So we have now now entered December, often one of many quieter months on the angling calendar, as a lot of our fish species have travelled upriver or offshore on their spawning journeys. These fish making their manner upstream are significantly aided by the elevated rainfall at the moment of 12 months, which retains the rivers topped up with water, serving to them overcome the varied obstacles we have now put of their manner… However, like all issues within the pure world, it’s a decent stability, as an excessive amount of rain will carry floods, which might wreak havoc on the gravels which might be important to fish spawning. Fortunately, the stability was restored this week, because the copious rain that got here with storm Bert has been adopted by a comparatively dry spell, with most components of the nation having below-average rainfall for the week accompanied by temperatures which were just a few levels above common. However, with storm Darragh looming, the seasonal cadence of water ranges appears to be like set to proceed.
One cohort of anglers who proceed to be busy throughout December are the shore anglers, as many sea anglers across the nation are competing in membership competitions, winter leagues, or open competitions throughout the month. Such was the case down in County Cork, the place the Slob Financial institution in Youghal noticed West Cork & District SAC host the All Eire Open Shore Competitors. Fifty-one anglers from all 4 provinces competed on a day when senior, junior, and women’ titles have been up for grabs. And it was nice to see the juniors put in a very sturdy displaying, together with a zone win for Chris Sanbak and a 3rd in zone for Bradley Kirwan. Chris’s catch of twenty-two fish bested loads of seasoned senior anglers, received him the Maurice Dalton Cup, and made him the under-sixteen All-Eire Champion. Evidently, he additionally wins our Catch of the Week accolade 👏 👏 👏
South Shore SAC had a late change of venue for the ultimate spherical of their grasp angler collection. An entry subject at their designated venue induced a change to the seaside at Arklow, the place house was tight, however the fishing was off the charts. It proved to be an thrilling day, and the quite a few fish being reeled in made it troublesome to maintain tabs on the leaderboard. However as soon as the totting up was accomplished, it turned out to be a Fogarty double act, as Gavin Fogarty emerged because the Grasp Angler for the 12 months, simply pipping brother Ciaran to the title by a single level. South Shore SAC will even be internet hosting the sixth leg of the Leinster League at a Wicklow venue this coming Sunday.
Up in Sligo, the Killybegs Mariners have been on Streedagh Seaside for spherical seven on their competitors schedule. It was a balmy, blustery day bringing loads of fizz and spray to the water, and this time, it was a Cunningham double act on the prime of the desk, as John Cunningham’s three species haul of sea trout, flounder, and turbot noticed him take first place forward of Shane Cunningham. We transfer again to Cork for our remaining sea angling report of the week, as David Norman of Angling Adventures West Cork went on his remaining outing of the 12 months, giving kayak fishing beginner Dylan Walsh a workshop on all facets of kayak fishing whereas additionally selecting up just a few first rate pollack.
Coarse anglers are one other cohort who stay energetic in December as they proceed their competitors calendars. And it was a fish that’s hardly ever encountered in December that tipped the stability for CM Lakelands angler Robertas Zilatis, as a tench of 4lb helped him to a win with a 6.33kg bag of their open competitors on Lough Garadice. Up on the Erne system, forty membership members lined the banks for the fifth spherical of the Erne Anglers winter league. With the river flowing excessive and quick, it regarded in glorious situation, and the opponents shortly discovered that small fish have been displaying in all sections. Fishing was so good that it took a 5kg+ bag to assert a piece win on all however one part, and it took a 7.875kg bag for Johnny McKinley to assert the highest spot on the day. In stark distinction, members of the Munster Coarse Anglers endured a really powerful day for the fourth match of their winter collection at O’Briensbridge. In their very own phrases, it was an actual ‘grueller’, as the one species biting have been perch, and lots of anglers didn’t weigh, however Ian Kelsey put in a superb efficiency to bag 4lb 14oz for the win. As you would possibly count on, there have been markedly completely different weights at Oaklands Lake because the industrial specialists fished the third spherical of the Oaklands Winter League. The tip pegs have been those to be drawn on, with Paddy O’Regan taking first from one finish with 53+kg and Tommy Ryan taking second from the opposite finish with 36+kg.
Unusually, it has been a sluggish week for pike angling studies, and the pike fishing was most likely not helped by the excessive water ranges after Storm Bert. Fortunately, Cormac Walsh of the Lure Fishing Podcast has switched codes this week, shifting away from his native salt water to speak all issues lure with famend pike angler Pierre Montjarret.
And in trout fishing information, the lads from Piscari Fly competed within the European Grayling Championships occasion in Wales final week, the place they completed eighth; not dangerous for lads from a rustic the place grayling should not current, and Mark Driver received the longest fish prize with a superb fish of 47.2cm.
For the salmon anglers amongst us, Delphi fishery supervisor David McEvoy has produced his annual e-newsletter, taking a look again on the 2024 season, the place a sluggish spring was adopted by a superb grilse run in the summertime. And for these already trying ahead to the 2025 season, salmon licences for subsequent 12 months at the moment are accessible to buy from this web site.
In different information, IFI shall be attending a lot of occasions in 2025 aimed toward selling Irish angling tourism. These occasions will happen in our primary tourism markets of the UK, USA, Germany, France, BeNeLux & Italy. We shall be seeking to associate up with commerce within the Irish angling tourism business at these occasions, giving them a possibility to market their merchandise on to shoppers. There are a few occasions within the USA and France within the early new 12 months, and anybody all in favour of studying extra ought to view this webpage.
Salmon Logbooks
We wish to take this chance to remind all salmon and sea trout anglers to return their angling logbooks (setting out their fishing and catch report) and any unused gill tags.
Stocking Fillers
Lastly, on the run into Christmas, a lot of guides, sort out retailers, and many others, shall be providing vouchers and reward playing cards which will show to make a helpful stocking filler for the angler in your life. The Irish Specimen Fish Committee Fish Atlas proved a well-liked current final 12 months, and there are nonetheless copies accessible to buy for this 12 months’s Christmas stockings. For the subsequent couple of weeks, we’ll be collating all fascinating presents we discover and publishing them on this webpage.
And now the climate
⚠️ Storm Darragh is on its manner and can seemingly be dominating the information and climate studies over the subsequent day or two. Because it stands, we have now standing purple wind warnings for Clare, Galway, Mayo, Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal and Wicklow and it’s standing orange for the remainder of us.
So it’s going to be moist and windy all through the weekend everywhere in the nation with localised flooding and wind harm a risk. It should turn out to be extra settled in a while Sunday as excessive stress builds, and we can have a colder snap subsequent Monday and Tuesday with frost, ice and fog throughout a lot of the nation.
Secure fishing to all and tight traces, particularly right here in Eire.
IFI Employees
Catch, Picture, Launch
In case you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Replace please ship it to [email protected] and don’t neglect that every one of our fishing studies can be found on our devoted Angling Eire Fb web page.
