to have a last cast before the end of the season, you can book through the fishery office on (095) 42382 or by emailing [email protected]
Michael Parry’s 11.5lbs wild salmon being released, 26 September 2018. #CPRsavesfish
Go Fishing
The Erriff is a spate river draining beautiful mountain scenery and entering the sea at Killary Harbour, near Leenane. The river is split into 9 beats, and is flyfishing only for the most part. The river provides quality fishing for salmon and sea trout in spectacular surroundings. There is also lake fishing available on Tawnyard Lough, on one of the tributaries, providing sea trout fishing from July to September.
If you wish to book fishing please call the fishery office on (095) 42382 or email us at [email protected]
Casting a line at the National Ploughing Championships 2018
Inland Fisheries Ireland attended the recent National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore. Hundreds of people attended the stand and received angling and environmental advice alongside general information around Ireland’s fish species and their habitats.
Inland Fisheries Ireland’s stand at the National Ploughing Championships
A new angling simulator, which allowed novice anglers to virtually try fishing from the marquee floor, made its inaugural appearance and was a hit with punters of all ages! Staff were also on hand to take the public through some of Ireland’s freshwater fish (swimming on display in cyclical aquariums) and show them some other creatures which live in the aquatic habitat via kick samples.
Cliodhna Young views some of the fish on display
Roisin Galvin takes a look at a kick sample and learns about the creatures living within our water systems
Simon and Aoife George enjoy the activities on offer
A novice angler tries out the angling simulator
The angling simulator in action
On the environmental side, Inland Fisheries Ireland offered advice and information on best practice farm management to the farming community. The team noted that there was also an increase in uptake of the leaflet ‘Fish Friendly Farming’ from the farming community and also increased engagement with farmers overall.
Publications on how to get started in angling and fish friendly farming were distributed at the Ploughing Championships
The team welcomed Minister Sean Kyne T.D. to the tent on Thursday and were delighted to take him through the fisheries activities.
Minister Sean Kyne T.D. with the team from Inland Fisheries Ireland
Ailish Keane from Inland Fisheries Ireland shows Minister Sean Kyne some of the samples on display
Last week’s storms have blown through and left behind a real Indian summer. Temperatures in the last couple of days have topped 20C, but the nights and early morning have been much cooler. The conditions seem to be suiting salmon anglers well and after a tough summer they deserve a good end to the season…
This week those rivers that had water saw a huge improvement in salmon catches. The Moy, Erriff, Bandon, Lough Currane and Munster Blackwater enjoyed some great days and a number of fine fish were caught. Individual anglers caught as many as 9 salmon in a day and there were big fish in the catches too. Catch of the Week goes to Gary Lamont who caught and released a salmon estimated to weigh 21.5lb on the Blackwater Salmon Fishery beats.
Gary releases his big salmon – estimated at 21lb #CPRsavesfish
There were good numbers of anglers out on Lough Sheelin with good catches of trout being reported. All reports, however, echoed continually with the words ‘but they were hard got’. Fishing on Lough Corrib was slow last week due to Storm Ali mid-week and rising lake levels. Sport being very mixed with action on dry olives, dry sedges, Daphnia and fry feeders. We didn’t hear much from Lough Melvin this year but it has been fishing well for sonaghan recently and there were also good reports in from stocked fisheries like Carrigavantry and Lough O’Flynn.
Eoin Rogers, U15 All Ireland Champion beat off stiff competition with an impressive display on Town Lake, Killeshandra
Coarse anglers are busy with festivals at the moment at there is a lot to report from the competition scene. Excellent bags were returned in the Arva King of Clubs and Gavin Butler took first place with 68.180kg. In the first Lanesborough Autumn Festival, Irish international Tommy Dowd came out on top with a two day total of 38lb 6oz. Darius Karaliunas and Vaidas Jagela came home in 1st place in the Irish Open Pairs Championships fished on Lough Muckno. Their 2 day total of 30.525kg was just 100g ahead of the next pair – that’s a tight finish. Recreational anglers are also getting some good fishing and Cavan CAC reports good catches on Eonish while Belgian anglers fishing in the Longford area have been getting some good tench and bream.
It’s getting to peak pike fishing now as more and more pike anglers relish the cooler conditions. Winds associated with last week’s storms impacted on a number of lake fisheries but good pike have been caught at venues like Lough Derg and up through the midlands.
Trigger Fish – an unusual species for Cork Harbour
The Cork Small Boats Festival took place over 4 days between the 15th till the 22nd. The weather wasn’t great for much of the event but the anglers stuck it out. There were 32 species caught in total and the overall winner was Skua with 24 species. In other sea angling news Donegal Bay continues to reinforce its reputation as a shore angling paradise while the productive skate fishing at Courtmacsherry also continues to impress.
And now the weather…
Friday is to be dry with long spells of sunshine in most areas, however some cloud will tend to bubble up through the afternoon, mainly in northern and eastern counties. Cool, despite the sunshine, with highs of 12 to 15C in light north-easterly or variable breezes. Over the weekend weather should be predominantly settled, but weak fronts will produce small amounts of rain and drizzle at times, mainly in the west and north. It will be cold in the early mornings and at night, especially under clear skies, so don’t forget a woolly hat.
A rise in water levels at the beginning of the week and an increase in angling effort saw 393 salmon reported caught with a large percentage released. On the Moy Fishery Freshwater beat Steven Armstrong, NI, Had a 5 lb fish on spinner. On the Coolcronan Fishery Paul Cullinane and Colin Healy from Cork had 6 fish on spinner. On the Cloongee Fishery Kenny Ferguson and Cathryne Boyes had a fish each of 10lb and & 12 lb on spinner.
East Mayo Anglers had another good week with 59 fish reported caught, 50 of which were released. Among the successful anglers were Frank Summer, UK, 4salmon to 7 lbs on fly released, Dan Gilman, USA, 4 lbs on fly, Michael Weisser Germany 5 salmon to 5 lbs on fly and all released.
Week ending Sunday 16th September 2018.
Water levels remained fairly steady during the week but angling effort was slightly down on the previous week. 204 salmon were reported caught and were spread fairly evenly across the system. Andy Wheeler from the, UK, Had his first ever salmon on the Foxford Fishery. Ken Dodd from Dublin had a 8+ lb fish on fly which he released and Guy Marister and son from France had a fish each spinning on the Cloongee Fishery. Successful anglers for the week on East Mayo Anglers Water were Matthais Engles from Germany who had a 3 lbs fish on spinner and 4 more to 12 lbs on fly. Uiki Kamizuru, Japan, had a 5 lbs fish on fly, Thomas Pleger Germany had 2 5 pounders on fly and Michael Wesser Germany had a 9 lbs salmon on fly.
How’s the river doing? Check the Ridge Pool Webcam
Dutch and Belgian anglers with their big skate #CPRsavesfish
Skipper Mark Gannon was back out after skate this week and his boat has been seeing a lot of action. Yesterday’s Mark’s anglers from Belgium and the Netherlands had a smashing day. They landed lots of good skate and the fishing was thick and fast. They had a triple hook up at one stage!
Three hooked at once and two landed..
The biggest of their fish was 166cm with a wingspan of 120cm. Not bad at all but no competition for the catches from Tuesday (25 September). Mark takes up the story…
Dutch and Belgian anglers with their big skate #CPRsavesfish214cm
The Belgian and Dutch anglers we have as our guests the past couple of weeks have had some tremendous Skate fishing and on Tuesday raised the bar, landing a female common skate of 214 cm (approximate weight 185 lbs)this is a huge Skate and comes very near to our best of the season. roll on tomorrow for more exciting fishing days
Make a booking
Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre is one of Ireland’s Premier Angling Centres based in the picturesque village of Courtmacsherry located only 30 miles from Cork International Airport on the West Cork coast between the Old head of Kinsale and the Seven Heads peninsula. Our purpose built Sea angling and self-drive boats offer the sea angler the ultimate in safety and comfort.
Sea Angling in Courtmacsherry produces good results both for the offshore charter angler, the self-drive angler for inshore fishing or the wreck enthusiast.
Stefan Martin from Killybegs Mariners SAC reports on the fishing around Donegal Bay…
Peter with a super flounder double which helped him take 1st place
22 September: A fantastic fishing at the league outing last night in the big growling surf that luckily wasn’t surging. Lots of species flounders some doubles of mid 30s and codling, whiting, dogfish and coleys. 17 anglers fished but one man was shooting the lights out with flounders when the score cards were handed in. Longest fish prize was won by Dessie O Keeney a 38cm flounder and in 2nd place money went to Johnny Byrne and way out in front well done on first place Peter McGroary who fished great reeling in fish all night. Well done to all.
26 September: Sometimes the fishing can be secondary when you are perched watching a crimson Autumn sunset on a west of Ireland big surf beach and feel the salt spray aerosol around you as the waves crash in front. Careful not to wade out too far when casting with the force of the surf you wonder how the fish swim in this force but they certainly do.
Flounder and turbot patrolling the bottom and seatrout chasing sandeels above. Some nice doubles and then the dogfish arrived after dark along with some bonus Bass last night… …a great way of life
Bonus bass!
Next outing…
Next Mariners winter league outing shall take place this Friday 28th September on Glen B22 September: each 19.30pm – 23.30pm. Park at the folk village car park and follow the path to the beach. Plenty of fish going now on the beaches and new anglers always welcome get out and wet a line
Mariners sea angling club Killybegs Co Donegal. The club runs a shore league and boat comps and angling trips around Ireland doing the sport we love. Get in touch at www.facebook.com/mariner.sac
Cavan CAC report on a knock-up fished on Sunday on Lough Eonish…
23 September: Cavan Coarse Angling Clubheld a knockup match on Eonish today, and the 12 anglers who fished weren’t disappointed. There was plenty of fish showing. Most were roach up to 10 oz with the odd hybrid. There were also lots of pike enjoying themselves attacking the roach as the anglers brought them in, but it did not slow the fishing down too badly. Best method was the short whip 5 or 6 meters.
Top weight on the day was
1st Richard Pratt with 18.725kg
2nd John McVey , 17.400kg
3rd Francis McGoldrick 13.600kg
4th Nigel Holdsworth , 9.500kg Section winner
Joint 5th, Chris Allen and Stuart Lear with 9.400kg, Chris did miss two fish left in his net. Joint section winners.
7th Dessie Kellegher, 8.000kg
8th John Pollock 5.750kg
9th Roddy Parker 2.250kg
10th Chris Ward 5.200kg
11th Les Hewitt, 4.900kg
12th Paul Aiken 4.700kgDerek Gibbons
Chairman Cavan Coarse Angling Club
Join the Cavan Coarse Angling Club…
If anyone would like to join the club, please contact the Chairman or Treasurer. Both email addresses and telephone numbers can be found on our club website http://cavancac.com/contact-us, as can all the match results and weights from previous years leagues.
Dick Caplice reports on the Irish Open Pairs Championships fishing on Lough Muckno last weekend….
Lough Muckno regulars Darius and Vaidas prevail over the best pair around at this time, Browne and Harwood.
23 September: 100 grammes in the end separated these two class pairs, and saw Darius Karaliunas and Vaidas Jagela come home in 1st place, for a superb two days pairs win on moody lough Muckno today.
These two did not by any means defy the odds, as they were identified by us early on, as one of the prematch pairs favourites, and so it turned out to be with their tenacious grafting battle over the two days.
Congratulations indeed to two fine anglers on a very fine achievement, in holding off this formidable duo of Harwood and Browne, the truly in-form people on this venue for the past few seasons.
Cathal Hughes, world individual silver medallist, teamed up with 14 year old Irish under 15 international, Eoin Rogers for a fine 3rd place, with both fishing top matches and acquitting themselves very well.
Spare a thought for the first pair out of the money in the form of the blistering Mick Carr and John Woods, who blitzed the match today, but came up agonisingly short overall, after leaving themselves a little too much to do, day two.
Congratulations to our winners and to all of our competitors who fished great matches, in difficult and testing conditions, for a tight and testing competition.
A huge congratulations to another Muckno favourite and Feedermasters qualifier on this great venue, Robertas Zilatis on coming a very, very commendable 5th in the final at Bough Beach today.
After two extremely testing days fishing this is a spectcular result, in some extremely distinguished feeder company, and his individual achievements in taking top scalps all around him, signifies that he is a true contender at this level .
Lough Currane and River Inny updates from Vincent Appleby…
19/9/18 Storm Ali brought Ireland to a standstill but the same couldn’t be said for Currane South side fly anglers. They ventured out as Ali was crossing the SW this morning and fair play to them they stuck it out all day and rose a good few for their efforts as reported to me by local Gillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com and that sums today’s action and Storm Ali. Staying with www.lakelandshouse.com yesterday Luxemburg Angler Ernie fishing out of www.lakelandshouse.com caught a fine 5 ½ lbs. Salmon on the fly on the world famous Butler Pool and at www.watervillegolflinks.ie Wind SW and stormy with reasonable cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 17.5C.
20/9/18 We start on the Big Lake / Lough Currane. Cahersiveen angler Mr. Steven Donnelly takes all the Sea Trout headlines. While trolling with his Good friend Mike he caught 3 Juniors and for the rest of the Currane anglers it was all quiet on the SW. So now we head for the World famous Butler Pool and at www.watervillegolflinks.ie and to say the Pool exploded would be an understatement and for good reason, Luxemburg Angler, Ernie and his Gillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com caught nine Salmon and lost just as many and rose a good few more and in the words of Mr. Frank Donnelly, I would say it’s a long time since anybody has seen action like today’s. All I could say was it reminds me of the sixties on the Butler Pool, electrifying! So congratulations to both anglers. Wind South East and veered E light to calm and very cold and rained for the majority of the day. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 15.8C.
21/9/18 Straight to the world famous Butler Pool and at www.watervillegolflinks.ie and their backdate department, yesterday, Mr. Graham Kennedy while fly fishing with his Gillie Mr. Michael O’Sullivan and at [email protected] fishing out of www.butlerarms.com caught a fine Grilse on the fly. Back to today, The O’Neil Golf and Fishing Party of 16 from Dublin and fishing and golfing out of www.butlerarms.com had some great sport in all departments today so straight to the action. On the World Famous Butler Pool and at www.watervillegolflinks.ie Mr. Simon Lutr, while fly-fishing with his Gillie Mr. Michael O’Sullivan and at [email protected] and fishing out of www.butlerarms.com caught a fine 7 lbs. Salmon on the fly. Now we head for Lough Currane and the Salmon and Sea Trout departments and at [email protected] Harbour, Staying with the O’Neil Party, David, fishing out of www.butlerarms.com and fishing with his Gillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy of www.fishingwithdom.com caught two Sea Trout on the fly of which the biggest was 4 lbs. Staying with the O’Neil party Mr. Donal O’Neil and fishing out of www.butlerarms.com was Currane angler of the day and for good reason while fly fishing with his Ghille and at [email protected] caught two Salmon ranging from 4 lbs. up to 7 ½ lbs. and caught 6 Sea Trout and lost a good few good fish, a mixture of Salmon and Sea Trout. Again a member the O’Neil party, fishing with Mr. Bob Priestley and fishing out of [email protected] and at www.butlerarms.com caught 3 Juniors on the troll. Late this afternoon French fly angler Michael fishing with his Gillie out of www.butlerarms.com had a cracker of the day and for good reason, he caught a 7 lbs. Salmon and followed that with 4 Juniors and finished his day off with a fine Brown Trout. Now we head for the Bungalow, Mr. Rupert Symonds and Gooding party, caught a 6 lbs. Salmon on the troll and finished their day off with two C&R Sea Trout both in the 1 ½ lbs. all while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Tom O’Shea and at www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com Wind NW fresh with a good cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 11.7C.
22/9/18 Currane anglers and the O’Neil Golf and Fishing Party fishing with [email protected] and fishing out of www.butlerarms.com were in good form again today and for good reason and we will start with Mr. Donal O’Neil fishing with his gillie out of [email protected] and staying at www.butlerarms.com caught a fine 5 lbs. Salmon on the fly. Staying with the O’Neil fishing party, a member of the O’Neil party fishing with his Gillie Terence Wharton and at [email protected] and fishing out of www.butlerarms.com caught 4 Juniors and 5 Brown trout on the troll. Now we head for the Bungalow, Mr. Niall Sayers of Waterville and Jersey and his good friend Mr. Richard Amy, caught 15 Juniors on the fly and their fish of the day was in the 2 ½ lbs class and also had a good catch of Brownies, 20 to be precise and yesterday they caught 6 Juniors and 10 Brownies. Now we stay with the Jersey Lads because on Thursday they were on the upper Lakes and Lough Derriana, again they came up trumps in the fly department with 18 Juniors. Now back to today, French angler fishing with his Gillie and out of www.butlerarms.com caught 1 Junior and 1 Brown Trout on the fly and that raps up today’s action. Wind ENE light to calm with good cloud cover. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.4C.
23/9/18 The Currane anglers were battling more with the bright sunshine and the lack of wind which eventually came up after lunch from the NNE and very cold. So as you can imagine the wild Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout kept a low profile. On that negative note lets go to a positive note and head for the World famous Butler Pool and at www.watervillegolflinks.ie where the O’Neil Golf and Fishing Party fishing out www.butlerarms.com were in good form again as you can see. Mr. Donal O’Neil while fly-fishing with his Gillie and at [email protected] caught a fine 4 lbs. Grilse. Wind as already stated. Yesterday’s maximum air temperature 13.3C.
Tonight as the sun falls on Skelligs!
24/9/18 Currane Anglers were all quiet on the SW front but as I say that, this evening I was talking to a Currane fly Angler Mr. Paul Hyland, he was telling me that in the past few days he has had some good action both in the Sea Trout and Brown Trout department. Wind E then veered ESE light to fresh and bright sunshine all day and the forecast is much of the same for the rest of the week? Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 13.3C..
25/9/18 All the news comes from the North Shore and the Bungalow and at www.oshealoughcurrane.com and at www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com so straight to the Sea Trout fly department, Scottish angler, Mr. Ewan McGregor, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea and at www.oshealoughcurrane.com caught 9 Sea Trout and considering the wild squally and cold conditions and the wind coming from all directions mainly South and veered SE then veered SW and back Southerly again and overcast, you could say their day was beautifully executed. Just for the record there was rain this evening. Yesterday’s weather, maximum air temperature 14.2C.
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
