Angling Report
- Pike fishing (updated 13/11/08)
- Sea fishing (updated 17/11/08)
- Trout fishing (updated 13/11/08)
Trout Angling
13 November 2008
Corkagh Park
There is no report for Corkagh park at this time.
Annamore Trout Fishery
Brian Nally, fishery manager has reported that in spite of early winter conditions anglers have been doing well. One well known Dublin angler had a 6lb rainbow on Sunday using a fast sinking line, a short leader and a booby. Fast sinking lines work well at the fishery in these cold conditions. Other anglers have had success using fast sinking lines with muddlers and vivas. If you are planning a trip to this fishery it is advised to pack your spare reel with floating line the bag as a mild spell will bring fish to dry daddys.
Rathbeggan lakes
Rathbeggan lakes have been quite well in spite of very unpredictable weather. Anglers have been catching fish on Montana nymphs with a gold bead. The advice from fishery manager, Dave Robinson, is floating line with a sink tip in these poor cold conditions.
However, he also recommends during warmer intervals that floating lines and normal length leaders work well with pheasant tail nymph patterns. He also advises to ask at the fishery on arrival what is working on the particular day.
Pike Angling
13 November 2008
Quig Lough – County Monaghan
Quig Lough is fishing well with a fine pike in the mid 20's having been reported during the week. In spite of cold, wet and north easterly winds, another angler reported 5 fish on static smelt bait from the shore. The smallest of these fish was 11lb and the largest was 18lb.
Rossmore Park Lakes – Monaghan
These waters are still fishing well, with good numbers of small fish turning up and the occasional low double. Best method appears to be spinning, anything from a copper spoon to a plug from the shore
Killyboley Lake- Monaghan
This has been fishing well also in recent days with the best fish reported weighing 14lb with a good number of low doubles showing up. One local angler had 4 fish to 12lb weight wobbling a roach, another angler reported having 8 fish under 10lb using various methods.
Lough Ramor – Cavan
Lough Ramor has fished exceptional well in recent weeks, with a least five 20's, the biggest being 25lb been reported to the Eastern Board. These fish all came to boat anglers and most fish fell to large plastic plugs. Shore fishing also produced some good pike to 17lb, popped up roach seems to be the pike's preference.
Blessington Lake
Blessington lake is now open and some excellent pike fishing has been reported. Apart from the fine fish caught by Cian English last week (see below), a fish of 14lb was landed at Baltyboys bridge and a number of other mid doubles have also been reported from shore anglers fishing the lake. Boat anglers have also had success fishing the Valleymount area with a 22lb fish landed and some other fish in the high teens. The best advice for Blessington is to fish dead baits, try one popped up and a bait hard on the bottom for the second rod.
Many thanks to Dick Kiernan of Venture Sports, County Monaghan who helped to compile this report.
01/11/2008
Blessington Lake
Young Cian English showed how it is done last Saturday, 1st November, 2008, by landing a fine Pike of 15.lb 10.oz.
Taken on a ledgered Smelt dead bait around mid day Cian fought the Pike like a veteran, surviving three blistering runs, tail walks, and a last minute lunge at the net. When it was all over Cian was thrilled, but in his words “NO WAY am I holding it”. Well done Cian on the first of hopefully many Pike to your rod.
Blessington Lake, a fine amenity close to Dublin, should come into its own now with the possibility of a twenty pounder always on the cards.
Sea Angling
Saturday 15th November 2008
Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
Many of the Wicklow beaches fish well on a dropping
tide. With high water at noon, slack tide at 16.00pm approx’, and a big four meter running, Kilcoole last Saturday was a good bet for some winter surf casting. The mixed ground towards Ballygannon point being usually good for Codling and Coalfish, on lug and mussel baits.
Reports from anglers show catches of Coalfish,
Whiting, Rockling, and small school Bass, but unfortunately no Codling. Scratching conditions applied due to the uncharacteristically mild weather,
with most fish being caught in the gutter. In the recent past Codling weighing two – four pounds were the bread and butter angling off this beach. Sadly with
no reports of note right around the east and south east coast to Waterford harbour, these are worrying times for winter Cod anglers.
Boat angling reports from Kilmore Quay mention a few
Codling and Coalfish, along with good numbers of Pollack and Ballan Wrasse. Some of the Wrasse, although not officially reported, making specimen weight.
13 November 2008
North & South Walls of Liffey
Fishing from the north and south walls at this time of year will produce small whiting and occasional codling. Small hooks size 1o with mackerel and sand eel for bait generally works well. Experiment with snood lengths and use fixed griped leads.
North Wicklow Beaches
There is a great variety of species now, anglers can expect to encounter large numbers of whiting, some good sized coalfish, dogfish, flounder, pouting, bass and some codling. Recommended baits are sandeel, lugworm, mussel and in recent days mackerel strip has been working very well. Best fishing tends to be after dark and there is no need for distance casting.
At the time of writing, mullet have still been showing in some harbours. They may feed well or be keen to take a bait before moving offshore.
South Beach Arklow
Fishing can be very productive here at this time with whiting, flounder, bass, dogfish and rockling available. In the past this venue has produced winter ray and spurdog. Best baits tend to be lugworm, mussel and most fish baits. Try herring strip if you can get it.
Wexford Beaches
The wexford beaches fish well at this time of year in daylight hours producing some good flounder and dabs. Bass may show in surf conditions particularly after southeast winds, again the advice is to fish close in to shore. Venues to watch out for are Clones, Kilgorman and Morriscastle beaches. After dark whiting, dogfish, rockling and few bonus codling are strong possibilities. All bait is worth a try, it is a good time to try cocktail baits.
Wexford Harbour
This area can produce good flounder fishing in daylight hours at this time.
Special thanks to Brian Cooke, press officer with the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers in compiling this report.
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