We have loved one thing approaching an Indian Summer season over the previous week, with loads of shiny sunshine and what appeared to me like heat climate, so it was considerably of a shock once I checked on Met Eireann to seek out that temperatures have truly been beneath regular…? It was a comparatively dry week too, with solely the southwest of the nation seeing any vital rain. We additionally skilled a improbable ‘blue moon’ on Tuesday night time, and, with the clear skies, anybody who was out on Tuesday night had a superb spectacle to behold. Full moons imply huge spring tides, and we had a few of the largest tides of the yr in the course of the week. As anglers know, spring tides get the fish transferring across the shoreline, and it looks like it was a bumper week for a lot of of our sea anglers…
We begin our studies this week up in Donegal, the place the Killybegs Mariners had a memorable league outing, as quite a few high quality fish had been landed in a kind of evenings the place all of the angling stars aligned for them. There gave the impression to be high quality fish turning up everywhere in the seaside, with quite a few painted ray, together with a specimen-sized one for Shane Cunningham, which additionally broke the membership report. There have been quite a few high quality bass too, and with a improbable night like that, Shane and the Mariners win this week’s Catch of the Week accolade.
Angler Invoice Ryan was additionally up in Donegal, and he was in contact to report that he too had some wonderful fishing for painted ray from the Donegal seashores throughout an evening time shore session. And, additional out to sea, the bluefin tuna season continues to be going sturdy out in Donegal Bay, with some good fish landed, and others agonisingly straightening the hook a couple of metres shy of the boat…
In Galway Bay, skipper John Fleming begins to see squid present up right now of yr, and anglers loved focusing on them in addition to the extra typical species equivalent to spurs, pollack and whiting. In Clare, the constructing tides and superb climate mixed to present anglers aboard the Clare Dragoon improbable fishing, together with some good john dory and chunky wanting cod. Anglers fishing with Sean Maguire, additionally in Clare, loved comparable fishing underneath clear blue skies, extra typically skilled within the Mediterranean… Elsewhere, Dave Edwards of West Cork Charters had a few good periods which produced some superb blues and a few specimen sized bull huss.
South Shore SAC held their yearly pageant weekend over the 14th and fifteenth of September and it was a weekend of two halves, as troublesome fishing on the Saturday was adopted by some quick and livid fishing on the Sunday. Ciaran Fogarty gained Saturday’s occasion with 12 fish, whereas Thomas Keogh gained out on Sunday with 38 fish, 29 of which had been college bass.
As we transfer from summer time to autumn, pike anglers will start to get extra energetic because the drop in temperatures switches pike into feeding mode. Norbert Renaud of L’ile Verte Fishing Lodge has put collectively a brief video on ways he makes use of to focus on pike right now of yr, which ought to show useful for anybody planning to focus on them within the coming weeks. In the meantime, anglers fishing with Kevin Lyons at Melview Lodge gave the impression to be dealing with the change from summer time to autumn and not using a hitch. He had two teams with him over the previous week: some common guests who received off to a gradual begin however had been into the swing of issues by the top of their journey and a few happy-go-lucky Dutch guys, who loved the tremendous Irish surroundings, in addition to loads of pike.
The aggressive trout anglers had been out in pressure over the previous week or so, with a couple of competitions held at completely different venues across the nation. Starting on Lough Corrib, 120 anglers from throughout Eire and additional afield participated within the East Corrib Alliance Catch & Launch competitors final Sunday. It was an excellent time out for all concerned, and the highest angler on the day was Mick Mellamphy, who managed two cracking trout for 7.53lbs. Opponents fared much less effectively on Loughs Conn & Cullin, as 35 anglers fished the Kieran Lynn Perpetual Cup. They confronted troublesome situations, and solely seven trout had been returned, with Padraig O’Sullivan taking the trophy house for the yr. In the meantime, on Lough Lene, the ITFFA held their second youth qualifier occasion, and 33 younger anglers went face to face to win a spot on the youth workforce. They managed to boat 35 fish, and Jacob Griffin had a terrific session, with 5 fish in whole, which gained him the prize on the day. In the meantime, Evan McMickan, who caught seven fish over the 2 competitions, gained Youth Angler of the Yr. Congrats to each younger anglers 👏 👏.
Coarse anglers are additionally in competitors mode right now of yr, wrapping up their busiest match interval. The ultimate of the VDE Canal Masters was held at Daingean over the weekend, and it appears the unseasonable sunny climate put the bigger fish off the feed, and because of this, baggage had been on the small aspect, with Alan Bell popping out on prime with 6lb 12oz. Opponents fared higher on Lough Muckno, the place 19 anglers confronted off for the Irish Open Feeder title. The two-day occasion noticed Darren Fairhurst put in a grasp class to complete method forward of the sphere with 30kg. Within the south east, Oaklands Lake hosted the ultimate of the All Eire Technique Feeder Championships over the weekend, the place 30 anglers lined the banks to compete for the title. Nevertheless it was a well-recognized face who got here to the fore, as Steven Whyte topped the standings for the third yr in a row.
As we’re shortly approaching the top of the salmon season, anglers will probably be hoping that situations keep in good order on our fisheries. There was some respectable water on the River Moy over the previous week, and that appears to have stored the salmon , with loads of anglers catching, and the Foxford space proving to be a hotspot. On Lough Currane and the River Inny, a little bit of rain freshened issues up on the system, and that introduced salmon to the online on each river and lake, the place a couple of sea trout put in an look too.
Lastly, on this week’s podcast information, within the newest version of Eire on the Fly, Daire and Tom speak to well-known fly angler and fisheries scientist James Barry, concerning the 2024 fishing season and a few of his angling highlights in the course of the yr.
And now the climate
It’s set to be one other dry day at the moment, with temperatures hitting the low twenties in locations. However issues are going to vary from Saturday because the sunny spells will probably be blended in with showers, a few of which can be thundery, with temperatures from 16°C to twenty°C. Sunday may even see rain transferring in from the east, with some heavy, thundery showers in locations. The moist climate could have handed by Monday, which seems like being principally dry, and it’ll stay that method into Tuesday, earlier than rain arrives once more later within the day.
Secure fishing to all and tight traces, particularly right here in Eire.
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