Game Angling & Fisheries News, Announcements, Upcoming Events/Notices & Reports: (Salmon & Trout Fishing)

UPPER SHANNON

LOUGH SHEELIN

There was little angling activity reported for the week. Recently the Kilroy Cup did produce a few quality trout including a fish of 5lbs 14ozs for Armagh angler Mr Aidan Rushe.

For updates contact Mr Sean Gurhy, Assistant Fisheries Inspector Lough Sheelin Tel: 049 4336144

LOUGH O'FLYNN & UPPER RIVER SUCK

Anthony Baggot, a local angler fished the Island River in short sessions over the weekend. He had plenty of small trout using a Black Pennell. Mr Bernard Mannion and daughter Julie had 8 fish, and kept one on the Cloonard River using a bead headed Fiery Brown.

For updates contact Mr John Ryan, Assistant Fisheries Inspector Mobile: 087 6560038 Tel: 094 96 40103

MID SHANNON AREA

LOUGH ENNELL

Trout fishing was very disappointing over the last fortnight considering the amount of duck fly that hatched out, though anglers have reported seeing good numbers of fish moving late in the evening but are proving difficult to catch. In total seven fish were officially returned for the reporting period with only the occasional fish coming to Duckfly. Adrian Armitage Mullingar had 2 fish for 4lbs. Mervin Cooney, Mullingar had a nice fish of 4.5lbs. Other returns included fish from Michael Flanagan, Mick Clarke and Tosh Grimes & friend, all from Mullingar. Tullamore angler Maurice Cooney had a fish of 1.5lbs.

For updates contact Pat Mc Donnell, Fishery Officer Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Mullingar Office Tel: 044 48769

LOUGH OWEL

Fishing on Lough Owel over the last fortnight was slow with the number of anglers well down for the time of year. Andy Young, Mullingar reported 4 fish on fly. Pat Noone Mullingar and Ray O'Neill of Dublin returned a few fish. A squally week is in prospect which is likely to hamper angling further up to the weekend. We await milder weather conditions which should improve fishing on the lake, this is looking promising at time of writing.

For updates contact Pat Mc Donnell, Fishery Officer Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Mullingar Office Tel: 044 48769

LOUGH REE

Anglers fishing Lough Ree are finding the fishing extremely slow compared to previous years and this recent cold squally snap has not helped matters. Brendan Hamrock and Sean Kelly, Athlone had 4 fish for over 13lbs, best 4.3lbs. The Coosan Anglers Competition was fished, 20 anglers returned only 2 fish with 1st and second going to Athlone anglers Paul Roe and Pat Nolan respectively. The Midland Trout Anglers Competition was fished by 12 anglers, again with only 2 fish caught. 1^st Benny Carter, Athlone and 2^nd went to John McGeehan, Athlone Joe Fallon and Sean Flynn, Athlone, both juveniles landed a 5.7lbs salmon at Athlone’s weir wall. It's encouraging to see salmon come back in the Athlone area after an absence of several years and congratulations to both Joe Fallon and Sean Flynn on their success.

For updates contact Pat Mc Donnell, Fishery Officer Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Mullingar Office Tel: 044 48769

Mick Flanagan, Angling Correspondent for the Westmeath Topic and Sunday World Newspaper Tel: 087 2797270: mick@midlandangling.com reports on Midland Lakes and Rivers.

Report dated March 21st -

MIDLAND ANGLERS IN SHOCK OVER DEATH...

On Sunday while fishing the Eugene O'Neill sponsored trout competition on Lough Glore I was watching the the first few arrivals of Swifts on our Midland lakes, little did I know what shocking news I was about to hear. Late in the afternoon I received a phone call telling me that well known Mullingar angler Ian Forde had died, Ian like myself was in his early forties and was married with a young family. Over the years Ian has featured in Angling Focus on numerous occasions be it on the competition scene or Local angling club news items, being a committee member of both Lough Ennell and Owel clubs. Not alone did I know Ian through fishing and shooting which was another love of his life, I also worked for eight and a half years with Ian in Data Packaging. On behalf of Angling Focus and fellow anglers we send our deepest sympathy to his wife Helen, sons Conor and Aidan, daughter Emma and all his family. If ever I get around to writing a book on "Midland Angling Legends" you can be sure Ian Forde will be featured. Fare well fellow Angler, you were a true Fisherman's Friend..

LOUGH OWEL A.G.M.

The AGM was held on Wednesday night 15th March in the Greville Arms Hotel. There was a small attendance of members but the meeting was very productive. Here are a few of the main talking points from the Owel meeting. Hugh Devanney has stood down as Hon-President after 13 years with Jack Doolin taking over as President of Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association, Chairman for the 2005 season is Brendan Murray with local Mullingar angler Andy Boyle voted in as Vice-Chairman. Once again Ross Mc Keown is competition captain with Mickie Tyrrell as competition Vice-captain. Dermott Broughan of the ShRFB. gave a detailed account of their work on Lough Owel and answered questions from the club members. When asked on the ShRFB position regarding jet-skies and power craft on Lough Owel he stated that the ShRFB recommend a total ban of such crafts on Lough Owel. On the subject of permits they will be available from Fishery Officers on the lake shore and can be purchased Online from the Shannon Fishery Board's web site or at their office at Tudenham. On the subject of removing coarse fish from Lough Owel, in 2004 somewhere in the region of 5,000 Tench and 2,500 Rudd & Roach were removed from Lough Owel. It was good news on the Angling Centre at Tullaghan, Work has re-commenced and hopefully it will be finished later in 2005. Lough Owel club chairman Brendan Murray thanked Dermott and his fellow officers for the work being carried out on Lough Owel.

LOUGH GLORE....

Lough Glore held the Eugene O'Neill sponsored trout competition on Sunday 20th March. It proved a very difficult day to catch trout with only three fish weighed in. I had a bit of luck and caught a nice trout weighing 1lbs 8oz which was good enough to win on the day. In second place was Mark Donoghue with Amanda Smith winning the junior prize.

Report April 4th, 2005

LOUGH ENNELL...

Photo: Mervin Cooney caught this lovely Ennell trout of 4lbs 8ozs recently while fishing with Carol Gaye and James Cleary. photo courtesy of Michael Flanagan, Mullingar

On Wednesday last 30th March Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association held their A.G.M. in the Greville Arms Hotel. Before the meeting got underway Dr Billy Waldron (Chairman L.E.T.P.A.) asked for a minute silence for any club members who suffered bereavements recently especially the family of the late Ian Forde who was a active member of Lough Ennell angling Club before his sudden death recently. As the meeting progressed, once again it was the problems of Pollution and the use of Jet-Skies & Speed Boats crafts being used on Lough Ennell which took up most of the meeting. With the arrival of the first big hatches of Duck-fly at the Easter weekend, also arrived the Jet-Skies & Speed boats. It was stated that six Jet-skies and two high powered Speed Boats were ripping across this valuable Fishery. Lough Ennell anglers have spend years trying to bring Ennell back from the dead years of the 1970's when the lake got hit with serious pollution, not alone that the amount of money invested by the club, and the Sh.R.F.B and not forgetting the E.U grants which were pumped into developing Lough Ennell as a Major Angling Centre. The pollution problem took up a lot of the meeting, and a lot of members were very concerned about the slow progress by Westmeath County Council regarding the up-grade of the treatment plant at Clonmore. On the angling front on Ennell in 2004 the number of fish returned in competitions were up on 2003 but it was noted that most fish were caught late in the season September-October or late into the night when the lake had time to settle after the activities of Power Craft users. Once again Dermot Broughan gave a detailed account of the Sh.R.F.B work done on Lough Ennell, asked on the Jet-Ski & Speed Boat problem on Ennell he stated the position of the Sh.R.F.B. is that a total ban of such craft is needed on Ennell. Once again this year Dermott and his fellow officers will monitor the behaviour of such craft and if needed on the spot fines will be given to those interfering with anglers who are paying a permit to fish Lough Ennell. While we are on the subject of permits they are available in Daly's Garage on the Lynn Road. It was a very productive Lough Ennell A.G.M. and I am sure we will hear more from Lough Ennell anglers in the coming season. Now just before we finish with Ennell I had my first trout on the Duck-fly during the week, the fish was in perfect condition and weighed 2lbs 4oz.This fish was small compared to the cracker Mervin Cooney caught recently while fishing with Carol Gaye and James Cleary, Mervin had a super Ennell trout weighing 4lbs 8oz (see pic above).

LOUGH DERRAVARAGH

Very little trout angling has been reported from Derravaragh so far and the first competition of the season, the Abbott and Tight Lines Cup will be held on Sunday 17^th April from 11am to 6pm with the start and weigh in at Donore. Entry fees for the competition is €10.

For updates contact Pat Mc Donnell, Fishery Officer Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Mullingar Office Tel: 044 48769

LOWER SHANNON AREA

Report received from Valentine Cope TOMONA LODGE Nenagh LOUGH DERG

It was a windy but warm opening day (March 17th) to the trout season and the trout are obliging. I have not had as good a start to a season in many a long year. Spent only three hours yesterday for three fish and met four in the first
two hours this morning. Photo below courtesy of the sender.

ShRFB reports for the RIVER FEALE CO KERRY

Fish are scarce enough at the moment but then rivers were very low for most of the time with only small recent rises which proved too little to encourage a significant move of salmon. Officially 7 fish were reported caught over the last week or so. Christy Halpin from Listowel landed his first salmon of the season using a 9ft fly rod and a size 10 red ally shrimp fly, the fish was freshly run and weighed 13lbs. Robert Downey from Listowel scored over Easter weekend with two lovely fresh run spring fish caught on consecutive days. Michael Moorney caught his first fish of the year while fishing in a small flood on Thursday 31st March spinning a Kilty Lure. Other lucky anglers were Christy Halpin, John Laide and Peter Anthony Dowling, all from the Listowel area.

At time of writing there is a good flood on the Feale and will be interesting to see if there will be an improvement, more on next weeks report, join us then. TIGHT LINES!

Photo: Christy Halpin from Listowel with his first salmon of the season using a 9ft fly rod and a size 10 red ally shrimp fly, the fish was freshly run and weighed 13lbs.

Photo: Sunday afternoon 3^rd April, two veteran Salmon and Trout anglers of the Rivers Maigue and Deel, Mr Michael O’Kane and Mr. Michael Kitt enjoying an afternoon’s trout fishing at Castleroberts on the River Maigue, Co Limerick - photo courtesy of Ken O'Neill Fishery Officer ShRFB

Photo: Sunday afternoon 3^rd April 2005, Young angler Kayle Thompson landed (with a little help from dad Tony) this excellent ½ lb trout from the Maigue River at Castleroberts, Co Limerick - photo courtesy of Ken O'Neill Fishery Officer ShRFB

ShRFB reports for Jim Robinson, Angling Guide Lower Shannon and for CASTLECONNELL SALMON FISHERY Tel Mob: 087 2339999 Landline: +353 61 453808 Web Address: http://www.iol.ie/~jimrob

No reports this week.

Readership Statistics to this week - 2,692 visitors have viewed this report since January 1st, 2005

There was little angling activity reported for the week. Recently the Kilroy Cup did produce a few quality trout including a fish of 5lbs 14ozs for Armagh angler Mr Aidan Rushe.

Anthony Baggot, a local angler fished the Island River in short sessions over the weekend. He had plenty of small trout using a Black Pennell. Mr Bernard Mannion and daughter Julie had 8 fish, and kept one on the Cloonard River using a bead headed Fiery Brown.

Very little trout angling has been reported from Derravaragh so far and the first competition of the season, the Abbott and Tight Lines Cup will be held on Sunday 17th April from 11am to 6pm with the start and weigh in at Donore. Entry fees for the competition is €10.

Very little trout angling has been reported from Derravaragh so far and the first competition of the season, the Abbott and Tight Lines Cup will be held on Sunday 17^th April from 11am to 6pm with the start and weigh in at Donore. Entry fees for the competition is €10.