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Irish Angling Update
10 March 2004
Editor: Paul Bourke, Angling
Information Officer
Contact: Paul
Bourke
Angling Highlights
E-mail: info@fishingireland.net
David Byrne reports
Monday 8th March 2004 to Sunday 14th March 2004
On the Kells Blackwater the water is low and relatively clear with only a very slight colour. The temperature was 3.3 degrees 3 less than the air. Dave Gater from New Jersey in the USA visited the Kells Blackwater on Wednesday 10th March. A cold wind from the east continued throughout the day with very little sunshine. Air temp fluctuated between 6 and 8 degrees with the wind increasing towards evening. Fishing was excellent with 12 fish caught and many more lost or broken in. Best fish measured 12 inches with one 15 lost at the net. Fish were caught on upstream nymph fishing, wet fly and indeed 4 to dry fly. Good olive hatch from 12 to 2 o clock. Cul de canard most popular size 18, darker nymphs with sparkle at 16 were very successful. All fish were in beautiful condition and well proportioned, all returned unharmed.
John Flynn reports:
enquiries@srfb.ie
Ian Powell reports from the BLACKWATER LODGE fishery on the Munster Blackwater in Co. Cork. Website: www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net
Current Situation
The river is still in excellent condition in terms of height
& clarity, though the water is still rather cold (45ºF). The first
fish was taken on the fly on March 4th. & another was lost
on the 6th. A number of kelts have also been taken on fly.
Size 6 & 8 Ally’s Cascade & Silver Stoat on fast sink tip lines
did the job. There are still fish running, though they have slowed up
somewhat due to the cold conditions. The weather is due to change on Thursday
with rain coming in. This should raise the water level & temperature,
which will be good to encourage more fish to move in & also to be
better takers.
Join us on one of our TRI-FLY Weekends.
Fly Tying Fly Casting Fly Fishing
Choose from any of the last three weekends in March and enjoy the
full skills and fun of salmon fly-fishing.
Arrive Friday night (B&B). Spend Saturday morning learning to tie three salmon flies under the professional tuition of Cory Page. All materials supplied. Bring your own vice and light if you have them. After a light lunch, brush-up on your spey casting skills with expert guidance from Glenda Powell & her expert instructor colleagues. Dinner, bed and breakfast.
And on Sunday, you put it all into practice with a day's fishing on our exclusive beats on the Cork Blackwater.
All for only €195 per person sharing, with shared bathroom. Payment requested
in full at time of booking. Supplement of €10 per night for single or
ensuite room. Minimum of 6 participants per course. Maximum of 10.
For Fly Tying beginners, Cory Page will have basic kits for sale. Give
it a Tri!
Brian McManus reports:
info@shannon-fishery-board.ie
FISHERIES & ANGLING HIGHLIGHTS
SPRING HAS ARRIVED AND SO TOO HAVE THE SALMON
Water levels have dropped further as the dry spell continues. The fishing season opened on most of our fisheries on Monday March 1st. The opening week returned some good trout on our midland waters. Spring has arrived with lovely bright days, pleasant in the sun but still quite cool in the shade with night frosts. Although waters are very low for the time of year, a few fresh run salmon are on the move and anglers are reporting some success on the River Shannon, River Maigue and River Feale. We need a fresh now to liven things up, rain is on the way which should oblige, TIGHT LINES!
Note: Anglers wishing to fish the Mullingar Lakes and River Brosna system this week can obtain a ShRFB fishing permit locally at our Mullingar Office Tudenham Lodge which is open in the mornings Monday to Friday from 9am to 1.00pm.
5 SALMON LANDED ON THE RIVER FEALE ON THE OPENING MORNING MARCH 1ST: ShRFB reports
FRESH RUN SALMON ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY AT MAIGUESIDE CO LIMERICK FOR CO LIMERICK ANGLER Paddy Dunworth, Marine and Countryside Guide. PAGI (Professional Angling Guides of Ireland) reports
13 TROUT WEIGHED IN AT THE MIDLAND TROUT CHALLENGE: Mick Flanagan, Angling correspondent Mullingar reports
O'BRIENSBRIDGE LOWER SHANNON PRODUCING A FEW SPRING SALMON Jim Robinson Angling Guide Limerick reports
UPCOMING EVENTS:
MIDLAND COMPETITIONS: Check out our COMPETITION ZONE or contact Mick Flanagan Mullingar Tel: 087 2797270: Email: mick@midlandangling.com
UPPER SHANNON
Lough Sheelin
The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Lough Sheelin Office reports
Very few anglers were reported fishing the lake for the opening week. One fish of 4.5lbs was reported caught on wet fly in Chambers Bay.
MID SHANNON AREA
Mick Flanagan, Angling Correspondent for the Westmeath Topic and Sunday World Newspaper Tel: 087 2797270: mick@midlandangling.com reports on Midland Lakes and Rivers.
The Midland Trout Challenge was fished last Sunday the 7th of March. It proved to be difficult to catch trout on the day, still there was a good result with 13 trout weighed in. As it turned out there was more prizes than fish so every competitor got a prize. Top rod on the day was Mullingar angler Brian Conlon with a super Lough Owel trout of 4lbs 1oz; 2nd was Martin Gallaghan from Dangan Co Offaly with a trout of 3lbs, 3rd was Oliver O'Neill. Midland Angling Club would like to thank all anglers for fishing this open trout challenge and a special thanks to our sponsors who we anglers depend so much on, Millard Brothers (Ireland) Ltd. who gave €600 worth of Airflo tackle. Also John Rogan of Corry Lane Smokery, Brian Conlon, Mick Mc Cormack, Val Colleran of Texas, and Niall Caffrey & staff of Caffreys Lounge and bar Mount Street, Mullingar for providing super finger food and allowing Midland Angling Club to use their premises for weigh in and presentation.
Lough Owel A.G.M. will be held tonight Wednesday the 10th March in the Greville Arms Hotel at 8pm. It's very important that all members attend this meeting. The officers of this club do a lot of work behind the scenes on behalf of Lough Owel Anglers and it's only right that you show up. I had a quick look through the Hon Sec report for 2003 and it’s a credit to Stan McKeon sec. of Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association.
ShRFB reports for the Little Brosna River
The season opened on March 1st. In traditional style many anglers from Birr and Roscrea converged on the river bank from an early hour. Several fish were caught, many over 1lb. Croneen on their migratory return to Lough Derg were caught and released by local Birr anglers on the lower section of the river at Cloghan Castle. Those who reported catching Croneen on the lower reaches also reported many spent salmon tailing back after this seasons spawning season.
LOWER SHANNON AREA
Patrick Dunworth - MARINE
AND COUNTRYSIDE GUIDE.
PAGI (Professional Angling Guides of Ireland). Ballingarry,
(Nr. Adare), Co. Limerick, Ireland. Phone (Outside Ireland) 00353/69-68202.
Mobile: 087/6525687
Glorious day on Maigueside with spring well and truly arrived. This was my first day fishing this season and had a salmon within 30 minutes on a wooden Devon.
ShRFB reports for Jim Robinson, Fishing Guide Lower Shannon and for CASTLECONNELL SALMON FISHERY and lower River Shannon Tel Mob: 087 2339999 Landline: +353 61 453808 Web Address: http://www.iol.ie/~jimrob
Two Salmon were caught by local anglers at O'Briensbridge on the lower River Shannon, one at 15lbs and 12lb fish. Salmon are presently running the system and prospects look good this week, but we do need rain to freshen up the water.
ShRFB Reports for the opening week on the River Feale Co Kerry
Only about 50 of the bravest anglers ventured out on the River Feale on the opening morning of the salmon fishing season March 1st in very cold frosty conditions. There has been virtually no rain for the past month and consequently water levels are very low. The early bird caught the worm. This was so for five dedicated anglers, Sean Gleeson Listowel, David Kearney Lisselton, John Hennessy Kilacrim, David Wrenne Newcastlewest, and 15 years old Kieran Enright Listowel. Each had a salmon on the opening day with David Wrenne landing the first reported fish of the season before the frost even thawed at 8.20am. On Tuesday March 2nd Joe Devine opened his account with a fine fresh fish of 12.5lbs, which he caught on a homemade spinner. On Wednesday March 3rd Dan and Brendan Joy both from Killacrim had a fish each at 8lbs and 6lbs respectively. Most fish were caught on a Kilty lure. Finuge and Listowel stretches accounted for most of the catch.
E Mail: dgoldrick@wrfb.ie
Danny Goldrick reports:
Lough Corrib: The week past was one of the worst for trout catches on all the Western lakes, the bright and calm conditions with frost at night keeping fly-fishing to a minimum. Some fishermen trolled dead bait as well as various types of spoon baits and some trout were caught, the best of over 10 lb by Basil Shields from Oughterard. Robbie Pitman, Galway, had a nice 3 lb trout to a Silver Dabbler fly on Sunday evening, while his friend Frank Rigney has 2-pounder, also to fly. Apart from these few returns, ten anglers in the Oughterard area had 22 trout for 29 lb in 18-rod angling days, and seven anglers in the area between Cornamona and Greenfields caught only 13 trout for 11 lb in 26 angling days, almost all on the troll.
Lough Mask: Conditions were also unsuitable for trout fishing on this lough, too, with few anglers fishing in the mainly calm, bright conditions, particularly over the weekend. Even the ones who trolled fared badly, no more than half a dozen trout caught to the 8 anglers who fished. Fly-life was barely evident with just small hatches of tiny chironomid observed seen in a few sheltered places close to the shores.
Lough Carra: Two anglers fished the lough without any success last week. The Western Regional Fisheries Board has received a number of complaints from members of angling clubs about a few anglers who were fishing and caught trout in some of the tributaries close to Lough Carra before March 1st. The Board are acting on the complaints.
Ballynahinch Castle Fishery: A spring salmon of 10 lb was caught on March 7th at the Ballynahinch Castle Fishery, Connemara, placing it on record as the earliest salmon caught in memory at the fishery. It was taken on a light trout rod at Beat 4 by Dutch angler Ulrich Treusch, who was using one of his own fly tying - a fly named the Morbun Special. Even though the water level was unusually low at the time, visitors to the fishery are jubilant that spring salmon can be caught so early in the season and in such low water.
Galway Weir Salmon Fishery: No further salmon have been caught at the fishery since John Anderson took the first three weeks ago. Conditions are perfect for fly-fishing with just two sluice gates open at the moment. Enquiries for fishing to Seamus Hartigan, telephone: 091 562388.
E-mail: info@nrfb.ie
Lynsey Clarke reports:
LENNON FISHERY (Watt’s Pool) – Monday 1st March to Sunday 7th March.
The Lennon has remained at low levels this week only rising a couple of inches and hence angling attendance has been lower than would be expected for the time of year. Watts Pool has been quieter than is usual for March and in fact no rods fished at the weekend. Three salmon were hooked and lost on Thursday but the only salmon of the week was landed on Friday by regular angler Jimmy Davieson from Ballymena. The fish weighed 10lb and was taken on a size 10 Ally’s Shrimp.
DROWES FISHERY – Monday 1st March to Sunday 7th March.
Fishing remained quiet over the past week despite high tides at the weekend and a lot of fish having been seen they were reluctant to take in the low water. It isn't often that one reports low water being a problem in early March but we will be glad to see the rain forecast for the end of this week. One fish was recorded from the Sand Hole on worm at 8lbs caught by Owen Henderson. There were a number of fish lost during the week including a "good double figure fish" from Briney’s Pool on the fly.
Shane Gallagher
ERNE ESTUARY – Monday 1st March to Sunday 7th March.
The estuary opened on Monday. Angling is normally for sea trout this time of year and March and April are often the best month for a good sea trout. The opening day was fairly quiet with only a small number of anglers in attendance. A few sea trout were caught but in limited numbers. Brendan Connelly took a brace of small sea trout (¾lb each). Few anglers ventured out during the week. A number of sea trout were caught at the weekend ranging from 1 to 1½lb mainly on the fly (Gadgets seem to be the order of the day).
John Todd, Loughs Agency Angling Manager reports:
declan@loughs-agency.org
River Finn
Opening day on the River Finn began with low cold-water conditions
and very bright sunshine. These were hardly the best of angling conditions,
especially after a very hard frost on Sunday night. However there were
reports of three fish taken, the best of which was one of over 13lbs taken
by a Mr. Logue. The first fish was one of 6.25lbs and was bought by the
Beech Hill Hotel.
Glenmore estate reported no fish and in general said that there were few anglers out even after rain and snowmelt had put the river up to six feet on the gauge on Wednesday. There were two fish reported from Cloghan Lodge, one was taken on Wednesday and the other on Thursday. The general consensus was that there were around half a dozen salmon taken in the first week. There is rain forecast for Thursday and Friday, which will hopefully provide better angling conditions for the coming weekend.
Loughs Agency Angling Fair 6th & 7th March 2004
The first ever Lough Agency Angling Fair was greeted with great
enthusiasm by both demonstrators and visitors to the show. The fly tying
marquee was kept busy with anglers enjoying the skills of some of the
best tyers in these islands. Robert Gillespie's shrimp patterns were ever
popular and alongside him the traditional and exact techniques of tying
classic salmon flies were superbly demonstrated by Cumbria's Paul Little.
It was a great pleasure for many to meet and see Ed Malone in action and
alongside him Frankie McPhilips, Michael and Betty Hayes showed some great
lough and trout patterns.
The river trout angler did not miss out either with 'Trout & Salmon' contributor, Paul Proctor, and Malcolm Greenhalgh tying deadly creations. The increasing interest in saltwater fly-fishing was more than capably dealt with by Terry Jenner and the imitative patterns of Steve Thornton just had to be seen. Also in the marquee were the Irish Ladies Fly Fishing Association offering the chance to win a boat and alongside them was Chris Sandy with his magnificent fly clocks.
Strabane and Lifford Anglers were on hand to describe the attractions of their fishing and Victor Chambers had plenty of interest in his revolutionary vice and his own excellent tyings. On the casting front Gary Coxon (Sage) and Howard Croston (Hardy) hardly had time for a cup of coffee as they demonstrated casting techniques and helped individuals with their own casting. The Loughs Agency garage/boat store was turned into a mini trade store
where you could purchase the award winning 'Fly Fishing and Fly Tying' magazine, one of Hardy's new range of rods, antique tackle, Nomad clothing, a range of tackle from Stevie Munn, excellent fly tying materials from Cookshill and Bass bullets and sea angling advice and gear from Bob Cox. The interpretive centre, Riverwatch, had a steady flow of visitors and quite a few anglers were heard to remark that it was worth attending just for Riverwatch alone.
Foyle, Carlingford & Irish Lights Commission,
22 Victoria Road,
Prehen, Derry
BT47 2AB
www.loughs-agency.org
www.riverwatch.org.uk
Brian McManus reports:
info@shannon-fishery-board.ie
FISHERIES & ANGLING HIGHLIGHTS
ShRFB MIDLAND FISHERIES GROUP OF WATERS CONTINUE TO PRODUCE SPECIMEN PIKE
Water levels on the River Shannon have dropped back further as unseasonably dry weather continues for the present. While water temperatures remain very cold following a prolonged cold period with many severe night frosts, this week brought much recovered daytime temperatures and a welcomed touch of spring in the air. This should help to gradually recover water temperature and get fish feeding. Rain is on the way as we write, which is now needed to freshen up our waters. Our tourist season won't commence for another few weeks, hence most reports are from the local angling fraternity. TIGHT LINES!
LOCAL ANGLERS BAGGING ON HYBRIDS AT ROGERS ISLAND PORTUMNA Ray Duthie reports for the area
GOOD PERCH FISHING AT ANNACOTTY PUMPHOUSE LIMERICK Ivan O'Connell -angler, Dooradoyle Limerick reports
Accommodation provider Tel: 0509 51504. Email: kmduthie2@eircom.net BANAGHER area this week.
Water levels are low but described as being in good fishing order on the River Shannon. Portumna is in the news this week with plenty of hybrids appearing at Rogers Island. One local angler had 21 fish in a session. Tourist anglers haven't arrived yet, some are due in toward the end of the month, which should get the action going.
LOWER SHANNON AREA
Ivan O'Connell Address: 31 Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Limerick. Tel Number:
087-2428033 Nationality: IRISH Email Address: ivan@ryaninsurances.ie
Name of Fishery: Annacotty Pumphouse. This venue has been fishing very
well during the recent cold, dry spell in late February, early March.
The numbers of good perch in the 6oz to 1lb bracket has been very welcome
after they had disappeared for many years. Roach and the occasional dace
are also highlighting in catches. I fished here twice in recent weeks
and had bags of 7lbs and 15lbs. The best method was the feeder in mid-river
but the fish should switch on to the pole and slider with milder weather
in March.
Danny Goldrick reports:
Some of the Moycullen Lakes continue to fish well for roach and skimmer bream. However, only a few anglers fished during the week at Ballyquirke and Lough Down, all saying they enjoyed excellent sport. A few pike anglers fished some of the lakes and they too reported good catches. The Galway Coarse Angling Club was delighted with the publicity given to its clean-up of litter from the shores of Ballyquirke Lake over a week ago. The Club will extend its work to cleaning up around some of the other coarse fishing lakes in the Moycullen area, helped by Galway County Council’s Environmental Section and the Western Regional Fisheries Board.
David Byrne reports:
+Monday 23rd February 2004 to Sunday 29th February 2004
Marc O Regan, from Trim and Matthew Mc Inerney from Manchester
in the U.K fished Whitewood Lake in Kilmainhamwood, Co. Meath on Saturday
28th Feb. Water temperature started out at 3.9 cent or 38.9 fah. It was
a bitterly cold day with northerly winds keeping air temperatures around
zero. The water was in good condition with visibility to 4 feet. However
water levels are 2 feet under normal spring levels. Spinning and dead
bait were the chosen methods and resulted in 6 fish being taken by the
duo. The fish were in excellent condition and three of the females were
heavy with spawn, no blemishes or marks. The best fish weighed in at
20lbs with two other doubles being recorded at 14 and 13 lbs
respectively. On Saturday the 28th Feb, Kingfisher C.A.C. held
a pike competition on Corstown Lake, extremely cold conditions
meant that pike were hard to come by, with only 5 recorded. Results
1st Mark Heffernan 6lb 12oz [1 pike]
2nd Gerard Hill 3lb 3oz [1 pike]
3rd Shane O'Reilly 2lb 4oz [1 pike]
Special Notice:
The Irish Pike Society proudly announce:
1) The next IPS slide show takes place on Thursday 25th March in the
Spawell, Dublin at 7.30 pm. Guest speaker is Phil Wakeford one of the UK's top pike angling experts. Phil has been a force on the piking scene for 20 years and has taken many big pike from all over these islands. He can boast of 20 pounders form England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and has taken 7 fish over the magic 30 pound mark. Phil is a lively and entertaining speaker and will talk to us about pike fishing his way.
Cost of entry is €5 for members and €7.50 for non members. Less than the cost of going to the cinema and far more interesting !!!!
2) The 2004 IPS AGM will be held in the Lucan Spa Hotel at 11.30 am on Saturday 3rd April. All present and past members are welcome to attend. New members gladly received.
Brian McManus reports:
info@shannon-fishery-board.ie
OUR REGULAR COLUMNIST AND ANGLING CORRESPONDENT MICK FLANAGAN MULLINGAR GETS A PIKE OF A LIFETIME ON LOUGH ENNELL: Mick Flanagan reports
MID SHANNON AREA
Mick Flanagan, Angling Correspondent for the Westmeath Topic and Sunday World Newspaper Tel: 087 2797270: mick@midlandangling.com reports on Midland Lakes and Rivers.
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
I have said it before we really have no idea what is lurking in our Midland rivers and lakes, little did I think I would be writing about a Specimen pike so early in the season. Last Wednesday 3rd of March while trolling for trout on Lough Ennell I got stuck into what can only be described as a Midland Monster. If you cast your mind back to 23rd May 2002 we featured a huge Pike of 27lbs 10oz, and in May of 2003 we featured another Monster of 28lbs 8oz, well this time I hit the jackpot. I put the pike into a holding tank and brought her into Mullingar to get certified she weighed 30lbs 6oz which is 6oz over the Lake Specimen weight in Ireland. The fish could have being killed and mounted due to its weight but I decided to return the fish to where she came from who am I to deprive some fellow angler the chance of catching a fish of a life time.
no reports
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