The first salmon to be caught this year in Ireland was nabbed in Fermoy
ANGLERS CAN REST as the search to catch the first salmon in Ireland this year has ended, with Ronan O’Connor catching a 7lb fresh run salmon in Fermoy in Cork. O’Connor caught the fish last Wednesday, while the River Blackwater was high with around two foot visibility at 4pm. Inland Fisheries Ireland confirmed today that O’Connor’s catch was the first salmon in Ireland to be caught in 2017.,, TheJournal.ie, 06/02/17. Read the full article ‘The first salmon to be caught this year in Ireland was nabbed in Fermoy‘.
The first salmon to be caught this year in Ireland was nabbed in Fermoy
The role played by three local authorities, including Clare County Council, in developing and promoting tourism in the Lough Derg region has received official recognition at the 2017 Irish Tourism Industry Awards. The Lough Derg Marketing Group (LDMG) was named Best Local Authority Tourism Initiative at an event in Dublin on Friday night attended by Minister for Tourism Shane Ross… The Clare Champion, 06/02/17. Read the full article ‘Award for Lough Derg promotion‘.
The first wild salmon of the year has been caught on the Munster Blackwater river in Co Cork. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) confirmed that the 7lb fish was landed on February 1st by angler Ronan O’Connor. Mr O’Connor caught the fish on the banks of the Blackwater in Fermoy… Irish Times, 06/06/17. Read the full article ‘First wild salmon of the year caught in Co Cork‘.
The Madcaps report on their Winter Seeding Series…
Our very successful winter series ended yesterday with a bang! Thirteen club members fished the final held on the Athlone Canal and all contributed to a bumper overall weight of 200lbs.
Cold bright conditions on the Athlone Canal on Sunday
Top man today was Arthur with over 24lb, followed closely By Gary and John with Pawell back in 4th.
Arthur also holds the bragging rights as Club number 1 but has John in his shadow just one point behind.
With lots of opportunities coming up throughout the season for all to move up and down the seeding’s ladder-it promises to be an interesting season.
Thanks to everyone who took part and welcome to new club members.
A very cold start!
Join the Club…
MADCAPS, Midlands Coarse & Pike Anglers are steadily growing, have some coached members to take juniors forward and are delighted to be working with other clubs and organisations in the area towards the development of angling venues.
We run a pike league in the winter and coarse for the summer. Our membership is just €10 and we charge no more for our open competitions keeping it affordable for all. Key for us is that we keep fishing fun!
Midlands Coarse and Pike Anglers are affiliated to the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland and are members of the Angling Council, the National Governing Body for coarse and predator angling. www.ncffi.ie
'We have to cull seals on river to save our salmon'
River Laune anglers frankly admitted this week that the 2007 buy-out of the salmon drift netting industry they campaigned for has not resulted in any noticeable rise in the numbers of the fish on the river. Instead they find themselves now calling for the same measure once sought by the drift-net fishermen: a cull of seals… The Kerryman, 04/02/17. Read the full article ‘‘We have to cull seals on river to save our salmon’‘.
‘We have to cull seals on river to save our salmon’
Warning of serious decline as first salmon is finally landed
Dublin angler Ronan O’Connor grassed the fish on the Cork Blackwater at Careysville. The springer was caught on a Flying ‘C’ and weighed in at 7lbs. And the long wait has led Shane Gallagher, owner of the world famous River Drowes Fishery in Co Leitrim/Donegal, to lament: “A number of fresh fish have been hooked and lost but the reality of early Spring fishing is that more people have played golf on the moon than have caught a fresh salmon in Ireland this season… Belfast Telegraph, 04/02/16. Read the full article ‘Warning of serious decline as first salmon is finally landed‘.
Warning of serious decline as first salmon is finally landed
The first salmon of the year, a 7lb fish from Careysville. Caught by Ronan O'Connor
News reached IFI yesterday of a possible spring salmon caught at Careysville Fishery on the Munster Blackwater. The fish had been landed on the opening day for the river (February 1st) by Ronan O’Connor. Fishery Manager Patrick Devennie recognised the fish as a fresh salmon and after a quick inspection of the fishes condition, scales, vent and gills was satisfied he should contact IFI. The salmon was confirmed as a fresh run fish by IFI staff this morning.
The first salmon of the year, a 7lb fish from Careysville. Caught by Ronan O’Connor
Ronan’s springer, weighing 7 lbs, was caught on a spinner – the old reliable Flying-C. The river was high at 3′ 7″ on the Careysville gauge, with around 2ft visibility. The fish was caught at 4pm following a long cold morning full of rain and blustery winds. The afternoon saw conditions improve, the rain died off and the wind eased – some anglers believe they saw sunshine on the water! A few fresh fish were spotted then and shortly after Ronan struck into his bar of silver.
Yesterday a large flood made 6′ 4″ on the Careysville gauge and though this has dropped to 5′ 6″ it is expected to rise again following last nights rain in the upper catchment. Once this has fined down fishing should pick up.
Careysville Fishery offers some of the best salmon fly fishing in Ireland and includes 26 named pools. It is considered by many to be one of premier beats for salmon fishing in Ireland. Wading is excellent and among the numerous streams, pools and glides there is a great variety of fly fishing to suit both complete novice and challenge the most competent of fly casters.
At the moment we’re in the middle of what seems like our first winter storm, but as spring was sprung yesterday I’m not really sure how that can be. The weather last weekend was a lot wetter than expected and many rivers across the south saw floods, some of these have yet to fall away. In general it seems like it was a quieter week for angling. Still no confirmed spring salmon but the pike, coarse and sea fishing are not doing so badly…
Killinarden Angling Initiative is one of the 17 Angling for Youth Development Ireland hubs around the country. They are a very active hub, working with kids and adults on projects that range from getting people fishing to fundraising for Pieta House. At the weekend they were out with their junior anglers on Lough Ramor. The kids had some really good fishing and it is from this trip that our Catch of the Week was taken. Well done to Adam for his super 2lb 4oz perch.
Adam wins Catch of the Week with this 2lb 4oz fish
We have two sea angling reports in this week, both from the Kingdom of Kerry. Kayak angler Gary Robinson was back on the pollack which were biting well. Glen Wightman was also out at the weekend and he had 3 fine bass while lure fishing. A great way to start his angling season and 3 more fish for the National Bass Tagging Programme.
Brown trout anglers are still waiting for the season to open here, but those who enjoy throwing flies through the winter are enjoying the fishing at venues like Knockaderry and Rathcon. Joe Winder had 7 trout at the final qualifier in the Rathcon Winter League at the weekend where bows to 68cm were landed.
The weekend’s rain put the Munster Blackwater into a big, brown flood. A few anglers still went out for the opener on the river, even though it was a miserable enough day. No fish were caught it and it was a similar story from the other rivers and lakes around the country. The wait for the first confirmed spring fish of 2017 continues.
Met Eireann advises that Friday night will bring outbreaks of rain, heavy in places with the risk of sleet or snow especially in the east on high ground. On Saturday morning, the rain and any sleet or snow will clear northwards. The rest of the day will be bright with sunny spells and just a few showers in the west. Highest temperatures of 5 to 7C with light southwest breezes. Saturday night will be very cold with a widespread sharp or severe frost and icy patches. Sunday will be a cold, bright day with sunny spells and some showers of rain or sleet, these mainly over the western half of the country. Monday and Tuesday will be wet and windy but daytime temperatures will climb to 10 or 11C. Not the most encouraging forecast – rivers that are up will stay high but at least the winds might be only light to moderate over the weekend. Not great for flying a kite but Ok for casting a line.
Gary Robinson was back in his kayak off the coast of Kerry at the weekend. He only had a small window of opportunity on Sunday but with thoughts of 8lb bass whirling around his head he was going to make the most of it. Despite the bright start of the day it was bitterly cold on the water but the pollack were hitting the lures with such gusto he was soon warmer – if only in spirit.
There were plenty of small pollack to keep Gary busy
In the end that was good as it got for him. apart from the thrill and then bitter disappointment of fighting a much better fish that required the drg to be tightened right down. Despite this precaution the big mystery managed to drag the leader over the rocks and after a few minutes the pair parted company…
Kayak angling in Ireland
Gary discovered the thrill, freedom and pure joy of kayak fishing almost by accident. After purchasing kayaks with the intention of paddling trips with his long-suffering partner, he started to assess the suitability of such a craft as a fishing platform. Some internet searches showed him that he was not alone in his thoughts. America and Australia already had blossoming populations of kayak anglers. Needing no more encouragement, he set about rigging his first sit on top kayak and transforming it into a fishing platform to gain access to some of the more inaccessible waters. .
Enda Nolan was out on the River Inny at the weekend. Fishing roach deadbaits he had his heart set on getting one of the bigger fish he knew were lurking in a productive stretch of water in Longford.
He wasn’t let down by the river or the fish and his efforts were transformed into angling gold when he hooked into what was surely a good double. By the time he played it out he there was no doubting it was a better that that. The pike was weighed at 22lb, quickly photographed and returned safely.
