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

UPPER SHANNON

Weather has spoiled the fishing on Sheelin due to high winds, heavy rain and thunder storms persisting all week. During the more clement interludes some anglers were successful. Hatches of Mayfly were in abundance with good falls of spent gnat. Buzzer and Mourrough were also evident. Trout have been slow to take the Murrough and buzzer but some nice fish were returned on the gnat. Pat Bannan Ballyjamesduff had 2 fine fish for over 16lbs on the gnat at Church Island. Russell Whiteman from Derry had a trout of 6lbs 14ozs in Walkers Bay. Tommy Curran caught and released a fish of 6lbs at Stony Island. Eugene Mc Guinness Co Louth had a 7lb trout at Stony. Brenda Corr and fishing partner Mr Mc Guinness had some fish to 5lbs. Other anglers who returned fish were Sean Smith Navan, Ned Murray Ardee, Andrew Brown, Liam O'Broin, Co Meath, Billy Carlon Kells.

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

LOUGH O'FLYNN & UPPER RIVER SUCK

Matt Foley had 4 fish to mayfly on Lough O'Flynn , Bernard Mannion Castlrea and Ciaran Burns had 13 fish on the island river up to 2lbs, most fished were released.

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

MID SHANNON AREA

LOUGH ENNELL

There are no significant hatches of Mayfly so far this year on Ennell but plenty of Buttons and Buzzers and some good hatches of Alder are starting to appear. The cold evenings for much of last week did not help the evening Buzzer fishing. Anglers fishing during the day reported plenty of trout moving to the big hatches of Button. Pat Kelloghan, Dublin had the best fish of the week at 5lbs 8ozs. on fly. John Murray, Mullingar had 9 fish over two days May 26th/27th, fish ranging from 2lbs to 3lbs 8ozs Visiting anglers William Horn and friend, Scotland had 3 fish on Wednesday May 25th on Mayfly and Welshman's button, best 4lbs 8ozs. Conor Lynch, Clara and Maurice Cooney, Tullamore each had a fish of 4lbs. Mick and Alan Tyrrell, Mullingar, Paddy Whitelaw, Mullingar, Noel Gillholey, Mullingar, Maurice Cooney, Tullamore, Robert Ryan, Tullamore, Mick Clarke, Dysart, Conor Lynch, Clara were among the anglers who reported fish, mainly on the buzzer.

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

LOUGH OWEL

Lough Owel is starting to come out of slumber as more anglers try their luck and with warmer conditions forecast returns should improve. Christy Dunn, Rhode had 5 fish, released 3. Bobby Cordial, Dublin had 3 fish on Mayfly, best 2lbs 8ozs. Dr. Waldron, Mullingar had 5 fish on mayfly, best 2lbs 8ozs and James Fagan, Wicklow had 3 fish on fly.

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

LOUGH REE

Angling activity and catches are well down on the previous week which is directly attributed to the windy weather and unfavourable conditions. During the more suitable interludes some nice fish were caught dapping and on the dry gnat in the evenings. Padraig Hanniffy, Athlone had 3 fish (released 2) best 2.8lbs. John and Frank McGeehan, Athlone caught and released 2 fish for 4lbs, dapping. Tommy Kelly and Hughie Reid, Athlone had a 2lb fish each. Andy Duncan, Mullingar had 3 fish of 4lbs, 3lbs8ozs and 2lbs 12ozs. Peter Donoghue, Edgeworthstown had a fish of 3.5lbs, all these fish were caught on the gnat.

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

ATHLONE ANGLERS ASSOCIATION NEWS

report courtesy of Eamon Cunningham P.R.O. Athlone Anglers Association Ph: 087 - 2340815

Photo: In picture Patrick Flynn (sponsor), Anthony Moran, Tommy Moran (winner) and Ross Flynn (Sponsor). Tommy Moran, whose fantastic trout weighed 7lbs 10ozs said afterwards that he was delighted and honoured to be the first winner of the Barra Flynn Memorial Cup and was presented with a lovely new trophy by Ross and Patrick Flynn - photo courtesy of Eamon Cunningham PRO Athlone Anglers Association.

THE BARRA FLYNN MEMORIAL CUP

The inaugural running of the Barra Flynn Memorial Cup took place on Sunday 22^nd May and what a day it turned out to be. The weather threw everything it had at the anglers and varied from flat calm to heavy squalls with hail, rain, thunder and lightning thrown in for good measure and to top it all the competition ended with the heaviest trout caught on Lough Ree this year being weighed in. Well known local angler, Tommy Moran, whose fantastic trout weighed 7lbs 10ozs said afterwards that he was delighted and honoured to be the first winner of the Barra Flynn Memorial Cup and was presented with a lovely new trophy by Ross and Patrick Flynn. The Reynolds Family, close friends of the Flynn family, also presented Tommy with a beautiful crystal vase as a memento for being the winner of the inaugural competition.

There was plenty of good fish weighed in and any of them would have won a competition on any other day they were all that good, in second place was Thomas Killian Jnr whose trout was 4lb 8ozs and in third place was T.J. Kelly with a trout weighing 3lb 12ozs. Connor Hannon claimed the fourth prize with another fine trout weighing 3lb 2ozs.

The club would like to thank Kate, Ross and Patrick for their sponsorship of this competition and for their hospitality at the presentation in the Bounty Bar that evening. We would also like to thank the Captains of the Day, Eileen O’Dowd and Ross Flynn for carrying out their duties excellently on the day.

DAPP FLY FISHING COMPETITION

The second weekly competition finished on Saturday and like the previous week was dominated by a well known local angling family but this time it was the Tobin’s. Hugh Tobin claimed first prize with his brother Pat Tobin in second place and Thomas Killian Jnr taking third. Well done to one and all.

THE TEDDY BROWNE CUP

I neglected to mention last week that the Teddy Browne Cup was sponsored by Michael Loughman of Gertie Browne’s Bar and I would like to thank him for this continued sponsorship and for the excellent hospitality he and his staff provided on the night at the weigh in and presentation of prizes. I would also like to thank Steve McManus who was the Captain of the Day for that competition.

POYNTONIA CUP

This will be the second start this year for the Poyntonia Cup as first time around the competition was called off due to bad weather conditions. The start will be at Gallagher’s Boat Shed at 10.30am and as this is a catch and release competition the weigh in points will be at Carnagh and at Portrun, the last weigh in will be at 5pm at both locations and there will be a final weigh in at Gallagher’s Boat Shed at 6pm. The contact numbers for the captains will be given to anglers on the morning of the competition. The presentation of prizes will take place that evening in McNeill’s Pub on Connaught Street.

CLARIFICATION

There have been some questions raised over the last couple of weeks as to whether fish caught on the Sunday Dapp competitions should qualify for the monthly competition for the heaviest trout on the Dapp or whether there should be a separate cup for these fish, that would mean two cups, one for the heaviest trout Monday to Saturday during the duration of the Dapp and one for the heaviest trout caught on the Sundays. The committee has checked into this at a recent meeting and have clarified the situation as follows: there is only one cup for the heaviest trout on the Dapp and this is for fish caught between the dates as decided by the committee each year. This year the dates are 8^th May to 11^th June and fish caught on the Sunday competitions during this period are eligible for this cup. It is also stipulated that to qualify the fish must be caught on Lough Ree.

I have also been asked to clarify that both Helen Conway and Geraldine Rohan are also on the General Committee as well as the Social Committee, I failed to mention this in the recent Newsletter sent out to all members, my apologies to both ladies for this oversight.

FOR THE DIARY

The following is the schedule of competitions that it is proposed to hold over the next few weeks Please note this list may change due to unforeseen circumstances, however the details of each competition will be published in this newspaper, on the posters and on the Athlone.ie website in the week prior to each competition.

Sunday 29 May – Poyntonia Cup – Pike, Catch and Release – Lough Ree

Sunday 5^th June – Bank Holiday – No Competition

Sunday 12^th June – Competition to be decided

Sunday 19^th June – Ladies Competition – Pike, Catch and Release – Down River

LOUGH GLORE

No report this period

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

LOUGH DERRAVARAGH

No report this period.

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

PALLAS LAKE CO OFFALY

No report this period

For updates contact Brendan Mundy, Assistant Fisheries Inspector Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Birr Office Tel: 087 9974521

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

QUALITY TROUT FROM ENNELL....

It was a tough week in the angling world, gale force winds left fly fishing very difficult last Saturday for the National Qualifier on Lough Melvin. Plenty of local anglers competed in this years National Angling Championships, and it was John Sleator who topped the Midlands rods on the day. Locally fishing has being up and down with reports of plenty of catches from Lough Owel. The Buzzer anglers are having some success late into the night on Lough Ennell, and last week Angling Focus met up with Delvin angler Denis Vaughan who had a cracking trout on the Buzzers weighing 4lbs from Ennell . On the local competition scene it was quality and not quantity which featured during the Jimmy Nea Cup last Sunday on Ennell, plus we had a Rainbow trout caught on the day.

NATIONAL ANGLING CHAMPIONSHIPS....

The 72nd National Angling Championships were held last Saturday on Lough Melvin. Over one hundred & sixty anglers competed in this years championships with teams from Ennell, Owel, Derravaragh, Bane, and Brosna anglers taking part. There was ten places up for grabs for next years International and well known Ennell angler John Sleator was just piped for 10th place. There was six substitutes selected and John is number one sub so there is a chance he still might make the Irish team for 2006. Fishing on the day was very difficult with gale force winds howling across Lough Melvin. I fished with Robbie Marshall (Fermanagh A.C.) and we had one fish each in the first hour and that was it for the day. For the record the winner was Trevor Jones (Iveagh A,C.) eight trout weighing 4.99lbs, 2nd Noel Shields (Kilbride A.C.) six fish 4.80lbs,and 3rd Sammy Mc Gowan 6 fish 4.37lbs.The winner of the Deacy Cup for the heaviest trout was Jim Hoy (Derrygonnell A.C.) 1lbs 10oz trout. The presentation of prizes and Dinner was held in the Holyrood Hotel Bundoran Co. Donegal.

JIMMY NEA CUP....

Photo: Tosh Grimes of Ginnell Terrace Mullingar is having a good season on Ennell, and caught this Ennell cracker last Sunday, photo courtesy of Micheal Flanagan, Angling correspondent, Mullingar

The Jimmy Nea Cup was hosted by Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association last Sunday 29th May. There was little or no Mayfly on the lake but plenty of Welshman Buttons which had a few trout on the prowl. It turned out to be quality trout on the day and not quantity. Top Rod on the day was Athlone angler Pat McDonald with a super trout weighing 2.92lbs, 2nd was Eamon Kelly with a Rainbow trout 2.82lbs and 3rd was Mick McCormack who had two trout 1.96lbs and 2.75lbs.This is not the first time a rainbow trout featured in a competition on Lough Ennell and some weeks back we reported that Rainbow trout up to 2lbs were being caught in the Brosna river which flows into Ennell. Lough Ennell should produce some good fish this week if the Buttons keep hatching, also trolling is producing the odd cracker and Tosh Grimes had a good trout Sunday on the troll. Before we drift away from Lough Ennell the Whitebridge Bay Committee are looking for some club members to held out next Saturday morning with some work to be carried out on the Bay. If you have a hour or two to spare the Committee members will be there from 11am on Saturday morning.

REX BEAUMONT CUP....

On Sunday next the Rex Baumont Cup will be fished on Lough Ennell, fishing is from 11am-7pm. All are welcome and membership for 2005 is only €20. Boats and Engines can be hired from Myles & Eileen Hope Lakeview Lough Ennell 044-40807 or Jimmy Gavigan - Lilliput boat hire 044-26167.

LOWER SHANNON AREA

ShRFB reports for the RIVER FEALE CO KERRY

Water conditions were low for the start of the week on the River Feale with only a small fresh in the river on Tuesday with only one fish reported. There was a good flood on Thursday and bigger floods on Friday and Saturday. Great water on Sunday encouraged lots of anglers. We heard of 11 fish caught for the week. Mark Loughnane Listowel Co. Kerry had a good fish of 11lbs on a worm. Mike Walshe Ballyhahill Co. Limerick had a 7lb fish on a Kilty lure. On Sunday May 29th Joe Divine, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick had an 8 pounder fresh from the tide on a spinner. Bob Downey, Listowel also had an 8 pounder caught on a Ned Sweeny tied cascade tube fly. Paddy Dunworth Celtic angling services had a 7lbs salmon on the river near Kilmorna, caught on single-handed fly rod. Hopefully we'll have more news for next weeks update.

Photo: 7lb Salmon from River Feale near Kilmorna, for Paddy Dunworth on single-handed fly rod, photo courtesy of the captor.

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

No report received

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

No report this period

Richard Keays, Millbank House, Murroe, Co Limerick, Ireland http://www.millbankhouse.com Email to info@millbankhouse.com Tel 061 386115 reports for the River Mulcair system.

No report this period

ShRFB Fishery Officer Ken O'Neill reports for River Maigue at Castleroberts

No report this period.

For angling updates on Castleroberts Mob: 087 9810817

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