Angling Reports and News
WFD Meetings
A series of public information meetings are being held regarding the future plans for rivers and lakes in your area, as part of the Eastern River Basin District Draft Plan. More information on these meetings here.
- Pike fishing [27/05/09]
- Coarse fishing [20/05/09]
- Trout fishing [21/05/09]
- Sea fishing [13/05/09]
Pike Angling
[27/05/09]
Monaghan for Summer Pike
French anglers love Monaghan, and they love catching Pike, and they love fishing with Peadar O’Brien, because he loves catching Pike, and that means that if they fish with Peadar then there is a good chance that they will catch Pike, which is what Thierry, Bruno, and Franc did last week, in fact all week, from Tuesday 19th until Saturday 23rd of May to be precise. PHEW!
A mixed week of sunshine and showers created some ideal opportunities to explore various waters in the Monaghan area. Peadar was set the task by the three musketeers who return every year to sample the angling and the Guinness. Over the 5 days the friends caught upwards of 40 Pike to 13.lbs.
“Peadar is the Premier Guide”, they were heard say, and on the strength of the images above who could argue with that?
For a day out with Peadar email: obrienmariapeadar@oceanfree.net, or phone: +353 (0) 87 926 5867.
[04/05/09]
Killyboley Lake, Co. Monaghan
Only a few Anglers are reported to have been fishing at this venue. A number of jack pike have been caught by anglers spinning from the shore.
Monmurry Lake
Two local anglers pike fishing caught up to ten jacks all from the shore.
Quig Lough
A Dublin Angler fishing at this venue last week had a 12.5 lb pike on dead bait. Local man Brian Byrne had a 29 lb pike in recent days caught on mackerel dead bait.
Rossmore Park Lakes
Pike fishing has been reasonably good in recent days over the May weekend. 3 doubles were reported all from spinning from the shore. Plugs and rubber baits seem to be working well.
Coarse Angling
20/05/09
Press Release 20th May 2009
FISHERIES BOARD WINS TWO COURT CASES FOR ILLEGAL FISHING ON MONAGHAN LAKES
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board has successfully won two court cases for illegal fishing on lakes in the Monaghan area in 2008.
On 13th May at Carrickmacross District Court, Mr. Karlis Slessers-Smelters of Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan was found to be illegally fishing in September 2008. Fisheries officers from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board apprehended him with a fixed net at Capragh Lake in Carrickmacross which contained coarse fish and court proceedings were initiated. Mr. Slessers-Smelters, a Latvian native did not appear in court. Judge McBride convicted him in his absence under Section 95 of the 1959 Fisheries Act, for using a net which was capable of taking fish. He was fined €634 and ordered to pay costs to the Board of €813.
Read the press release: FISHERIES BOARD WINS TWO COURT CASES FOR ILLEGAL FISHING ON MONAGHAN LAKES
05/05/09
Royal Canal
An early bank holiday Saturday start for Gary Robinson in search of Tench on the Royal Canal was not going as planned. The Tench were not obliging; however Gary noticed that fish were taking small black flies off the surface. Always the opportunist Gary rigged up a fly rod with a small black dry fly and after a few casts started to catch a number of Rudd. Great fun on light tackle and an interesting diversion from what could have been a blank session.
Killyboley Lake, Co. Monaghan
Only a few Anglers are reported to have been fishing at this venue. Coarse Anglers who have been feeder fishing in recent days have reported to have small bags of skimmers feeder fishing with maggot as hook bait using brown crumb and size 14 hooks.
Monmurry Lake
Coarse angling has not really kicked off here yet, there are no reports of any tench yet from this venue however one local angler had 20lbs of skimmers and roach.
Rossmore Park Lakes
Coarse anglers have been catching bags of roach and perch feeder fishing. It is still early for this venue and mixed weather has kept numbers of anglers down.
Quig Lough
Some of the swims have been producing mixed bags of course fish on feeder at this scenic venue.
Ballyhoe
One Dublin Angler fishing an all-night session at Ballyhoe last week had 15 tench, his best tench was 6lb 10oz all on maggot hook bait.
Sea Angling
13/05/09
East Coast Action
Sea anglers were out in force this weekend, probably due to the impending close season for Bass which starts this coming Friday 15/05/2009, reopening on Tuesday 16/06/2009. Venues such as Ballinoulart and Morriscastle were chock a block on Saturday. An east/south east breeze created a nice surf, but floating weed did create problems. Catches were of Bass and some nice Flounder.
Wexford based Angling Guide Jim Hendrick of SEAi (South East Angling Ireland, www.bassfishing.ie, fishing with a client on Sunday morning 09/05/2009 had eleven Bass to 65cms.
With high tide around eight am, and a light easterly breeze conditions were perfect for lure and fly fishing. Five of the eleven Bass came to the fly the remainder on lure. This is good angling by any standards. To book a session out with Jim ring, +353(0)53 91 23351, Mobile: +353(0)86 344 4557.
05/05/09
The Rosslare Coastline
Tope: The tope fishing season kicks into gear in the month of May and this kind of fishing can be very rewarding catching of course is not guaranteed. Increasing numbers of smoothound and dogfish start showing up along around Rosslare Point at this time of year. Fishing the incoming night tides is best. Large fish baits work well, mackerel strip and sandeel and crab for smoothound. Single hooks clipped and distance casting maybe required for this type of fishing in North Wexford. Sandy venues i.e. Ballinoulart and Morriscastle will all yield bass and flounder from May on especially after easterly winds in calm conditions. Concentrate on dogs smoothound and the occasional ray.
Best Baits: Rag, lug, crab and sandeel. Tinnabearna Beach is popular later in the month and produces big smoothounds. At Cahore, boat fishing begins in earnest for a range of species from May onwards. Species you can expect to encounter are ray, bullhuss, dogfish, smoothound, bass and dabs bring mackerel as it can be scarce in this venue.
Kilmichael
The Beaches north and south of Kilmichael will start to fish at this time flat fish, dogfish, bass, smoothhound and the odd surprise fish such as ray or bullhuss may turn up particularly at night. Kilmichael area - Anglers wishing to plug fish or spin lures have lots of interesting ground, bass fishing can be particularly good. Bass to 4.5 lbs have been reported in recent days. Courtown Harbour and Arklow Piers can produce good numbers of mullet from now on. In recent years bread has been a very successful bait fished on the surface however fly fishing for mullet is becoming increasingly more popular providing excellent sport.
Ennereilly Beach
Ennereilly Beach is a popular match venue at this time of year, dogfish are usually plentiful with the possibility of encountering many species i.e. ray, bass, smoothound main species. Best Baits are rag, crab, sandeel. A Good tip is to start fishing close in and work your way out. Grip leads are helpful at this venue and experiment with smooth lengths. Hook size 2 to 2o depending on bait and stay by your rods. In recent years rods have disappeared at this venue probably from a big female smoothound!
Vartry Estuary and Murrough Beach
Mullet fishing kicks off on the Vartry Estuary now, recent tides have seen increasing numbers turn up they can be very wiley when they arrive first. The Murrough Beach can produce dogfish and the occasional plaice. You can expect to encounter a mix of species from the piers in this area in the month of May.
Greystones to Wicklow Head
Beach fishing has been improving for dogfish, flounder, bass, occasional plaice and the occasional ray. Grip leads are required in daylight hours as anglers will need to fish at distance particularly at the start of the South run. Best baits are rag and sandeel and hook size 1 to 2o.
Bray
Small boats will start targeting preditors like early tope, dogs, huss and ray from now on at this mark. Numbers of pollack and wrasse will start to build, worth noting mackerel were caught here in May last year.
Dun Laoghaire Piers
Anglers can look forward to increasing numbers of species in May. Dogs, whiting some plaice, pollack and small wrasse can be expected. Spinning from these piers is productive but expect tackle loss. In May German spratts, tobies and Kilty lures are worth a go.
North of Dublin Coastline
Donabate, Redrock, Clairemount, Rogerstown, Malahide, Bettystown, Laytown, Corbalis are all capable of producing very big bass at this time of year. On mixed ground use crab and 2o to 4o hooks on sandy venues king rag works best. Fish can be close in and these venues tend to fish best after onshore winds. Seatrout can be caught by spinning along the North Dublin Coastline at this time of year. If you are targeting sea trout a state seatrout and salmon licence is required for the district you are fishing. Flounder are the main target species in North Dublin when seas are calm. In recent years increasing numbers of smoothhound are turning up at North Dublin venues to anglers fishing night tides.
Anglers worth mentioning. Two brothers Cian and Cathal Murray from Dunboyne Co. Meath boat fishing with their father Greg over the May weekend had great sport. Fishing a half mile offshore in South Wexford using mainly hawkeyes they managed more than 10 coalies to 3lb, four good size pollack and a red gurnard. Cian and Cathal are keen anglers who enjoy fly fishing for trout, pike fishing and all forms of sea fishing. The brothers also recently attended a casting event run by the Dublin Angling Initiative at Islandbridge on the River Liffey. Well done boys keep up the good work!
Many thanks to Brian Cooke, PRO of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers in compiling this report.
St Mullins, Co. Carlow
The annual pilgrimage to St Mullins, Co. Carlow, in search of the elusive Twaite Shad kicks off every May Bank Holiday weekend. Duncan Cole, a visiting angler from Northern Ireland, makes the trip every year to this magical venue.
Fishing was slow on Saturday, 2nd May, probably to do with the head of water flowing down the Barrow from the recent rains. However there were signs of fish in the river and Duncan’s patience was rewarded with a number of Shad connecting with his blue and silver Tasmanian devil.
A tip for this venue is to bring coarse and fly fishing tackle as well. Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Dace, Carp, Pike, and Trout can also be targeted from the old mill upstream towards the island.
Trout Angling
21/05/09
Superb Ferox Trout Boated on Blessington
Sean English with a 7.lb 3.oz Ferox Trout caught while trolling in Blessington Lake, Co. Wicklow
Sean English is a regular visitor to Blessington Lake, Co. Wicklow. Throughout the angling season Sean will fish for Pike from either boat or shore with some level of success. Last Sunday 17th May 2009, Sean and a friend set out in their boat from Russelstown Harbour with a few hours Pike trolling in mind. A half an hour and a hunch later Sean was cradling a 7.lb 3.oz Ferox Trout.
Fishing an area of deep water that regularly shows fish on the finder in mid water, but is not known for Pike, Sean struck pay dirt when the large Trout hammered into his lure. In first class condition, the Trout follows on from a four pound plus fish landed by a friend last season at the same venue. To cap a great session the duo also landed 9 x Pike and a Perch topping 1.5 lbs on a fine day out at the west Wicklow venue.
20/05/09
Big Blackwater Brownies
A May evening session on the Kells Blackwater proved extremely productive for local angling guide Pat McLaughlin. Known as the Trout Whisperer, Pat knows every inch of the river having fished it since he was a boy. The family tradition goes back to his grandfather who is supposed to be the first person to have cast a dry fly on the Kells Blackwater.
The above fish weighing 3 lb 14 oz, was tempted by a little black gnat and was stalked for at least half an hour. The fish was spotted rising, studied to gauge its feeding pattern and movement, then covered. Bang and the fight was on, in near pitch darkness. Trout of the calibre pictured are not easily caught and take real skill. The Kells Blackwater has a good stock of fish in this bracket or larger. Pat has a ten pound fish to his credit caught on a dry fly in 2004.
For an entertaining days fishing on a fine chalk stream where the Trout average 12 oz, contact Pat on, +353 (0)86 101 7415 or email: patandtrina@eircom.net.
18/05/09
Rainbow Warriors
Stephanie O’Keefe and Glenda Powell with a fine Rathcon Rainbow
Rathcon Trout Fishery, www.rathcon.com, Grangecon, Co. Wicklow was the venue for the first ERFB Ladies Day event in aid of Action Breast Cancer for 2009. A very poor weather forecast of gale force winds and driving rain reduced the attendance but did not dampen the enthusiasm. Glenda Powell of Blackwater Lodge, www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net, and Mark Corps (Game Angling Advisor with the C.F.B), set the tone of the day with their professionalism, knowledge, and love of the sport of angling. This rubbed off on the eager participants who got stuck in, challenged and beat adversity hands down, to fashion what became a very successful day out.
Group shot, Ladies Day at Rathcon Trout Fishery
Richard, Sarah, and Dermot Paige have to be commended on a fine fishery. The Rainbows are in superb condition, gaining weight rapidly due to the fine feeding within the lakes, and becoming quite naturalised. For the Action Breast Cancer event all the stops were pulled out, with a superb hot and cold buffet laid on for those taking part that was fit for a king.
Anne Bradley with a superb Rathcon Rainbow
Intermediate lines allied to, bead heads, and cone head minkies were the successful Rainbow attracting combination. A feature was that everybody landed or at least hooked a Trout with over ten fish caught during the afternoon session. Testament to the positive attitude that prevailed on what everyone agreed was a fun and enjoyable day out. €595.00 was raised for Action Breast Cancer, and the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board would like to thank all those that took part for their generosity, especially in these straitened times.
05/05/09
Mahon Lakes, Co. Wexford
Colaiste Bhride, Carnew, Co. Wicklow Outing to Mahon Lakes, Co. Wexford
Eighteen pupils from Colaiste Bhride, Carnew, Co. Wicklow enjoyed a day’s fly fishing at Mahon Lakes, near Adamstown, Co. Wexford. Top fly casting instructor Glenda Powell of Blackwater Lodge, Co. Waterford was on hand to give advice on casting skills, entomology, and trout and salmon lifecycles. Combining an indoor power point presentation with a practical outdoor lesson on the rudiments of fly casting, the pupils were soon champing at the bit to put their new found skills to the test.
The boys spread themselves out around the facility which comprises three small lakes in a pastoral setting. Very quickly to much excitement the first Rainbow came to the net caught by James Tighe.
Shortly after pupil Laurence Carter doubled the tally.
A strengthening wind made casting very difficult as the day progressed, but the chaps persevered connecting with a number of Trout which threw the hook before they reached the net. At close of play the tally remained two Rainbow Trout successfully landed, which is no mean achievement for novice anglers, and the lads should be well pleased with their efforts.
Mahon Lakes has an open air facility where fish can be barbequed which was put to good use by Glenda, adding to the overall angling experience for the pupils. The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board would like to thank Glenda, Tom Stafford of Mahon Lakes, and teacher Enda Byrne for their contribution to a wonderful day for the pupils of Colaiste Bhride, Carnew, Co. Wicklow.
Fact file:
- Loch Mahon Lakes Trout Fishery,
Kellystown, Adamstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Web: http://www.lochmahon.com/ - Glenda Powell,
Blackwater Lodge and Salmon Fishery, Upper Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.
Web: http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/.
05/05/09
River Liffey, Newbridge - Athgarvan
Anglers were out in force over the bank holiday, making good use of the reasonable weather that we had and enjoying some good sport. The River Liffey upstream of Newbridge is providing consistent action to anglers fishing the dry fly. Local guide John Higgins brought all his skills to bear fishing size 22 reed smuts to tempt the finicky, super fast Trout that reside in the stretch between Athgarvan and Newbridge.
For information, permits, or to book a day of guided fishing, contact John at: +353 (0)86 813 5497, or email: jjhiggins@o2.ie.
Blessington Lake
Blessington Lake has been stocked with rainbow trout in the middle of April. There has been less anglers fishing for trout than other years. Most trout that have been caught have been taken by anglers using bait from the shore at Boylans Lane however some Anglers have been catching trout when fly fishing from boat. Cold conditions have been keeping the fly life to a minimum in the coming weeks fly fishing is expected to pick up.
Loughmore, Co. Monaghan
Fly fishing has been very good following restocking and there are brown trout only at this venue. Boat hire is available from Venture Sports Co. Monaghan at €10 per day. Fly patterns that have been working well are apple green midge, blood worm immitation and buzzer pupa. Best fish last week was a lovely 3.5lb trout.
Emy Lake
Emy Lake has been fishing well for trout. It is fly fishing only at this venue, boats are also available for hire from Dick Kiernan at Venture Sports. There are wild brown trout up to 5 lb weight at this venue local anglers have reported a good hatch of duck fly at the moment and are looking forward to a good May fly hatch.
Contact details 047 81495.
Rathbeggan Lakes
Fishery Manager Dave Robinson has reported a good hatch of hawthorn fly. Fly fishing has been very good in the evening particularly if you are prepared to fish until dusk. Using a floating line, recommended fly patterns are alder, hawthorn and grey duster. Some anglers are catching six and seven fish in a session up to 5lb weight. A special evening ticket is available at €15.
Annamoe Trout Fishery
Annamoe Trout Fishery has been fishing very well and on Friday 1st May one regular angler from Dublin had 22 fish using a boobie on a floating line. A group of 22 American Anglers on holiday in the area had a wonderful days fly fishing at the venue in an event organised by Brian Nally Fishery Manager and the Dublin Angling Initiative. Good sized trout were plentiful some trout were taken on dry fly, many of the anglers fly fished for the first time. Brian tells me the “bloody butcher has been working well”.