Irish Angling Update 🎣 15 March 2024
S
pring is here, with milder temperatures this week. Daffodils and tulips are up, the birds are busy building nests, and this weekend the hordes will be attending St. Patrick’s Day parades up and down the country, and further afield. The patron saints day also marks the start of the season on many rivers, and for those already open, the bank holiday weekend is also the first chance for many anglers to get out. Although angling reports are sparse this week, every week now will bring better weather and more anglers out, and we hope to hear more of your angling stories and catches soon.
Trout
St. Patrick’s Day is often the start of the duckfly fishing on the western loughs, and hatches have been picking up a lot this week on Corrib, where trolling is still producing some nice fish.
Brenda Montgomery reports that the start of the season on Lough Sheelin was marked by a snowstorm, which brought a halt to the opening day gallop for many. Despite the cold, many still made it out. The best catches to date have been taken on lures like minkies and snakes, but the duckfly fishing should come into its own this week.
River fishing is also picking up. Mark Driver enjoyed a day out with a friend on the Little Brosna and Camcor Rivers in Co. Offaly, two delightful rivers that rarely feature in angling reports.
Salmon fishing was fairly quiet this past week, but there was one more springer to report on Lough Currane, where wet and windy weather kept most anglers off the lake.
High water levels made for difficult river conditions, but there were two salmon reported from the River Flesk. The second draw for brown tags for River Lee anglers is now open too.
This week’s Ireland on the Fly podcast features the famous River Slaney. This river, that was once the doyen of spring salmon rivers in Ireland, has suffered more than most in recent times but there are still anglers and custodians of the Slaney that are fighting to keep it going and recover. Daire and Tom chat to Richard Burgess, former chairman of the Slaney River Trust.
Finally, some good news for fans of the River Moy webcam – after many technical difficulties over the last year, the webcam is now operational again and can be viewed or bookmarked here.
First time pike anglers Andy and Shelby from the USA fished with Chris Scally of Fish Tales guiding and had a great time, landing 5 fish including this fine pike of 101cm for Andy.
Seamus Bracken and his friends had a great day of piking on a Co. Antrim venue, with some fantastic fish landed, including a brace of twenties for AnnMarie, whose 25lbs fish is our Catch of the Week.
Coarse
A high, fast-flowing River Erne proved no deterrent for the Erne Anglers, whose ninth leg of their winter league provided good fishing, with all section winners landing over 5kgs. Arthur Dudek won the overall first prize with 15.825Kgs.
Elsewhere, Clive Sleter took another win to clinch the Munster Coarse Anglers winter league at O’Briensbridge, putting together a 6lbs 9oz bag in difficult conditions where many struggled.
Young Anthony and dad Dan were out and about in the southeast, where Anthony showed his angling skills by landing some nice carp on a local pond. Both are looking forward to the Easter break from school and better weather too.
On the sea angling front, the weather lately hasn’t been conducive to getting afloat, but Killybegs Fishing Trips took advantage of breaks in the wind and rain to get out on Donegal Bay. Some good pollack and cod were the reward for the hardy anglers who went out.
Long casting to find doggies proved the difference on the east coast, as Alby Allan managed just that win the South Shore competition at Roney Point with 44 fish! Many anglers had multiple hookups on every cast, with doggies, whiting, dabs and flounder. That’s some fishing!
And now the weather…
Today is a lovely spring day, with plenty of sunshine and just the odd shower, but Saturday looks pretty wet everywhere, with rain persisting for most of the day. Sunday looks showery, with good sunny spells too, and mild temps of 9-13C in light winds. Hopefully most parade-goers will stay dry!
The outlook for next week is for more sunshine and showers, very mild with temps of 12-15C but winds strengthening by Tuesday.
Make sure to check the forecast before going afloat and if you’re going to sea, don’t forget to check the tides.
Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release
If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected] and don’t forget that all of our fishing reports are available on our dedicated Angling Ireland Facebook page.
All the angling news
Salmon Fishing Reports
- Rough week on Currane but another springer reported
- Inland Fisheries Ireland opens second draw for Cork salmon anglers for 2024
- High water levels make for difficult salmon fishing in the southwest
- Ireland on the Fly: The River Slaney, queen of Irish Rivers
Trout Fishing Reports
- Táin Fly Fishing – early season nymphing
- Piscari-Fly Newsletter 14 March
- Fly Fishing in Ireland: Lough Arrow with Tom Sullivan and Jackie Mahon
- Sheelin captures piscatorial gold
Coarse Angling Reports
- Erne Anglers Winter League – Round 9
- Clive Slater wins the Munster Coarse Anglers Winter League
- Weather, fishing and thinking of more fishing…
Pike Fishing Reports
- USA guests have super first pike trip with Fish Tales
- Lure craft – the GlideDiator parts 2 & 3
- Bumper day’s piking for Seamus and friends in Antrim
Sea Angling Reports
- Doggies swing the balance in South Shore SAC competition
- Some more cod and good pollack caught in Donegal Bay