the NCFFI reports on the Junior All Ireland fished in Cavan earlier this month…
The Junior All-Ireland was held on Town Lake on 1st September in Killeshandra. Twelve anglers took part including 5 active and recent internationals. Fishing was really good with some great catches, especially on the whip.
Well done to the winners of each of the categories and especially first-timer Alfie Green for his success in the Novice category. For Alfie aged 9 it was just his fifth time out fishing and coached by Grandad John a member of Cavan CAC he has master the whip and caught at 4.5 metres for 2.9kg.
Results:
Novice:
Alfie Green, Novice Champion
Alfie Green 2.92kg
Jay Taylor 2.64kg
Paddy Connolly 2.52Kg
Craig Corrigan 0.64kg
U15
Eoin Rogers, U15 Champion
Eoin Rogers 5.5kg
Charlie Richards 3.6kg
Roisin Bohan 2.75kg
Brian Clarke 2.39Kg
Conor Kearns 0.43kg
U20
James O’Doherty U20 Champion
James O’Doherty 7.41kg
Aaron Galbraith 3.6kg
Mark Edwards 0.72kg
The NCFFI would like to thank Killeshandra Angling Club and sponsor Irish Bait and Tackle Limited for providing complimentary maggots and casters for all anglers, Tubertini UK LTD, Marcel Van Den Eynde Ireland, Southside Angling and Manorhamilton Gala for their generosity with prizes.
Two more junior events are coming up, the Junior Feeder Championships on Saturday 13th October and the UCFF Schools Competition on the 20th.
Irelands biggest fly-fishing extravaganza will again feature the largest group of fly tyers and game angling stands under one roof. A host of the greatest fly dressers fly casters and angling celebrities from all over the globe will once again gather at the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill, to participate in the 9th Irish Fly Fair and International Angling Show. On the 10th and 11th of November, visitors will come from all over the world to this celebrated event. They will have the opportunity to see some of the finest fly dressers from around the world practice their art, while champion fly casters will be available to demonstrate and advise on fly casting techniques and fishing tactics.
Stevie Munn said “The show gets bigger and better each year. Last year’s Irish Fly Fair saw some of the best fly casters and fly tyers in the world descend on The Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill. The show is a fantastic success with many of the fly dressers, demonstrators and visitors to the show returning again and again, the feedback is always exceptionally positive, with many saying it was the best game angling show they have ever been to in the world, we hope to build on this and have many new trade stands, fly tyers and celebrities for this year, keeping the event fresh.”
The tackle trade will be very well represented at this year’s event with a huge range of quality trade stands in form of tackle, outdoor clothing, and fly-tying gear and many others, so something for everyone! The event team would like to welcome back angling celebrities, who will be demonstrating and advising on all aspects of fly fishing! We also would like to welcome our new guests. We also have tuition from qualified angling instructors APGAI who will give free casting and fly-tying lessons during the two-day exhibition. Experts from around the world , plus Irish favourites , Tom Doc Sullivan, Dr Ken Whelan, and many more will be hosting talks and seminars on various angling related topics. Also, the “Youth Fly Tying Competition” giving the kids a chance to show the “Pro Fly Dressers” what they can do. The Irish Fly Fair is hailed as one of the finest shows of its kind in Europe, a great weekend to meet up with old friends and make new ones! This show is a must for all angling enthusiasts. A Big Thank you to all that support the show. Including the sponsors Guideline, Veniard, Semperfli, Costa Glasses USA, Regal Vise USA, Fulling Mill, LTS and Partridge Hooks.
This is the undisputed best Fly Fishing and Fly-Tying Show in all of Ireland and one not to be missed. In one of Galway’s best Hotels, many visitors now come for the weekend with their families and experience the whole atmosphere of the show. Please come along and give it your support, angling needs feel good events like this. For more details see web. www.irishflyfair.com or contact Stevie Munn by Email, [email protected]
What better way to start the week than with a brand spanking new issue of Ireland’s #1 angling publication!
Issue 24 features material on huge skate and mullet in West Cork, the ins and outs of the very important recent pike dietary research, a great interview about a new foreign fishing holiday company based in Ireland, big English barbel and how to catch them, the latest angling news, the history of roach in Ireland, readers stories, waterside wildlife, hints, tips, general inspiration and so much more!
As always the magazine is available for free in either an online format or interactive PDF download. Rest assured this is absolutely NOT your average digital mag 😉
Joe Fitzharris reports on the Maloney/Keady Cup competition held on Sunday 16th of September…
Michael McDermott club Treasurer presenting, Ronan Baggott (winner) Maloney/Keady Cup (2018), Mark Malone club Secretary.
Joe Fitzharris reporting on a very successful Maloney/Keady Cup held on Lough O”Flynn Sunday, Sept 16-th. 24 – Anglers competed in only the second running of this event in very good angling conditions. Most encouragingly on the day was the much welcome increase in Junior fly anglers.
This heaviest fish event was keenly contested as usual with very little between the first five placings. Winner on the day was popular club chairperson Ronan Baggott with a Trout 2-lb 00.8 oz.
Results show a tie for second, and third placings which were resolved by Longest fish wins criteria referenced in competition rules.
Results Maloney/Keady Cup (2018)
1st -place Ronan Baggott Fish = 2 – lb 00.8 oz.
2-nd Gerry Madden Fish = 1-lb 15.8 oz. (Longest fish wins)
3-rd Gerry Murrey Fish = 1-lb 15.8 oz.
4-th Michael McDermott Fish = 1-lb 15.0 oz.
5-th Joe Fitzharris Fish = 1-lb 14.6 oz.
6-th John Slevin Fish = 1-lb 13.4 oz.
Best Junior angler, Colm McMorrow Fish 1-lb 11.6 oz.
Ronan Baggott, Michael McDermott, Colm McMorrow Junior winner, Mark Malone.
Lough Ree North Angling Hub ran our first autumn angling festival on the weekend of 15th & 16th September. 18 anglers attended including 2 Irish internationals, and several visting UK anglers. The competition was fished on two sections, the town section on the main navigation channel and Kilnacarrow with the new road leading to it. All anglers commented that the access to the fishery was great.
Day one, and the lock gates were opened further up the river increasing the flow hugely overnight making for difficult fishing conditions with a lot of strong flow on the river. Big flat floats were the order of the day on the navigation channel, but fortunately the fish didn’t seem to mind too much and fed freely. Tommy Dowd won the town section with 27lb 13oz, Chris Ganley was 2nd with 21lb 03 oz, and Angus Campbell came third with 15lb 10 oz.
On Kilnacarrow things were a bit more difficult. The fish would not settle properly and although everyone caught fish some struggled to put a decent weight together. Andy Burnett won Kilnacarrow with 24lb 8oz and Cathal Hughes was 2nd with 7lb 10oz.
On Day 2 the town section fished hard. Everyone struggled to put a run of fish together, but all caught a few. Aaron Hutchman won the town with 10lb 4oz of quality roach, Gaz Skerrit was 2nd in section with 9lb 12oz made up mainly of 5 huge perch with the biggest weighing 2lb 12oz. Kilnacarrow fished slightly better all round than the first day with Dave Pickering winning the section with 18lb 5oz and John Fry coming in 2nd with 15lb 10oz.
monster perch
When all the sums were done, it was Irish international Tommy Dowd winning the festival with a two day total of 38lb 6oz, Andy Burnett was 2nd overall with 30lb, Angus Campbell was 3rd with 25lb 13oz, and Chris Ganley was 4th with 25lb 5oz.
Tommy Dowd
Many thanks to IFI and Waterways Ireland for their sponsorship of the event and Mr Terry Mann of Jamestown Tackle for his prize donation, and to Philip Gordon for the bbq at the presentation which all the anglers really enjoyed. Hopefully next year will be bigger and better.
Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge in Longford reports on the coarse fishing in the Longford area…
Nick with a great Tench.
Jean Pierre and son Nick along with friend Alain from Belgium were over once again to enjoy both Coarse and Pike fishing, Jean-Pierre ( J.P. ) normally comes over three times a year to Ireland and Melview Fishing Lodge. J.P. was over for Pike fishing and son Nick and family friend Alain were over for coarse fishing. J.P. managed his Pike fishing as normal however Nick and Alain after fishing and prebaiting a couple of venues for the coarse fishing found that the areas they were fishing were full of Pike that had come in to feed on the bait fish they had attracted by prebaiting.
Alain also getting into the Tench.
They managed some good Tench and Bream but had no choice in the end but to team up with J.P and go for the Pike. Both Nick and Alain caught some cracking Pike to 107 cm (see Pike report), thanks for the company again guys and will see you again soon.
Kevin has over 30 years experience of fishing in Ireland and is happy to offer a guided tour on your arrival, and to advise where the on-form waters in the area are. We can arrange your bait order so it’s here when you arrive. Melview offers free use of 17ft lake boats with engines to our guests (pay fuel only) and Kevin is happy to assist with any pre-baiting requests. Maps and other information regarding fishing are also available.
Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge in Longford reports on the coarse fishing in the Longford area…
Jean – Pierre from Belgium with one of his Pike.
Jean Pierre and son Nick along with friend Alain from Belgium were over once again to enjoy both Coarse and Pike fishing, Jean-Pierre ( J.P. ) normally comes over three times a year to Ireland and Melview Fishing Lodge. J.P. was over for Pike fishing and son Nick and family friend Alain were over for coarse fishing. J.P. managed his Pike fishing as normal however Nick and Alain after fishing and prebaiting a couple of venues for the coarse fishing found that the areas they were fishing were full of pike that had come in to feed on the bait fish they had attracted by prebaiting.
Coarse angler Alain gives Pike fishing a try
They managed some good Tench and Bream ( see coarse report ) but had no choice in the end but to team up with J.P and go for the Pike. That decision paid off for both Nick and Alain as they caught some cracking Pike to 107 cm.
Nick with a cracking fish caught on dead bait
Thanks for the company again guys and will see you again soon.
Kevin has over 30 years experience of fishing in Ireland and is happy to offer a guided tour on your arrival, and to advise where the on-form waters in the area are. We can arrange your bait order so it’s here when you arrive. Melview offers free use of 17ft lake boats with engines to our guests (pay fuel only) and Kevin is happy to assist with any pre-baiting requests. Maps and other information regarding fishing are also available.
The annual Arva King of Clubs took place with 73 anglers taking part. Gulladoo, Dernaferst, Killykeen, Rockfield, Glasshouse, Eonish and Town Lake Killeshandra all fished well with excellent bags of fish recorded each day .
Winners Arva King of Clubs with Eamonn & Philomena Gray, Breffni Arms Hotel and fellow organising committee member Frances Barry & Inspector Cormac Goulding Inspector Inland Fisheries Ireland
Ross Kirwan, fishing with Richard Gibbons, had this cracking trout over 7lbs on a Claret Dabbler. #CPRsavesfish
Declan Gibbons reports that activity on the angling scene was slow last week due to Storm Ali during mid week and rising lake levels, with sport being very mixed with action on dry olives, dry sedges and Daphnia and fry feeders.
Philip Comber of The Old Stone Barn, Golden Bay [email protected] reports reasonably good wet fly fishing in the area for the last week and a half primarily on sedge patterns, the best bag reported at the Old Stone Barn over the last week was 6 fish for approx. 10lbs. Anglers Damien and Joe Martin guided by Philip had 4 fish on Sunday for 8lbs.
On Saturday last Ted Wherry of Mayfly Lodge, Ballynalty (tel. 087-4305957) and Richard Robinson enjoyed an excellent afternoon on dry olives landing fish up to 4.5lbs.
Richard Robinson fishing with Ted Wherry landed this fine trout #CPRsavesfish
Basil Shields of Ardnasillagh Lodge (091-552550) reported excellent angling which was hampered by storm Ali and cooler temperatures, but still got out for three out of the seven days. Those that did get out were as follows, Dave Neal had 7 fish on dry olives with the best fish being 3.5lbs; Peter Boyle had 5 fish on dry sedges with the best fish being 3.5lbs, and Northern Ireland duo Charlie Orr & Billy Spears had 11 fish on Daphnia with the best fish being 1.75lbs.
Staying in the Oughterard area Kevin Molloy of Baurisheen Bay Boat Hire, Guiding & Self Catering (087-9604170) guided two French anglers on Friday last and landed 3 trout trolling with the best fish being 3.5lbs for their first visit to Ireland & Lough Corrib.
In the Cornamona area Richard Gibbons from Cong & Ross Kirwan from Sixmilebridge, now residing in Wales were out on Friday last in the Carrick-Dooras area and Ross had the good fortune of catching a spectacular trout over 7lbs and a second smaller trout both on a Claret Dabbler which were both sportingly released.
Ross Kirwan, fishing with Richard Gibbons, had this cracking trout over 7lbs on a Claret Dabbler. #CPRsavesfish
Ross also had this smaller fish on the same fly.
Staying in the Cornamona area Paul Durass staying at Grasshopper Cottage Dooras (094-9548165) enjoyed good fishing in the Inchagoill area with the best fish being 4.5lbs.
It’s the final furlong now, with just a few days left in the season, and anglers will be keen to get out for a last cast before Saturday evening signals the start of a long winter of flytying and reminiscing about a warm southwesterly breeze and hatching mayfly. Conditions look reasonably good with no big wind forecast, so hopefully the lake will see plenty of activity and some good reports to round off the season.
‘The trout lives, as it were, in a room with a ceiling made of mirrors except for a round skylight in the middle (the window), through which the outside world is visible’
Frost and Brown (1967)
Lough Sheelin September 2018
The last of summer was swept away by Storm Ali which churned up Lough Sheelin with its unrelenting gusts peaking to a destructive 130km/hr. As the evenings noticeably draw in and a significant chill edges the daylight hours, mixed with wintery showers, the end of the season seems suddenly eminent, as if it crept up on us. Except for our stormy Wednesday angling numbers remained in the double figures on most days with good catches of trout being reported, all reports, however, being echoed continually with the words ‘but they were hard got’.
Peter Gleason, Nenagh
The trout consistently played cat and mouse with the anglers, coming up to the fly and then turning away at the very last moment. The trout were slashing and splashing, porpoising and pirouetting, running and following the pro offered artificials but for all this active piscatorial bravado the Sheelin fish seldom actually latched on to the fly and most times just fell short of a take, returning to their watery world with a mocking flip of a spotted tail.
Catches
Stuart Topp, Orkney with his 59cm Sheelin beauty caught on a small Claret Dabbler (www.loughsheelinguidingservices.com)
A kick in a south to south westerly wind and good cloud cover were the essential ingredients to catching fish. Change of wind direction to north or east instantly turned the fish off. Cloud cover had to be dense as weak clouds which allowed sunlight to escape on to the water sent the trout for cover. Also I’m reliably told large patches of blue aren’t conducive to good fishing either and so it’s been another week of looking up in the air and across to shoreline bushes to try to figure out is it or isn’t it right to go out there to catch those elusive Sheelin trout.
The heaviest trout for the week was a 7 ½ lb trout caught by Dublin angler Pat Grey using a Claret Bibio fishing at Merry pt.
Total number of trout recorded: 59
David Connor, Ballinrobe
Selection of Catches
Andrew Brown, Dublin fishing with Mary (Rory’s Tackle shop) – 3 trout heaviest at 4 ½ lbs using a Big Ollie and Green Peters
Jerry O’Brine, Nenagh – 2 trout heaviest at 3lbs on Dabblers.
Peter Gleason, Nenagh – 1 trout at 2 ½ lbs fishing Dabblers and Peters.
Noel Shields, Kells – 1 trout at 4.9lbs fishing wets.
Tommy Keane, Northern Ireland – 1 trout at 4lbs on a Gorgeous George.
Frank Kelly, Cavan – 4 trout best at 5lbs using Claret Dabblers, Daddies and a Cock Robin.
John Mulvanney, Kells – 3 trout best at 3.8lbs using Claret Dabblers.
Albert Berry, Lisnaskea – 1 trout at 4.8lbs using Daddies and Dabblers.
Seamus Gannon, Cavan – 1 trout at 3lbs fishing wets.
Eamon Ross, Cavan – 2 trout heaviest at over 3lbs fishing Dabblers.
Vincent Kelly, Cavan – 2 trout at 3lbs 4ozs and 1 ½ lbs caught on Claret Dabblers and Mike Kelly Stimulators.
Trout are still feeding heavily on Daphnia so a brightly coloured fly on the bob is a good plan and head out to the deeper water. Sheelin’s clarity has remained good but the high winds of last Wednesday has naturally had a discolouring and foaming effect which means brighter flies to combat the darker water colour.
Fergal McKiernan, Athlone with his hard got ‘pig’ of a Sheelin trout
Using a floating or glass line worked best for this week.
The most productive areas for fishing was mid lake, Stony, Merry pt. at the back of Church Island and from Derrahorn down along the Western shoreline.
Hatches
There were noticeable hatches of sedges and olives along the shorelines but insufficient quantities to interest the trout. There were large hatches of Apple Green Midge at the end of the week but these stuck to the edges of the lake so didn’t elicit much interest from the fish.
Flies
Anglers tend to fixate on what flies work and what ones don’t, the ‘so called’ successful patterns are surreptitiously passed from one fishing pal to another and those patterns who have come up trumps are guarded like the crown jewels.
A selection of flies – Jackie Mahon
There are thousands of artificial flies out there – the traditional patterns, their variants and a bewildering plethora of new ones continually sprouting up, designed to elicit a ‘rise’ or ‘strike’ from a trout. A great deal of attention (and rightly so) has been paid to size, shape, colour and behavior but what also sticks in my mind are the words of a Sheelin angler (with a 40 year fishing career on this lake) who tells me on a regular basis – that it is not so much as what you use on your line but how you work those flies. This seems to be the holy grail to success on a very temperamental moody stretch of wild trout water.
Red Arsed Green Peter
When catching things the behavior of the object is crucial. In sport, the flight of the ball can make it difficult to catch or hit. Likewise for trout – movement of the fly is crucial. The fly will be refused if it drags on the surface or is played in such a way that seems unnatural to the trout so they just go ‘no’ and wait for the next bite of food. Getting the play right in the team seems to be just as important as to what makes up the team.
A Daddy and 2 Claret Hoppers
For this week the team players were still mostly wearing claret with tinsel threaded through. The Dabblers featured very heavily, a small claret Dabbler on the point worked well as did Mick Kelly’s Stimulator. Pearly, Fiery Brown, Claret, Sooty Olive, Silver, Claret Sparkle and International (fished as a top dropper) Dabblers were the most popular.
Big Ollies, Red Tailed Peters, Daddies (Silver and in Brown), Claret Bibios, Claret Bumbles, Hoppers, Silver Invictas, Sedgehogs, Green Katie, Golden Olive Bumbles, Octopus, Gorgeous George, Black Pennel and variants with spindly legs did the business. Messy bushy flies with hopper legs and a chunk of colour (red or luminous green) at the back hit the mark on a number of occasions. Jackie Mahon’s Bandit Dabbler seems particularly apt for the forthcoming Garda competition here on October 7th and is certainly worth a try as it fits the bill with its dabbler make up and claret colour.
Upcoming Competitions
The McIntyre/Guider Cup
The McIntyre/Guider Cup – Saturday September 29th, starting at Kilnahard 11.0am to 6pm, this is an open fly fishing competition and gives a good warm up before the biggest competition of the season on October 1st. For further information please contact Dessie McEntee on 047 77216 or 086 8937568.
Stream Rehabilitation Competition
Click to download leaflet [pdf]
On Saturday October 6th Lough Sheelin’s angling club The Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association will host their annual Stream Rehabilitation Competition starting at Kilnahard from 11am to 6.0pm.
All proceeds of this event go towards the enhancement and rehabilitation of the rivers within the Lough Sheelin catchment.
The club and organisers of this competition, now in its thirteenth year, welcome all anglers who wish to fish one of the best wild brown trout fisheries in Ireland and to experience first-hand the magic and allure of this lake which has the potential to produce the heaviest trout in the country.
Denis O’Keefe Memorial Cup
The LSTPA have added an additional cup on to their list this year, this cup is in honour memory of great angler and Sheelin advocate – Denis O’Keefe and will be awarded to the best member over the 3 senior competitions (Kilroy Cup (18/3/18), the McDonald Cup 9 11/8/18 & The River Enhancement Comp. 6/10/18).
For details please contact Thomas Lynch @ 087 9132033
Cavan/Monaghan Garda Divisional Fly Fishing Championship and Open Competition
The Cavan/Monaghan Garda Divisional Fly Fishing Championship and Open Competition will be held at Lough Sheelin on Sunday October 7th from Kilnahard Pier, 11a.m – 5.30p.m.
Weigh in at 6.30pm and meal at Pat Bannon’s Pub, Ballyjamesduff. Entry fee of €25 taken at Kilnahard.
This competition is for: The Heaviest fish – visitors and The Heaviest fish – Cavan/Monaghan Division Garda Members.
For further details please contact Colin Dodd 086 6000630, Pat Foley 087 2405313 or DessieMcEntee on 086 8937568.
A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times
#CPRsavesfish
Extra care is needed when playing and releasing trout during periods of high water temperatures as additional stress at these times will decrease the survival rate of hooked and released fish.
BYE-LAW 949 strictly prohibits:
The taking of any brown trout of less than 36 centimetres.
For a person to fish with more than 2 rods at any one time.
To fish with more than 4 rods at any one time when there is more than one person on board the boat concerned.
For a person to take more than 2 trout per day.
All trolling on the lake from March 1st to June 16th (inclusive).
To fish or to attempt to take or to fish for, fish of any kind other than during the period from March 1st to October 12th in any year.
Join the Club…
For anyone interested in joining Lough Sheelin’s Angling Club – The Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association please contact Thomas Lynch @ 087 9132033.
We would implore anglers and all other users to wear life jackets for their own safety as well as it being the law.
Life jackets are required by law – SI No 921 of 2005 – Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations 2005. Water rarely gives second chances and a life jacket is just that – it saves your life.
Please put on and keep on that life jacket until you are back on dry land.
Grey Duster Guiding
