Loughs Agency are pleased to announce that 2017 angling licences for the Foyle and Carlingford areas will be issued electronically.
A new online system will be in operation from Wednesday 14th December, making it easier for the angler to purchase a licence.
Loughs Agency chief executive, John Pollock said: “Since the 1950s anglers have been purchasing their fishing licences for the season at Loughs Agency offices and through a network of distributors….
Tramore/Waterford SAC
Presents The All Ireland Clubs Championships on Woodstown Beach on Friday 30th of December
Fishing time from 15.00 hrs – 19.00 hrs
€80 Entry fee per Team
Teams of 4
Each Club can enter as many teams as they like
Only one member of the IFSA International Shore Panel per Team
Beach will Be divided into 4 zones with one member of each team in each zone
If we have a large entry then Passage East will have one or two zones
Closing date for entries December 20th
Send Entries to
Daniel Reynolds 086 3540336
John O Brien 087 2235270
Joe Mc Evoy 086 2106467
Nicky Mc Evoy 086 3731704
Check in at Waterford Angling & Outdoor Centre
Unit 3b Westgate Retail Park Tramore Road Waterford from 9.30 am
Refreshments Served at Check in
NOVEMBER - The victorious Mens and Women’s Teams with their managers. Their haul of Gold Medals makes them worthy winners of 'Catch of the Week'
A look back at some of the great fish caught in 2016…Check out the links for great stories !… JULY – A magical 7lbs 4oz trout from the River Boyne for Keith McDonnell is our ‘Catch of the Week’
Late season pollack from the rocks along the Donegal coast
It was another fairly mild week for anglers as we approach the winter’s halfway mark. Though a bit wetter than we have enjoyed to date, the level of flooding we had last year has not yet been approached. There were some lovely sunny spells and magnificent moonrises and sunsets – great for those enjoying the scenery but the fish weren’t all that impressed unfortunately…
Some great coarse angling was enjoyed by the junior anglers of Killinarden Angling Initiative on Lough Ramor at the weekend. Lovely perch and silver fish were landed – good looking fish and not a bad size for December. There was good news from the newly developed swims at upper Donamon on the Suck too. A competition set to test the success of the works turned out top marks for the new venue. Cathal Hughes won this Suck Valley Angling Hub match with 263 roach on the pole for 11.520kg. Commercial fisheries also had some decent bags of fish to report and at Craigavon Lakes, Loughside Angling Club saw their competition won with 29lb 9oz.
Catch of the Week goes to Ray Lynch for the fat pike he caught on Derravaragh last Friday.
Many pike angling clubs are busy with winter leagues and Christmas competitions at this time of year. There were a few clubs out on Sunday and all reported pleasant conditions marred only by what turned out to be tough fishing. At venues from the River Barrow to the Shannon and Mentrim Lake to Milltown Lake anglers fished in good humour but had to content themselves with modest enough catches of pike. One place where the mild spell has caused a stir amongst these top predators was Lough Derravaragh where Michael Flanagan had a family and friends day last Friday. A number of decent looking double figure fish were landed, but caution is advised to anyone considering a day on the lake as it is very low at present.
News in from the rainbow trout anglers is that the trout have responded better to the mild spell of weather than their other finny cousins. Both lakes in Waterford Fly fishing club are fishing very well. Some excellent catches were made on Knockaderry with several boats landing 10 or more trout for a day. It was a similar story at Annamoe in Wicklow where their winter league final saw 151 rainbows landed by 19 anglers.
Sea anglers reported excellent fishing over sand and from rocky marks in Co. Donegal. Rock marks continue to turn up pollack and wrasse on soft plastics despite Christmas being just around the corner. Some late season bassing was enjoyed in Wexford by anglers out with guide Sean Jordan. Both surface lures and soft plastics proved tempting to these silver spiked fish.
State Fisheries
The tender process for IFI State Fisheries for 2017 is now open. For lists of available fisheries, conditions of tender and application form, and End of Year Report forms for those who already hold fisheries please follow the link below.
Tenders will be accepted up until 30th December 2016; proof of postage on or before this date will be accepted.
The mild weather will continue but the dry conditions are not going to last. As we go to press there is a rainfall warning for Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford as 30mm to 50mm of rainfall is forecast for Thursday into Friday with a risk of spot flooding. The outlook is for a lot of dry bright weather over the weekend, but it will turn unsettled again for next week with periods of rain and there will be strong winds at times also. Fishing might improve a bit yet…
The Annamoe Winter League Final was fished on Saturday and 19 anglers took part in this single barbless fly event.
The weather was cool, dry and calm with a water temperature of 6C. There was a large variety of wet traditional flies used along with lures, blobs and boobies. The organisers did not allow indicators as they felt that the method is just to float fishing.
All anglers landed trout and there was a total of 151 measured and returned safely back into the lake.
Results
1st. Patrick McDonnell 15 trout 605cms.
2nd. Ronan Meegan 15 trout 590cms.
3rd. Nicholas Madden 11 trout 420cms.
4th. Tony Finn 10 trout 407cms.
5th. Peter Cvikel 10 trout 385 cms.
This event was supported by Southside Angling Centre, Dublin.
Go fishing…
Annamoe Trout Fishery is a 4 acre lake set on the banks of the Annamoe River. The lake is filled with trout up to 20lbs weight, where fly fishing only is permitted. Annamoe Fishery is also specialised in providing fly fishing classes for beginners and more advanced fishermen.
Seanin MacNia from Derry with a winter rainbow, one of six that he released on Knockaderry.
David Tantrum from Waterford City & County Trout Anglers Association reports from Carrigavantry /Knockaderry lakes:
Knockaderry and Carrigavantry are fishing very well given the right weather conditions. The fish are now hungry as the weeds die down and food becomes scarce. In the calm weather during the last cold spell big rises occurred on and off all day to small black midges. Eddie Duggan reported that his boat caught 12 trout after 4 pm and it was dark when he finished. Black lures fished slowly through the rises brought results. Another boat on Knockaderry found it hard going until they found the fish and a DI 3 line to hold the right depth. They then proceeded to catch 14 rainbows and a large brown estimated at four pounds. Its fat profile suggests that it had been stuffing itself with stickle backs. Both lakes are open and carry a large stock of fish.
Seanin MacNia from Derry with a winter rainbow, one of six that he released on Knockaderry.
On behalf of the club we would like to the staff of Inland Fisheries for all the help and encouragement you have given us and all the fisherman who have read the reports and have been encouraged to fish our lakes.
FLY FISHING ON KNOCKADERRY CARRIGAVANTRY BALLYSCANLON
Carrigavantry – This 30 acre reservoir is hidden in the hills behind Tramore. The lake can be fished from the dam and road and the rest of the lake shore needs waders. The deepest part is the island at 10 feet.Prolific hatches of lake olives and damsels occur. Stocking is with both browns and rainbows. You could loose your catch here to a 20lb Pike!
Knockaderry – The deepest part of the lake is 24 feet at the dam tower, the average depth is 6ft and this results in good weed growth. Trout fatten fast in this fertile water on caddis, snails and stickle backs, while lake olives,buzzers sedges and damsels bring on prolific rises. This 80 acre reservoir is a traditional top of the water drift fishery.
New members are welcome and an active programme of fly tuition is pursued to encourage beginners and get our youth out into the countryside.
Mentrim and District Anglers were also in action at the weekend. The club fished an open pike competition on Sunday at their venue – Mentrim Lake.
The competition had 15 anglers fishing and 30 pike were landed. The biggest fish was 8lb 7oz.
Results for heaviest fish
1st Renatas Frolovas 8lb 7oz
2nd James Conway 6lb 11oz
3rd Jody Kiernan 5lb 15oz
Results for heaviest bag
1st Renatas Frolovas 19lb 8oz
2nd Robbie McShane 19lb 5oz
3rd Jody Kiernan 11lb 5oz
Go fishing…
Mentrim lake is being run by Mentrim and District Anglers with an annual fee of €20 for the honest angler.
Joey Bonnie had the heaviest fish on the day 12lb 13oz and also took first place
Many pike angling clubs hold winter leagues and the Dublin Pike Angling club is no different. they fished the second leg of their Winter League on Sunday at Shannonbridge. Despite fantastic weather it was an extremely challenging day for everyone, something that was seen at a number of pike venues at the weekend.
Joey Bonnie had the heaviest fish on the day 12lb 13oz and also took first place
It is still all to play for in the as points are still relatively close and the heaviest fish is 12lb 13oz so there still a chance that can be beaten.
Milltown Lake in Co. Monaghan may be better know by some as a rainbow trout fishery, but from the end of September, when the trout fishing is closed, the pike fishing get going…
Sunday saw one of the lake’s annual pike competitions take place. Fish were hard to get and dead baiting was the most productive method.
1st place Mr Micheal O Connor , 2nd to Pat Clarke and 3rd to Pat Lee. Michael had a great day that could have been much better. Apart from the fish he landed Michael dropped another 5 pike.
Upcoming events
December 27th – Annual Christmas Competition
One of the winners at Milltown
Go fishing…
Milltown Lough is located just north of Castleblayney, County Monaghan. It is heavily stocked with brown trout averaging 1lb. Trout season runs from 1 March to 30 September. Pike season opens on 01 October.
Graham's first ever pike was just the ticket to win him the day
The pike anglers of Bluebell Community Angling Club had their last trip of 2016 on Sunday. They visited the Barrow and had a good day out marked by beautiful weather conditions. The Club fished from 10am to 4pm and were off to a good start with two nice fish coming in the first hour.
Graham’s first ever pike was just the ticket to win him the day
Junior angler Graham McAuley was first off the mark with a pike that hit 5lb on the nose a special fish as this was his first pike! Graham was soon followed by Eddie Gurley, the chef for the day. After this it was a bit slack until lunch when another jack pike was landed. Unfortunately that was it for catches but all the anglers enjoyed the day out and were glad to see Graham take the prize for best fish of the day.
Go fishing
We at the Bluebell Community Angling Club are not a competitive club. We seek to educate anglers in all disciplines of angling through our interactive workshops. All members’ are valued equally and are provided the knowledge through our experienced anglers. The club operates on strict guide lines for the welfare and preservation of all fishing disciplines. The club, collectively encourage new members to participate in the sport, with competence and professionally. We also, adhere to fundamental principles of Community Development and holistically seek to raise our members’ perspectives and outlooks.
