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.
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
