April 22nd, 2009 - Archived Salmon & Trout Fishing Reports for the Shannon Region

Game Angling & Fisheries News Update dated

dated Wednesday April 22nd, 2009

Photo: Winner of the O'Malley Cup trout competition Tom Gorman being presented with the cup by David O'Malley at Lough Owel Angling Centre on Sunday last.

PLENTY OF ANGLING ACTIVITY AND GOOD TROUT FISHING REPORTED ON LOUGH OWEL

Weather has been fine over the past few days with pleasant daytime temperatures creeping into the mid to high teens. Lough Owel fished well to Sunday weekending April 19th with most anglers averaging a few fish each day. Conditions were not completely favourable for trout angling on Sheelin last week. However, there were a few good trout reported caught and anglers are observing a rise of fish from time to time with some hatches of buzzer evident. With the Easter break over fishing resumed last Sunday on Lough Ree with the trout competition for the Tipperary Water Cup. Friends of Loch an Dochais will host the All Ireland trout competition for anglers with special needs for the Mary Robinson Perpetual Trophy at Loch an Dochais, Kilcormac, Co Offaly on Sunday 31st May, 2009, also a youth competition in association with the ShRFB will be held on the fishery on May 24th, more see full report. Angling columnist Peter Gleeson reports no real sign of the mayfly hatch yet on Lough Derg, but anglers expect that Ephemera dancia may be up by this coming weekend, April 25-26, when some clubs start their series of Mayfly competitions. We'll keep you posted. Please be reminded that Fisheries Awareness week commences this weekend, so do join us particularly in the 'Take a friend fishing' events. See below for details. Weather is forecast to get much more unsettled later in the week. TIGHT LINES!

UPPER SHANNON

LOUGH SHEELIN

Conditions were not completely favourable for trout angling on Sheelin last week. However, there were a few good trout reported caught and anglers are observing a rise of fish from time to time with some hatches of buzzer evident. Pat Bannon had the best reported fish of the week at 6.5lbs on wetfly. Visiting angler Mr Graham Measse from Scotland had a fish of 5.5lbs on wetfly. John Murphy had a trout of 4.5lbs on a sedge. Michael Kelly had 2 fish averaging 2lbs. 10 other anglers caught and released a further 30 fish.

Meanwhile catch up on angling news from the L.S.T.P.A. http://www.loughsheelinanglers.ie/

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

LOUGH O'FLYNN & UPPER RIVER SUCK

Report to follow.

For updates contact John Ryan, Assistant Fisheries Inspector Co Roscommon at 087 2536064.

MID SHANNON AREA

LOCH AN DOCHAIS - ANNUAL ALL IRELAND TROUT COMPETITION FOR ANGLERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Friends of Lough an Dochais will host the above competition for the Mary Robinson Perpetual Trophy at Loch an Dochais, Kilcormac, Co Offaly on Sunday 31st May, 2009. Angling will be from 11am to 2.45pm. All legitimate methods are allowed. Bag Limit: 4 trout per angler. Entry fee: €8.00 payable at the lake shore. Presentation of prizes will take place at St Joseph's Community Centre at 3.30pm. There are now 40 angling spaces available following major re-development of the lake. All enquiries to Mr Denis O'Driscoll, Secretary, Friends of Loch an Dochais, Kilcormac Tel: 057 9135328.

ALSO

Friends of Loch an Dochais in association with the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board will hold a Youth Trout Fishing Competition on Sunday 24th May, 2009. The fishing competition will be fished from 3pm. to 5pm at Loch an Dochais. Only anglers entered in the competition are allowed to fish during this period. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All legitimate methods allowed. Bag Limit: 4 trout per angler. Entry fee: €3.00. Enquiries as above.

LOUGH ENNELL

Fly fishing has been very slow generally with few anglers on the lake. Peter Ganly - Lough Ennell Boat hire reported a bit of action last weekend. John Graham from Clara, caught this trout of 3lbs 12oz on Sunday 19th April. Another angler landed a smaller fish of about 1.5lbs on Saturday near Malachy's Island.

Photo: photo courtesy of Peter Ganly.

For updates contact Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Mullingar Office Tel: 044 9348769 mornings

LOUGH OWEL

Lough Owel fished well to Sunday weekending April 19th with most anglers averaging a few fish each day. Mid week twenty six anglers returned 58 fish averaging 1.25 lbs - heaviest 2lbs. Thirty anglers fished the O'Malley Cup trout competition on Sunday 19th April and 30 fish were weighed in at the Owel Angling Centre. The day was bright with a light easterly wind, not ideal angling conditions on Owel. The winner was Tom Gorman with a fish of 1.085kg, 2nd Andy Boyle with a fish of 1.010kg and 3rd Seamus Eighan, all Mullingar anglers. Best flies for the week were Duck fly and Bibio.

Photo: Andy Boyle - 2nd Place and David O'Malley Mullingar at Lough Owel Angling Centre.

Photo: Seamus Eighan in 3rd Place and David O'Malley.

Norman Greene from Templeogue, Dublin fished Lough Owel two weeks ago from float tub on a cold sunny evening 3 hour session near Kilpatrick Wood and had 6 trout 1.25lbs, 5 on Asellus & 1 on black spider midge pupa fished on intermediate line, bumped a few more, another unhooked in play. Sunk line nymphing unproductive during daylight, a floating line would have produced at dusk for more fish, because the trout switched to dry duck fly after sunset, even though it was very cold.

Photo: Two Owel trout hooked simultaneously is rare but does happen occasionally - photo courtesy of Norman Greene

For updates contact Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Mullingar Office Tel: 044 48769

LOUGH DERRAVARAGH,

Not much trout angling reported this week

For general updates contact Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Mullingar Office Tel: 044 48769

LOUGH REE

ATHLONE ANGLERS ASSOCIATION NEWS
contact Eamon Cunningham P.R.O. Athlone Anglers Association Phone
Mob: 087 - 2340815

Photo: John Naughton accepts the Tipperary Water Cup From Angela Sloane and
Michael Murphy of the Coosan Tavern.

THE TIPPERARY WATER CUP ....

With the Easter break over fishing resumed last Sunday when the competition for the Tipperary Water Cup was held. It was a glorious day and with thirty four boats taking part hopes were high for a great days fishing but the bright sunshine and slack winds are not good for fishing and on the day it took a master fly man to bring home the goods.

The weigh in and presentation of prizes were held that evening in the Coosan Tavern and when then scales came down it was John Naughton who claimed the top spot for his fantastic trout. John ties his own flies and recently came tenth in the National Fly Tying championship and also ties flies for many of the local anglers for a small fee of course. In second place were Conor Hannon and Sean Kelly with a trout 1lb 14ozs lighter while John and Manus Conway claimed third sport for their trout which was only five ounces lighter. Thomas Killion claimed fourth spot for his trout which was a further eight ounces lighter and fifth and final spot went to the umbrella men James Kearney and Michael Sherriff.

Sincere thanks to Michael Murphy in The Coosan Tavern for his very generous sponsorship of this competition and for the excellent hospitality on the night and to Paddy and Keith behind the bar who kept the important stuff flowing all night.

THE POYNTONIA CUP .....

The competition for the Poyntonia Cup will take place next Sunday April 26th. This is a Pike competition and will take place on Lough Ree. As usual there will be two starting points, Gallagher’s Boat Shed where Liam O’Sullivan will be Captain and Portrun where Thomas Killion will be Captain and the start will be at 10.30am in both locations. The presentation of prizes will take place that evening in McNeill’s on Connaught Street and their continued sponsorship of this competition is very much appreciated.

FOR YOUR 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 the newspaper, on the Athlone.ie website and sent out to members by text message in the week prior to each competition.

April 26th, Poyntonia Cup, Pike Lough Ree,
3rd May, Donovan Cup, Trout Lough Ree,
10th May, Lough Ree Inn Cup, Trout Lough Ree,
17th May, Teddy Browne Memorial Cup, Trout Lough Ree,
24th May, Barra Flynn Memorial Cup, Trout Lough Ree.

PALLAS LAKE CO OFFALY

The season opens on May 1st, 2009.

For general updates contact Dinny Coyne Chairperson of the Pallas Lake Angling Club Tel: 087 2974306.

LOUGH ACALLA CO GALWAY

The season opens on May 1st, 2009.

For updates contact John Devaney, Assistant Fisheries Inspector, Roscommon 087 2266735

LITTLE BROSNA RIVER

Very few fishing on the Little Brosna River at present.

CAMCOR RIVER BIRR

No fishing reported as yet - too early in the season for fishing on this fishery.

LOWER SHANNON AREA

LOUGH DERG

Peter Gleeson, Angling Correspondent, Nenagh Guardian 087-6564662 reports

There is as yet no real sign of the mayfly hatch on Lough Derg, but anglers expect that Ephemera dancia may be up by this coming weekend, April 25-26, when some clubs start their series of Mayfly competitions.

A blue sunny sky and cool conditions contributed to poor catch returns in last Sunday’s competition organised by Garrykennedy Fishing Club and kindly sponsored by Sherry Fitzgerald Talbot Auctioneers of Nenagh.

Sunday was the first day that many anglers departed from trolling in favour of wet fly fishing. However, with just the odd sighting of a mayfly, the fish have yet to start looking up.

Jim McCormack was the winner with a lovely trout of 2lbs 8ozs, caught on a Claret Dabbler. Alan Slattery was second with a fish of 1lb 13ozs caught on a Claret Bumble and Mike Moloney (1lb 8ozs) was third.

Most Garrykennedy club members were also entered in the annual wetfly competition which was hosted on the same day by the Scariff Mountshannon and Whitegate Fishing Club. Jim McCormack’s fine trout earned him second place in that competition.

This coming Sunday, April 26, sees the start of the Garrykennedy club’s series of Mayfly competitions. Kicking off the series will be the Kevin Reynolds Plate competition.

RIVER MULCAIR CO LIMERICK

Season opened on March 1st, 2009 - no reports received.

RIVER FEALE CO KERRY

A fresh of about 1ft came into the Feale on Wednesday the 8th April and a few anglers were out and about trying their luck. One angler who got lucky was Martin Murphy from Abbeyfeale who had a fresh fish of 8lbs while spinning on the lower Feale. A large and welcomed flood came on the 9th April and there was great fishing water over the Easter weekend with lots of anglers out, but only a few fish were reported caught. At time of writing water levels are low with little angling activity evident.

For up to date fishing reports contact the local Assistant Fisheries Inspector Mr Paddy Halpin Mobile: 087 7729126

RIVER MAIGUE.

Season opened for trout fishing on February 15th.

For angling updates on Castleroberts contact Mob: 087 9810817

RIVER DEEL

Pat Sheehan from Newcastlewest Co limerick reported trout fishing as quiet at Knockaderry Bridge but had a 2.5lb brown trout at Castlemahon.

Like to Become a Contributor to this Angling Report !

If you have fished any of our game 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