Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge in Longford reports the successes of first time visitor Diego Scapazzoni from Italy…
Diego all smiles with his 90cm Pike.
Diego Scapazzoni from Milan Italy was over for his first ever time to Ireland for his Pike fishing holiday, and decided to stay with Kevin and Jane at Melview Fishing Lodge in Longford. The morning of his first day started with a few smaller Pike and then the size of the Pike started to improve up to 75 to 80cm.
personal best Pike of 102cm for Diego
The pike then started to increase in size as the week continued. Pike to 90cm + started to come to the boat and then Diego bent into a cracking 102cm which was now his personal best. Diego commented that Ireland was a beautiful country with great Pike fishing and that he had enjoyed his stay here very much and it would be a trip he would remember for a long time and hopes to return next year.
Catch and release of another cracking Pike #CPRsavesfish
It was a pleasure to guide and fish with Diego and we had a great time while out fishing together. Thank you Diego and we look forward to welcoming you back to Ireland, (Grazie Diego e non vediamo l’ora di darti il benvenuto in Irlanda ).
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 recent pike catches in the area…
Adriano with one of his Pike.
John and James from Wexford who are no strangers to Melview Fishing Lodge decided this time they would bring along friend Adriano for another Pike fishing trip, the trip started with a few small ones being caught using various methods.
James with his 18lb Pike.
The weather at times prevented the use of the boat but they were still to catch some nice Pike from the banks, but this time it was James that came out on top with Pike of 18lb and a cracker of 23lb 5oz both caught on dead baits.
23lb.5oz for James on dead bait
The lads have a trip planned for a spot of course fishing so let’s hope the weather is kinder to them, thanks guys and see you all 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 river ran at low levels for the greater part of the week though we did receive a decent flood (0.30m) on Wednesday which also gave fair water levels on Thursday (0.25m). The gauge average for the week read a low 0.15 metres. The fishery was very quiet with little angling effort and only 1 visiting rod fishing for the week and to date I have heard of no fish caught over the week.
Make a booking
For info/bookings etc on the Owenea Fishery –
Tel: 074 9551141. (9am to 1pm April to May & 7am to 1pm June to Sept).
There were nice water levels in the Drowes over the week. Rain towards the start of the week meant the river was rising up to Wednesday. The gauge read 0.50m on Monday and by Wednesday the gauge read 0.60m. The river then gradually fell over the rest of the week but was still reading a lovely level of 0.54m by the end of play on Sunday. The river was a little quieter this week with around 10 salmon caught although there were many salmon reported as hooked and lost and the first of the grilse started to appear. Given here are some of the catches.
Micahel Joyce with his salmon
On Monday, Jackie McErlean recorded a 7½lb salmon caught on fly from the Mill Pool.
Peter Wahli
On Tuesday, Michael Joyce reported a 6½lb fish caught on a Flying ‘C’ lure from Briney’s and Peter Wahli accounted for an 8½lb salmon caught on a spinner from the Blackwater.
Danial O’Hara
On Friday, Danial O’Hara recorded a 10lb salmon caught on a fly from Clancy’s Pool and Brian Collington accounted for a 10lb salmon caught on a fly from Briney’s.
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River Drowes
The Drowes Fishery is one of Ireland’s premier spring salmon and grilse fisheries. The river is some 5 miles in length, with over 70 named pools, flowing from Lough Melvin at Lareen Bay and entering the sea at Tullaghan, just outside Bundoran. The Drowes has a wide variety of water suitable for all fishing methods, including several miles of good fly water and deeper slower moving pools suitable for spinning and bait fishing.
For information and bookings on the Drowes Fishery & Lough Melvin see http://www.drowessalmonfishery.com Tel: 071 9841055 (8am to 12 noon). Mob: +353 (0) 87 8050806
For info/Guides/boat hire on Lough Melvin contact Sean Maguire’s Tackle Shop, Main Street, Garrison.Tel. (048) 686 58194
Lough Melvin, Rossinver Fishery: For info/Guides/boat hire/bookings etc. contact Sean Carty. Tel: 083 1197428.
Eileen Carroll from our Macroom office has the roundup of West Work rivers…
ILEN RIVER
1 salmon of 8lbs was caught spinning by a club member on high water and a few were reported met and lost.
In addition, 12 sea trout reported caught ranging in weight from 1lbs to 1.5lbs.
Go fishing…
The River Ilen is a medium size spate river that fishes best on a dropping flood for both salmon and sea trout. Spinning, worm and fly fishing are the methods used and allowed on club water.
The river is beautiful and a joy to fish, pools along club waters are easily accessible with seats, steps and stiles put in place for the anglers comfort. With selective tree pruning done along the river in recent years fly fishing has become a more available option especially on the lower river with numerous pools opened up to suit fly fishermen, night time fly fishing for sea trout is a pleasure with great stocks of trout entering the river from April.
The River Lee drains a catchment of 484 square miles of which much is taken up by two large reservoirs. Salmon Angling is confined to an 8 mile stretch from Inniscarra dam to Cork city.
Lee Salmon Anglers Club
The Lee Salmon Anglers club was established in 1967. It was formed by a group of anglers interested in protecting and promoting the sport of salmon and trout angling on the river Lee. Day tickets available: http://www.leesalmonanglers.ie/
Inniscarra Fishery
This salmon fishery is located between Cork City and the dam at Inniscarra (9 miles). The fishery is run by the ESB (Electricity Supply Board) and an ESB permit is required. There is a fair run of fish with a very good grilse run dependent on water. Permits can be purchased on site from Dan O’Riordan, ESB Inniscarra; 087-9983879.
Despite good water on the Bandon there were only two fish caught for the week and another lost. The forecast is broken for the week and the river remains high.
The River Bandon – Courtesy of the Bandon Angling Association
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
There were few more fish caught on the Feale for the past week. To mention a few we had Buck in a pic last week holding a fish belonging to another angler and hoping to get a bit of luck from it and he had not long to wait when he got his season off to a start with his first ever Salmon on the fly weighing in at around 9lbs.
Buck’s first salmon on a fly
Also in luck with the fly was visiting angler from Limerick, Eddie Corrie. He had a great fish of 12 lbs caught on a fly tied by himself. Stephen Moroney had his second of the year caught on a spinner. Bob Downey of Listowel got his first of the season as well this week on a fly a fish of 7lbs and John Moloney got his season off to a start with a fish of 8lbs caught on a spinner.
A 12lb salmon for Eddie on one of his own flies
Water levels are staying good and strong and more suitable for spinning at the moment and with all the showers it looks like staying that way for the weekend.
Go fishing…
More about the Feale
The River Feale is among the outstanding salmon and sea trout rivers of Ireland. The River rises in the mountain district of North Co Cork and flows westerly for 75 km (46 miles) through the county towns of Abbeyfeale and Listowel and enters the sea south of Ballybunion. For the final 10 kms (6 miles) of its course, it is known as the Cashen River. Throughout its meandering journey to the sea it flows through a picturesque landscape of heather bog land, fertile valleys and rolling hills. Its main tributaries, flowing from both North and South, combine to add in excess of 160 kms (100 miles) of fishable waters.
About 50% of the main River Feale and the Smearlagh River is controlled by 5 angling clubs. These clubs are some of the best angling waters and each club offers day tickets for visiting anglers.
North Kerry Anglers Association issues daily & weekly permits for fishing on 9 miles of the Feale & Smearlagh rivers. Web: www.northkerryanglers.com
Killocrim/Finuge Angling Club
Killocrim/Finuge Angling Club control approximately 6.5 kms (4 miles) of water downstream of Listowel. Web:killocrimfinugefishingclub.com
Brosna / Mountcollins Angling Club
Brosna / Mountcollins Angling Club control about 13 kms (8 miles) of double bank fishing from below the Owveg River confluence, up past Mountcollins, to within a short distance of Ahuan Bridge.
Permits are available from Brendan Danagher on +353 (0)64 663 6267
For any angling query please contact the Limerick office at [email protected] or by phone 061-300238.
Brown tags
Brown tag fishery: Under the salmon tagging regulations, this year the River Feale is designated as a brown tag fishery.Anglers must affix a brown tag along with a blue tag to any salmon which is retained. This means that salmon retained on the River Feale will have two tags attached. All brown tags (including 1st tag) will be issued from IFI officers ONLY . Please ring 087-7639236 to arrange to receive your first brown tag prior to commencing fishing
Additional brown tags will only be issued by IFI staff, they may be contacted at 087-7639236 and they will arrange to meet and issue an additional tag upon verification that the previous brown tag has been used, i.e. a fish has been caught and recorded in the logbook.
1 brown tag will be issued at a time to each angler.
If you acquired a 1 day or 21 day licence which has expired, or you have finished fishing for the season, and you have not used the brown tag then this must be surrendered to an IFI officer prior to departure by phoning 087-7639236. IFI would like to thank you for your co-operation with this.
If an angler has used his brown tag or doesn’t have a brown tag in his possession to use then he must fish catch and release methods, i.e.single barbless hook and no worms.
Brown tags will continue to be issued until the angling quota is reached.
To report a suspected pollution or poaching activity please contact the 24 hour hotline on 0818 34 74 24
The Galway Fishery has produced 4 spring salmon over the last few days. On Friday Tipperary angler John Ryan fished the fly, despite high water levels at 6 gates, and met a fine springer of 11lbs that he duly landed. The same day Northern Ireland man Peter Montgomery had a 6.5lbs fish on spinner. On Saturday Frank Achinson from Tipperary caught a cracking 12.5lbs spring salmon while spinning, and on Sunday local rod John McCarthy took a 10lbs fish on shrimp.
Water levels have since dropped and are now sitting at 4 gates open, which enabled the underwater camera to be installed for the first time this year, and some really good fish have been seen in the pool covered by the camera in the last 2 days. There are also reports of a few fish being taken in Cong, some 20 miles or so upstream, so hopefully this is the start of the spring run and we will see further good reports from Galway.
New fishery manager Brian Curran has been in touch to say that he landed the first salmon of the season off Costello this morning.
The fish weighed 8lbs 11oz, and took a size 10 Munro Killer.
Brian Curran with his 8lbs 11oz Costello Salmon
Brian reports that water levels are good currently, and have been steady for the past few weeks with almost daily showers. While there have been cold winds, the frequent rain has kept water levels at a very fishable level and we expect more spring fish to enter the fishery with the high tides this week.
Go fishing…
Costello & Fermoyle Fishery
Costello & Fermoyle is a jewel in Connemara’s crown, with a short, productive river draining a chain of lakes, all providing quality salmon and sea trout fishing. Salmon run the system from April, with the grilse run peaking in June, while sea trout start in May, with the most prolific runs in June and July. Fishing can be excellent right through September.
To make a booking, contact Brian at Telephone: +353 (0)91 572196 or 087 2399988 E-mail: [email protected]
