Well-known angler and fly tyer Keith McDonnell specialises in targeting trout in our rivers, often with some of his meticulously crafted streamers. In his latest blogpost, he shares some of his knowledge on targeting large trout with dry flies, and as usual, his writing is accompanied by some fantastic photography…
A group of Welsh anglers fishing with Kit Dunne of Wicklow Boat Charters found plenty of species in a taking mood over the weekend. Tope, Huss, Hounds, Gurnard, Bass, Codling, and of course, dogs. 14 good Huss, 2 Tope boated, 3 missed, and nó fresh mackerel at all. The best part was a targeted bass, with 2 takes.
South Shore SAC are running the Jimmy Smith and Maurice Dalton, all-Ireland Open Shore competition on 16th August on the North Beach in Wicklow Town. This is a pre-entry competition with entries closing on Wednesday 13th August 12 midnight.
The Ulster Krakens SAC have announced they will run their Open Pairs competition on 16th August at Benone Strand. Contact them via their Facebook Page to get your name on the entry list.
The Leinster Coarse Fishing Federation held the final match of their Leinster Open competition on Clonahee Lake in Co. Roscommon last weekend. The lake is well-served with angling stands and a car park, providing easy access for all competitors. Unfortunately, the weather was atrocious, with strong winds and very heavy rain showers. No sooner did one shower stop than the next one started. Making holding poles very difficult. However, the lads got stuck in and caught a variety of fish, including Roach, Perch, small Skimmers, and beautiful Tench to 5lb 13oz.
Results as follows:
The Lurgan Coarse Angling Club fished the latest round of their Blackwater Summer League last weekend. Anglers feared that the sunshine and high temperatures might have put the fish off the feed, but they needn’t have worried, as the fish were on top form, with bream and skimmers feeding avidly. This led to some massive weights, none better than Nicky Seedon, who bagged over 45kg to take the win!. Johhney McKinley came in second with almost 34kg, and Johnny Keith took third with 20kg.
Opportunity for Women to be introduced to Flyfishing
An exciting opportunity, for women interested in learning about flyfishing, will be happening at the Southern County Fishing Resort near Garryhill on Sunday 13th July 2025.
The event has been organised by the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association (ILFA). It begins at 11am and will include a short indoor session followed by 4 hours of casting instruction and practice outside.
The course is aimed at beginners or novice anglers aged over 18 and all equipment will be provided.
No experience is necessary but booking is essential. Please visit www.irishladiesflyfishing.com for a booking form, or email the PRO Maddy Kelly [email protected]
Women will be travelling from all over Ireland to take part and full joining instructions will be sent to those who book.
Dan O’Neill from Killkenny who is an APGAI Qualified Fly-Casting Instructor will be the lead instructor. He will be assisted by Maddy Kelly from Co Down who is the current President of the International Ladies Flyfishing Association representing Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
Anne Kerrin, Chair of the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association said,
‘This is an amazing opportunity for women to learn about flyfishing. The benefits of angling have been known for a long time but it’s been a well kept secret. To be outdoors with nature surrounding you, in beautiful places, really gives a boost to your health and well-being.
And most times it doesn’t matter if you catch a fish or not. The fish is a bonus. It’s also great exercise. Scrambling 5 miles up along a river bank and wading really works the inner core. I hope that this encourages women to think about trying out angling. All equipment will be provided and participants just need to wear warm clothes and to bring waterproofs.’
Maddy Kelly from Co Down, PRO for the ILFA and International President said,
‘This will be my first time visiting the Southern County Fishing Resort and it’s also the first time for me to fish in Co Carlow. I’m very much looking forward to it. I’ve been flyfishing for nearly 40 years and have fished in nearly every county in Ireland so I’ll be able to tick Co. Carlow off my list. I’m hoping that there’ll be a good response from women in Munster for this introductory day’
The Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association is a national organisation that encourages women to take up flyfishing and it runs a league of 4 trials annually to select a team to represent Ireland at the Ladies International Flyfishing Championships.
For more information about the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association or to take part in this event please email Maddy Kelly PRO at [email protected]
There are other events throughout Ireland for women who wish to learn to flyfish including a number at Straid Fishery in Co Antrim beginning on Sunday 6th July. Information available from Maddy Kelly at [email protected]
David Norman of Angling Adventures West Cork, praises pencil lures…
After finding Sandeels in large numbers on the run in from a guided kayak fishing trip, I looked at what I had to match the hatch the following day and realised that the 19g / 125 mm Sandeel Pencils I have for other uses could be ideal for our big West Cork Pollock, even maybe at depths of 30ft+ and so it proved to be! These seemingly simple hard plastics needle style lures that were I think primarily designed for Sea Trout have to be one of the most versatile lures available to us saltwater lure anglers. They…
A young Angler I was coaching even caught a monster rainbow trout on one at the 2025 Irish Spring Angling Fair. They worked really well for me doing a mixture of the above when landing this Monster West Cork Pollock and about a dozen or so others of a good size – I’m sold!
One final note is that I upgraded the supplied rear Treble to a Size 1 and will probably switch to a Size 1 inline single for all the known benefits of less fish damage, quicker unhooking, less weed pickup etc…
Landing Gear
Rod – SG2 Fast Game Spinning Rod Black 2.43 m/15-50g (Handle customized by Rob’s Custom Rods)
Reel – Daiwa BG 3000
Line – Daiwa J-Braid 28lb
Leader – 18lb Berkley Trilene
Lure – SG Sandeel Pencil 125mm / 19g (With 2 x upsized Treble)
Contact me now to arrange your 2025 Guided Trip or Workshop –- Mullet, Pollock, Bass, Wrasse, Fly or Lure, Kayak or Shore, plus Junior Coarse Fishing.– [email protected]
Paddy Dunworth of Celtic Angling reports from the Maigue:
Today I was guiding Joseph O’Connor who’s party is staying at Adare Manor. Joe’s a 3rd generation Irish-American who lives in Pennsylvania. At 79 years young he was at pains to impress upon me that his fly-fishing mileage was on the low side, and challenging low water levels are really only for advanced fly-fishers.
However, the luck o’ the Irish came in the form of a 4 inch rise on the river Maigue following rain over the previous 24 hours. This was enough to make wet-fly or swinging flies (US) just about practical and it wasn’t long before Joe connected with his first wild Irish brown trout, followed up just 20 minutes later with a beautifully conditioned ‘pounder’. Brownie points and bragging rights back home in Penn I’m sure. Not bad for an ould fella.
The short-lived rise went as quick as it came but it offered us a brief window of opportunity to make Joe’s visit to Ireland and the Maigue a memorable one, and there’s room aplenty in my diary for anyone wanting to follow in his footsteps. So come on over!
All fish safely released.
There was a lot of mixed weather and difficult fishing conditions with the water temperature creeping up last week. There are a few salmon and a decent amount of sea trout showing.
17th June
Garrett Ruigrok landed 3 sea trout on beat 9 around ¾ lbs mark, Conor O’Leary landed a 4lbs salmon in the Upper Garden pool on silver stoats tail and 2 sea trout in the falls pool around ¾ lbs. Lucy Livingstone landed 1 sea trout around the ¾ lbs mark in the Middle Garden pool also on a silver stoats tail on beat 9.
18th June
Lucy Livingstone landed another 3 sea trout in the Middle Garden pool around ¾ lbs.
21st June
Luke Drea landed 9 sea trout between the Garden pool and the Gauge pool with the biggest around 1 ½ lbs on a collie dog on beat 9.
Castle Maiden
Manannan Mac Lir
Notes: Based near the picturesque village of Adare (Ireland’s Prettiest Village)
