Angling Reports and News
- Pike fishing
- Coarse fishing [28/07/09]
- Trout fishing [27/07/09]
- Sea fishing [27/07/09]
Pike Angling
No report for July [last report 27/05/09]
Coarse Angling
28/09/07
Killyboley Lake, Co. Monaghan.
Anglers fishing Killyboley Lake are catching good bags of skimmers and tench. Most anglers are using feeder and fishing from shore. Maggot, sweetcorn and 3mm boilies are the preferred hook bait. The usual ground bait is crumb, hemp, sweetcorn and additive.
Monmurry Lake.
Roach fishing has been excellent in recent days, most anglers opting for Pole or Waggler, standard hook bait double maggot.
Peter’s Lake
Peter’s Lake is a steady venue at this time of year, producing good bags of roach and skimmers. Waggler, Pole or Whip. Hook bait maggot and loose feeding works well.
Quig Lough
Anglers fishing at Quig Lough have been catching Roach and Bream, but very few Tench. Feeder or Waggler work well. Sweetcorn or Maggot as hook bait. Ground bait crumb, hemp, etc.
Royal Canal, Leixlip.
The Royal Canal at Leixlip continues to fish very well for roach and skimmers. Night-fishing is best but this venue has been producing good bags of fish all summer. Standard Waggler rig or Pole, hook size 14 is fine most of the time. Hook bait double maggot.
Royal Canal, Kilcock.
In recent weeks, sections of this venue have produced some good bags of bream - to 4 lb in weight. Pre-baiting and raking will pay dividends at this venue, night-fishing is best. Hook bait maggot, worm, or sweetcorn.
27/07/09
Lough Muckno Reborn
Toome Shore, Lough Muckno, Garda Open, 25th July 2009
The weekend of Saturday and Sunday the 25th and 26th of July 2009 will be remembered in the coarse angling world, as the occasion when once again Lough Muckno, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, laid down a marker as the premier match angling venue in Ireland. For the first time in ten years the All Ireland Coarse Angling Championships were held on this superb lake. With the Garda Open held the previous day it was a bumper weekend for match anglers. 73 anglers fished the Garda Open, with 140 anglers including juniors fishing the All Ireland for cash (senior) and tackle prizes (junior), both events being organised by the NCFFI.
Steve Richardson, Lincolnshire, England, with a catch of Bream
World famous match stretches such as White Island, Black Island, and Concra Wood were utilised and did not disappoint. Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, and Eels, made up the catches with 21.kgs the winning All Ireland weight to Wayne Fuller who was fishing Concra Wood. Wayne collected a cash prize of €650.00 for his efforts, well done.
Sean Ward of the NCFFI presenting the Junior All Ireland trophy to Conor Browne
A rising star of the coarse angling world has to be Conor Browne who won the Junior Trophy for the third year on the trot with a match weight of 11.kgs amassed in just three hours off White Island. There is no doubt that Conor will give the seniors a run for their money in the not too distant future.
Special mention must go to the organising committee of the NCFFI for what was most certainly a successful weekend of match angling, to include Dick Caplice, Sean Ward, and Tommy Lawton amongst others.
Sea Angling
27/01/09
Dundalk Bay
The tope fishing season is in full swing at this time. All fishing is from boat and there is plenty of mackerel available. While this is peak time, local anglers have noted that not many tope have been caught. One suggestion for this is the low pressure. Best bait is mackerel flappers; Strong tackle is required but more importantly, plenty of line.
Mackerel will also show from the pier and rocks at Clogher Head. All the usual tactics will work. Of course, at this time of year, there are plenty of opportunities to catch Mullet in this area. This type of fishing has greatly increased in popularity.
Boyne Estuary
Good Mackerel fishing can be had in the estuary when conditions are right at this time. Anglers may encounter the occasional Bass and plugs work well. Sea Trout are also available and lure fishing is the best bet. Good opportunities for Mullet can be had here for the patient angler. Best bait: bread flake fished with a bubble float on the surface.
Sandy Venues North of Dublin
This is the time of year for Bass. Worm baits work very well at these venues i.e. Rag and Lug. The best opportunities for Bass are usually at the turn of the tide and late evenings tend to be good. Size 2o or 3o hooks to allow for large baits are recommended. Anglers can catch Sea Trout spinning lures in July and August. Other species available now are Flounder and Silver Eels. If using crab as bait there is the possibility of a Smooth Hound at any of the North Dublin venues as these species are spreading further north every year.
Pier Fishing in the Dublin Area
Many anglers are fishing off piers now. The principle species you many encounter will be Mackerel, Pollock and Small Wrasse. Fishing south of Dublin could produce Bass and Smooth Hound.
Dublin Bay to Wicklow: Boat Fishing
This is the height of the season for the boat angler. Predators are the main species with dogs, Bull Huss, Ray and Tope available. In recent weeks, there have been reports of good Tub Gurnard and some Ling. Best bait: Fresh Mackerel will cover most species in this area. A simple running ledger is the best method for most species in this area. Thirty to forty pound Snoods with 4o or 5o hooks, except for Tope, where wire or strong Nylon, 150 pound plus class is required.
Greystones to Wicklow Head: Shore Angling
Shore angling will produce predominantly Dog Fish, Small Dabs and Whiting. Mackerel run all these beaches intermittently. In recent weeks, some large Launce have been turning up. Bass will show after an on-shore wind or after dark. Best Bait: Sand Eel, Rag, Crab.
Greystones to Wicklow Head: Off-Shore
Anglers will be targeting large Tope at this time and Smooth Hound are becoming increasingly common in July and August.
Sandy Venues South of Wicklow
Main species: Bass, Dogs, Smooth Hound, Whiting and Dabs (if fishing south of Brittas bay). Night-time or early morning is recommended to avoid swimmers and holiday makers. Recommended baits are Crab, Rag, Sand Eel and Lug for Bass. Experiment with Snood Lengths and look off-shore for features such as sand banks and gullies. Boat fishing is mainly carried out from Courtown and Cahore. Main species are Smooth Hound, Dogs, Bull Huss, Ray, Tope, Gurnard, and this year Mackerel have been unusually plentiful.
Mauricecastle to Wexford Harbour
The same species as above are available but fishing is definitely recommended for night-time, as these beaches can be very busy with holiday makers in July and August.
Wexford Beaches
Wexford beaches will have pack Tope running at this time of year. The best advice is to keep your ear to the ground as these fish will be much localised and generally do not tend to hang around for long. If you are lucky enough to encounter these fish, you will have excellent sport. In recent years, Gilthead Bream and Golden Grey Mullet have shown up at some of these venues. We would appreciate if anglers would inform the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board about these catches.
Recent News of Interest
In recent days, a Porbeagle Shark was caught by a commercial fisherman fishing off Skerries. Finally, special thanks to Brian Cooke, the PRO for the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers, for compiling this report for the Eastern Region.
21/07/09
East Coast Sea Angling Updates
July has seen Smooth Hound catches go through the roof. The species appears to be everywhere from north of Dublin right down to South Wexford. Whether from boat or shore, day time or night, if tidal and weather conditions are right the Hounds are turning up. Top bait is crab, followed by ragworm and lugworm.
Bass angling has been consistant along the east coast and down into South Wexford. South East Angling Ireland guide, Jim Hendrick has treated his clients to some excellent lure and fly fishing in recent weeks. Check out the SEAi website: www.bassfishing.ie.
Small boat fishing has been consistant with Mackerel about in reasonable numbers. Good catches of Ray, Tope, Smooth Hounds, Gurnards, Dogfish, and Bull Huss such as the fine specimen above have been made in recent weeks. Greystones, Co. Wicklow, along with Courtown and Cahore, Co. Wexford, have produced steady angling for the above species, and are the places to aim for.
Trout Angling
27/07/09
Blessington Lake
In recent weeks, Blessington Lake has been stocked with a few thousand Rainbows, which has attracted some anglers but not many. However, some good fish have been caught, mainly on worms or spinners and the majority of anglers are fishing from boats, as the lake is very high and shore angling is limited. Boat anglers are generally fishing out of Russlestown. Flies worth trying are Black Pennels, Silver Invicta and Muddlers. Two good Brown Trout were caught at the lake in recent weeks; one fish of five pounds and one of seven. Both fish were taken on spinner.
Annamoe Trout Fishery
Annamoe Trout Fishery has been fishing very well in recent days. There is plenty of fresh water in the lake as the feeder river is in flood. The best tactics on the lake at the moment are dry flies and do not be afraid to use size 18’s or 20’s Clink Hammers and Iron Blue Dunnes as they are working well.
Maynooth Fishery
The fishery in Maynooth is currently under new management and the trout lake has recently been stocked with good sized Rainbows. Fly fishing has been very good, particularly in the evening.
Emy Lake, County Monaghan
Officially opened to the public last week, the day tickets and boat hire are €25 for a full days fishing. The lake has been fishing exceptionally well, wet fly fishing is best with a floating line, and recommended flies are Hare’s Ear, and Bibio. Contact details for fishing Emy Lough ring Dick Kiernan at Venture Sports on 047 814 95.
22/07/09
Emy Lough, Co. Monaghan, Hits Form
Eugene Mulligan Memorial Cup Prize Winners
L/R: Tommy McCaffrey, Vinnie Hughes, Martin McKenna
Emy Lough in Co. Monaghan is now the place to fish after the grand opening by The Emy and District Anglers of their new angler’s jetty and car park facility. A game fishery of note, the club celebrated by holding, “The Eugene Mulligan Memorial Cup”, which judging by the returns was an outstanding success.
Being a shore competition, the lake was in good order, and the sky overcast, conditions were perfect. Twenty anglers’ competed and 17 quality Trout were weighed in. Top prize for the heaviest fish, €100.00 and The Eugene Mulligan Memorial Cup, went to Vinnie Hughes. Tommy McCaffrey took the heaviest bag and €80.00 in prize money. Martin McKenna had the second heaviest bag. The Emy and District Anglers were honoured to have Mr. Vincent Mulligan present the prizes.
For top quality game angling in the North East contact: Mr. Dick Kiernan at: 047 81495, or email dick.kiernan@gmail.com.
21/07/09
Wild Brownies at Roundwood
Due to the again rainy summer we have been having Roundwood Reservoir is at its winter level making bank fishing difficult. Wicklow Anglers Association members Ashley Hayden and Kevin Rooney took to the boat and netted three Trout for a combined weight of 1.4 kgs.
The steady south west breeze and warm showery conditions were ideal for drifting along the knockatemple shore. However the Trout were not obliging and fishing was dour. With no hatch and few fish showing a change to a sinking line produced dividends with four fish to the boat and three retained. The Trout landed were stuffed with minnow and stickleback which explained the slow sport. Successful flies were a black hopper and sedge imitations.
Roundwood is a wild Brown Trout fishery, Dublin Corporation issues day tickets for bank fishing, and the boat fishing is let to the Wicklow Anglers Association. There are no boats for hire, although W.A.A members are allowed to invite a guest. Fishing is by fly only from 08.00 am until an hour after sunset.
The average size of trout on the upper reservoir is half a pound, while on the lower reservoir the average is three quarters of a pound. Traditional flies and nymph patterns work well ideally in small sizes, 14 or 16 being a good bet. Flies to not leave home with would be the Bibio, Alexandra, Peter Ross, Silver Invicta, Wickham’s, and dry Silverhorn Sedge.