Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
18/02/09
Attending the Fisheries Board Stand at the recent Ireland Angling Fair, were Josie Mahon and Ashley Hayden of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, with well known Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, angling Guide Mal McLeod.
Mal along with his partner Geraldine run Gate Lodge Angling, a guest house and angling service combined. Centrally located in Carrickmacross within walking distance of Pubs, regular music sessions, and Restaurants, Mal provides guided Pike angling trips, and pre baiting and advice on coarse angling.
Mal McLeod, The Lodge Angling, Parnell Street, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan
Tel: +353 42 9661833 or +353 866050425
Web: www.gatelodgeangling.com Email: info@gatelodgeangling.com
16/02/09
Chris Grzegortz and Peadar O’Brien boat fishing a local Monaghan lake last Wednesday 11/02/2009 caught five Pike to 12 lbs. Four other fish were connected with, but not landed in what appeared to be a busy session.
Also this week, Peter Russel landed and returned this superb 24 lb 5 oz north east Pike, proving that you cannot beat the eastern region when it comes to quality fish.
05/02/09
Wicklow anglers Gary Robinson and Scott Ring were given directions to a Monaghan lake on form by angling guide Peadar O’Brien. Setting off last Tuesday 03/02/2009 Gary and Scott ran into snow showers north of Carrickmacross.
Reaching their destination the lad’s started fishing, first with popped up dead baits, then float fished dead baits. Having no response, Scott decided to spin with a soft plastic lure, and was rewarded with a 9 lb 14 oz Pike, netted safely and returned unharmed. One could say dedication and perseverance rewarded.
02/02/09
Carrickmacross angling guide Peadar O’Brien continues in his quest to show the quality of Pike available in the Cavan Monaghan area. With temperatures below freezing through the Christmas period Pike angling had slowed. However the rise in temperatures through January got the fish moving.
Having just returned from holidays Peadar fancied a day on a local lake close to Carrickmacross. Trolling a float fished dead bait Peadar connected with and landed the 20lb 03oz beauty pictured above. After the photos the fish was returned safely and unharmed to the water.
Based in Carrickmacross, Peadar an ex Irish coarse fishing International guides in the Cavan/Monaghan area. Whether it is Pike, Bream, or Trout, drop Peadar a line and he will put you on the fish. Email: obrienmariapeadar@oceanfree.net.
26/02/09
Robbie Cording along with a friend fished a short afternoon session on the Royal Canal at Leixlip last Monday 23/02/2009. In a couple of hours the friends accumulated a nice bag of Roach and Hybrids. One big Tench was hooked but unfortunately lost. A feature of the session was the obvious increase in the numbers of fish shoaling in the area.
20/02/09
Robert Cording spent a few hours fishing the Royal Canal at Leixlip last Sunday 15/02/2009. The intrepid angler was rewarded with a fine bag of Roach.
The Royal Canal between Lucan and Leixlip is an excellent angling venue in an urban setting. Anglers fishing summer mornings and evenings take good catches of Roach, Bream, Hybrids, and Tench. In the winter months Pike are targeted which can reach up to 20 lbs.
Click on http://www.fishingireland.net/fishing/coarse/dublin/lucan.htm for further information.
16/02/09
Dynamic duo, Scott Ring and Gary Robinson beat the recession blues by taking two days out angling, firstly in Co. Carlow fishing the Barrow downstream of Athy, followed by a day Piking in Co. Cavan.
Roach, Perch, Dace and Hybrids made up the catch when the lads fished a canal stretch of the River Barrow on Thursday 12th February. Bait consisted of worms, maggots, and castors fished on running ledger rigs. One or two of the Perch caught were knocking a pound, and with the water increasing in temperature after the snow, bigger and more varied bags are expected.
The following day Friday the 13th proved lucky for Scott when a 12 lb 9 oz Cavan Pike took his popped up dead bait while fishing a venue near Shercock. Ten minutes later Gary had a run, also on a dead bait, which resulted in a fine Pike nudging ten pounds.
All fish were returned unharmed after a quick photograph. Gary also managed to find the time to set up a feeder rod and with a mix of hemp, breadcrumb, maggots, and castors proceeded to catch a small bag of Roach. All in all a productive few days on the water for the Co. Wicklow based anglers.
02/02/09
The 21st Winter Shore Angling Festival cast off at 15.00 pm, on Donaghmore Strand, South of Courtown, last Thursday 29/01/2009. Seventy three anglers from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man, braved a south easterly gale to fish the first of three pegged competitions from which ultimately the festival champion would emerge.
Based at Sean Og’s Hotel and Holiday Cottages, Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford, the festival continues to attract the top match anglers from the UK and Irish circuit, including household names such as Alan Yates, Ian Golds, and Chris Clark. Not to be outdone local well known anglers Brian Reynolds, Robbie Coventry, and Joe Byrne drew their pegs, and were not going to make it easy for the UK contingent.
Maddies, Snake Whites, Lugworm in various guises, in fact every bait imaginable was on hand to tempt the Whiting, Flounder, Dab, and Rockling that were expected to make up the bulk of the catches over the course of the match. EFSA rules are based on catch and release. Any fish caught on or over the EFSA minimum size limits are measured and put back in the sea. Points are awarded for length, tallied cumulatively, and the angler with the most points at the finish is the winner. At close of play after the first match Ian Golds from Portsmouth, Hampshire was in the lead, closely followed by Alan Yates.
With the pre appointed venues of Courtown, Morriscastle, Ballinoulart, and all other east coast beaches totally unfishable on day two due to the ferocity of south easterly gale force 8 – 9 winds, the organising committee made an early morning decision to move the match to Cheekpoint in the sheltered Waterford estuary, for a shortened four hour session. Fishing a rising tide for Codling and Flounder, the competitors persevered in what were very difficult conditions consisting of gale gusts and driving rain.
Small Codling were being landed steadily from the off along with the odd Flounder. As the tide rose it became more difficult to locate fish, and for those anglers that did connect many fish were lost on the retrieve, as tackle got snagged in the rough ground close to shore.
Ian Golds, the first day match winner pictured above, started well on the day but appeared to fade through the afternoon. However consistency is what match angling is about, and his final catch left him only three points off the leaders. At the close, local angler Alan Mulcahy won the day with a consistent catch of Codling and Flounder, closely followed by Richard Yates, son of well known match angler Alan Yates.
The EFSA Winter Festival continued on Saturday 31st January when 73 brave souls fished the final leg of the three day event at Morriscastle Strand, Co. Wexford. The wind continued to blow from the south east, but had diminished slightly to a force 5 to 7. The sea was mountains and all the anglers skills came to bear in search of the fish that would claim the championship.
Fish were scarce and the match certainly in the early stages developed into a scratching game. An odd Flounder was reeled in, with rumours of a Bass landed on the pegs towards Ballinoulart. Fish in the main though were small as evidenced by the Flounder landed by Clive Ivory below.
At the close perseverance paid off and Alan Yates took first place, a Waterford Crystal vase, and a cheque for € 500.00. In second place was Ian Golds, and third overall was Richard Yates. The cream one could say rose to the top. In very trying circumstances over three days, preparation, experience, and application merged to provide a winning combination.
For the record, the total payout for prizes and pools over the three day event was € 11,715. The four man team event was won by an English team comprised of Alan Yates, John Wells, Saul Page, and Neil Marsh. Scottish teams came second and third. The two man team event was won by Neil Marsh and Saul Page. The longest round fish prize went to Alan Mulcahy for a Codling measuring 40 cm; while the longest flat was a 33 cm Flounder caught by English competitor Richard Dorgan. Both anglers received Grauvell reels sponsored by Viking Tackle in Bray.
The organising committee of George McCullough, Mick Quinn, and Warren Doyle have to be congratulated on a very well run event hampered by difficult weather conditions. To encourage 70 plus anglers, 39 of whom came from abroad, including two World Champions, to participate in a three day festival in the tourist off season has to be commended. An estimated € 50,000+ was spent by the participants over the long weekend, a much needed off season cash injection for an area heavily dependent on tourism. Well done to all involved.
23/02/09
Annamoe Trout Fishery near Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, hosted in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, the annual media fly fishing competition. A glorious sunny day boded well for the 18 participants involved, although a hard frost the night before lowered water temperatures making fish hard to tempt.
With the fishery split into four zones, the competition was based on nine teams of two anglers fishing an hour in each zone. Catch and release applied, the winning score based on the cumulative length of Trout caught per team. Tactics and flies were discussed over tea, coffee, and biscuits, and at precisely 11.00am proprietor Brian Nally blew his whistle and the fun began in earnest.
Initially Trout were slow to bite, with participants mainly fishing blobs, cats’ whiskers, boobies, and various nymphs slow and deep. As the day wore on it became clear that every method in the book was being used to tempt a pull. Mark Corps of the CFB was the first to strike gold with a 41 cm Rainbow on what could only be described as a pink thing. There really is no accounting for taste. Having upped the anti, the participants competitive edge came to the fore, and at the final whistle a further eleven Trout had been brought to the bank.
In the last half hour Mike Shanks of the Irish Angler Magazine hit a purple patch, connecting with four fish and landing two, all on a damsel nymph fished deep and slow. This brought Mike’s tally to three fish, and won first prize for the Irish Angler team of David Dinsmore and Mike Shanks.
Second place went to the Irish Anglers Digest team comprising Denis Goulding and Karl O’Toole, with Mark Corps and Paul Burke of the CFB coming third. The heaviest fish was a 44cm Rainbow landed by Denis Goulding.
The ERFB and all participants would like to thank Brian Nally and his staff, for use of this well appointed fishery, and also for the fine lunch sponsored by Game Fairs Ireland, provided at half time. Special mention again must go to Brian Nally, Des Chew of the DAI, and Josie Mahon of the ERFB, for their work behind the scenes in organising the day. To Celine Moorkens of True Tackle, Jimmy Tyrrell of Irish Fly Craft, and Brian Nally of Annamoe Trout Fishery for donating the many prizes on offer. Finally to Failte Ireland for the Dublin Crystal which was much appreciated.
Annamoe Trout Fishery, Co. Wicklow is a four acre lake five minutes drive from the beautiful historic valley of Glendalough.
Phone: 0404 45470
Email: annamoefishery@eircom.net
Web: http://homepage.eircom.net/~fishery/
Abbeyleix, Co.Laois
Professional Fly Dresser, Quality Fly Dressing Materials, & Fishing Tackle
Prop: Jimmy Tyrrell
Email: irishflycraft@eircom.net
Ph: 086 845 1257
18/02/09
Frank Hall hit the big time at Corkagh Park Fishery, Clondalkin, when he landed a superb Rainbow Trout weighing 14 lb 6 oz. The lunker Rainbow was taken on a diawl bach, using a Sierra Rod and Reel, coupled with HMT fly line linked to a 7 lb Asso Super Fluorocarbon tippet. Landed after a nail biting 15 minute fight, the Trout was quickly photographed and returned unharmed to the water.
Corkagh Park Fishery, managed by Trevor Toner has recently been stocked with hard fighting Rainbows, many into double figures. With a fine history of supporting youth groups, angling clubs, and running events, why not pay the venue a visit.
Contact Trevor by emailing trevor@macktrading.net, or by phoning +353 (0)1 4640644.
03/02/09
As a result of the cold frosty weather when the lake was frozen during December and January the postponed 5th qualifying heat of the Scierra Fly Fishing Winter League took place on Saturday 30th January. Conditions were dull , wet , windy and overcast. This was the last qualifying heat for the Grand Final scheduled for Saturday 28th February. Fifteen anglers entered for the event. Twenty one rainbows were landed, measured and returned safely. Trout were caught on Blood Worms , Black Boobies , Black Woolly Buggers and Buzzers. The winner Liffey Angler Gerry Heaslip landed six rainbows. He caught four of these during the first hour. Well known Master Fly Tier Noel Shiels on his first visit to the lake caught four fish and secured second place. Another experienced angler Tony Mc Gratten from Dublin was third with two trout. Nine competitors landed twenty one rainbows during the four hour competition.