Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
09/04/09
Pike angling guides Mal McLeod and Gerry Duffy gave a party of four French anglers a week to remember fishing the numerous Lakes around Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. Early April can be hit and miss with Pike due to the annual spawning run, however experience and local knowledge combined to provide the tourist anglers with some wonderful catches.
Over five days fishing 72 Pike were landed with the biggest, caught on a float trolled dead bait, weighing 20lb 14oz. This Pike was a greedy so and so, as when landed it had not only the roach used for bait in its mouth, but also a 2lb weight Bream. Lures were used as well over the five days, but these tended to attract small jack Pike.
The party were based at Arradale House, http://www.arradale.com/, a Failte Ireland approved establishment run by Christine McMahon that caters for the needs of Pike and Coarse anglers.
For Pike, Coarse, and Game guiding services in Ireland’s North East Counties contact:
Gerry Duffy: Ph: +353 (0)87 627 1993.
Mal McLeod: Ph +353 (0)86 605 0425.
The French Party organized their successful trip through Gatti Tours: http://www.gattifishingtours.com/.
06/04/09
River Inny, Sunday April 5th 2009
Left to right are Fergus Dunne, Robbie McShane, Ronan Murray, Eugene McCabe, Eddie Keogh.
The first qualifier of the 2009/10 National Pike Championships was held on Sunday April 5th on the Inny near Legan. All 86 anglers signed in at Smyth's Bar, where Terry Sheridan took the entry and handed out the maps of where everyone could fish. There were 9 miles of bank used for the competition - which was more than enough. This stretch of river has lots of features and good variation of depths, which suited all anglers. Over the day there were 212 Pike caught, the best fish being 13lbs 6oz.
At the end of the competition, most anglers went back to Smyth’s Bar where sandwiches were provided for all.
The top 5 anglers who go through to fish in the Final are 1st Eddie Keogh (Trim) 6 Pike 29lb-14oz, 2nd Robbie McShane (Ardee) 10 Pike 24lb-11oz, 3rd Eugene McCabe (Newbridge) 9 Pike 23lb-01oz, 4th Fergus Dunne (Duleek) 4 Pike 22lb-04oz, 5th Ronan Murray (Cootehill) 8 Pike 21lb-08oz.
The next competition will be held on the Dromore River near Ballybay on May 10th; check in time will be 9:30am for fishing 11:00am to 4:00pm.
Remaining Qualifying Rounds:
June 7th 2009: River Shannon, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick.
July 5th 2009: Lough Egish, Co. Monaghan.
August 9th: River Suck, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
Sept 6th: Killybandrick Lake, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan.
October 11th: Levanree Lake, Co. Mayo.
November 1st: Lough na Blaghy, Co.Roscommon.
December 6th: Butlersbridge, Co. Cavan.
January 3rd 2010: Clea Lake.
January 17th 2010: Shantona Lake, Shercock, Co. Cavan.
Information supplied by Godfrey Donohue.
27/04/08
Dick Caplice (manager of the Irish Coarse Fishing team), along with local angling guides Peadar O’Brien, Mal McLeod, and Xavier Lafforgue trial fished the Concra Wood section of Lough Muckno last Thursday, April 23rd, 2009. They were not disappointed as good numbers of fish swelled their keep nets.
Fishing the feeder, it was not long before bites started registering and a steady stream of beautifully conditioned fish started hitting the bank. Roach, Hybrids, an odd Perch, and a lone scavenging Jack Pike kept things interesting for the anglers. Bait was predominantly red maggots, with swims being fed a steady supply of casters and crumb.
Top bag was close to thirty pounds of mainly Roach and Hybrids, caught in just under five hours over what was a very easy going session. All the lads caught similar bags, and with the season really only getting going, Lough Muckno is laying down an early marker as a venue well worth visiting.
A full listing of angling guides can be found here.
27/04/09
Sea Anglers were out in force along the east coast over the weekend of the 25th and 26th April. The wind blew from the north with copious amounts of rain falling, especially over Friday night into Saturday morning. Sean O’Keeffe, a teacher at Gorey Community School, bagged his first ever Bass with an eight pound + beauty pictured above. Sean hooked the fish on a beach just south of Courtown, Co. Wexford during an evening session. The Bass was landed after a spirited fight.
Diego Leccardi, along with his friend Tomas Wilde fished Tinnebearna, Co. Wexford on Saturday night last. Between ten pm and midnight the friends landed three Bass, lost a couple in the surf, and missed a number of bites. The biggest fish, tempted by king Ragworm, was landed by Tomas and measured 53 cms. Diego’s fish measured 45 and 48 cms respectively and fell to lugworm.
Courtown Angling Center ran by Joe Byrne and Mick Redmond is a focal point for all east coast anglers. Open seven days a week until late for all your tackle and bait requirements. Contact Joe at: +353 (0)87 661 3145.
17 April 2009
Paul Newell Corcagh Park Fisheries with the Spring League winner Graham Quigley
Corkagh Park Fisheries has just completed a Spring League with the cream of South Dublin's fly fishermen taking part. The format of the competition took place over four Sundays. Anglers rotated pegs over a four hour period on each day. Each fish caught was measured before being returned to the water. The winner was decided by the cumulative length of all fish caught.
Going into the final Sunday things were very tight at the top of the leader board with several late surges. The eventual winner was Graham Quigley with a length of 6445mm. Second was Gar Murphy with 4055mm, and third Paddy McLoughlin with 3260mm. The top eight finishers all receive points towards Angler of the Year 2009.
For More information on Corkagh Park Fisheries contact Paul Newell on 01-459 2625.
Email: info@corkaghparkfisheries.com
Web: www.corkaghparkfisheries.com
Easter Sunday, 12th April 2009
Easter Sunday was a crisp bright day with a steady south east breeze, creating ideal conditions for a few drifts on this wonderful wild Trout fishery set in north Co. Wicklow. There are two lakes in Roundwood, upper and lower, separated by a dam. Dublin Corporation issues day tickets for bank fishing, and boat fishing is let to the Wicklow Anglers Association. Fishing methods are by artificial fly only and the fishing times are from 08.00 am until one hour after sunset.
The upper lake was chosen by Kevin Rooney and Ashley Hayden and it did not disappoint. Although fishing was hard, the day was cold and there was little or no fly life, perseverance and changing of fly patterns eventually paid off. Four hard fighting Trout came to the net along with a few lesser fish returned. Successful patterns were Alexandra, Sooty Olive, and Bibio, all in small sizes.
Good Friday, April 10th 2009
The Liffey in and around Newbridge, Co. Kildare is fishing very well. Whether up stream dry fly or conventional wet fly a good bag of Trout is definitely on the cards. Average size is about 8oz, but there are plenty of Brownies up to and over a pound, great fun on light tackle. If fishing wet put up a Greenwells Spider size 14 or 16, if dry try various olive patterns.
Local angling guide John Higgins recommends fishing dry unless the water is coloured, and if fishing wet put up a Partridge and Orange in the evening when the olive spinners are falling on the water.
Angling guide: John Higgins, N.A.G (National Angling
Guide)
Phone: +353(0)45 435050 Mobile: +353 (0)86 813
5497
Email: jjhiggins@o2.ie
Easter Sunday, 12th April 2009
Easter Sunday was a crisp bright day with a steady south east breeze, creating ideal conditions for a few drifts on this wonderful wild Trout fishery set in north Co. Wicklow. There are two lakes in Roundwood, upper and lower, separated by a dam. Dublin Corporation issues day tickets for bank fishing, and boat fishing is let to the Wicklow Anglers Association. Fishing methods are by artificial fly only and the fishing times are from 08.00 am until one hour after sunset.
The upper lake was chosen by Kevin Rooney and Ashley Hayden and it did not disappoint. Although fishing was hard, the day was cold and there was little or no fly life, perseverance and changing of fly patterns eventually paid off. Four hard fighting Trout came to the net along with a few lesser fish returned. Successful patterns were Alexandra, Sooty Olive, and Bibio, all in small sizes.
02/04/09
Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Co. Kildare based angling guide John Higgins introduced Ashley Hayden of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board to the quality of fly fishing that the River Liffey has to offer in and around the town of Newbridge. Clear blue sky and bright sunshine made conditions difficult but not impossible. A light southerly breeze blew and temperatures climbed to 18 degrees, the first real summers day of 2009.
The hatch was light with only a few dark olives showing and not many Trout rising. However progressing upstream along both the Strand and Town stretches searching various runs, induced an increasing number of rises from the most beautifully coloured Trout, with the average size touching 30cms. John was broken by a fish on the take that was well in excess of a pound. The last half hour on the Town stretch showed what the Liffey can do with Trout rising to every other cast.
John Higgins, a current Irish Fly Fishing International guides full time on the Liffey. His service covers whole or half days and includes where required collection from Dublin Airport. The Liffey Brown Trout are wild, numerous, have a large average size, and are canny. For a great days fishing, and the opportunity to tap into a wealth of knowledge, give John a call.
Contact: John Higgins, (N.A.G.) National Angling
Guide
Phone: +353 (0)45 435050 Mobile: +353 (0)86 813 5497
Email: jjhiggins@o2.ie
30/03/09
Rathdrum Trout Anglers - Les Armstrong Cup
Rathdrum Trout Angling and Environmental Club held the first competition of the new 2009 season last Sunday, 29th March. Meeting at the old mill below Rathdrum, lines in was at 11.00am, with close of play scheduled for 15.00pm. The day was fine and bright but cold, and hatches were minimal with just a few olives showing about midday.
David Armstrong won the match with a cracking 1.lb 2.oz wild Brown Trout caught on the mill stretch below the bridge at Rathdrum. Employing Czech Nymph tactics, a weighted caddis on the point was the killing fly. The river was in good condition although a little low for the time of year. Day permits for the Avonmore can be bought at “The Meetings” public house, Avoca, Co. Wicklow.