Dated Wednesday February 24th, 2010

Photo: It's that time of year when wildfowl are starting to pair off in preparation for the nesting season, photo courtesy of Mick Flanagan, Angling correspondent.

BITING COLD HAMPERS COARSE ANGLING WITH SEVERE NIGHT FROSTS

Water and air temperatures remain very cold and well below normal and this is hampering coarse fishing as we write. There is very little to report and wait for milder weather to improve fishing prospects. On a positive note water levels have dropped well back and fishable. The Board at its February meeting decided to amend its regulations to allow ‘two rods’ for coarse and pike angling on mixed stock fisheries within its Midland fisheries group of waters in our region. It does not apply to trout fishing. See fisheries listed below. We have published a list of Coarse Angling Festivals for 2010 for your information - also see below.   TIGHT LINES!

RECENT NEWS

REVIEW OF BOARD'S 'MIDLAND FISHERIES GROUP' of waters - RULES AND REGULATIONS

The mixed stock fisheries where two rods are allowed for coarse and pike fishing are
• In the River Suck catchment: River Suck (including Athleague, Donamon, Creggan, Coreen, Culliagh) and the following lakes, Hollygrove, Stonehams, Lough Loung, and Blacks Lake.
• In the River Inny catchment: River Inny (including Finea, Mullingar, Ballymahon, Whitebridge and Red bridge, down into Inny Bay at Tommy Foxes), Ballinafid lake, Lough Derravarragh, Lough Iron, Bracklough lake, Lough Kinale and Lough Patrick.
• In the River Brosna catchment: Doolin pond, Mc Evoys lake, Sheever lake, Slevin’s lake

Anglers are reminded that rules and regulations are for the conservation of all fish stocks. The Board requests that any information regarding illegal activity is passed on in timely manner and wish to thank those who have done so in recent weeks.

COARSE ANGLING COMPETITIONS 2010

Here is a schedule of Coarse angling festivals for 2010, DOWNLOAD HERE. Also see the National Coarse Angling Federation website http://www.ncffi.ie/ for details of further fixtures.

UPPER SHANNON

REPORT FROM LANESBORO

Water levels are good for fishing but it's bitterly cold with very little angling activity reported along the hot water stretch. The Power Station is presently on but is expected to be off for maintenance from the end of April.

More see: http://www.lanesboroughangling.ie/

Brian Bohan   CHAFLYNNS COTTAGE & GUIDING SERVICE  MOHILL reports on angling in the upper Shannon region around MOHILL and CARRICK ON SHANNON

No report this period.

Kevin Lyons, MELVIEW LODGE GUESTHOUSE, Drumlish Road, Clonrollagh, Co Longford Tel : 003534345061 Mob: Email:  info@melviewlodge.com Web: http://www.melviewlodge.com  covering fisheries in the LONGFORD AREA and the STROKESTOWN LAKES

The Coarse fishing season is over for this season at Melview Lodge, join us later in 2010 as the new season commences, usually April onwards will see the first of the guests arrive.

MID SHANNON AREA

ShRFB reports for  INNY BAY B&B -  fishing at TOMMY FOXES ANGLING STRETCH and lower RIVER INNY Tommy Foxe Mob: 087 9960173 for enquiries and boat hire

No angling to report.

ShRFB report on the Shannon and Lough Ree for the  ATHLONE AREA

No report received. 

Reports for the MULLINGAR AREA

Mick Flanagan, Angling correspondent and photographer Mullingar reports on February 2nd, 2010. Mobile: 087-2797270.

No Coarse fishing report this period.

LOWER SHANNON AREA

TJ O'Brien, TJ's ANGLING CENTRE KILLALOE Tel: 061 376009 Mob 087 8108225 reports for the Lower Shannon, Lough Derg and East Clare Lakes

No reports this period.