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Game Angling
& Fisheries News Update
Dated
Wednesday March 10th, 2010
Photo: A bleak, early season angling
scene from the midlands by angling columnist Mick Flanagan,
Mullingar.
TROUT SEASON OPENS ON A VERY
CHILLY NOTE WITH SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES
The trout season opened on a very
chilly note with sub zero air temperatures all week, and severe
night frosts. This didn't deter some hardy anglers getting out and
about since our last update on Wednesday last. While fishing has
been generally slow due to the freezing conditions, there were a
few good fish caught on Owel. Mick Flanagan, angling
correspondent for the Midland waters reports on this and the
angling scene in the Mullingar area. He also announces the Lough
Owel AGM scheduled for this Thursday night. Athlone Anglers
Association kicked off their season with the Seamus McCormack
Memorial Cup competition and they provide details of their
competition schedule over the coming month, into early April. We
wish Peter Gleeson well with his new angling column in the Nenagh
Guardian Newspaper, Entitled 'Hooked on Fish'. We look forward to
Peter's contributions to our angling notes for Lough Derg and the
lower Shannon over the coming season. Salmon fishing on the River
Feale was very slow over the opening week. About 30 anglers
converged on the fishery on the opening morning with little
success. See full report. TIGHT LINES!
UPPER
SHANNON
 LOUGH
SHEELIN
Angling on Sheelin over the past week has been slow due to the
very cold weather. Michael Kelly had one trout of 1.75lbs. The
weather is to remain cold and bright for the coming days.
For local information on competitions and news for 2010 contact Thomas Lynch L.S.T.P.A.
Mobile: 087 9132033 or logon to the L.S.T.P.A website
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
Four Dublin anglers fished the opening week on Lough O'Flynn. On
Saturday 6th March, they reported seeing a few fish rising and had
one trout on a small Black Pennell. Other than that, no other
angling reports were received or anglers out fishing due to the
bitterly cold conditions.
For updates contact John Ryan, Assistant
Fisheries Inspector Co Roscommon at 087 2536064.
MID SHANNON AREA
LOUGH OWEL
The angling season
opened on March 1st, 2010. The weather
was very cold. Parts of the lake have been frozen
in recent days. Some
hardy anglers did venture out nonetheless. Peter Carroll had 3
fish on the opening day, trolling. Peter Gabor had
two fish of 1.5lbs each. His fishing partner, Gress
had 2 fish. Plenty of anglers fished the opening
week but struggled to
get many fish due to the very cold conditions, with night
time temperatures dropping down to -7 Celcius and daytime
temperatures not rising above 0C until after
midday, so a very chilly start to the season.
Mick Flanagan, Angling correspondent and photographer Mullingar reports on
March 8th. Mobile: 087-2797270.
OWEL POCKET GUIDE
NOW AVAILABLE ....
Some weeks back we featured a pocket guide produced
by the ShRFB on Lough Sheelin. This guide covered
all the best drifts, a detailed map and some very
useful contacts. Well we have just received the
pocket guide on Owel, and its a cracking information
publication. Now that the season is open on Owel
this will certainly be very useful to visiting
anglers. On the trout scene the lake is producing
some nice fish, mind you I did not get a chance to
wet a line on Owel, but its early days yet. Owel
A.G.M. will take place on Thursday March 11th.
Hooked-Live show Director Mark Ryan was in town last
week and we spent a few hours on Lene. Yes we did a
bit of networking on next years show, and also
boated some super trout on the day. Lene club member
Marty Smith was back over from England for a few
days and also had a few fish from Lene.
OWEL POCKET GUIDE....
The ShRFB have produced
a cracking guide of Lough Owel and its available
now. It's full of top tips on fishing the best trout
drifts on Owel, and has a very detailed map. Its
also includes a detailed list of rules and
regulations regarding game and coarse fishing on the
lake. Another feature of the Pocket Guide is the
specially designed Wheelyboat designed for anglers
with disability. Boat hire and accommodation
contacts also are listed as is the contact details
for getting your hands on the Owel Pocket Guide.
Contact the ShRFB at their local office at Tudenham
Lodge or phone 044-93-48769 Morning time best.
Information on Wheely Boat Hire please contact the
above number for assistance or Dermot Broughan on
087-2595286.The boat has a front ramp to allow
access for wheelchair users, and has a fixed 15HP
electric start engine.
OWEL A.G.M. ...
Staying with Owel the
Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association will hold
their A.G.M. this Thursday night March 11th.The
venue is the splendid Tullaghan Angling centre, and
it’s an 8pm start. Hon-Secretary Stan McKeown has
produced a splendid report from the 2009 season and
it covers the spawning season, stocking in 2009, and
a detailed report on monthly catches in 2009.The
season is up and running on the trout scene since
March 1st and we have received reports of some
quality trout coming from Owel. The club has a
13inch size limit on trout, and a bag limit of 3
fish per day. If you are interested in joining Lough
Owel Trout Preservation Association drop out to
Tullaghan Angling Centre next Thursday night at 8pm.
LOUGH ENNELL
The Trout Fishing season opened on March 1st with
little
angling activity evident over the opening week.
For updates contact
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Mullingar
Office Tel: 044 48769
LOUGH
DERRAVARAGH,
Lough Derravaragh opened to angling on March 1st, 2010,
no angling reported as yet.
For general updates contact Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
Mullingar Office Tel: 044 48769
PALLAS LAKE CO OFFALY
Pallas Lake opens to angling on May 1st, join us
then.
For updates contact Dinny Coyne Chairperson of
the Pallas Lake Angling Club Tel: 087 2974306.
LOUGH REE
ATHLONE ANGLERS ASSOCIATION NEWS
contact Eamon Cunningham P.R.O. Athlone Anglers
Association Phone
Mob: 087 - 2340815
Photo: Eoin O’Neill and Martin
McCallan accept the Seamus McCormack Memorial Cup from Eamon and
Anthony McCormack
with Michael Ganly Chairman of Athlone Anglers Association.
THE SEAMUS MCCORMACK MEMORIAL CUP ...
The Seamus McCormick Memorial Cup took place last
Sunday and as the first competition of the season,
with all the local clubs taking part, attracted a
great entry with forty four boats taking part. It
was a cold day with little respite from the easterly
winds but the anglers are a hardy bunch and stuck at
it and some were rewarded handsomely as some great
catches were recorded but the fantastic trout caught
by Eoin O’Neill and Martin McCallan was not to be
beaten.
The weigh in and presentation of prizes took place
that evening in Dans Tavern where Keane Moran and
his staff pulled out all the stops in the
hospitality stakes and it was very much appreciated
after the cold day on the lake. When the scales came
down it was Eoin O’Neill and Martin McCallan who
topped the leader board with their fantastic 6lb
11oz trout. This was Eoin’s first competition
fishing as an adult and hopefully this is a sign of
great things to come. The prize for second place
went to Pat McManus for his trout, which on any
other day would have won, of 5lb 2ozs. Third prize
was awarded to Michael and James Conway for their
trout which tipped the scales at 3lb 13ozs while
fourth place went to James Greene and James Greene
Jnr for their trout of 3lb 6ozs. This trout was
catch and release and as such James and James Jnr
were the first anglers to benefit from the new
increased prize fund for trout which are released,
well done to them.
Our thanks to Eamon McCormack and the McCormack
Family for their continued and generous sponsorship
of this competition and all profits will be given to
the Lough Ree Fish Hatchery and the Lough Ree
Preservation Society.
THE KEVIN GRIFFIN MEMORIAL CUP ....
The competition for the Kevin Griffin Memorial Cup
will take place next Sunday 14th March when the
start will be from Gallagher’s Boat Shed at 10.30am
and will finish with lines up at 5.30pm. The weigh
in and presentation of prizes will take place in
Gertie Browns with the scales down at 8.30pm sharp
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 this newspaper, the
Athlone.ie website and sent out to members by text
message in the week prior to each competition.
Sunday 14th March – The Kevin Griffin Memorial Cup
Sunday 21st March – Quinnsworth Cup
Sunday 28th March – Anglers Rest Cup
Sunday 4th April – Fallon Memorial Cup
LOUGH ACALLA CO GALWAY
The Trout fishing season opens on
May 1st, 2010
For updates contact John Devaney, Assistant
Fisheries Inspector, Roscommon 087 2266735
LITTLE BROSNA RIVER
The fishery opened on March 1st, 2010 on a very
chilly note, little to report yet.
CAMCOR RIVER BIRR
Fishery opened on March
1st, 2010. Reports will commence as soon as the
Croneen runs start in July.
LOWER SHANNON AREA
LOUGH DERG
TJ O'Brien,
TJ's ANGLING CENTRE KILLALOE Tel: 061 376009 Mob 087
8108225 reports on the Mayfly fishing on Lough Derg
Lough Derg re-opens to trout angling on next Monday March
15th, 2010. Tight Lines in 2010.
PETER GLEESON COMMENCES A NEW ANGLING COLUMN FOR THE
NENAGH GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER ENTITLED ' HOOKED ON FISH'
Here's the latest update:
Next Monday, March 15th, marks the opening of the fishing
season on Lough Derg and to mark the occasion The Guardian
has decided to launch an angling column to bring the latest
local and national fishing news to the hundreds of people
who engage in the sport in this newspaper’s circulation
area.
As I write fishing rods are being brought out and dusted off
after their winter’s storage and anglers are busting to get
back out onto the lake or the riverside in pursuit of those
spotted beauties of the deep.
Garrykennedy Fishing Club kicks off its trout season on
Monday with a trolling competition sponsored by Pat Ryan of
Ryan’s Pub in Portroe. An entry fee of €20 should be paid to
the club’s weighmaster John Malone for those interested.
Congratulations to all clubs in the Lough Derg area who
continue to do all they can to protect wild brown trout
stocks as their survival continues to be threatened by
problems such as poaching, pollution and global warming. In
recent months tremendous work has been done by clubs to
enhance spawning conditions in the rivers and streams
flowing into Lough Derg.
The Nenagh Ormond Anglers have undertaken terrific work on
the Nenagh River in recent years to improve the eco-system
for trout and salmon. Several new deep gravelled areas for
fish to rest on their way upstream to spawn have been
developed with the erection of weirs by the club. Other
clubs such as Garrykennedy have also brought members out in
force to carry out similar works on other streams. So well
done to all anglers who have given up their spare time to
take part in the voluntary effort.
And just to whet the appetites of anglers I bring you news
of the catch of a 7kg (15lbs 2oz) trout caught last week by
Richard Gibson on Lough Sheelin. The fish, which sets a new
record for the famous lake, was conned by a buster lure.
After weighing the first was returned alive to the lake.
Hopefully in the coming weeks all local anglers will
seriously consider adopting a catch and release system to
help in the protection of the trout stocks on Lough Derg and
its tributaries. Local clubs have been very responsible in
abiding by the rules about fish size limits. Trout caught on
Lough Derg under 35cm (14 inches) in length must be returned
alive. A size limit of 25cm (10 inches) applies in the
Nenagh River and all other tributaries of Lough Derg.
* Local clubs and individual anglers can send your fishy
stories to pgleeson@nenaghguardian.ie or phone me at
067-50481. "
RIVER MULCAIR CO
LIMERICK
MILLBANK HOUSE AND ANGLING CENTRE MURROE CO LIMERICK report on the
recent fishing on the River Mulcair in Co Limerick
The River Mulcair opened on March 1st, 2010.
ShRFB reports for the
RIVER FEALE CO KERRY
The River Feale opened to Salmon angling on March 1st, 2010 on a
very cold note with air temperatures dipping down to -3 and lower.
Water levels are very low for this time of year. About 30 anglers
fished on the opening day with little to report. There were reports
of clean spent Salmon caught on the fly, all were released. We
appeal to Salmon anglers to handle spent fish with extreme care and
release as quickly as possible, to avoid exhausting the fish, this
is very important. Anglers should also be aware that there is often
very good survivorship as spent fish make their way back to sea to
recover and feed and return as larger fish. We don't expect
fishing to pick up until we get a spring flood, which is unlikely to
happen in the immediate days ahead.
For up to date
fishing reports contact the local Assistant
Fisheries Inspector Mr Paddy Halpin Mobile:
087 7729126
ShRFB reports for
Castleroberts Fishery
RIVER MAIGUE.
For angling updates on Castleroberts
contact Mob: 087 9810817
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
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