Irish Angling Update

Compiled by the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards

Game/Coarse/Sea

Introduction

Good Trout fishing reported from Knockaderry Reservoir in Co. Waterford.

Superb Spring Salmon fishing on Lough Currane topped by a fine specimen of 21.75 lbs on the fly.

Some good Trout catches reported from the Midland Lakes.

Excellent wetfly fishing for Trout on Lough Corrib. Bags of over 20 lbs of Roach reported from Blessington Lake.

Dublin Junior Pike anglers enjoy good catches on two small lakes near Castleblayney.

Good Junior Pike anglers enjoy good catches on two small lakes near Castleblayney.

Good Pike fishing reported from Ballycullinan Lake at Corofin.

Huge improvement in shore fishing on south Wexford beaches.

The Shannon Estuary at Kilrush producing good small boat fishing.

Game Angling

Southern Region

Low water levels hampered Salmon fishing on all rivers with only a few fish reported from the River Nore. Luke Boyle took a fine Salmon of 16 lbs. at Inistiogue while a 9 lbs. fish was reported by a visiting angler at Thomastown. Some nice Trout were taken at KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR including a fish of 4 lbs. To date 144 Trout have been recorded for the month.

South Western Region

When weather conditions allowed, there was some excellent salmon fishing on LOUGH CURRANE with 29 fish taken from Monday, March 10th to Sunday, the 23rd March. Best catch reported was taken by Thorsten Schneider fishing with local ghillie, Dominic McGillicuddy on Sunday, 16th March. Thorsten, who is originally from Germany but now lives in Waterville, hooked a large salmon at noon on the fly and after a four hour battle taking the boat on a grand tour of the lake, the big salmon was beached and landed. The fish weighed in at 21.75 lbs. To complete a memorable day, two more salmon of 11.5 lbs and 10.75 lbs were also taken on the fly. The big fish which is the first specimen salmon in the country (over 20 lbs) of '97 is also the first specimen Salmon to be recorded from the lake since 1995. Regular German visitor, Walter Rushe, fishing with ghillie, Frank Donnelly, took 7 salmon in five days weighing 73.5 lbs with the best fish weighing 15 lbs on the fly. Other good Salmon landed during this period included fish of 12.5 lbs and 11 lbs, in two days for Heinz Strattman from Germany on the troll and on e of 11.5 lbs. for Welsh visitor Stephen Brown on fly with ghillie Dominic McGillicuddy. Regular Dutch visitor Time Van Der Laan fishing with ghillie Terence Wharton took salmon of 11 lbs. and 10.75 lbs on the fly in two days. Daily Mirror Photographer Arnold Slater of London with ghillie Neil O' Shea caught a salmon of 7.75 lbs.

Fishing on the KILLARNEY LAKES was disappointing last week with only a small number of salmon reported. However, Raymond Coffey, Killarney took a nice Salmon of 18.75 lbs. and Kieran O' Brien Tralee had a fish of 12.5 lbs on the Lower Lake.

Shannon Region

There were some nice catches of Trout reported taken in the Killaloe area of LOUGH DERG mainly taken by anglers trolling with lane baits. Salmon fishing is slow at Castleconnell due to low water levels but at the long shore and at Plassy some Salmon were reported taken by anglers spinning.

Angling has been very quiet on the Midland Lakes in the past week due to the colder weather but with the approach of the Easter Holiday Weekend, it is expected that angling numbers will be well up. As we write, the first of the Duckflies have appeared on Lough Ennell and weather permitting, some good fishing should be had at the Easter weekend.

Numbers were well down on the previous week on Lough Ennell but some good fish were reported. Well known local angler, Christy Sleator has 5 fish so far for the season between 1 3/4 lbs and 2 lbs, mainly on the Bibios and Black Pennell. David and John O' Malley, Mullinger, have reported three fish for a days fishing, averaging 1 - 11/2 lbs to Duckflies and Bibios.

There were fewer anglers on LOUGH OWEL last week but any anglers fishing were getting results. Well known tackle dealer, Rory Harkin, Dublin and friend had four fish for 6 lbs on Black Pennell and Bibios. At the moment, most anglers fishing the lake are trolling but fly anglers seem to be getting better results. 17 anglers from the Silverstream AC. fished a competition on Sunday last and recorded 10 fish and was won by Dublin Tackle Dealer Dave McBride with 2 Trout weighing 3 lbs. 2 oz.

Apart from the St. Patrick's Day Competition in which 39 rods caught 12 fish, LOUGH SHELLING was very quiet but big numbers of anglers were expected for the Easter Weekend. Surprisingly, for some local anglers, Shellin has started to fish earlier than in most years with Stuart McTeare reporting 2 fish, 1 1/2 lbs and 2 lbs on St. Patrick's Day, a few days earlier than any of his previous endeavours. For the week ending Sunday 23rd March, two reprorts were received. Joe Brown, Cavan, had one fish for 2 lbs. 6 oz on a Black Dabbler at Kilnahard and Peter McGuire also from Cavan had a fine fish of 4 lbs at the back of Church Island. Anglers have not at this stage seen any Duckflies but would expect to see some with any prolonged mild weather.

Western Region Game Angling

Weather conditions were generally very good all week and quite suitable for trout angling on LOUGH CORRIB. Duckfly hatches are beginning to appear and should bring trout to the surface by the weekend. Trout angling has improved for the second consecutive week, there has been excellent trout fishing to fly and trolling on the lake. In the Oughterard area 42 anglers fished mainly with wetlfy, 128 trout for 155.5 lbs in 68 angling days. Paddy Gargan and Toby Bradshaw were among the best rods at Birchall where trout were slower to come to fly than in previous weeks. Paul and Niall Fingleton land 12 for 15.5 lbs in two days. The Midland Trout Anglers (Athlone) fishing a competition out of Lal Flaherty's, Oughterard, on Lough Corrib and reported 19 fish for 35 lbs. 1st: Barry Minagh, with a Trout of 4.5 lbs on Hare's Ear; 2nd: Eamon Keeney, 3 fish, 4.3 lbs on Bibios and Peter Ross. All anglers experienced action, though fish were coming short to the flies. Best fishing to be had in the shallows with Claret Dabblers, Watson's Fancy, Bibios and Green Peters working well.

On the eastern side of the Lough, in the Greenfields and Cornamona - 74 rods landed 149 trout for 190 lbs in 83 rod days, best weighing 3.5 lbs and 3 lbs. Tom Sullivan, accompanied by a fried, landed 24 trout for 31lbs in 4 day. Ennis anglers Ger Kenny and John Moroney had 10 trout for 14 lbs in one days wetfly fishing at Greenfields. 39 anglers from the Headford/Ennis clubs fished a friendly competition out from Greenfields last Sunday and they caught 41 trout for 56 lbs, best weighing 3.5 lbs., the Headford side taking the honours with 24 trout for 32 lbs. Eamon Waldron was best overall rod with 4 trout for 7 lbs. Best flies over the week were: Claret Dabbler, Bibio, Peter Ross and Pheasant Tail nymph.

Very few anglers went trout fishing last week on LOUGH MASK even though conditions were far better than previously. Water levels were back to normal and hatches of Duckfly were beginning to appear in many areas. Four Dublin/Kildare anglers fishing from David Hall's Angling Centre landed 11 trout in two days and Dennis Kellegher had one nice 2.5 lbs trouts for a day.

A few anglers fished wetfly at the weekend on Lough Carra and Joe Conroy and M. Harnesse reported rising quite a few trout. Small hatches of Duckfly were observed and some trout were seen to feed on them. Anglers are hoping the hatches will increase this week.

Jimmy Small landed the second salmon of the season on the Galway Fishery, a beautiful 14 lbs fish to a shrimp on Tuesday, 25th March. His daughter, Bernie, caught the first fish of the season on February 1st, giving her the distinction of being the first lady angler to take the season's first salmon. The river is in good condition with five sluice gates open and some salmon running every day.

North Western Region:

The water levels continue to drop and conditions for fishing are improving on the RIVER MOY. The numbers of salmon caught reached double figures. Dr. Strong, Foxford, took the biggest fish at 10 1/2 lbs. Pat Boggins also from Foxford landed a salmon for 8 1/2 lbs, both fish were taken on a Flying C above the bridge in Foxford. Mike and Michael Lackey, Ballina, took one for 10 1/2 lbs and Declan Hopkins, Ballina landed a 7 lbs fish. All the salmon were taken above the weirs and all were taken on ledgered worm. Roy Buckley, Crossmolina, caught an 8 1/2 lbs salmon near Deel Castle while spinning.

The lake levels are dropping and fishing is expected to improve on LOUGH CONN. Most of the boats that went out, reported fish but they were slow to take. Thomas Maloney, Cork and Matthew Corkary also Cork took 6 trout for 9 lbs with the biggest weighing 3 lbs. 1 oz. on a Bibio and on Gold Olive flies. Hans. V. Mierlo, Haarlem, Holland and Theo de Graf, Holland, spent 2 days fishing the lake taking 11 trout between 1 and 3 1/2 while trolling. Stanley Potter, Carlisle and two friends also caught some nice trout while fishing with Green Peter and Bibio flies.

On the Glenisland Co-Op side of BELTRA LOUGH, 15 salmon have been caught since opening day on the 20th March. 6 were caught on the first day and the heaviest salmon was 15 lbs. Fred Breggs, England, landed a 14 lbs. salmon. David Gray, Angling Correspondent of the Star newspaper had one salmon for 9 lbs. Sean O' Malley, Westport, had one fish for 8 lbs and the Dooley family caught 5 salmon between them.

On the Newport House side of the lake, Doug Finlay, England, had a salmon for 11 1/2 lbs. Lorne Vernay, Belgium, took one for 10 1/2 and Jim Walker, England, caught a fish for 8 lbs. Most of the salmon were taken on varieties of the shrimp fly, Silver Doctor, Black Pennell and Connemara Black.

Gerry Wynne, Sligo, took the biggest fish of the week on LOUGH GILL, an 11 1/2 lbs spring fish while trolling. Noel Reddy, Sligo, and Martin Conlon, also Sligo, each had a salmon weighing 10lbs and Paddy Conlon, Sligo, landed a 9 lbs salmon while trolling. L. Gilmore, Sligo, took a 9 lbs salmon on the troll.

Paddy Conlon, Sligo, took a fine fresh 9 1/2 lbs salmon while trolling on the GARRAVOGUE RIVER.

Local anglers from the Dromahair Angling Club caught 2 salmon on Sunday on the BONET RIVER.

Coarse Angling

Eastern Region

At Blessington Lake, the good fishing continued with 19 anglers from the Fingal and Lucan Coarse Club enjoying good catches of roach at a match held last Sunday on the rowing course. The winners were:

1st Damien Maddock 22 lbs. 12 oz. (Waggler float and White maggot)

2nd Harold Pattison 17 lbs. (Swimfeeder)

3rd Dave McNeice 16 lbs. 13 oz. (Waggler)

The second leg of the Dublin Pike Anglers Junior League took place on two small lakes near CASTLEBLAYNEY on Sunday last. 26 junior anglers along with 7 adults took part and the young anglers recorded 75 pike. The Winners were: -

1st Richard Sutton 8 pike, 16 lbs. 8 oz. (Wooded Smelt)

2nd Elaine Dempsey 5 pike, 13 lbs. 10 oz. including the heaviest fish of 6 lbs. 8 oz.

3rd Sean Kenny 6 pike, 10 lbs. 13 oz.

After two rounds of the league and one to go the Leaders are:

1st Elaine Dempsey 34 lbs. 10 oz. (young girl leading the league for the first time ever)

2nd Richard Sutton 24 lbs. 10 oz.

3rd Sean Kenny 15 lbs. 6 oz.

Shannon Region:

A father and son from Frankfurt fished for a day for Pike on Ballycullin lake at COROFIN and were rewarded with 10 pike up to 15 lbs. All the pike were returned alive. There were reports of good Pike fishing on LOUGH DERG taken by anglers mainly trolling in the Killaloe area.

Good catches of Roach, Bream and Hybrids were reported in recent days taken by anglers using swimfeeder tactics on the River Shannon at O' BRIENS BRIDGE.

Sea Angling

Western Region

Francis Clarke's new boat 'The White Seahorse' based in Westport was out over the weekend on the Clare Island ground. A party of anglers from the UK boated over 20 thornback Ray to 12 lbs large numbers of dabs to 1.1/4 lbs and dogfish to 2 lbs.

The reefs to the east of Deacy's Rock also provided sport on Hoikoi lures for Pollack to 6 lbs, coalfish to 4 lbs, codling to 2 lbs and a near speciman Cuckoo Wrasse for one visitor.

Eastern Region

Fishing on the East Coast beaches has been slow of late with only a few Whiting and Flounders taken near the East Link bridge on the River Liffey in DUBLIN.

Down on the South WEXFORD BEACHES there has been some improvement with nice catches reported from the beach in front of Tacumshin Lake. Philip Whitemore from Carne caught a fine Bullhuss of 7 Kilos from the beach along with Dogfish, Codling, Coalfish and Three Bearded Rockling.

South Western Region

A few Codling around 2.5 lbs are been taken in small numbers on most venues in the YOUGHAL area and generally shore fishing on the east Cork beaches has improved.

Shannon Region

Anglers from the Limerick SAC. small boat fishing on the SHANNON ESTUARY outside Kilrusn. Catches included Thornback Ray up to 12 lb., along with Conger, Bullhuss and Dogfish.

Northern Region

Strong winds hampered deep sea fishing all around the coast last weekend but on Saturday skipper Enda O' Callaghan operating out from KILLYBEGS managed to bring a group of Dublin Anglers out for a few hours on Saturday last. The group from John Cree & Co. caught numbers of Pollack to 6 lbs. along with Conger and Ling on sheltered inshore marks.