9/10/'96
specimens of 6 lbs. 10 ozs. and 7 lbs.
- Good trout fishing reported from Lough O'Flynn in Co. Roscommon.
- Good improvement in trout fishing on Lough Conn.
- Some good pike recorded in competitions on Lough Derg.
- Liverpool angler takes a best days catch of bream of 210 lbs at
Dernaferst on Lough Gowna.
- Good catches of coarse fish recorded in the Cavan -Leitrim Lakes and
at the Irishtown Lakes in Co. Mayo.
- Specimen spurdog of 15 lbs and tub gurnard of 5 lbs. 2 ozs. taken
deep sea fishing off Wicklow Coast.
- Wales win first day of the World Surfcasting Championships on the
Wicklow beaches.
- 21 different species recorded at the Cork Harbour Small Boat Festival.
- Specimen bass of 15 lbs at Ballyvaughan in Co. Clare.
Eastern Region:
The RIVER FANE near Dundalk is producing approximately 5 salmon a day with fish between 6 and 10 lbs reported taken by local anglers. On the CASTLETOWN RIVER, only occasional fish were reported and there were no reports from the Ballymacscanlon River.
South Western Region:
The last two weeks of the season on LOUGH CURRANE produced some nice sea trout fishing when anglers were able to fish. Many days fishing were lost because of storms. On Monday, 16th September, Lindsay Richards and Peter Liddel from the north of England had a great day taking 16 sea trout and one salmon, all on fly. The sea trout were from 1.25 lbs to 2.75 lbs. Christopher O'Sullivan fishing on several days over a fortnight caught 14 sea trout and 5 salmon on flies. Michael Donnelly, Waterville, took a fine specimen sea trout of 6 lbs. 10 ozs. on fly on Monday 16th and Mr. T.H.Foley from Guildford, Surrey, took a fine specimen sea trout of 7 lbs on the fly on 23rd September. Regular visitor, Henry Benders from Holland took 5 salmon in 3 days on flies between 7 and 8.5 lbs. Brian and Louise Hanson, England, fishing with gillie, Bob Priestly took 14 sea trout from 1.25 lbs to 3.5 lbs in 3 days. Graham and Trevor Lovitt, England, landed salmon of 10 lbs, 8.5 lbs and 8 lbs on fly in one day. Over the season, 432 salmon were recorded and 10 specimen sea trout from 6 to 10 lbs.
Shannon Region:
60 fish weighing 1393/4 lbs were reported from LOUGH SHEELIN. Ian Hampson, U.K. had a fish of 4.5 lbs. Trevor Lovell, Newtownards, had a fish of 4 lbs. 1 oz. using a Bibio. Sam Ross, Ballybay, had two fish at 6.2 lbs. Best fish 4.45 lbs.
The Garda Competition was held on the lake on Saturday, 5th October. 110 anglers participated with 20 fish being caught. The winner of the Garda section was Pat Foley from Monaghan who had one fish at 1.35 lbs. The visitors prize was won by Sam Ross, Ballybay, with two fish totalling 6.20 lbs. The heaviest fish weighed 4.45 lbs. Most successful flies were the Bibio and Claret Dabbler.
LOUGH O'FLYNN continues to fish well right up to the closing day of the season on 12th October. Noel Kerins, Belmont, Co. Offaly, took a nice fish of 3 lbs and Albert Nevin, Shannon Harbour, Co. Offaly, took 4 trout from 1.5 lbs to 2 lbs on wetflies. Local angler, Bernard Mannion took trout of 3.5 lbs, 2 lbs and 1.5 lbs and Frank Dolan, Drumsna, Co. Roscommon, had 4 trout for 5 lbs in 2 days. Best flies: Claret Dabbler, Green Peter and Daddy Longlegs.
Western Region:
Unsuitable weather conditions kept all but a few anglers off MOHER LOUGH over the week. Trout were hard to move and returns were well down. A three-hour competition by staff members of the Western Regional Fisheries Board was won by Dr. Gregory Forde who recorded 3 trout for 4.5 lbs; in second and third place, jointly, were Sean Nixon and Jim Stafford. James McDonagh took 4th place and Pat Gorman was fifth. 10 trout were caught for the 10 anglers taking part.
North Western Region:
There has been an improvement in fishing returns for the last week on LOUGH CONN. There were a few end of season competitions held over the weekend and a good number of anglers showed up for one last outing. Saturday and Sunday were pleasant days and ideal for fishing. Some good trout were taken and a few anglers ended their season on a high note.
The Ballina-Cloghans Competition had a total entry of 130 anglers and 51 fish were weighed in. The best fish, 3.86 lbs, was caught by P. Hoyle. Willie Craig was 1st with 4 fish for 6.65 lbs; Richard Binely, second with 5 fish for 5.56 lbs and Robert Kelly was third with 4 fish for 5.37 lbs.
On Sunday, 40 anglers also went out from Cloghans to take part in a mini competition and the following were the results:-
1st: Lawson Clements with 4 fish for 5.22 lbs; 2nd: Alan Luton and Tony Doocey was third.
The annual competition for the Jackson Cup was held on Sunday by the Castlebar Anglers Club. 60 anglers took part. Hugh McDonnell was first with 5 fish. P.J. McHale won the cup with the heaviest fish for 2 lbs. 6 ozs
Michael Nelson and J. Cox, Isle of Man, had 6 trout each for an evenings fishing, the heaviest about 1 lbs on LOUGH MUCK.
Anglers from The Baxter Company in Ballina also held a competition on BILBERRY & LANNAGH LAKES with 40 entrants. Jimmy Conroy was 1st; Kevin Conroy, 2nd; John Reape, 3rd and Pat Armstrong, 4th.
John Caine, Newcastle, England, caught and released 4 brown trout for about 4 lbs from the GWEESTION RIVER.
A few anglers were fishing on GLENCAR LAKE but no catches were reported as the water was too high.
Eastern Region:
The Castleblayney & District A.A. held a pike competition on the White Island on LOUGH MUCKNO on Sunday last from 2.30 until 5.30 p.m and 14 anglers took part recording 30 pike. The winners were:-
1st: Benny Markey, Cootehill, 6 lbs. 2 ozs. - dead bait
2nd: Ronnie Duffy, Castleblayney, 5 lbs. 14 ozs. - copper spoon
3rd: Frankie Poyntz, Castlebalyney, 5 lbs. 7 ozs. - dead bait.
English anglers visiting Castleblayney are enjoying some good pike fishing on the lake with 3 anglers taking 11 fish in one day with the best pike weighing 15 lbs, 12 lbs and 10 lbs.
Shannon Region:
The latest leg of the Pike Anglers Federation of Ireland took place on Sunday last on the RIVER INNY at the Redbridge and 107 anglers from many parts of the country took part. Conditions were ideal but only small fish were contacted with a fish of 11 lbs. 4 ozs best. The five qualifiers to go through to the final are:-
1st: Garry Quinn, Drogheda, 7 fish, 19 lbs. 2 ozs.
2nd: David Hamill, Monaghan, 6 fish, 17 lbs. 8 ozs.
3rd: Mick Rispin, Trim, 4 fish, 11 lbs. 11 ozs.
4th: Stephen McKenna, Keady, 1 fish, 11 lbs. 4 ozs.
5th: Joe Devlin, Inchicore, 5 fish, 10 lbs. 4 ozs.
There were two pike competitions on Lough Derg at KILLALOE on Sunday last. 50 anglers fished the St. Flannan's Club Competition and recorded 120 fish. The competition was on a heaviest fish basis with winners receiving a T.V. and Video sponsored by the Sheanachai Pub in Killaloe. The winners were:-
1st: Tom Lynch, Killaloe, 1 pike, 15 lbs. 7 ozs.
2nd: Mick Ryan, Killaloe, 1 pike, 15 lbs. 5 ozs.
3rd: for the heaviest catch was won by Jim Hanley, Killaloe, for 7 pike weighing 52 lbs.
The Killaloe Ballina Club also ran a competition sponsored by the O'Riain Pub in Killaloe and 30 anglers fished recording 26 fish. The winners were:- (heaviest fish basis:-
1st: Joe Hassett, Limerick, 1 pike, 18 lbs. 8 ozs.
2nd: Brian Barry, Killaloe, 1 pike, 10 lbs. 8 ozs.
3rd: Juan Lancaster, Limerick, 1 pike, 10 lbs.
Shannon Region - contd.
On the same day, the Limerick & District Anglers fished a pike competition on the River Shannon at O'BRIEN'S BRIDGE and 70 anglers recorded 47 pike and it was on a heaviest fish basis. The winners were:-
1st: David Robinson, Limerick, 1 pike, 14 lbs. 6 ozs.
2nd: Niall Edwards, Limerick, 1 pike, 9 lbs. 11 ozs.
3rd: Brian O'Loughlin, Limerick, 1 pike, 9 lbs. 7 ozs.
4th: Terry Doherty, Limerick, 1 pike, 9 lbs. 4 ozs.
Junior winner was John O'Brien, Limerick, with a fish of 6 lbs. 8 ozs.
Western Region:
There is excellent roach and bream fishing at the MOYCULLEN LAKES where anglers find little difficulty in taking up to 50 lbs of mainly skimmer bream, roach and roach/bream hybrids. Ross Lake and Ballyquirke Lake are the two best but all of the other six lakes in the area are producing fish with little effort.
The IRISHTOWN LAKES near Ballindine, Co. Mayo, are giving good sport with a lot of roach and some bream coming well. Very few anglers know about these waters, which are well hidden away in a beautiful part of Mayo. The lakes all have good access and top quality fishing stands provided by the Western Regional Fisheries Board. Coarse anglers don't realise what they are missing. A few English anglers who fished there in the past were astounded with the quality of both roach and bream and they were amazed at how few anglers knew about the place, especially English anglers.
Northern Region:
There were fewer anglers about in the Cavan Leitrim Lakelands area last week but there were some English anglers on some lakes taking some very good catches for this time of year.
In the ARVA/GOWNA area, a party of four anglers from Norfolk fished on the Dring Shore taking catches from 40 to 55 lbs a day each. They fished Gulladoo Lake but found it disappointing taking up to 20 lbs per day. Barry Kirby from Liverpool took a best days catch of 210 lbs of mainly bream at Dernaferst and he averaged around 100 lbs per day for the week. Mr. M. Jackson from Doncaster took a best days catch of 78 lbs. at Gulladoo Lake and Mr. J. Gordan from Essex took 464 lbs of bream and roach over seven days taking best days catches of 93 lbs at Lough Gowna and 73 lbs at Gulladoo Lake. Ray Wint, London, fished at Rosduff on Lough Gowna for a week and took an average of 59 lbs per day with a best days catch of 73 lbs.
Northern Region - contd.
There were a few anglers in the BALLINAMORE area and there were good reports of fish taken at Garadice Lake, Lough Scur and at Brackley Lake.
There were some very good catches recorded in the CAVAN/BELTURBET/KILLESHANDRA area including 950 lbs for Mr. C. Sherbourne, U.K. over 6 days at Killykeen. Mr. M. Moorcroft averaged 40 lbs per day while fishing at Ardan Lake, Innismuck on Lough Oughter and Tullyguide Lake over a full week. J. Hailsworth from Nottingham took catches of bream and roach of 600 lbs over 7 days fishing at the Town Lake at Killeshandra, the Town Lake and at Derryvoney. Brian Smith and Tim Mulholland from Dinnington, U.K., fished the Sandy Point at Gartanoul and took over 800 lbs of roach and bream over 6 days. John Skenkow and Norman Roberts from Lancashire averaged nearly 70 lbs per day while fishing behind the chalets at Killykeen with some catches to over 100 lbs per day.
Eastern Region:
A party of anglers from the Rathfarnham Shopping Centre fished with skipper, Charlie Robinson, out from DUN LAOGHAIRE on Sunday last. Fishing near the East Codling bank produced 18 spurdog, many in the 10 to 11 lbs bracket and one fine specimen of 15 lbs. Catches also included a fine specimen tub gurnard of 5 lbs. 2 ozs. and 100 small red and grey gurnard. Good numbers of small tope under 20 lbs were taken and two bull huss of 12 and 14 lbs.
On Wednesday, the first day of the 13th FIPS-En Mer World Surfcasting Championships were fished at KILCOOLE and GREYSTONES with 11 mens teams of five anglers and 6 ladies teams competing. The event is being fished on various Wicklow beaches throughout the week and the first days results were:-
Day 1 - Results - Men:
Venue - Greystones Fishing 17.10 - 22.30
Individual:
1st: Steplane Vigreux France 18 fish 876 points
2nd: David Neil Scotland 20 fish 747 points
3rd: James Frazer Wales 18 fish 680 points
9th: Martin Lordan Ireland 10 fish 409 points
Eastern Region - contd.
Teams:
1st: Wales 33 points
2nd: Holland 51 points
3rd: Belgium 57 points
6th: Ireland 85 points
Total number of fish caught - 404
Species - cod, pollack, coalfish, flounder, dab, plaice, bass, gurnard, lesser spotted dogfish, bull huss.
Teams - Ladies:
1st: England 28 points
2nd: France 32 points
3rd: Holland 50 points
Total number of fish caught: 108
Species - cod, pollack, coalfish, flounder, dab, plaice, bass, gurnard, lesser spotted dogfish, bull huss.
South Western Region:
The Small Boat Festival run at CORK HARBOUR from September 28th to October 5th took place last week. 17 boats comprising of over 50 anglers all from the U.K. took part. The Festival was organised by Leisure Angling and the H.Q. was the Trabolgan Holiday Village near Roches Point. The weather conditions were strong, westerly winds and the fleet of small boats were confined to the inner harbour for some of the time.
There were 21 different species caught during the week. Some of the better individual catches were Blonde Ray to 23 lbs, bass to 9 lbs, conger to 19 lbs. 6 ozs., plaice to 5 lbs. 1 oz., pollack to 9 lbs. 2 ozs. as well as thornback ray, dabs, whiting, cod, wrasse, rockling, etc.
The festival was run on a conservation basis and only nominated species were eligible. The overall winners were the crew of "Delta", Steve Quinn and John Grundy with 14 different species. The runners up were Rolf Marschalek and Ian True on "Uptider" with 13 species and Dave Blackburn, Dave Roberts and Steve Andeu on "Jules" had 12 species.
This festival will take place at the same time of year next year.
South Western Region - contd.
Charter skippers, Finbarr and John Barry had parties of local and Dutch anglers out from COBH during the weekend on their boats "Leaca Rua" and "Cuan Bar". Finbarr had the Dutch anglers out at the Smiths where they caught some pollack and some good conger. A party of local anglers fishing with John took some nice conger to 25 lbs, ling to 20 lbs and pollack to 10 lbs while fishing east of Power Head.
A party of Dutch anglers fished with skipper, John Wildon, out from CROSSHAVEN during the week. Many days were cancelled due to storms but a few days fishing was carried out around the Smiths where the anglers took some nice pollack and conger.
Bait can now be purchased on the DINGLE PENINSULA at Ballydavid (approx. 7 miles west of Dingle). Supplies include frozen mackerel, razorfish and Ammo sandeels. Contact: Bob Moss, Surf & Shore Angling Guide, Ballydavid, Co. Kerry, or ring 066 - 55158 at any time.
Shannon Region:
The Limerick S.A.C. ran a shore competition at BALLYBUNION on Sunday week last and 18 anglers braved the gale force winds and spring tides and only 3 fish were recorded.
1st: Tommy Hurley, Tralee, 1 turbot (1.2 kilos)
2nd: Rodney Smith, Shannon, 1 brill
3rd: Richard Gormely, Tarbert, 1 flounder.
The Master Angler for the club was Rodney Smith and the Master Junior angler was Richard Gormely.
Western Region:
A two day Skate competition with a top prize of £1,000 was fished in CLEW BAY last Sunday and was organised very successfully by the Westport Deep Sea Angling Club. 90 overseas anglers attended and were overjoyed with the tremendous welcome and hospitality of the local people. Southampton angler, S. Gilmore, took the £1,000 prize with a skate which he hooked only 15 minutes from the start on Saturday.
Others who featured in the prizes were:- Des Waterworth from Belfast whose catch of bull huss and ray rewarded him with first place. Ken Kane from Dublin took second place the same day and W.J. Killop from England was third. Then, on the Sunday, local man John King was most successful, followed by English anglers C. Burton and C. Saul. Journalist Sam Harris from Newcastle, England, was awarded a special VIP prize, mostly in recognition of his sea angling promotional on Newcastle Radio every week. Kathleen Noonan was top lady angler and the top boatman's prize went to Sean Noonan, both from Westport.
Western Region - contd.
CLIFDEN boat skippers, John Ryan and John Brittain reported good deep sea angling for their guests any day they could get to sea but, once again, it was a difficult week with stormy weather.
GALWAY BAY was also a good place to fish for pollack, mackerel and some cod. Ling and ray were also caught by anglers fishing with Sean Mahony, whose boat operates from Ballyvaughan. Sean reports that his weekends, of late, are still fairly busy but very few anglers otherwise.
The biggest bass of the year so far reported was captured last week on a beach in North Clare near BALLYVAUGHAN. The specimen weighing 15 lbs was taken by Michael O'Donohue, Ballyvaughan, using lugworm as bait.
North Western Region:
Bad weather and a big swell hampered sea angling for most of the week on KILLALA BAY and as a result, there were many cancellations. The weather has settled down a little now, so a better week is expected. A party of German deep sea anglers were out in Killala Bay on Sunday and they were very pleased with the many varieties available. The same party boated four shark from 40 to 80 lbs, all the fish were returned.
There were quite a few visiting anglers shore fishing off Lacken Beach and Enniscrone. Sea trout, flatfish, coalfish and pollack were caught.
At Downpatrick Head, there were good catches of pollack, coalfish, wrasse and dogfish, while at Lacken Pier, plaice, coalfish and pollack were taken.
Shore anglers had good sport off the breakwater at Mullaghmore taking dogfish, dabs, plaice, mackerel and pollack.
All the boats were able to fish on Saturday and Sunday north of Erris Head at BELMULLET. The Kiltane Club had an outing and 12 species were taken. The Knights of the Silver Hook, Dublin S.A.C., also had very good fishing with 14 varieties boated which included cod, ling, wrasse, gurnard, plaice, dabs, pollack, coalfish and dogfish.
Despite the bad weather, there was a good week bottom fishing in Clew Bay with bull huss, dogfish and thornback ray. A group of anglers from Lancashire, staying at Mary Gavin Hughes enjoyed their week of fishing. Trevor Rorertshaw, head of the party, boated a common skate, 79½" long and 60" wingspan.
Northern Region:
The second leg of the Belfast Shore Anglers Boat Master Angler took place at KILLYBEGS and 8 anglers took part. They fished with charter skipper, Enda O'Callaghan, who being a member also fished the competition on Saturday last. In very stormy conditions, the skipper Enda was the winner with 42 points taking 9 pollack, 1 codling, 3 ballan wrasse and 1 cuckoo wrasse. Current Irish Master Boat angler, Chris Coates from Belfast was second with 34.5 points taking 8 pollack and 4 wrasse and Stephen Clements was third. On Sunday, Enda brought out a group of school children from Enniskillen in poor weather but Enda brought them to inshore sheltered areas where they caught wrasse, pollack, dogfish and conger. On Wednesday, Mr. Carson from Antrim with a group of anglers fished on inshore sheltered areas with Enda taking cod to 16 lbs, pollack to 10 lbs, ling to 5 lbs along with ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse and dogfish.
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