Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
Tuesday 11h March 2008
By Michael Flanagan
Yes we were in the thick of the action last weekend as the trout season opened here on the midland lakes and rivers. I started the season as in previous years on Lough Lene. The lake produced some cracking fish, both on the fly, and trolling.
LENE OPENING DAY. Last Friday night anglers across the Country were preparing for the opening of the trout angling season. Once again i had arranged to head to Lough Lene for the start of the season. I teamed up with Seamus Hennessey, and my young daughter April, who i regard as my good luck charm in the boat was also on board. It was certainly a cold start to the opening, and there was quite a strong wind blowing straight into the Cut at Lough Lene.
Still it was quite fishable and plenty of boats were out on the lake. We were not long out when Seamus hooked-up with the first trout of the day, and the fish was in mind condition,and seem to have wintered well. April also got stuck into the action and landed some lovely bars of silver well over the 1lbs mark. I struggled most of the day,but was quite content landing fish. As it turned out the fish gods sent me my opening day trout that evening ,so no blanks were reported on the day. At lunch time i met Tommy and Mikie kelly, the lads had three fine fish some well over the 2lbs mark. These fish fell to the troll. Freddie Miller and Carol Owens from Dublin were in fine form on the fly, and the lads had some fantastic action boating eight trout to the fly.
Our good friend Paul Moran like myself struggled on the opening day, but as the norm Paul produced the good just after lunch, and landed a few real crackers. As i passed one of the Islands on Lene, Delvin angling hot -shot Larry Pointon took some shelter from the wind. I drifted over to Larry and sure enough he had a super bar of silver. This was a cracking fish for the opening day, and i am sure Larry will land plenty more in the coming season. Lough Lene Chairman Tom Fagan was on board the O, Neill craft, and also had a few good fish. I passed the lads at winters point just after lunch, and at that time Michael O, Neill had a fine trout over 2lbs. As the day progressed the wind got quite strong, with this the anglers finished up on Lene.
News items etc. mick@midlandangling.com or 087-2797270.
Sunday 9th March
70 anglers fished the Raheny & District open shore competition. The competition was sponsored by Henry's Tackle. In spite of a south westerly wind and clear sea, fishing proved to be tough and not a huge amount of fish showing up on the beach. However, there were some interesting results – Mick Dixon landed a 37cm spent plaice on mussel and safely released the fish. The main species caught on the day were flounders in small numbers averaging 25cm and small numbers of whiting. Ian Flood won the junior section with six fish, 3 whiting and 3 flounder. The best baits were lug and mackerel.
There has been a recent report of a 15lb smooth hound taken on sand eel in an Arklow Club competition.
Fishing by night anglers can expect to catch whiting and good numbers of collies, small dabs and flounders are also present. Lug and mackerel seem to be working best.
Pike- boat anglers and shore anglers have been having good fishing on Lough Muckno in recent days. A local angler landed a 27lb pike off White Island fishing with dead bait. The fish was safely returned. White Island has been fishing well as there is a good head of roach and hybrids in close.
Coarse fishing has also been good off White Island with good bags of roach and hybrid been taken fishing with feeder size 14/16 hooks and maggots.
Pike- Two boat anglers fishing from a boat on Gas lake recently caught 10 pike fishing with lures, biggest fish 10lb. Dead bait off the shore has been working well.
Coarse Angling – In recent days coarse fishing has been excellent for the time of year fishing from the platform with poles. There is good deep water off the stands up to 17ft and roach, bream and hybrids have been taken.
Fishing well with pole or waggler in depths of 3.5ft. Good sized roach, tench and hybrids to 4.5lb fishing off any of the stands.
Rahans has fished well over the last couple of weeks for pike, mainly by boat. Both lures and dead baits fished under floats seem to result in success however this may change with the recent rise in water levels. PLEASE ANGLERS BE VIGILANT FOR ANY SIGNS OF ILLEGAL FISHING.
Blessington continues to fish well, static dead baits are usually the order of the day for Blessington, smelt or joey mackerel. Anglers should concentrate on the bays. Remember to handle pike with extra care at this time of year. A number of 20's have been reported in recent weeks.
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