Andrew Fletcher had an 8lb salmon on fly from the Sea Pools
Monday 29th May to Sunday 11th June 2017
Water levels remained lower than desired on the Drowes over the fortnight but despite this and very bright conditions at times, the river fished well. There were good numbers of salmon reported with the majority of these being fresh run grilse. Given here are catches from taken from the register in the Fishery Office.
On the 30th May, John Parkinson recorded a 6lb grilse caught on a spinner from Soft Hole. On the 31st, Maurice Livingstone reported a 3lb grilse caught on a fly from the Sea Pools. On the 1st June, Harry Lloyd logged a 3lb grilse caught on a fly from the Old Sea Pool and Darren O’Hare accounted for a 4lb grilse caught on prawn from the Sea Pools. On the 2nd, Walter Huldi recorded 2 grilse weighing 4 & 5lb caught on a fly from Eel Weir. On the 3rd, John Croy reported a 6lb grilse caught on prawn from the Sea Pools. Paul Cardy logged 3½lb grilse caught on a fly from Red Roof. Pat Sullivan registered a 4lb grilse caught on a Rapala from Eel Weir and Peter Marshall accounted for 2 grilse and a salmon weighing 3, 3 & 15lb on prawn from the Sea Pools with the large salmon being released again. On the 4th, P.J. Bailey recorded a 4lb grilse caught on worm from the Sea Pools. Johnny Ciconte reported 2 grilse weighing 2 & 3lb caught on spinner & fly from Red Roof. Gary Morrow logged 2 grilse weighing 3 & 3½lb caught on prawn from Spa well with the larger of these being released again. Stan Kingham registered a 4lb grilse caught on prawn from the Sea Pools. Sean Brophy recorded a 3½lb grilse caught on prawn from the Sea Pools. Carlos Marco reported a 4lb grilse caught on fly from Mowatt’s and Andrew Fletcher accounted for an 8lb salmon caught on a fly from the Sea Pools.
Andrew Fletcher had an 8lb salmon on fly from the Sea Pools
On the 5th, George McBride recorded a 4lb grilse caught on worm from Upper Mill Pool. Rory Morrin reported a 4lb grilse caught on fly from Red Roof. Julian Ciconte logged a 3½lb grilse caught on spinner from Corry. Jens Frey registered an 8lb salmon caught on fly from the Sea Pools and Colin Gardiner accounted for an 11½lb salmon caught on a fly from the Sea Pools. On the 6th, Paddy recorded a 4lb grilse caught on worm from Red Roof. Jens Frey reported a 3lb grilse caught on a fly from the Sea Pools. Johnny Ciconte logged a 4lb grilse caught on a fly from Red Roof. John Ford registered a 3lb grilse caught on a fly from the Sea Pools. David McErlean recorded a 10lb salmon caught on a Rapala from Otter Hole. George McBride reported a 4lb grilse caught on worm from Four Masters Bridge and Billy Grimes accounted for 2 grilse weighing 3 & 5lb caught on shrimp from The Blackwater & Rooney’s. On the 7th, Paul McMenamin recorded a 3½lb grilse caught on prawn from the Sea Pools and Darren O’Hare accounted for a 4lb grilse caught on prawn from the Sea Pools. On the 8th, Kurt Neuenschwander reported a 4lb grilse caught & released on a fly from Briney’s. On the 9th, Johnny Ciconte recorded a 5lb grilse caught on a fly from Red Roof. Julian Ciconte reported a 4lb grilse caught on spinner from Red Roof and Paul McCausland accounted for 2 grilse weighing 4lb each caught on shrimp from Spa well.
There were numerous other salmon caught that have yet to be entered into the Catch Register and overall there were some 60 salmon caught over the week.
Make a booking
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
‘Fly-fishing is a continuous process that you learn to love for its own sake’ John Gierach.
Stevie Munn with one of his four fish caught within an hour on June 16th
‘I could fish deep into the night, well past the light but at the end of the day it’s the end of the day’, words by angler Burhan which reflected the mood that existed throughout the days and evenings on Lough Sheelin for this week, where effort surpassed reward.
Christopher Defillon with his trout caught fishing wet fly patterns
A respectable number of anglers fished this lake over the past seven days, at various times using various methods as well as a mind boggling array of flies but Lough Sheelin’s trout, with a discouraging consistency, refused to co-operate and whereas plenty of fish were seen on the move and there were numerous takes, misses, extended plays and escapes, actual captures were few and far between. Well known angling instructor and writer Stevie Munn commented wryly that ‘Sheelin does not give up its babies easily’ and you can sing that one Mr Munn. However, the same man, landed himself four heavy weights last Friday night within an impressive one hour period (throwing this Lough Sheelin angling reporter a very welcome life line!) attributing his success to the right conditions and a bit of luck rather than his renowned skill as a trout angler.
After sunset at Tonagh, Lough Sheelin
The weather this week (with an unwelcome regularity) again had a hugely negative influence on the fishing on this lake and it was the constantly changing wind direction which mostly played havoc with the rises and feeding of trout. ‘A slight increase in wind strength or change of wind direction will put surface feeding wild brown trout down’ states author Dennis Moss in his book Trout From A Boat. The daytime was mainly fishing blind but the evening saw good rises of fish to the surface food – mainly spent, buzzer and sedge with an encouraging movement of trout. As usual, things would be looking good from an angling point of view and then there would be an abrupt turnaround in wind direction and the fish would vanish, never to resurface again for the rest of the evening. The weather as they say in Cavan ‘played holy hell with the fishing’.
A beautiful trout caught by Stevie Munn, Belfast
Forever keeping a watchful eye on the competition, that is the other great Irish trout lakes mainly the western ones of Corrib, Conn and Mask but also neighbouring Ennell, Sheelin’s difficulties reassuringly are reflected everywhere with reports of poor and scanty fishing and disinterested trout.
There is a general consensus that ‘it is all down to the weather’ but I’m not so sure.
The Hatches
Lough Sheelin’s Ephermera danica
The insect life surpassed itself out on the lake, with our mayfly season still in evidence with the ‘greens’ visible, perched up like little green sailing boats on the water’s surface. The spent were still going out in good numbers particularly off Derrysheridan, Derry pt and Stoney and fish were coming up to feed on them – ‘taking one in every ten’ an Northern Ireland angler reported.
The sedges which had been holding back in previous weeks, exploded into life, where substantial quantities were visible particularly as the light dwindled towards darkness.
Caddis fly or sedge
With a bewildering 900 varieties of the natural insect in Europe alone; world-wide almost 7000, sedges can vary from just a few millimetres to almost seven centimetres. The Welshman’s Button is one of the more easier recognisable ones and fishing an imitation of this charmingly named sedge proved to be very successful for two Wexford anglers during the evenings – David Hunter landing himself a 6 pounder and Brian Wentford a 5 ½ trout. The Welshman’s Button or Button or sometimes called the Hazel-Fly can be a difficult fly to make because of his shape, which is nearly round and from where he derives his name. His wings are made from the red feathers of a partridge’s tail, his body is peacocks herl and it’s a black hackle for the legs. This sedge is normally around from the first week in June but the interesting thing about it is that he could only be around for two days as the slightest storm of thunder or lightning totally banishes him from the season.
The Murrough is there in small numbers but as yet the fish are showing no real interest for this sedge as this usually takes off here at the end of this month and although there were a few successes using this imitation it is still a little early.
The mighty Murrough
Hoppers worked well for some anglers and fished on a slick these can be brilliant in their imitation of those terrestrial insects. The Balling buzzer late in the evening around Bog Bay was good and some tried their hand at the traditional dapping during the daytime.
Although caenis should be coming on board around now, this requires mirror calm with at most a pin head ripple, a soft South to South Westerly wind and certainly not some of the Northerly winds that we have been recently graced with.
The Catches
Aidan Rush, Northern Ireland bring his fish in
Each lake is unique and for Lough Sheelin, the challenging fishing so far this season is a marriage primarily of two things – certainly the weather, particularly the contrary winds but also the abundance and copious amounts of trout food available in the lower water columns of this lake and some would say that because of the mild winter many of the insects that would of died off didn’t so the sub surface larder is extra full compared to other seasons, this coupled with the fact that 85 – 90% of trout prefer to feed sub surface means that anglers are wrong footed straight away with trout that just simply are not hungry, leaving just plain luck playing a large part in catching a good fish. Trout are lazy feeders, they have to get more energy from their food than they expend in catching it or they will die and since trout have been around for some 400 million years they have the survival bit down to a pat.
Peter Neeson, Northern Ireland (guided by Mick Kelly)
We can speculate about the difficulties but what is fact is that Lough Sheelin contains an impressive number of beautiful wild trout, of all sizes and this piscorial evidence exhibits itself on a daily basis to those who fish these fickle and capricious waters.
Michael McNaughton, Northern Ireland with another twilight trout
For this week, visible trout movement was all more or less restricted to the evening time and after dark. There was plenty of pitching, head and tail rises, sub surface boils, sloppy takes, pulls out of flies and trout creating their own long distance releases as the line disappeared down to the reel. Sheelin provided good angling sport and if a trout was caught it was extra special, the icing on the cake because these are wild animals and cleverer that we might give them credit for.
The heaviest fish for this week was a 6 ½ pounder caught by Michael Gilcrest, Cork fishing a slick out from Wilson’s pt.
Total number of trout recorded: 46
Cathal McNaughton, Antrim releasing his 3lb 3oz trout caught on a Spent Gnat at Wilsons pt.
Selection of Catches
Ronan Clarke – 3 fish, heaviest at 3 ½ lbs on Spent Gnat patterns.
Cathal Rush, Northern Ireland – Tuesday June 13th, 8 trout, heaviest at 4 ½ lbs, caught on small Green Hoppers.
Aidan Rush fishing with Cathal Rush – Wednesday June 14th, 6 trout using wet Green Mayfly patterns.
Eamon Ross, Cavan – 2 trout at over 4lbs each on Spent Gnat patterns.
Michael Trent, Dublin – 10 trout for the week using Stimulators, Bobs Bits and Klinkhammers during the day and Royal Wulffs in the evenings, heaviest at 5lbs.
Ned Clinton, Cavan – 1 trout at 3 ½ lbs fishing Spent Gnat patterns.
Paul Sutherland, England – 2 trout, heaviest at 3 lbs using Wulffs and Gorgeous George patterns.
Brian Dunleavy, Dundalk – 3 trout heaviest at 3½ lbs using Golden Olive Bumbles and Hoppers.
The Flies
Lough Erne Wulff which works well on Lough Sheelin
The most successful flies this week were the wet Mayfly patterns in greens with mixes of brown and white mingled through, the French Partridge, the Goslings, Soft Hackle Mayfly Emergers, CDC Mayfly Emergers, the Wulffs (grey and royal), the Spent Gnat patterns (a predominance of black worked best) and the Sedges (sizes 12 -14). Other patterns catching fish were the Dabblers (Claret, Green and Silver), Bobs Bits in different colours and sizes to fish the surface film, Hackled Buzzer patterns to fish high in the water or on the drop, Pheasant Tail nymphs and Hare’s Ear for good surface film penetration. Humpies, Gorgeous George, Humpies, Klinkhammers, Stimulators and Bumbles (Golden and Cock Robin).
Stimulator – Kevin Sheridan
For the ordinary ‘day light sedges’ I am reliably informed that amber is a must for every sedge pattern and from some of the patterns I have seen, this colour dominants most of the body, certainly the lower half of this caddis imitation. Sedge flies are most commonly fished dry here, singly or in teams of two, positioned 4 to 6ft apart. Whilst dry flies are normally fished static, sedge patterns such as the Murrough, Grey Flag, Sheelin, Melvin and small Brown Sedge are best retrieved with short pulls to represent the characteristic skittering motion of the natural sedge across the water’s surface.
welshman’s button imitationDaddy long legs – Kevin Sheridan
New Bye law for Sheelin
The big news on the angling front from a legal point of view for Lough Sheelin was the enactment of Bye-law 949 which came into operation on June 14th 2017, this bye-law replaces the previous Bye-laws of 790 and 817 on this lake and it would be advisable that all anglers fishing Lough Sheelin should famliarise themselves with the new law for here.
A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times.
All anglers are required to have a Fishery Permit to fish Lough Sheelin which must be purchased before going out on the lake.
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.
Getting it right – Caoimhe & Oisin Sheridan
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.
Five year old Harry O'Toole enjoyed a productive day with dad Harold, catching some lovely trout for dinner.
Declan Gibbons reports that changeable weather conditions have had an impact on angling activity, however there were some good catches during the week gone by with mixed methods from wet to dry fly and some trolling.
In the Oughterard area the Oughterard Anglers & Boatmen’s Association hosted the John Gill Cup on Sunday last with 11 rods participating and 14 fish were landed for 20lbs. In 1st place was Gerry Dixon with 4 fish for 6lbs 1oz. 2nd place went to Mikey Molloy with 2 fish for 4lbs 11oz, and 3rd place went to John Deacy with 2 fish for 4lbs 1oz. The heaviest fish prize was won by Jim Glynn with a trout of 4.00lbs.
Also in the Oughterard area Basil Shields of Ardnasillagh Lodge (091-552550) reports a quieter week, but he had Joe McCaffrey from Northern Ireland out Caenis fishing on Tuesday morning last and landed 3 fish for the morning, with the best fish being 4.25lbs, while on Wednesday morning last Basil guided Alan Finch from Limerick and had one fish on Caenis for 2lbs.
Staying in the Oughterard area Kevin Molloy of Baurisheen Bay Boat Hire, Guiding & Self-Catering (087-9604170) hosted a group of Swiss anglers on Monday last landing 3 trout on wets for 5lbs, and on Thursday last Dublin angler James McGrane and friend had 3 fish on wet fly with the best fish 1.75lbs.
In the Cornamona area Richard Molloy (087-2879339) of Ballard Shore Boat Hire & Self-Catering reports quieter angling activity, but he did have visiting French anglers out and they had great sport on wet flies, landing and releasing numerous numbers of trout – mainly on dabblers.
Larry McCarthy (www.corribangling.com) reports fishing from Corrib View Lodge has been challenging however on three mornings guests got out to fish Caenis in poor weather conditions and had some good returns. Neil Toft visiting from the UK had 6 trout up to 4lbs on Wednesday morning last in the Greenfields area. Vaughn Ruckley on holidays from Edinburgh had 3 fish up to 2.5lbs on two early morning outings. Owein Mealing & Nick Meesham had good sport on Friday morning guided by Larry when they boated 4 trout, one which was 4lbs plus. Tom Chamberlain from Wales had a fine 3lbs trout in high winds in Ballindiff on Saturday last.
Neil Toft with a nice early morning Corrib trout
In the Ballindiff area on Friday and Sunday last Clare duo Brian Madden & Seamus O’Loughlin enjoyed excellent fishing on wet olives and sedges, landing 13 fish over 13 inches with most of them between 2-3lbs, the best fish just under 4lbs and many more smaller fish returned also.
In the Galway area father and son Harold O’Toole and his son Harry enjoyed three days fishing on Lough Corrib landing 12 trout for their outings with 5-year-old Harry showing Dad how it’s done!!!
Five year old Harry O’Toole enjoyed a productive day with dad Harold, catching some lovely trout for dinner.
The Federation Cup is being held out of Birchall on Sunday 25th June. This is a fund raising competition held on a catch-and-release basis. Entry is €25, with all proceeds going back into enhancement and development works on Lough Corrib. For further details contact Phillip Comber (086-2786301).
Aidan OHalloran, Winner of the 3rd leg of the Tubertini West Coast Shore League at Keel, receiving his prize from Padraic McKenna of host club Corrane SAC
The third leg of the Tubertini High Quality West Coast Shore League was held on Keel Beach, Achill last Saturday, and it was that man again, Aidan O’Halloran, who came out tops on the day. Aidan, from the Lisdoonvarna-Fanore club, had 8 fish for 170 points to win the day in tough conditions. Ed Kilroy from Corrane SAC was 2nd, with 9 fish for 149 points, while Fiachra McKenna, also Corrane, was 3rd with 7 fish for 88 points.
Aidan now has a commanding lead in the league, with 3 wins from 3 putting him on 303 points. Next is Galway Bay’s John Cunningham on 280 points, with Cian Egan (Lisdoonvarna-Fanore) in third on 261.
The next leg will be held on July 30th on Lettergesh Beach, hosted by Galway B
Aidan OHalloran, Winner of the 3rd leg of the Tubertini West Coast Shore League at Keel, receiving his prize from Padraic McKenna of host club Corrane SAC
Maren Scheyhing from Stuttgart, Germany with a nice Lough Mask trout
Ronan Cusack reports Lough Mask has been noticeably quiet this week as many anglers have returned home after their annual mayfly fishing adventure.
Weather conditions have been very unseasonal with strong winds and torrential rain almost every day, which has resulted in a significant increase in water levels around Mask.
The Garda Angling club held the O’Connor/Prendergast Cup on Mask on Friday last which was supported by 29 members weighing in 15 fish. First place went to Diarmuid O’Donovan with 2 fish for 2lbs 11.8oz. In second place was Michael McGauran also with 2 fish for 2lbs 11.6oz and in third position was Gerry Feeney with 2 fish for 2lbs 4oz. One of the organisers of the competition Phil O’Donoghue remarked that conditions on the day were bright yet fish were reported from most areas of the lake.
Hall’s Angling Centre (www.lakeshoreholidays.com ) had a busy week with some good reports. Three generations of the Doheny family from Dublin enjoyed some good sport around the Caher-Inishowen end of the lake this week. Grandfather Paddy, son Patrick and grandson Dara had 15 trout exceeding the limit on wet-flies for their trip. Also staying at Hall’s for 3 days this week was Des Fitzgerald from Cork. Des had 9 trout over the 3 days plus several undersize. Brian Hall guided for 2 UK anglers on Fri/Sat/Sun last and they had 20 trout over the limit on wet-flies, plus numerous undersize (best fish 3lbs).
Local guide Declan Gibbons guided for a German couple on Sunday last and they had some lively fishing on the dap around the southern end of the lake. Gerry Kenny & Maurice Willis had 6 fish for the day on Friday last (best fish 2.25lbs).
Larry McCarthy of Corrib View Lodge guided for Vaughan Ruckley and Neil Toft from Edinburgh on Mask on Tuesday last and they had 5 trout over the limit plus several undersize on a combination of wets and dries (best fish 1.75lbs, all returned). Larry fished again on Thursday with Vaughn and they had a further 2 again on wets & dries (best fish 2lbs, all returned).
Maren Scheyhing from Stuttgart, Germany with a nice Lough Mask trout
A happy Kevin Rooney, Dublin, with his 6.75 lbs. fly caught Ridge Pool salmon
The Moy River fished extremely well this week. Heavy rain towards the weekend raised water levels and fish moved up through the system and all fisheries enjoyed good catches. The reported salmon catch for the week was 643 bringing the total for the year so far to 1822.
On the Ridge Pool, Garrett Ruigrok, Dublin, had excellent sport on the fly with 5 grilse (4 released), best at 8 lbs. Also on the Ridge Pool, Kevin Rooney, Dublin, had a 6.75 lbs. salmon on fly.
A happy Kevin Rooney, Dublin, with his 6.75 lbs. fly caught Ridge Pool salmon
Fishing was also excellent in the Foxford area with Rinanney and the Foxford Salmon Anglers water producing well over 100 salmon. French visitor, Bernard Pelou, caught a fine 10 pounder on Gannon’s on spinner, while Peter Todd, Wicklow, scored on Cloongee with two fish weighing 4.5 lbs. and 10 lbs. respectively. Jez Leech, UK, had 5 salmon for the week on Cloongee, best at 6 lbs. Angling conditions on East Mayo improved towards the weekend, and as a result, well over 100 fish were reported for the week. Amongst the successful anglers were Mattia Cestonaro, Italy, with a 9 lbs. fish on fly and Manfred Hilbe, Austria, with an eight pounder also on fly.
Thomas Merkel getting a quick photo before releasing a wild salmon caught on Beat 6
Osgur Grieve reports a good week on the Erriff with a total of 13 grilse and 1 springer landed, with more hooked and lost. Some of the lucky anglers included Kevin Attride who fished with us again on Saturday 10th and was rewarded with a fresh wild grilse of 3.5lbs from the Broken Bridge Pool on Beat 5. Thomas Merkel released a nice fresh grilse from the Colonel’s Pool on Beat 6 which weighed 6lbs. Local men Peter Joyce and Peter Coyne both caught grilse on Sunday 11th before the weather conditions got too bad, weighing 4.5lbs and 3.85lbs respectively; these fish came to a shrimp fly and a Cascade. Vaughan Lewis (UK) returned a fine fresh springer of 8lbs on Monday 12th from Beat 6. Archie McCauley had a very memorable half-day on Tuesday afternoon catching 4 grilse! 3 of these were wild and were released from Beat 9. These fish ranged in weights from 3 – 3.75lbs and fell for a Cascade and a Willie Gunn tube.
The recent rain has brought some more fresh grilse into the system and we look forward to the week ahead. Flies that worked best this week were the Cascade, Willie Gunn tube and Garry Dog.
Thomas Merkel getting a quick photo before releasing a wild salmon caught on Beat 6
For fishing bookings you can call the fishery office on (095) 42382 or you can email [email protected] to avail of our reduced angling rates for 2017.
Salmon fishing has been superb in Galway over the last week, with 161 fish landed and many more hooked and lost. I can certainly vouch for the latter, having lost 6 fish in a row on Saturday before finally landing one! Some anglers were rather less benevolent, and managed to convert their chances more efficiently. The Matthews clan from Clifden certainly had a productive day on the 8th, with dad Ashley landing 2 grilse and a fine salmon of 11.5lbs, Louis landing 4 grilse to 6lbs, and Jasper landing 2 grilse to 5lbs. All were taken on fly, and all but 2 fish released. Neil Spellacy also had a good day, landing 5 fish to 5.5lbs on the fly, while Dublin man Colm Adams had 3 fish to 4.5lbs on shrimp and fly. Well-known singer Paul Brady also visited the fishery this week and landed a nice grilse on shrimp, while Dublin angler Andy Smith had a 4.5lbs fish on fly.
Father and son John and Simon White from the UK had good fishing for their visit, both recording 2 grilse each on the 9th, and Simon landing a further 5 on fly on the 11th. Local angler Simon Lenihan had 3 grilse to 7lbs on the fly, while John Moloney had 2 to 7lbs, also on fly, and Tuam man Brian O’Rourke had 3 fish to 9lbs on fly and shrimp.
John McCarthy had an early start on Sunday, and was home for breakfast with 3 fish caught in quick succession on the fly. Fintan Murphy also had 3 fish to 7lbs on fly, while Clare man Pappy Cotter took 2 fish to 5.5lbs on shrimp.
Expert salmon anglers Mossy Browne and James Barry paid another visit to Galway from their native Waterford, where both were rewarded with a grilse each on fly. Father and son Mick and Barry Brown from Dublin had a productive visit, with Mick landing 5 fish to 5.5lbs on fly, and Barry taking 2 fish to 6lbs, also on fly. Loughrea’s Kevin Dolan also fished the fly and 4 grilse to 5lbs. Liam Dunne and Tosh Kellett both had 2 grilse on shrimp.
Cian Gargan fished with dad Paddy and had a 5lbs grilse on shrimp, while Cork man Jim Moloney had 2 grilse between 6 and 6.5lbs on fly, and fellow Corkman Tom Beecher had a similar brace, also on fly. Ricky Fabrozzi had 2 grilse to 5lbs on fly, Ashford Castle fishery manager Willie Cullinane showed his prowess landing 4 grilse to 5.5lbs on fly, and Athlone man Seamus Nee landed 5 fish to 8lbs on fly. Offaly man Ray Drennan landed 3 grilse to 5.5lbs on the fly.
Local angler Des Bluett had 3 fish to 3lbs on fly and shrimp, Monaghan man Gordon Sweetnam landed 3 to 5lbs on fly, while proud Clare man Eddie Corry caught and released a nice 4lbs grilse. I hope he will forgive me for attributing Limerick ancestry to him in previous reports! Simon Lenihan landed 2 to 5.5lbs on fly and shrimp, Monaghan man Brendan Doyle had 2 grilse to 6lbs on shrimp, and finally Dublin angler Garry Rogers had a brace of fish at 4.5lbs each on the fly.
The river is stuffed with grilse at the moment, with more arriving on every tide. Rain over the weekend has risen water levels slightly, with one gate open and some spilling over the other gates, but conditions are perfect for fly angling and prospects are excellent for the coming week.
Bill Hayes, caught and released a cracker of a 5 lbs. Sea Trout,
Vincent Appleby reports from Lough Currane where grilse provided some sport over the Bank Holiday weekend…
9/6/17 All the Salmon headlines come from the South side of the Lake and of www.lakelandshouse.com and for good reason. Luxembourg fly angler and no stranger to the Waterville Fishery, Erni, caught a fine 5 lbs. Grilse on the fly, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com. Now for the rest the angling news and scores of the day, Erni and Frank 1 the other 14 boats 0, you could say the other 14 boats were in dismay because of their failure need I say more! Now we head for the World famous Butler Pool and of www.watervillegolflinks.ie. Donal O’Neil and party while fly fishing caught a fine 5.5 lbs. Salmon and four Brown Trout, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Michael O’Sullivan of Waterville Boats and at [email protected] Wind SW fresh and overcast with heavy rain this afternoon and this evening and has made a good flood. Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 13.7mm. Maximum air temperature 15.9c.
10/6/17 Lough Currane was at a standstill with a gale force SW wind blowing, so you can imagine the Currane anglers were pondering on their next port of call. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know where they went, cheers! Plus there was a big flood last night. So on that sober note we head for the Commeragh River, where there was some fine action with 5 salmon reported caught and out of the five caught there was one C&R by Mr. Martin Coveny. Wind as already stated, yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 31.1 mm. Maximum air temperature 14.7 c.
11/6/17 Lough Currane again was at a standstill with a Wild WSW wind blowing down the lake this morning and fishing was virtually nigh on impossible. Come afternoon the wind did drop a little and if any boat did venture out I hope they caught a Wild Atlantic Salmon! Yesterday’s weather, amount of rainfall 3.3 mm. Maximum air temperature 16.9 c.
Bill Hayes, caught and released a cracker of a 5 lbs. Sea Trout,
12/6/17 There was fine action in all departments, so straight to the action. We start at the Bungalow and the trolling Salmon department. My catch of the day goes to Scottish angler Ms. Morag McClain from Aberdeen, who caught 2 Grilse, both in the 5 lbs class, while fishing with her Gillie Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com. Staying at the Bungalow in the fly and C&R Sea Trout department, Mr. Bill Hayes, caught a cracker of a 5 lbs. Sea Trout, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com. Now for a mixture of Salmon and Sea Trout. Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com reported that he saw an angler catch a fine Grilse and a Sea Trout on the fly. Wind SW moderate with good cloud cover. Yesterdays weather, amount of rainfall 2.8 mm. Maximum air temperature 15,2 c.
13/6/17 It was a wild day on Lough Currane, with a strong SW wind blowing down the Lake, but this didn’t stop Mr. Bill Rushby catching a fine 4 lbs, Grilse on the fly, While fishing with his Gillie and for the rest of the Lough Anglers there was no Comment and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know why! Wind as already stated, just for the record there was good cloud cover. Now to yesterdays weather, amount of rainfall, 1.6 mm. Maximum air temperature 14.3c.
14/6/17 There was a strong Southerly wind blowing across the lake all day, but this didn’t deter a few boats from venturing out on the rough waters of Lough Currane and going by my secret service or sources if you prefer, reported that there two Salmon caught on the fly by a Guest, while fishing with his Gillie, so congratulations to them both, the only bit of advice I can give the Gillie I hope he used Domestos to clean his boat this evening, if you get my drift. Wind as already stated with excellent cloud. Yesterdays weather, amount of rainfall 0.2mm. Maximum air temperature 15.8c.
That is your ration from the last week on Lough Currane, from your Gillie and the Waterville Fishery, no spin no fly’s just facts. Vincent Appleby
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
Eileen Carroll tells us that 1 salmon weighing 14lbs was landed by a local angler spinning at Johnson’s Fishery of the River Laune. A French Angler landed 2 grilse weighing 3lbs each spinning on Beat 2. Another French angler had a salmon of 11lbs on Beat 2 of the Laune, spinning. Water levels medium a lot of fish hooked and lost.
Billy Downes, Laune Salmon and Trout Anglers’ Association, reports that as of Monday 12th of June the Laune had risen to almost 1.8m. A bit on the high side but as it falls it should give ideal angling conditions for all methods for the next two weeks…
During the past week there were some very good fish landed the best that I know was 15.5 lbs landed by Paul Murphy. Thomas Ward had fish on Thursday and Friday evening on the fly, they were respectively 11.75 lbs and over 12 lbs. Some nice fresh grilse also landed over the past week.
That said it’s still possible to fish and not meet one but try fishing when the nets are off Saturday to Monday for the best chance of a pull.
Prospects: Beautiful water in prospect for next two weeks lets hope some more good fish run the system and delay in Laune Anglers waters long enough to give our members and visitors a chance to catch one.
Beat 3: There was one grilse reported from Beat 3 for the week on low water but this fresh water height is ideal for salmon fishing on the Beat. Trout fishing should be coming into its best for the rest of this month.
Day permits are the same as last year €25 to the end of July and €35 for the months of August and September. For Beat 3 Permit costs click on: Beat 3 Permit Prices 2017
Be sure to display your permit on the dash of your car with the date and permit number visible and have the other part with you because you will be asked by members to identify yourself as a legitimate ‘One Day Member’ / Permit Holder. Web:www.launeanglersfishing.com Facebook:Facebook Laune Anglers Email: [email protected]
Grey Duster Guiding
