Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
04/03/09
Angling columnist Nick Parry and Des Chew of the Dublin Angling Initiative spent two days Pike fishing on Blessington Lake, Co. Wicklow last week. With the big hens putting on weight and moving into the shallows prior to spawning, the possibility of a twenty pounder was on the cards.
On day one trying a variety of baits Nick and Des had eight Pike between them, with the best a 13 pounder to Des Chew taken on a ledgered smelt. Day two was slower with only a jack Pike to Des before Nick hit the Jackpot at 5 pm with a fine fish topping twenty pounds. The successful bait was a bluey popped up two feet from the bottom.
[See February 2009 for most recent coarse reports]
[See February 2009 for most recent sea reports]
04/03/09
Local angling guide Eamonn Conway fishing the Magoney stretch of the River Fane, Co. Louth caught Trout to 12 inches. A Pheasant tail nymph proving most attractive on the day.
Eamonn is an A.P.G.A.I. Ireland approved guide and can be contacted by phone at +353 86 124 2966 or email eamonnconwayflyfishing@hotmail.com.
The Kells Blackwater up stream of Lloyds Bridge, on the N.3 just north of Kells, produced fish to 1.lb. The successful patterns were Hares ear, March Brown, and Sooty Olive, all fished wet.
Pat McLaughlin is a local guide on the Kells Blackwater, and has caught Trout from the river on the fly to over nine pounds. His contact number is +353 86 101 7415, or email patandtrina@eircom.net.
03/02/09
The final of the Scierra Fly Fishing Winter League was held on Saturday 28th February. All of the twenty qualifying anglers from Wicklow, Dublin, Cavan and Tipperary were at their first drawn pegs for the start at 11am.
Well known flytier Noel Shiels got off to what proved to be an uncatchable start when he landed seven rainbows on his first peg during the first hour. Noel caught 13 trout during the 4 hour competition using a DI5 sink line with his own patterns of black boobies and humungus lures.
The experienced and popular game angler Pat Noonan was runner up with 5 fish, average weight 2.5 lbs. As the trout were low in the lake Pat fished with a sink line and green damsels. Third spot went to Derek Wilkes from Dublin with a bag of 3 rainbows. Derek success was achieved by using a D15 sink line and a cormorant boobie retrieved by a figure of eight.
The largest fish 4lbs.was caught by river angling specialist Tony Mc Crave.
Fourteen anglers caught a total of 38 trout.
Weather was dull and overcast with water temperature 5 degrees centigrade.
The competition was held in a good humoured, social and friendly competitive atmosphere.
When the four hours were up all returned to the fishing lodge for a welcome bowl of soup and sandwiches and prize presentation.