Pigs, porpoises and pirouettes – a week on Sheelin

By

-

September 24, 2018

‘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)

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’.

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) — 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

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.
Christy Cox, Multyfarnham – 4 trout heaviest at 6.25lbs fishing wets.
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.

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.

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.

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 7^th 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 7^th 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 Dessie McEntee on 086 8937568.

Go Fishing…

House Rules

A permit is required to fish Lough Sheelin. Buy your permit online at: shop.fishinginireland.info or from any of the permit distributors listed here.

Catch and release

A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times

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 1^st 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.

Guides and ghillies…

Grey Duster Guiding
Kenneth O’Keeffe
Tel: 086 8984172 Email: [email protected]

Christopher Defillon
Tel: +33 68 596 4369 Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.defillon

Lough Sheelin Guiding Services
Tel: 087 1245927 Web: www.loughsheelinguidingservices.com

D.C Angling & Guiding Services
contact David @ 087 3946989

Michael Farrell
Tel: 087 4194156 or +353 43 6681298
Email: [email protected]

Michael Flanagan,
Trout and Pike Guide.
Email: [email protected] Web: www.midlandangling.com

Lifejackets

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.

Irish Angling Update 21 September 2018

By

Kevin Crowley

-

September 21, 2018

The jest stream express is in full flow over Ireland this week, steering in one Atlantic depression after another – on Monday we had the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which was a bit of a damp squib. Followed on Wednesday by Storm Ali, the first named storm of the winter season and a fierce start it was, with trees down in many places. Storm Bronagh affected the UK more on Thursday night, but brought heavy rain to Ireland during Thursday, and the weekend looks set for more of the same, with heavy rain and high winds in places and possibly Storm Callum if forecasts don’t improve.

The weather has resulted in a dearth of angling reports this week, with many anglers taking a break from the weather, but some intrepid anglers have taken advantage of windows in the storms and enjoyed some great fishing. The Killybegs Mariners club, in particular, have had some great fishing this week, including some nice bass, and the Catch of the Week – not for its size but its rarity – a Connemara Clingfish for Christopher Noctor.

Catch of the Week – A Connemara Clingfish

It has been a busy time for festivals also, with the Cork Small Boats and Daiwa Irish Pairs both dodging the weather this week, and reports to follow next week. The Rosslare Small Boats Fesival was won by ‘Screaming Reels’ for a record ninth time, and Declan Moran was top rod at the Newport Sea Angling Festival. Mark Gannon’s clients have also been enjoying good sport lately out of Courtmacsherry, with blue shark and other species providing busy sport, as well as some fine Common Skate.

Trout fishing has been quiet the last few days with the weather, but there are great reports from Lough Corrib, Lough Mask, Lough Sheelin and the Midland Lakes, with trout feeding hard before leaving the lakes to spawn, and anglers taking advantage of the late season sport.

Marty Smith with a fine Lough Lene trout

The rain has been good for many rivers, and reports are trickling in of good fishing all around the country, from West Cork to Donegal and places in between. Rivers in West Cork are providing good sport at the moment, Lough Currane continues its recent good form, and the River Erriff in Mayo has also been producing good fishing for salmon and sea trout. Further north the Drowes is getting a late run of fresh grilse, while the Owenea produced a nice 10lbs fish for a French journalist fishing for salmon for the first time. I have also heard rumours of good fishing on the Munster Blackwater, and hope to have these reports for next week’s update.

Probably due to the weather, we have no pike or coarse fishing reports this week, but hope to have some updates next week.

And now the weather…

After a truly awful start to Autumn, with 2 and possibly 3 named storms this week and the remnants of a hurricane, the weekend looks wet and possibly very windy for some, but next week looks set to improve somewhat. Water levels in many rivers have improved, and salmon and trout anglers will hopefully get the right conditions for good sport in the last week of the season for most. In the meantime

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

Kevin Crowley
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].

Headlines

Salmon angling news

Trout angling reports

Sea angling reports

Coarse angling reports

None this week

Pike angling reports

None this week

Other news

Dodging the weather produces fantastic shore fishing in Donegal

By

Kevin Crowley

-

September 21, 2018

“And cast in wild foam we found Atlantic bass
Living on your western shore
Saw summer sunsets asked for more
I stood by your Atlantic sea
And sang a song for Ireland”

Killybegs Mariners SAC are an active bunch, with regular competitions, and they have some very keen anglers among their members, who have been out exploring the wild Donegal coastline this week, picking windows in the weather in between storms and finding some great fish feeding from beach and rock marks.

It was competition time last Friday night, with a perfect barrel surf welcoming the anglers on a lovely evening.

A lovely evening for a bit of fishing, banter and friendly competition

Fishing was good from first cast, with plenty of good size flatfish being caught, followed thereafter by dogfish to keep score cards ticking over. Scores were very tight, and the longest fish cash prize was taken by Pat Cunningham with the longest flounder of 38cm, followed by Peter McGroary, and John Cunningham took the first place pot.

Two of the intrepid anglers fancied a bass session, and fished lures – “Just the lure rods walking the rocks armed with surface lures and weedless soft plastics, these modern lures allow you to cast where you wouldn’t dream of putting a lure a few years ago, real shallow ground where the Donegal bass lurk in the fizzing salty foam that tumbles over the craggy shoreline”. Both lads had some nice bass, and it is great to see these fish possibly extending their range, or maybe anglers beginning to explore more marks and find them!

Species hunting is becoming a popular pastime among many sea anglers, with competitions over the year in many clubs for the highest species count. This can make fishing for even small species a lot of fun, every cast hoping for a new species to add to the list. Christopher Noctor is undoubtedly one of the best of these species hunters, with 52 species to his name this year, but the latest one was a little bit special – an extremely rare catch. Fishing with tiny hooks he landed a Connemara Clingfish, a very rare find indeed and our Catch of the Week.

Christopher also had a two spotted goby, and further added to the count with saury, a small gar-like species that is found in large shoals and brings the mighty Bluefin tuna into Donegal Bay to feed. Himself and Johnny had an enjoyable sesson on the rocks in a weather window spinning small lures for saury and found a good number. Saury is a great bait also, so no doubt the freezers are well stocked now for the winter!

Finally, Stefan Martin took advantage of the cam before Storm Ali to get a rock session in chasing pollack and wrasse: “Storm Ali was brewing outside of the bay yesterday and we were well warned of the impending gales ahead and so it was time to take advantage of the weather window and grab the lightweight ugly stik and walk the trails and try to temp some kelp dwellers on the soft plastics.. September can be a great month for the lures on the shore as the water is warm and fish are still in attack mode with all the feed about. Small lunker city paddle tails worked out the wrasse in close but it can be hard to work the lures when the swell is running. So the heavier and quite expensive but absolutely lethal fiish black minnow was fired out at distance for pollack. This weedless lure can be let sink all the way to lie on the bottom and popped up and straight retrieved back and you feel every waggle of the tail through the braid and the heavy pull and arching run of a crash diving pollack.. great sport in the dying of the light now as the evenings draw in”

Stefan Martin
Killybegs mariners SAC

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mariner.sac

Go fishing…

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

Erriff fishing well with 9 days left in season

By

Kevin Crowley

-

September 21, 2018

Osgur Grieve reports on the latest from the Erriff Fishery.

13th – 19th September.

We have had 11 salmon during this period. On Thursday 13th Paddy Donegan had a 3.75lbs grilse from Wanklyn’s Dam on Beat 7 using a Red Butt Cascade. A short while later Donal Chambers released a 4lbs grilse from the Upper Sally pool on Beat 7 using a Black Pennell.

Friday 14th Stuart Woodhead fished Beat 3 in the morning and released a 4.5lbs grilse from Mike’s pools and lost another using a Willie Gunn. Paddy Donegan was back into action releasing 2 grilse of 4.5lbs and 6lbs from the Sally pool and Mickey’s Run on Beat 7 using a Posh Tosh conehead, and Donal Chambers released a 4lbs grilse also from Mickey’s Run on Beat 7 using a Collie Dog.

Saturday 15th saw Paddy Donegan into action again, this time releasing a 7lbs salmon from School House Run on Beat 3 using a Willie Gunn tube, this brought Paddy’s total for his week’s fishing to 4 salmon.

Regular angler Jasper Matthews returned on Sunday 16th to fish Beat 4 in the morning and had a 2lbs grilse from the Bog using a gold shrimp. Another regular Kevin Attride fished Beat 6 that morning and had a 2.5lbs grilse from Nee’s pool on a Foxford shrimp and lost another at the net.

Sam McMannamon fished on Tuesday 18th and released a 3lbs grilse from Glenacally on Beat 5 using a Cascade and regular visitor Gael Kerschbaumer released a 2lbs grilse from below Gowlaun on Beat 3 using a black and red shrimp. Wednesday 19th saw the arrival of Storm Ali, this brought with it a big dirty flood which made the river unfishable.

There were 17 sea trout caught and released during this period ranging in weight from 0.5lbs – 1.5lbs from Beat 1 down to 9, the flies that accounted for the most sea trout were the Collie Dog and Black Pennell. If you would like to book some fishing before the 2018 season comes to a close give the fishery office a call on (095) 42382 or email [email protected]

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]

Plenty of fish in the Midlands

By

Kevin Crowley

-

September 21, 2018

Regular contributor and photographer Mick Flanagan writes from the Midlands again this week.

Royal Canal

The Royal Canal is now in a mess, with low water levels and pictures are floating around daily by local anglers and canal walkers and those who have pleasure boats on the Royal Canal. I posted a few pics that have really hit home, and over 12,000 people reacted to these shocking pictures of the canal at an all time low. We had a lot of comments with little or none from our local authorities, or local councillors. I am really not surprised, as I took time out before the schools reopened in September and walked a small stretch of the Canal with one local councillor. Highlighted were water levels, illegal dumping, and access to the Royal Canal where over hanging trees are causing problems. Needless to say the 5 black bags of rubbish still lies within sight of the banks of he Royal Canal, and the access point was not looked at. Fair enough pictures were taken that morning, and I was told it would be looked into.

Low water levels on the Royal Canal are a major problem

Coyne Brothers

Kevin and Michael Coyne of Kinnegad are really top class anglers, and Kevin regularly keeps us up to date on his angling adventures. This time around Kevin ventured to Lough Derg on the Shannon system in search of some trout. On board was his brother Michael who does not spend much time on the lakes, as he loves the river fishing. Mind you this might change now as the lads had a magical day on Derg with some huge wild brown trout over 4lbs in weight.

Kevin Coyne with a fine trout from Lough Derg

Michael Coyne with a beautiful Lough Derg trout

Sheelin and Lough Ree Trout

Last week Athlone angling pals Philip Cunningham and Steve Turner had a fantastic days fishing with Steve once again producing a Monster Ferox trout from this fantastic fishery. Steve has over the years proven himself as one of our top Ferox trout anglers, and his most recent catch weighed an incredible 13lbs 6oz.

A fine ferox trout from Lough Ree for Steve Turner

On Sheelin Christy Cox of Multyfarnham better known in the angling world as “Black Jack” had a whopper on the fly weighing 6.25lbs. Christy had 4 trout caught on Pearly Dabblers of the Hollywell Shore, and were tied by Bert Akins. Christy was also using a rod and reel given too him by his late pal Tommy Watson. Our thanks to Fergus Lynch Assistant Inspector with I.F.I. for this report and cracking photograph of Christy and his prized catch.

Lene Trout & Aladin Flask

Our good pal Marty Smith and Lough Lene member was back over from England, and enjoyed a few days on his favorite lake in all of Ireland. We had some fantastic fishing on dry flies, and also some nice rainbows on wet flies. As you do we ventured into Madams Island for lunch one of the days, and left an Aladin Thermal flask on the lake shore. If possible will the anglers that ventured in after us, please hand the flask into club Chairman Tom Fagan or leave in the Angling Hut on Fagan’s Point.

Competition Scene

Now as we are drifting into late September the last few trout competition are coming on line. This Sunday the popular O’Malley Cup will be fished on Ennell. I was talking to Johnny O’Malley recently and he reported some nice trout were coming from Ennell. For more on this competition and some flies that will work on Ennell call into David O’Malley at his angling center at 33 Dominick Street or phone 044-93-48300. David is also Chairman of Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association. On Sunday week we have a clash of competitions with the Christy Sleator Perpetual Cup on Ennell, and Lene anglers will host the Chairman’s pairs competition. Lene is celebrating its 60^th year as an Angling Association this year. More on these events next week.

Michael Flanagan
Midland Angling

Make a booking

Midlands Angling provide a top class Guiding service covering many of the top coarse and game waters across the Midlands. Visiting fly anglers have landed some fine trout while out with Midland Angling Guides, pike anglers also recorded some net bursting catches including many pike over 20lbs. Top waters include Lough Ree, Ennell, Owel, Lene, Mount Dalton, and Glore Lake just to mention a few.
Michael Flanagan
Midland Angling
Pike and Trout angling guide.

Telephone: +353 (0)44 9348969 or +353 (0)87 2797270
Fax: +353 (0)44 9342781
Email: [email protected] Web: www.midlandangling.com

Get your skates on and hit Courtmacsherry for top angling

By

Kevin Crowley

-

September 21, 2018

Skipper Mark Gannon has been in touch with the latest fishing news from Courtmacsherry

Greetings from all at Courtmacsherry!

Fishing has been good except for brief interruptions in our nice weather which slowed it down a bit. The one occasion we ventured offshore we caught some Ling to 8 kg but commercial netting has made the long journey south less attractive. Shark fishing was producing some good sport but as the season went on, they got patchy enough, fish to 2.6m were tagged and released.

Pollack fishing on light gear is very popular with our anglers and we had fish to 11lbs in the bay with plenty in the 5 to 6lbs range. Cod were patchy enough and very few to double figures.

Skate fishing has been producing some good fish with a good few thornbacks as well, our best day we had 12 boated to 1.8m.

The inshore fishing with the self-drives had good pollack, ray, dabs, plaice and in the estuary the bass fishing has been good with last week being exceptional – all mostly caught on live bait. The shore fishing is also producing some great bass fishing with the Gilthead Bream making an appearance from where they were first caught, with a fish of over 8lbs landed last week. Fishing today in poor conditions but have a few skate to 1.7m, conger, bull huss and dogs with mackerel plentiful.

Another nice skate for a group out with Mark

Make a booking

Courtmacsherry Sea Angling Centre is one of Irelands Premier Angling Centres based in the picturesque village of Courtmacsherry located only 30miles 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 selfdrive 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 selfdrive angler for inshore fishing or the wreck enthusiast. Address: Woodpoint Guest House, Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork. Telephone: +353 (0)23 8846427 or +353 (0)86 8250905 Email: [email protected] Web: www.courtmacsherryangling.ie

Irish Angling Update 21 September 2018

By

Kevin Crowley

-

September 21, 2018

The jest stream express is in full flow over Ireland this week, steering in one Atlantic depression after another – on Monday we had the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which was a bit of a damp squib. Followed on Wednesday by Storm Ali, the first named storm of the winter season and a fierce start it was, with trees down in many places. Storm Bronagh affected the UK more on Thursday night, but brought heavy rain to Ireland during Thursday, and the weekend looks set for more of the same, with heavy rain and high winds in places and possibly Storm Callum if forecasts don’t improve.

The weather has resulted in a dearth of angling reports this week, with many anglers taking a break from the weather, but some intrepid anglers have taken advantage of windows in the storms and enjoyed some great fishing. The Killybegs Mariners club, in particular, have had some great fishing this week, including some nice bass, and the Catch of the Week – not for its size but its rarity – a Connemara Clingfish for Christopher Noctor.

It has been a busy time for festivals also, with the Cork Small Boats and Daiwa Irish Pairs both dodging the weather this week, and reports to follow next week. The Rosslare Small Boats Fesival was won by ‘Screaming Reels’ for a record ninth time, and Declan Moran was top rod at the Newport Sea Angling Festival. Mark Gannon’s clients have also been enjoying good sport lately out of Courtmacsherry, with blue shark and other species providing busy sport, as well as some fine Common Skate.

Trout fishing has been quiet the last few days with the weather, but there are great reports from Lough Corrib, Lough Mask, Lough Sheelin and the Midland Lakes, with trout feeding hard before leaving the lakes to spawn, and anglers taking advantage of the late season sport.

The rain has been good for many rivers, and reports are trickling in of good fishing all around the country, from West Cork to Donegal and places in between. Rivers in West Cork are providing good sport at the moment, Lough Currane continues its recent good form, and the River Erriff in Mayo has also been producing good fishing for salmon and sea trout. Further north the Drowes is getting a late run of fresh grilse, while the Owenea produced a nice 10lbs fish for a French journalist fishing for salmon for the first time. I have also heard rumours of good fishing on the Munster Blackwater, and hope to have these reports for next week’s update.

Probably due to the weather, we have no pike or coarse fishing reports this week, but hope to have some updates next week.