We have a lot of catching up to do this week as anglers have been reeling in some lovely trout. Lene, Owel and Mount Dalton anglers were in the thick of the action plus I left out a photograph from the Whitelake last week. Breaking news of the Buzz/Peter Flies – tied up by one of Mullingar’s top fly anglers and fly tiers. The Corrib has also produced a few crackers for Delvin and Clonard anglers. Good news for anglers fishing Lene asGerry Heaslip has put a beautiful handmade bench along the shores of Winters Point and we can now sit and have the tea in comfort.
BUZZ/PETERS. We will soon settle into evening and late night fishing as Murroughs and Peters will soon hatch on our lakes. These Sedge type flies really tempt the big trout to the surface and this season I’m sure some lumps of trout will be caught. I was chatting to Johnny O’Malley who is regarded as one of the Midlands top fly anglers and fly tiers, and it’s certainly exciting times for the Johnny boy. Johnny over the years has tied flies that are deadly for our lakes and his Red Arse Peter and Welshman Buttons are famous across Ireland. Johnny has now let loose the Buzz/Peter Fly and some savage looking Murroughs. These will be lethal in the coming weeks and David up in O’Malleys Angling Center has a few in stock.
OWEL ACTION: I checked out Owel last week and spent a late evening out with Pauric Martin. It was very breezy and a cool chill descended on Owel as darkness fell. A few anglers were out and there was no fly life as such but I met an old timer and he said it will be another week or so before the Peters arrive. That evening I missed 2 trout and Pauric had one lovely fish on a Dry Murrough. Lough Owel Trout Preservation will run a Peter competition in August and we will have details on this event in next week’s angling report. At the moment Westmeath County Council are doing a fine job cleaning up around the Tullaghan area and the place is looking good for visiting and local anglers.
LENE ACTION: Quite a number of fish are surface feeding on Lene lately, but at times they are proving hard to catch. I was on Lene last week and had one nice brown trout trolling with Vice-Chairman Frank McKeon. We had lunch with John Gallagher who spends quite a bit of time on Lene and in recent trips has had some nice brown & rainbow trout on Dry Daddy Long Legs and small sedge patterns. Lene is another popular lake for late evening fishing and in the coming weeks it will produce some savage trout. If you are on Lene you might notice a beautiful handmade bench put along the shore near Winters Point. Lough Lene club member and Irish International Fly Angler Gerry Heaslip has put this bench in place and it’s a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Gerry hopes Anglers enjoy using this bench when having cup of tea on Lene.
CORRIB ACTION: The western lakes are a magnet for some local anglers and it’s always nice to have a day out on other waterways be it pike or trout fishing. Larry Pointon of Delvin really loves the Corrib and spends many a day on it with Pat Egan, a local angling expert from Headford Corrib Anglers. On their latest adventure on this fantastic lake, Larry had a beautiful wild brown trout out from Puck Island on a dry May Fly. Also on the Corrib, Kinnegad and Clonard anglers are having a whale of a time catching huge Ferox trout. Joe Darby of Clonard rattled the scales with a huge fish in recent days with his pal Bill Shanley.
THAT’S IT: Quite a few fishy pics this week and I also photographed a barge in Dry Dock up at the Harbour Bridge. It’s been years since I have seen a boat in for repairs and it has caught the attentions of many Royal Canal walkers. Next week, news on the Owel Peter competition in August and don’t forget to drop up to David O’Malley and check out the Buzz/Peter Flys. They are that realistic, they are flying out the door we believe. I hope to check out Mount Dalton soon, now that this fly only lake is open. As mentioned, we have a huge numbers of fishy pics and what’s not included this week, we will most certainly feature next week. Tight Lines until next week .
Mick Flanagan
Angling correspondent and photographer.
Mobile: 087-2797270
E mail mick@midlandangling.com
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