Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
Tuesday 11th December 2007
The Silver Stream Anglers Christmas Competition took place last Saturday at Rathcon Fishery, Co Wicklow. 12 anglers took part in total and were successful in landing some fine Rathcon rainbow trout. Martin McGorian won with 10 fish, Dave McBride from Southside Angling came 2nd with 9 fish and Karl O’Toole from Southside Angling came in third with 7 fish. 3 double figure fish were caught using lures.
www.rathcon.com
Corkagh Park Fishery held a competition on the lake last Sunday - the first leg of the Winter league. The winner was Noel Shields with 5 nice trout for 218cm. In second place was Paddy McLoughlin with 3 trout for circa 130cm. The lakes were recently stocked with some great fish - all there for the catching. So look out for some quality fishing over the Christmas – the fishery is open every day except Christmas day.
The carp lake is fishing very well at present - best carp this week was a 10 pounder for Harry Kilpatrick. Harry has caught over a dozen carp this week between 4 and 10 lb.
www.corkaghparkfishery.com
The trout fishing lake at Rathbeggan is fishing well with brightly coloured lures. It was recently stocked with some big rainbows so anglers are in with a good chance of catching a big one before Christmas. The coarse lake is slow at the moment due to the cold weather. Rathbeggan are holding a New Year Competition on the flyfishing lake on the 1st January and it is open to all as long as you are there for 12noon. A great prize of a handmade Wavin fishing rod will be presented to the angler who catches the first fish in 2008.
Further details on www.rathbegganlakes.com
Capragh and Brothers Lakes in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan are both fishing well for pike of 9lbs and over at present. Brothers Lake which is usually more associated with coarse fishing than pike fishing has produced a number of great pike recently due to the small carp inhabiting the lake. Peadar was spending some time fishing a particular lake in the area recently and it paid off as he caught a 23 lb pike. Peadar couldn’t wait to get a photo of this great catch with his brand new camera (the last one suffered water damage while bass fishing off the Wexford coast!) but his excitement quickly turned to frustration when he realized the battery was dead! The pike was carefully returned to the water. Peadar has learnt his lesson and now carries a spare battery on every fishing trip! It is worth noting that water levels are high on many other lakes in the area, particularly, Rahan’s Lake (the water is over the angling stands) so avoid this lake until the levels drop.
Pike are few and far between at the moment. Although, there was a 23lb pike caught on the Gas Lake recently. The pike competition qualifiers were held on the 2nd December on Lough Muckno and Fred Mooney from Drogheda won with a 27lb pike off White Island. Frank Lennon came in 2nd with a 17lb pike.
The last fishing trip of 2007 for the Dublin Angling Initiative took place on Breakey Lake in county Cavan on the 5th December. Conditions could only be described as very difficult with freezing cold wind and heavy rain sweeping across the shores of Breakey. However, the Jay Project from Jobstown were not put off by the weather and fished like true pros all day.
Des Chew, James Kavanagh age 15, Joe Bryne age 16 and Glen Paul aged 16.
The first fish of the day came to Richie Burton, a fine 7lb pike which was caught on a sardine. Then we had a well earned cup of tea and sausages cooked under the shelter of our brollies. It wasn't long before Joe Bryne's bite alarm sounded a screaming run! We all ran to Joe's rod to watch him strike into his running fish which was followed by a great battle. He played the fish like a true master allowing the fish to run when she needed to and never taking the bend of this rod. Ronan McCormack from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board was on hand to net the fish, a 16lb beauty in immaculate condition. The fish had taken another sardine.
Joe Bryne aged 16 with a fine 16lb Pike
The fish was unhooked and weighed quickly before we watched her swim back to the cold water she had come from.
Although no further fish were caught on the day everyone really enjoyed the experience of seeing this large fish being caught and released. In fact Joe has beaten the Dublin angling Initiative pike record by 8 oz, well done Joe.
It was really a great end to a great years fishing for the Dublin Angling Initiative groups.
Back row from left to right – Ronan McCormack (from Eastern Regional Fisheries Board), Lee Salinger, Chris McGregor (Dublin Angling Initiative Tutor). Front row –from left to right – James Kavanagh, Ger Kildea (Community Garda from Tallaght), Glen Paul, Richie Burton and Joe Bryne.
There is some fantastic coarse fishing in the Monaghan and Cavan areas at present. Peadar reports that anglers can expect 70 - 100lbs of coarse fish including roach and bream at the slipway at Lough Ramor, Virginia, Co Cavan using a 4 metre whip or float fishing with a waggler. Brothers Lake and Convent Lake or Lough na Glack as it is also known in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan is also fishing well producing roach, skimmers and hybrids. Long pole fishing with a short line is working best. Capragh Lake is also producing good catches of roach and hybrids and carp of 10-12lbs.
Coarse fishing in the Monaghan area is very good at the moment, particularly for roach. Lough Muckno is fishing well as is the Gas Lake. Red maggots are working well
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