Weekly Pike Fishing Update for Ireland's Shannon Region

Bodo Funke, Angling Services Ireland, Boyle, Co Roscommon http://www.anglingservicesireland.com/ reports.

No new reports. See Angling blog for latest reports http://www.anglingservicesireland.blogspot.com/

Gary O'Brien reports on his recent trip to a local lake in Co Leitrim.
" This lake is full of pike, good Tench fish also thrive in this lake I've had a 15lb pike out of this lake and 4 other pike between 13lbs and 14lbs.

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

"Water levels are still at summer levels. Hard frosts are still keeping water temperatures very low but with the longer days upon us they should start to rise gradually in the coming weeks. John and Mayler Colloton from the sunny south east spent two days in the area with some nice doubles recorded. John was delighted with breaking his personal best pike, landing a nice 15lb fish on a popped up bullet and had three more fish all under the 10lb mark. His father Mayler, a man of many talents and of great wit landed some nice fish also, best fish for the two days was 13lbs."

Three French anglers Bress and his two friends had one nice pike on Laura lake. Laura lake is the local trout lake and has produced pike to 27lbs and several twenties over the winter months.

Kevin Lyons, MELVIEW LODGE GUESTHOUSE, Drumlish Road, Clonrollagh, Co Longford Tel : 003534345061 Mob: Email: info@melviewlodge.com Web: http://www.melviewlodge.com

Regular anglers Jean-Pierre along with son Nick were back in Ireland fishing for Pike and staying once again with their hosts Kevin and Jane Lyons of Melview Lodge in Longford. This time they invited friend Seige to come and experience fishing in Ireland. This was his first time Pike fishing and it was one to remember. In six days fishing they managed to land sixty one Pike to 15lbs beating their previous catch of fifty Pike. The start of the week was very cold and dead bait was the preferred method. As the week went on trolling lures proved to be very productive, Seige managed to catch his first ever Pike on the second day and then every day afterwards. In August they return again to Ireland and Melview Lodge so we will see how they get on.

MID SHANNON AREA

The ShRFB reports for Ray Duthie Old Forge Banagher, Bait Stockist, Tackle and ACCOMMODATION PROVIDER Tel: 057 9151504. BANAGHER area this week.

Water levels have come back to normal but few Pike anglers out.

LOUGH REE INTERNATIONAL PIKE ANGLING FESTIVAL 2010
By Dave Houghton Date: 17th February, 2010

Anglers will get three days of exciting pike angling on the massive waters of Lough Ree near Athlone and a chance to share in a staggering cash prize fund that could total over €40,000.
Festival organisers yesterday agreed to extend the entry and allow 150 boats to compete in what is bound to become Ireland’s richest angling competition. The angling club secretaries attended the Athlone meeting and they agreed there was such great buzz and lots of excitement surrounding this brand new event, based on catching the biggest fish over three days and to win the guaranteed €3,000 first prize.
The event takes place over three days - Wednesday to Friday April 14-15-16

Failte Ireland are sponsoring the first prize and in addition to that, all entry fees will be returned in cash prizes along with €1,500 angling tackle given by Grandslam Angling.
Brochures are entry forms are now available by telephoning Failte Ireland in Mullingar on 044 9348650 or emailing eastandmidlandsinfo@failteireland.ie
You will find everything from entry forms and rules to the cost of a nights B&B in Athlone if you go to http://www.pikefishinginireland.com or come to the Failte Ireland stand at the Hooked Live angling show on February 27 and 28 at Citywest Dublin.

FEDERATION OF PIKE ANGLING CLUBS NEWS

John Chambers reports

The venues for the 2010/11 Kingspan National Pike Championships have been more or less selected. We need permission to fish a couple of venues. Exact dates and venues will be firmed up later. WATCH THIS SPACE
April - Inny - dates later
May - Killywilly Lake near Ballyconnell.
June - River Suck
July - Shannon, possibly Castleconnell, date may change
August - Erne at Belturbet,
September - Mayo venue yet to be clarified
October - Lough Acannon in Co. Cavan
November - Rossmore Park Lakes
December - Ross lake near Castleblaney
January - Lough Sillan

More info See Fed website and visit their forum: http://www.angling-in-ireland.com

ShRFB reports for the RIVER SUCK VALLEY - Mid River Suck

Two Castlerea anglers enjoyed excellent pike fishing in the River Suck last Saturday week. They had a great pike of 22lbs, one fish of 9lbs and other smaller fish to 5lbs. Weather was very cold with very low air and water temperatures.

Photo: Richie Dunne who regularly reports to our angling column releases this super Pike on the river Suck recently.

Here is his report.

" Today is a very special day for me as I have just banked a new personal best. 0n Mon 1st March I made a midday visit to the River Suck outside Ballinasloe and had a couple of jacks to 7lb 4oz. Just before dark I hooked up with a very good fish which refused to come up from the bottom, eventually she showed face, thrashed her head and all went limp. I was disgusted, and still cursing my luck over an hour later when my rod was off again. I struck into another heavy weight which again refused to move from the depths. After a couple of minutes she surfaced and made one short run. After that there was no more fussing about and she came straight over my net. It was dark and only when I went to lift the fish did I realise her true size. I hurriedly scrambled my scales and weigh net together and hoisted her up. The scales shot straight over 33lbs then settled on 32lbs 8oz!. A new personal best for me by 4ozs. A moment I will treasure forever!....Interesting note- it was a full moon"

For local angling info contact Mr John Ryan, Assistant Fisheries Inspector Tel: 094 96 40103 Mob: 087 2536064 and John Devaney, Assistant Fisheries Inspector, Roscommon for the lower River Suck 087 2266735.

ShRFB reports for the River Shannon at PORTUMNA - Mike Murray , MURRAY'S B&B, Derryhiney, Portumna reports

No Pike fishing reported.

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

Water levels are low for the time of year, following an extended dry spell.

ShRFB reports for the MULLINGAR AREA

Mick Flanagan, Angling correspondent and photographer Mullingar reports for the Midlands. Mobile: 087-2797270

Dermot Killeen Shannonbridge Tel 090 96 74112 Email: derry.killeen@gmail.com reports for SHANNONBRIDGE area

Shannonbridge Fishing Report to March 3rd, 2010...

The Shannon is back to summer level. Near the mouth of the River Suck a local man out walking reported seeing six anglers fishing, presumably for pike. Weather remains very cold for the time of year.

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.

Peter Gleeson has recently commenced a new Angling Column in the Nenagh Guardian newspaper, entitled HOOKED ON FISH. . We look forward to regular updates from Peter.

Here is his fist report dated March 8th, 2010.

Last Sunday's pike competition run by the Ballina-Killaloe Anglers was sponsored by O'Donovan's Bar, Ballina. John Gleeson and Keith Conroy were winners with a pike weighing 11lb 8oz. In second place with the heaviest bag, was Ger Mc Keogh (9lb 12 oz) and Paul Hanly and Mike Quinlivan caught the second heaviest fish, 8lb 2 oz. The next pike trolling competition run by the club will be sponsored by Mike and Rita Kelly and will take take place on March 21st with weigh-in at Molly's at 7pm.

St. Flannan's Fishing Club held its first competition of the year at O' Briensbridge on Sunday last, sponsored by “The Old Mill”. Competition winners were Dan Keogh (1st); Denis Sheehan (2nd); Dan Sullivan (3rd); Mick Gough (Secret Weight). The next competition by the club, a trout trolling event, will be held on Sunday, March 21st with weigh-in at the Anchor Inn.

Hopper reports on a recent trip to Lough Derg, fishing out of Dromineer..
On the 27th of February I spent a day pike fishing the main channels and bays out of Dromineer. I used lures both shallow and deep diving, spoons, spinners and jerk baits. No luck and only the odd fish showing on the fish finder. Water levels are okay and back to normal for this time of year. Water temperature was only 2 degrees celcius. It's still too cold for pike to start going into bays or spawning. Water temp needs to warm up before pike fishing picks up again. Fingers crossed for a warm spell.

Fished the region last week ! - Like to send us a fishing report for our next update!

If you have fished any of our fisheries over the past week and wish to send us in your fishing report to feature on our next update, please CLICK HERE and complete our online form or simply send us an email with your contact particulars and catch details and attach a photo if you have one to Brian Mc Manus Email: info@shannon-fishery-board.ie