This pike was over the 1m mark - back she safely goes
Ken O’Neill, IFI Limerick, was patrolling Lough Derg at the weekend when he met some lucky pike anglers.
Michael was having a good morning but said the fishing was even better last week
Saturday morning was a cold one but that didn’t stop Michael Galda getting out on the lake. It was worth the effort as he already had caught a couple and was about to returned a 95cm pike by the time Ken caught up with him on the water. Michael was saying to Ken that he had released two other fish earlier in the morning but that the angling last week was even better.
This pike was over the 1m mark – back she safely goes
Ken Whelan (AAPGAI, GAIA and NAGC) and Jason O’Riordan (IFFF CI & Mackenzie Pro Team Ireland) have teamed up again this year to offer some great angling courses…
Course Details:
Stillwater Match the Hatch: Private Ponds, Ashford, Wicklow March 2017 – €80
Spring Salmon Fishing: Munster Blackwater River (in association with Ballyduff Bridge Fishery) April 2017 – €150
Sea Trout Fishing: Munster Blackwater and River Colligan, Waterford, (Weekend Course) July 2017 – €350
Stillwater Match the Hatch: Private Ponds, Wicklow, August 2017 – €80
Sea Trout Fishing: River Vartry, Ashford, Wicklow, September2017 – €150
*Bespoke fishing, entomology and watercraft courses also available for groups, clubs and associations.
Final Course dates will be decided after the Ireland Angling Expo in Dublin on February 18th/19th where Ken and Jason are giving a talk on saltwater fishing.
Glen Wightman tells us that after about 6 weeks of no fishing due to poor conditions and spending time with the family over the holidays he was itching to go bass fishing. Although he doesn’t usually start catching bass on the lure until February he decided to give it a lash at the weekend. The weather was decent with a slight southerly wind which was at his back, helping the lure get to clearer water as it was quite murky along the shore at this north Kerry mark. The waves were small when he started his session about 2 hrs before high tide which is typically the best time for this mark. Luck was on Glen’s side and he was quickly rewarded with 3 fine bass in his first dozen casts before things went quiet. A great day out. All bass tagged and released after a quick photo.
3rd bass 55cm2nd bass 50cm1st Bass 53cm male
National Bass Tagging Programme
If you catch a bass with a yellow tag, please don’t remove the tag. Note the code on the tag (e.g. B-00001). If possible take a length and weight of the fish, and five scales from behind the pectoral fin (see link below for more details). Please then release the fish alive! Send us the details, along with the date and location and your name and phone number to [email protected].
Killinarden Angling Initiative volunteers took their latest batch of young anglers to Lough Ramor, Co. Cavan at the weekend. It was the culmination of a lot of effort over the winter where the young anglers were given workshops on tackle care, tactics, methods, knots and casting skills. The catches prove the value of the lessons and the skills of their teachers and coaches…
Once it warmed up a little some great fish were caught
With a goods turn out for our first 2017 trip to Cavan we arrived to a freezing cold venue. It began slow but as the day warmed the fish began feeding.
Everyone caught on this very successful trip to Lough Ramor and some really good looking roach and hybrids were landed – there are loads of photos at the very busy KAI Facebook page . Catch of the Week, though, goes to Adam for his cracking perch, a lovely 2lb 4oz fish.
Adam wins Catch of the Week with this 2lb 4oz fish
Well done to all the kids and of course the volunteers and coaches and parents and sponsors who made great days like this possible.
KAI was set up in March 2014 in Killinarden, Tallaght. Its principle aims are to promote, develop and improve angling in the Killinarden and the greater west Tallaght area and is affiliated with the National Coarse Fishing Federation Ireland. During the summer months the main work of the initiative is taking young people from Killinarden on fishing courses .The Initiative has also been a catalyst in setting up a children’s and Adult fishing club in Killinarden for many of these young people and giving them a hobby they can enjoy for life.
KAI run fishing competitions for juniors and a host of other events feature on the calendar, attracting greater interest to the sport year after year.
Call or text Pat on 085 1192724 or Stephen 085 2131096
Shane Gallagher from the Drowes Fisheryreports on a very disappointing start to the salmon season…
The first month of the 2017 salmon season in Ireland has drawn to a close without a single fish having been verified reported anywhere in the country. This is the first time no salmon have been recorded in Ireland in January since the days of the Boards of Conservators, the forerunner to the Fishery Boards and present day Inland Fisheries, which predates the foundation of the state.
Making a cast no the Upper Mill, River Drowes
Since the start of the season here a number of fresh fish were reported lost. One angler reported catching and releasing a small sea liced fish from the Mill Pool but this fish could not be verified by photograph or video.
The reality of early spring fishing in Ireland is that more people have played golf on the moon than have caught a fresh salmon in Ireland this season. Last year’s Autumn run was poor to non existent. Last season’s grilse run, while improved came after 2 poor grilse years in 2014 and 2015. It is difficult to remain optimistic about the future of salmon angling in Ireland when more than half of the rivers are closed including once mighty rivers like the Slaney. Salmon licence sales have almost halved since 2002 and you only need look around the river bank to see how many young people are taking up the sport.
Summer levels at Red Roof on the Drowes, 31/01/17
What can be done? We can start by stopping looking for others to blame. That we have allowed Irish salmon fishing to deteriorate to such an extent is a failure of fishery owners like myself, angler representative associations and Inland Fisheries.
The last time there was any unity of purpose among those who care about Irish salmon it culminated in the successful campaign to end the Irish mixed stock fishery. The last year of drift net fishing in 2006 saw a harvest of just over 70,000 salmon. Despite great expectations the last ten years have seen a further steady decline in salmon numbers across the country.
The imperative now is to (1) Identify conclusively the causes for the continued decline in salmon numbers. (2) Identify how best these causes can be effectively addressed (3) Implement the management policies needed to address these issues, be it at a marine or catchment level.
The one positive that may come out of the dearth of salmon in Ireland this season is that it may be the impetus needed for people to sit up and take notice that we can no longer take the presence of Irish salmon for granted.
Tight lines to all venturing out to wet a line for the first time tin February. Undoubtedly the first salmon in Ireland will turn up soon, maybe even tomorrow. What we really need to focus on now is not when the first salmon in Ireland is caught but ensuring that we are not the generation to catch the last.
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
Glenda Powell and her band of merry anglers on opening day
Early last week all looked in order for a good opening day on the Munster Blackwater. Unfortunately the rains that fell over the weekend were heavier and more sustained than expected and the River was high and brown in the end. Some fisheries advised clients not to bother but other hardier souls with a strong sense of tradition went to the water’s edge to mark this special day in the river’s calendar.
Glenda Powell and her band of merry anglers on opening day
For some it’s a chance to catch up with old friends, others want to test drive new gear. Glenda Powell had one such group of anglers out – to catch up, test drive gear, get a casting lesson and defy the odds and try for a fish! There was one fish met but lost just as quickly on the fly and one fish seen. That was it for the day. But everyone was happy they made the effort to fish the opening day.
The Ballyduff Bridge Salmon Fishery has a great deal available to anglers just now – fish any day in February or March and get another day free later in the season.
The Munster Blackwater at Fermoy this morning at 0820. Image from Farson Digital Webcams
Go fishing…
Blackwater Salmon Fishery
Blackwater Salmon Fishery has 3 beats downstream of the weir and 2 upstream of the weir. Blackwater Salmon Fishery offers fishing on approximately 5 miles of the river Blackwater. The fishing is spread throughout the middle section of the river to offer good sport throughout the fishing season. Due to the location of the beats, fishing can still usually be offered in low or high water.
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.
Vincent Appleby reports on another week without a fish on Lough Currane…
26/1/17 In the Words of local Gillie Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com and I quote, Too much stormy weather to go out fishing and that’s not surprising with storm force SE wind blowing across the lake and in the words of another gillie many moons ago, a day for the high stool and you can be sure there was plenty of wind in the bar too. Wind as already stated and heavy rain for most of the day. Amount of rainfall yesterday 19.2 mm.
All is calm on Lough Currane
27/1/17 There was just one boat out manipulating today but sadly he did a Les Dawson, a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen! On the Weather front, Lough Currane was on the calm side and what wind was there was from the SW, come evening the Lake was flat calm as you can see by the picture. Amount of rain fall yesterday was 23.1 mm. As you see by the video taken yesterday evening it was no small flood and talking of the Inny, to all you River Inny anglers there are new rules for 2017 available at – Waterville lakes and rivers system
28/1/16 All quiet on the SW front, with just four boats manipulating the waters of Lough Currane, sadly their skills to catch the first Salmon of the season has a lot to desired, need I say more ! Wind West light with good cloud cover. Now we head for the Waterville Inn because tonight is party time, The local shooter’s club are having their annual end of season party, and there will plenty of live music so no doubt there will be a few sore heads! tomorrow.
29/1/17 Four boats headed out with good intentions of catching that first allusive Salmon, but come evening their enthusiasm on this 13th day was soon short lived as they headed for the bar to discuss their misgivings of the day and their failure in all departments. Wind light and variable with good cloud cover. Air temperature 8C but felt like 6C.
30/1/17 What anglers decided to go fishing were disappointed and for good reason, the weather took command and dictated today’s procedure and there was only one course of action, yes you have it, it was a day for the high stool again and talk about the southerly gales cutting across Lough Currane and as my Noble Angers were talking of the ins and outs of fishing in the bar there was steady rain for the best of the day.
31/1/17 There were four boats out and I will put it in plain English, they failed miserably in their duties in all departments and in the words of one angler and I quote, now the Shooting season is over the professionals will be back in action, well time will tell. Wind calm in the morning, come afternoon there was a light breeze from the West with reasonable cloud cover.
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
Dermot Page reports on the final qualifier of the Rathcon Winter League, fished at the weekend…
John Kellagher’s 68cm fish
The final qualifier was on today with the top five progressing through to the final on March 19th. After a cold night the fish were down deeper than over the past few days which made for tougher fishing. The first 40 minutes produced 8 fish spread around the lake which was a slow start. John Kellagher got a lovely 50cm brown on peg 7 and followed it up with a 68cm rainbow on peg 16. 38 fish were landed altogether with a lot more lost between the 18 anglers. Many thanks to all who helped out on the day and to Southside Angling for sponsoring a prize.
Rathcon Lake is 8.5 acres and is stocked with top quality rainbow trout. The lake is fly fishing only and designed to allow maximum fishing so that 90% of the water can be covered. The average depth is 10ft with deep holes of up to 20ft in places. The fishery is open all year round and is home to a wide range of fly life, in particular buzzers, sedges, hawthorn and daddylonglegs, all providing excellent dry fly fishing, especially in the summer evenings.
Delighted Wexford angler catches record-smashing 11.27kg fish but this isn't where things FIN-ished for the creature
A record-busting fish has been caught here, weighing nearly 25 pounds. Things have been going swimmingly for angler Dean Quigley since he caught the monster Smooth Hound fish last June in Kilmore, Co Wexford. The creature smashed the old record here by six pounds and Dean will receive a silver medal at the 2017 Irish Specimen Fish Committee (ISPC) Awards Day in Dublin Airport’s Clayton Hotel on February 18… Irish Mirror, 30/01/17. Read the full article ‘Delighted Wexford angler catches record-smashing 11.27kg fish but this isn’t where things FIN-ished for the creature‘. Delighted Wexford angler catches record-smashing 11.27kg fish but this isn’t where things FIN-ished for the creature
Clonakilty case shows illegal fishing won’t be tolerated – Inland Fisheries
A RECENT Clonakilty court case shows that illegal fishing will not be tolerated in Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland said this week. At a sitting of Clonakilty District Court on January 3rd, Judge David Waters convicted two brothers of ‘stroke hauling’ a salmon on the Argideen River last August. Judge Waters imposed fines of €750 on each of the defendants, Niall Fitzpatrick, 7 Corrin Close, The Glen, Cork… The Southern Star, 31/01/17. Read the full article ‘Clonakilty case shows illegal fishing won’t be tolerated – Inland Fisheries‘.
Clonakilty case shows illegal fishing won’t be tolerated – Inland Fisheries
