Kit Dunne reports on the charter boat fishing from Wicklow…
Some great catches recently from Wicklow. Plenty of Tope on many days, with the odd big one thrown in, Congrats to Dan O’Reilly for his Specimen Tope at 161cm.
Dan O’Reilly specimen Tope
Plenty of Bullhuss appearing lately with as many as 30 on Castle Maiden one day. No specimen size but a few fine fish.
Niall Burke with another fine Huss
Ian Phillips’ Welsh Group did 2 days in June, and had a bumper day with 14 Huss, a few Hounds, 2 Tope and topped off with a fine bass after drifting the banks.
Ian Phillips with nice Bass from the banks.Welsh angler with a fine Tope
The Annual Euro crew had a bad weather week but made the most of the days they got out with 17 Species, including a fine near specimen Grey Gurnard for Mike Wheeler, and a few fine Pollock from the wrecks.
East coast waters are home to some of the best fishing in Ireland, with Wicklow boasting record catches of Tope, Bull-Huss, Ray and Spurdog in recent years. Catch Gurnard, Pollock and Codling on the inshore rough patches or on the offshore banks. Target your Specimen Tope, Spurdog, and Bull-Huss with Kit your local experienced skipper and accomplished Irish International Angler.
Angling Charters are offered on a full-day, half-day and evening trip basis and can be tailored to suit your needs. Two boats are available – Manannan Mac Lir and Castle Maiden. All levels of anglers are catered for. Anglers will benefit from your skipper’s angling experience and local knowledge with advice and guidance on-hand at all times.
Rod and tackle hire available, coaching and Bait supply on request.
SPECIALIST ANGLING CHARTERS
Specialist Angling Charters are offered for those who wish to target specific species, specimen fish or try new angling methods.
ANGLING COACHING
Whether you’re a Club, Individual, School or Junior, you can have an angling coaching session or programme tailored to suit your needs.
Castle Maiden
Offshore 105, 370 Hp Iveco
Skipper: Kit Dunne Licence: P5 Base: Wicklow Harbour Operational area: Wicklow, Arklow, Bray, Dun Laoghaire, and Courtown – 30 miles from ports of departure.
Manannan Mac Lir
Swiftcat 11.4m, 2 x 420hp Iveco
The new vessel, called “Manannan” for short, is an 11.4m, (37.5’), x 4.4m, Swiftcat, a state-of-the-art Charter Boat with great speed, safety, stability & comfort. She has a very spacious flush deck with walk around wheelhouse giving ample flush deck space all-round. With today’s high level of design options, she is well fitted out with all mod cons. She is a twin-engine shaft driven Catamaran, fitted with 2 x 420hp Iveco FPT NEF67 engines, she cruises at 18-20 Knots, with a top speed of 28 knots.
The 25th anniversary Dunbrody Festival was held at Oaklands over the weekend. This 2 day festival saw difficult fishing with strong winds but there were still dome great bnets weighed in, especially by winner Ronan Minogue. John Brown reports…
Day 1
It was a tough day for most. The strong wind and a full lake made things difficult especially on the river bank. Big Congratulations go to Ronan Minogue who took an impressive Day 1 lead with 82.500kg.
Today’s Results
1st Ronan Minogue 82.500 kg
2nd Paddy O’Neill 39.510 kg
3rd Leo Lynch 37.040 kg
Sections
A A Browne 33.020 kg
B D Minogue 14.070 kg
C I Benov 34.420 kg
D C Walsh 11.590 kg
E A Paldick 31.610 kg
F A Bus 35.140 kg
G A Zilinskas 25.901 kg
H T Platt 28.510 kg
I T Ryan 23.880 kg
J P Poprawski 27.890 kg
K J Priestley 35.660 kg
Day 2
There was another dominant display by Ronan Minogue today who won the 2nd day from end peg 29 netting 58.360 kg. No guessing then the overall winner was Ronan Minogue blitzing the rest by over 70kg over the 2 days. Big congratulations to Ronan.
Results today
1st Ronan Minogue 58.360 kg
2nd Kirean Reeves 39.880 kg
3rd Adrian Bus 33.180 kg
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Sections
A T Platt 20.270 kg
B V Alexandru 16.200 kg
C A Paldick 27.840 kg
D J Kierain 27.800 kg
E G Row 21.310 kg
F P O’Neill 19.240 kg
G S Bochenek 26.550 kg
H P ORegan 17.970 kg
I P Nendez 17.730 kg
J J Browne 25.9.30 kg
K G Quinlan 21.830 kg
Overall
1st Ronan Minogue 140.860 kg
2nd Adrian Bus 68.320 kg
3rd Attila Paldick 59.450 kg
4th Paddy O’Neill 58.750 kg
5th Leo Lynch 50.820 kg
6th Kirean Reeves 50.200 kg
Winning Pair
Ronan Minogue & Martin Kent
Massive thanks to all the lads who fished you all made it a great event. Big thanks to our sponsor Preston Innovations Ewan Weed) for their continued support.
Congratulations to all the framers hope to see you all again soon.
A very popular carp fishery. Popular with competition anglers and novices alike. Alway a great chance of a bumper bag here. Friendly staff more than happy to advise beginner anglers. Caters to all sorts of clubs and groups.
Fishing conditions this week picked up a bit with a few more salmon and sea trout landed.
28 June continued
Conor Arnold landed 5 sea trout around ¾ lbs mark and 1 2lbs sea trout on beat 4 and another sea trout and a 5lbs salmon on beat 6.
30 June
Niall Lynch landed 6 sea trout and an 8 lbs salmon in the garden pools on beat 9 and Alastair Purdy landed 2 sea trout in the falls pool.
2 July
Colin Lynam landed a 6lbs salmon in the falls pool on a posh tosh.
5 July
Eugene McCarthy landed a 4 ½ lbs salmon and a ½ lbs sea trout in the falls pool and another 2 sea trout in the Garden pool all on a Sunray on beat 9.
Lairgnen McDermot landed a 6lbs and a 9lbs salmon in the Gauge pool on an Allie shrimp pattern (video above). Eoin Cosgrove landed a 7 lb salmon in the upper square and 4 sea trout and a 6lbs salmon in the lower square pool on a sunray, Henry Cosgrove also landed 4 sea trout and a 6lbs salmon in the Middle Garden pool on a cascade.
6 July
Jack Mannion beat 9, River Erriff
Jack Mannion landed a 3lbs salmon in the falls pool and a ¾ lbs sea trout in the Middle Garden pool, James O’Neill landed a ¾ lbs sea trout in the falls pool on a willie gunn. Jake Delaney landed a1 lbs sea trout in the garden pool and a 6 ½ lbs salmon in the falls pool.
04 July: Weather resulted in further cancellations this week and prevented our planned spins to the offshore wrecks. The lads made the most of our fallback options and despite uncomfortable conditions, landed and tagged male and female specimen Skate on Wednesday, the largest measuring 215 cm.
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We decided to chance a run further south on Thursday to target Shark. Seventeen were brought to the boat, with another 10 or so dropped. Some of the lads were new to both Skate and Shark fishing and were delighted with their long spin down from Achill Island, Kilfaree and other spots north.
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06 July: We were out again on Sunday. This time we were looking for skate and stake we found. Best was caught by Joey Brady who had a great specimen.
41′ Rodman 1250. Twin 430 HP Engines Skipper: David Edwards Licence: P5 Licence Base: Courtmacsherry Operational Area:60 miles to sea from ports from Kinsale to Portmagee
Authorised blue fin tuna boat 2025
Notes:The range of fishing found within close range of Courtmacsherry is superb, with trips producing anything between 6 and 15 different species as a norm and in excess of 20 is possible if anglers are prepared to change methods and use different baits and lures throughout their trip. As a rule mackerel, pollock, cod and ling are usually encountered but several species of wrasse along with whiting, pouting, coalfish, bull huss, conger and many more are often added to the catch.
If you do choose to head offshore to sample the superb shark fishing available within 10 miles of Courtmacsherry, there is a very strong chance of encountering blue sharks and an increasing chance of bringing a porbeagle shark to the boat.
Lough Sheelin angling report June 19th – July 9th 2025
“Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.”
Winston Churchill
John Byrne with his 63cm trout caught on a Spent Gnat
Mid summers day also known as St John’s Day or the Summer Solstice fell on June 21st. This is a significant date in that it marks the longest day of the year and astronomically speaking, the beginning of Summer. With the sporadically hot weather we have been having over the past few months, it feels as if summer started some time ago. Up until early July there were still good hatches of Mayfly on Lough Sheelin but gusty and fresh predominantly westerlies put an end to any spent going out on the water and now heading into the middle of the month, Sheelin’s Mayfly is officially over for another year.
Summer is all about the sedges, reputedly the cream of the angling crop but up until recently it felt as if the cream had gone off and the fishing was poor. There were good hatches of sedges, but the trout showed little or no interest until recently when fishing here has picked up in the last few days. Prior to this any fish that were being caught were in the twilight zone – evening and after dark using Murrough patterns usually around Lynch’s point with the odd one being caught using a dabbler in a wave.
The adult caddisflies or sedges lay their eggs in or near the water and these hatch into larvae. The next is an interesting stage as the larvae will then build a protective case around themselves using twigs, leaves or tiny stones, really whatever is to hand in their aquatic environment. When the larvae are fully grown, they seal themselves within their cases and transform into a pupa. The pupa then undergoes metamorphosis emerging eventually as an adult sedge. The adult emerges from the water, its wings unfold, and it begins the next generation by mating and laying eggs. The caddisfly or sedge play an important role in the aquatic ecosystems, serving as a good food source for the trout and other aquatic animals. Their unique life cycle and case-building behaviour make them a fascinating addition to Lough Sheelin’s entomology. Because sedges are an important food for trout, understanding their life cycle can help anglers choose effective fly patterns and presentation techniques.
Holding on to happiness, Oliver McCormack with his trout caught on a Green Stimulator
There are around 300 species of sedges but anglers don’t need to know all of them to catch fish. Sedge patterns like the Chocolate Drop, Cinamon Sedge, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator and Palmered Sedge are working now. The Murrough patterns for evenings and after dark, single, fished dry and imitating the way the natural skits over the surface in a splashy wake worked for some anglers. Up until last weekend many anglers were complaining about ‘the dead sea’ – very little piscatorial movement and just the occasional splashy appearance. Since the weekend things have steadily improved with plenty of surfacing of trout and good catches being recorded. Fishing was mainly with teams of wets with the Dabblers in Claret, Green, Pearly, Silver, Peter Ross and Fiery Brown being the favourites but also Bumbles, Sheelin sedges, Cock Robins, Golden Olive Bumbles, Red Arsed Green Peters, Daddies, Spent Gnats, small brown sedges, Wulffs, Klinkhammers, Sedgehogs, Mallard & Claret and Silver Invictas were in the mix.
The best areas for fishing were mid lake, Merry pt. Walkers, Wilsons pt., Lynch’s pt, Stony Islands and along the Western shore up to the Sailors Garden.
Limnephilus flavicornis2.5lb trout caught on a Murrough at Lynch’s pointSheelin’s terrestrials – Bibio pomonaeEvening trout
Summer is the time when river habitat restoration takes place within the Sheelin catchment. As anglers floundered trying to catch Lough Sheelin’s elusive trout, 800m of a section of the Pound river was rehabilitated and enhanced by IFI with the work funded by the local angling club, the L.S.T.P.A. This work involved the introduction of 80 tons of spawning gravel, the construction of pools, deflectors and vortex weirs, fencing off animal access areas and putting in bank protection to control erosion. All of this instream work will radically improve habitat for both juvenile and adult trout. Without funding from the local angling club this project would not have happened. Rehabilitation of this nature is the life blood of Lough Sheelin by effectively protecting, enhancing and nurturing her natural wild brown trout habitat. This is where some of the L.S.T.P.A membership money goes and it is a very worthwhile and productive way to spend members hard earned cash.
Vortex weir oxygenating a section of the Pound River
Rehabilitating the Pound River, June 2025
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Bank protection and deflector
Spawning gravels
Bank protection
Building deflectors to increase flow
Bank protection
Fencing
Introduction of 80 tons of spawning gravels
Bank protection
Working on the Pound River
July MayflyLough Sheelin’s Murrough
Luring with flies
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A terrestrial that imitates nothing in particular and everything in general. Jim Jay
Basic sedge. Kieran Sherlock
Bibio. Jim Sheehan
Red ribbed UV Sooty 12. Kenneth Rawley
Kenneth Rawley pattern
Royal Coachman. William Ensiferum
Silver Invicta. Robbie Birrell
CDC pin fry. Kieran Sherlock
Grey Ghost Bumble. Scott Jackson
A George pattern for daphnia feeders. Kevin Sheridan
Bleached Muddled Crippler. Scott Patterson
Caddis emerger. Nino Sidovski
Evo Smyth
Gary Reid Muddler
Peter Ross, size 10. Evo Smyth
Mayfly Hopper. Sam McGowan
Leggy Olive Sedgehog. Scott Jackson
Stimulators. Anthony Weber
Sunburn
Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 949 which strictly prohibits from
June 14th, 2017 onwards:
The taking of any brown trout of less than 36 centimeters.
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.
We here at Lough Sheelin Guiding Services provide what we think is a world class ghillie and guiding service on the famous Lough Sheelin. We will do our upmost to try and make sure visiting anglers catch there fair share of these famous wild trout and make
your visit a memorable one.
Our Ghillies offer fully guided trips and be assured we know every corner and drift on Sheelin and will work hard for you to make sure you get the best opportunity to catch Sheelins famous wild brown trout.
Well its the start of a New Era for me. This season I will be running a Guiding Service on the midlands lakes. I will be primarily based on Lough Sheelin, Lough Owel and Lough Lene, where I have fished all my life. I have many caps for the Senior Irish Team, Captain twice, I have also won the Brown Bowl and have coached the youth team on and off for over 15 years. I am also the Irish Ambassador for Wychwood Game.
The midland lakes produce some of the biggest wild Brown Trout in Ireland and some of the biggest Stocked triploids too. The season starts with fry imitations but quickly turns to the buzzer, followed by Olives, Mayfly and sedge fishing as the year progresses.
If you want to book a day with me please please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Mick Flanagan of Midland Angling has been spending plenty of time on Lough Owel over the past week. He had a couple of days fishing with friends, which threw up a few trout and perch on lures.
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He also had a couple of clients out on the lake and caught a few trout trolling.
Notes: Here at Midlands Angling we 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. Some of our top waters include Lough Ree, Ennell, Owel, Lene, Mount Dalton, and Glore Lake just to mention a few. On these splendid lakes we provide full Gillie services. Also the River anglers are well catered for, as we spend many days out on the River Inny, River Suck, and Brosna system.
Conditions haven’t been ideal, but I’ve been finding a lot of quality fish lately.
Normally, this time of the year would be lean for me, but a change in venues and tactics is really paying off. Some reefs and other features that I always felt would attract fish at some stage have come good.
Soft plastics, which I don’t really use that much these days, are really producing. The Evobass Sabre lures being very effective. These fish are in excellent condition, well-fed with dark black backs and beautiful golden flanks.
It’s hard sometimes to get out of the comfort zone and put the effort in, but when you do it can really pay off.
The CM Lakelands Feeder Club held round five of their Feederking qualifier on three different lakes: Annaherrin, Drumkearragh and Skeagh.
Top weight overall was Piotr Horbiński with just under 12kg on peg 5 on Drumkearragh, made up of bream, hybrids, skimmers and odd roach.
Neil Mazurick wasn’t too far behind on peg 6 Drumkearragh with a weight of just over 11kg made up of 4 bream, skimmers and hybrids to claim a Golden Ticket.
Stephen Whyte put in a great performance to win Annaherrin with just under 12kg of skimmers, roach and hybrids, just pipping Rimantas Kondrackas, who had 102 fish for just over 11kg.
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GOLDEN TICKET WINNERS
Annaherrin/ Stephen Whyte 11.820kg
Drumkearragh/ Neil Mazurick 11.450kg
Skeagh/ Darren Fairhurst 11.190kg
SECTIONS
A: Stephen Whyte and Paul Leese 7.720kg
DR: Richard Pratt 9.200kg and Piotr Horbiński 11.900kg
Castle Maiden
Manannan Mac Lir
Silver Dawn
