Donegal wrasse hitting soft plastics hard

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February 23, 2017

Stefan Martin from Killybegs Mariners SAC reports on the fishing around Donegal Bay…

22 February: The grey gloom is gathering on the Atlantic horizon outside the bay and the gulls fly in circles over the harbour in Killybegs before winds come, just enough time to grab the lure rod and a pack of illex shads and wander the shore.

Casting out and bouncing the lures back feeling the shad tail working on the lift and let it sink into the floor and then the rattles on the braid as the wrasse attacks, full strain they scrap hard some beautifully marked fish with fluorescent blue speckles chomping on the soft plastic threats, all released and onto the next platform roaming the shore and taking in the fresh air, spring is near, all is awakening from the slumber now a great time of year again.

Stefan Martin
Killybegs mariners SAC

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mariner.sac

Wrasse live here... — Wrasse live here…Wild

12 months fishing – pollack on fly in all

By

myleskelly

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February 23, 2017

Pollack on fly — Jaques was delighted with Richies' achievement. He was especially happy to have loaned Richie the fly that did the business

Well you may remember from a recent diary entry that the Eire Bass guide Richie Ryan was set a challenge by his saltwater fly fishing friend Jacques Bronkhorst. It was the Doc who realised that they had both caught a pollack on the fly in every month of the year bar February. Jacques reckoned nobody had done that before in Ireland.

This weekend the two set out aboard “Sea Hawk” with their buddy Kevin Mc Loughlin,who brought along his famous pork pies. The winter was kind to the fly rodders this year Richie says , no storms to stir up the brine with water clarity much improved as a result.

Richie Ryan with an important pollack – the one that saw him rise to the challenge of catching a pollack in every month of the year

The fish finder wasn’t holding out much prospects for the challenge on the day. Water clarity was only fair , February might pass without the elusive Pollack being landed. Then Lady Luck smiled on Richie, he caught the first Pollack of the day. So the challenge was met; a Pollack on the fly in every month of the year. He was happy but really, really, wanted his fellow anglers to hook up. All marks were tried.

The guide managed to hook another 2 fish on the Doc’s fly, his luck was in. With the ebbing tide the water clarity deteriorated and with it Jacques’s and Kevin’s prospects of landing a fish on the fly. Richie persisted but to no avail. But as he said , February is not over yet !

Richie Ryan
Saltwater fly fishing Guide.
www.corkbass.com

Make a booking

If you want to book Richie then go to www.corkbass.com

Eire Bass – Richie Ryan

Saltwater fly fishing Guide.

Web: www.corkbass.com E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +353 (0)86 1940744

Derravaragh Double for Daragh

By

myleskelly

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February 23, 2017

Paul O’Reilly reports that Daragh Browne, also known as Daraghvaragh, found himself in what can only be described as a ‘catch-22’ situation on Lough Derravaragh in Westmeath on Wednesday, February 22^nd.

Daragh was assisting with Inland Fisheries Ireland’s study of pike diet and came up trumps with a brace of fine pike, both tipping the scales to 22lbs and both caught on lures.

…was soon followed by a second 22lb pike. Angler: Daragh “Every Dog Has His Day” Browne

The fish were speedily processed by the IFI pike research team and then returned to the water to fight another day. Daragh wins our catch of the week this week for his cracking pair of fish; asked to comment on his catch, Daragh told us that ‘every dog has its day’! Never a truer word said.

Ballyduff Bridge Fishery on Blackwater sees its first springer landed

By

myleskelly

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February 23, 2017

Jason Corcoran struck silver earlier in the week at the Ballyduff Bridge Fishery on the Munster Blackwater…

On Tuesday (21 Feb) Jason caught and released a lovely fish of around 8lbs on a Clydecade (or some would say a BananaCascade) on our the fishery’s new beat Ballygarrett. Connie apologised for the quality of pictures as both were anxious to get the fish back with the minimum of fuss. They don’t look all that bad to me!

Go fishing…

Ballyduff Bridge Salmon Fishery

Ballyduff Bridge fisheries control a number of beats of the Munster Blackwater. The Ballyduff Bridge beat is almost a mile long offering a huge variety of water and is particularly suited to fly fishing. Upstream near the village of Ballyhooley (a few miles outside the town of Fermoy, Cork) we have two beats. The Ballincurrig Beat is one of the most beautiful locations along the river and has an excellent piece of fly water flowing into a deep pool. Just downstream on the opposite bank we have a short but productive beat, called Magners. This beat fishes also well in high water.

Contact Connie Corcoran:
Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.

Tel: +353 (0)586 0146
Mobile: +353 (0)87 720 5690
Web: www.blackwatertroutandsalmon.ie

More windy weather on Currane

By

myleskelly

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February 23, 2017

Vincent Appleby reports that after last week’s result on the lake Currane got quiet again, then windy and then windier still…

16/2/17 There were a few boats manipulating in all departments as they hammered the North side of Lough Currane but sadly the Wild Atlantic Salmon gave the Currane anglers a Winston Churchill this day. I’m coming to the conclusion my Noble Anglers need a few lessons from the McGillicuddy school of fishing. Wind SW light with good cloud cover.

17/2/17 There was a fresh to strong SW wind blowing with good cloud cover with misty rain, but this didn’t deter Local Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com from manipulating his flies and lures but sadly the Wild Atlantic Salmon was in a lethargic mood, as I must say were the rest of the angling pros as they sat by the fire on this miserable day, the lazy articles! Amount of rainfall so far this month 82.7 mm. Air temperature 9c felt 7c.

18/2/17 There were four boats manipulating the waters of Lough Currane today and you can say without any fear of contradiction they all failed miserably in their duties in the procurement of the wild Atlantic Salmon. Wind SW light with reasonable cloud cover.

19/2/17 There were 5 boats out this day manipulating their lures and flies, but the only bit of stimulating my Noble Anglers got was in the trolling department with a few Kelts being caught. Wind NW light with good cloud with the odd shower.

20/2/17 There were four boats manipulating the waters of Lough Currane today and you can say one thing is certain my Noble Anglers failed miserably in their duties again. What can I say about those so called anglers, well only one word comes to mind, amateurs !! Wind Westerly and overcast all day. Air temperature 11c felt like 9c. Amount of rainfall so far for February 99.6mm.

21/2/17 There were 3 boats out manipulating on Lough Currane today and again they failed miserably in their duties in all departments. Wind W fresh to strong and overcast with rain at times.

22/2/17 Lough Currane was on the quiet side in the Pro Fisherman department? And for good reason, there was a strong 35 km SW wind with gusts up to 70 Km but at least there was one Pro that went out and fought the wild elements of Lough Currane and that was the one and only Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy of www.fishingwithdom.com and his quote of the day and report of the day is as follows, very lonely out here, I’m the only boat out and just two Kelts for my effort.

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

Make a Booking

Vincent Appleby Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0)66 9475248
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com

Find out more about Lough Currane…

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

Waterville lakes and rivers system
www.loughcurrane.com

Irish Angling Update – 16 February 2017

By

myleskelly

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February 16, 2017

Salmon anglers are seeing better fishing now as a number of rivers are producing fish. Spawning, or at least pre spawning, behaviour has pike anglers’ attention. Cold conditions at the weekend made for tough coarse fishing and after a flurry of sea angling reports things seem to be a little quieter around our coasts following the blustery weather of last week…

Salmon anglers saw things improve a bit in the last few days as fish were reported from the Drowes, Delphi, Munster Blackwater and Lough Currane. Catches are still in single figures but as more fisheries open with the Bandon this week, we expect to see more photos of silver salmon in our reports. The catch of the week goes to a salmon again. Another first – the first catch and release photo of a springer we’ve seen this year. Well done to Noel Fitzmaurice who caught and released his springer on Blackwater Salmon Fishery beats of the Munster Blackwater.

spring salmon — A lovely springer for Noel – this C&R springer wins him Catch of the Week.

It looks like pike have started spawning in some areas – or at the very least are very busy courting. Maybe it was just a Valentines Day thing? In the midlands last week anglers visiting from Prague had some great sport on fly, soft plastics and trolling. In between times they even managed some fine perch on drop shot.

The Daingean Match Anglers concluded their Winter League at the weekend – well done to Julian Kendrick who was the winner here. Annacotty Pumphouse saw the Munster Coarse Angling club have a cast, but the fishing was not great and only a couple of anglers managed anything at all. Still, the club is confident that the venue will produce the goods when conditions improve. Oaklands Fishery had no such problems at the weekend and despite the biting cold the carp were biting well. Their first match of the season was won by a 74lb haul!

Sea anglers on the west coast will have plenty of opportunity to get out on the competition scene this year. Galway Bay Sea Angling Club have published the details of their West Coast Shore League 2017 which begins with an Open Shore Competition at Renvyle on February 25.

This weekend Inland Fisheries Ireland will be running the Family Zone at the Ireland Angling Expo in the National Show Centre Swords. We have the aquariums stocked, indoor casting challenge built and more at the Inland Fisheries Ireland Family Zone. Junior anglers will have a chance to pit their casting skills against each other and the winners will take home a rod and reel combo.

The outlook is for it to be relatively mild this weekend; overall a lot of dry and mostly fair weather, however patchy rain or drizzle will turn persistent along the Atlantic coastline during Sunday and into the early days of next week too.

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

Myles Kelly

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 reports

Pike angling reports

Czech out these pike and perch from the midlands

Coarse angling reports

Sea angling reports

Galway Bay Sea Angling Club competitions 2017

Other news

News clippings

Cold at Oaklands but bags to 74lb landed in weekend match

By

myleskelly

-

February 16, 2017

Adrian Browne reports that they fished their first match of the years at Oaklands at the weekend in cold conditions…

Some of the carp from Oaklands at the weekend

12 February: Bitterly cold conditions for the first match at Oaklands this year. Fishing was slow for most better days came from the middle of the lake.

James Foley came out on top on end peg 14 netting 74lb of carp. Danny Murphy, next door on peg 13, was second with 56lb and on the next peg Brian Broomfield was third with 36lb on the feeder.

Thanks top all who braved the conditions hope to see ye all for the next match.

Go fishing…

Adrian Browne
Oaklands Lake,
Marshmeadows,
New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Telephone: +353 (0)51 445348
Mobile: +353 (0)87 6988979

Web: Oakland Lake Fishery

Czech out these pike and perch from the midlands

By

myleskelly

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February 16, 2017

A group of anglers from Prague fishing with Mick Flanagan had great pike fishing in the Midlands last week…

Miro poses with Adam's fly caught pike — Miro poses with Adam’s fly caught pike

Last year we featured Prague pals Miroslan Nauratil and Adam Strtilek chilling out in the Midlands. Miroslan works in the Four Seasons Hotel in Prague, and has being coming to Ireland the past few years on his angling adventures.

In 2016 it was his first time to cast a line in Westmeath, and he was hooked line and sinker as they say here in the Midlands. It was a magical 4 days fishing last week and Miroslan caught his personal best pike of 18lbs, plus Adam caught his first pike on the fly, and also his first ever perch.

Miroslan is back to work this week, and our pics will be on the Four Seasons Hotel desktop this week for all to see.

Michael Flanagan
Midland Angling