It’s a cert that the weather is just unbelievable these days, and last weekend was no better. Rain, high winds and the odd blast of sunshine made for a very interesting week on the angling front. I met Dave Brennan of Gaulsmoyles Carp Fishery and they are back on line after Covid- 19 restrictions on angling and travel were lifted. It was great to see young anglers out on the lake last Saturday having a great time catching fish. I also met a lovely couple from Poland and Monaghan who have friends in Mullingar. We also took a trip to Athlone and dropped into Wild Hunter Angling & Shooting Center.
GAULSMOYLES FISHERY OPENED: This exceptional fishery is just off the Castlepollard Road as you turn at Taughmon Church and follow the road for about 2kms. Naturally it has been closed during Covid -19 due to restrictions on fishing and travel. The good news is that Dave Brennan tells us all is back on line and hopefully in the coming weeks, match coarse angling events will take place on Gaulsmoyles Carp Fishery. Not only can you catch carp but over the years during Mullingar Coarse Angling competitions I have photographed some nice tench. When I dropped into Dave last Saturday evening on the way home from Lough Lene, local young anglers were having a whale of a time catching carp. Aoife Mulvaney from Castlepollard was fishing with Anthony and Faith Kelly of Delvin. Shane O’Hara and his brother Cian from the Gaulsmoyles area were with their pal and neighbor Cathal Flanagan. Gaulsmoyles Carp Fishery is an ideal venue to introduce young anglers to the wonderful sport of fishing. Please note you must book in advance and Dave Brennan can be contacted on 085-7206650.
POLAND AND MONAGHAN COUPLE: I have often said on my angling adventures that I meet some wonderful people and characters from all walks of life. Last Sunday Miroslaw Trela from Krakow in Poland and Carolann McKenna of Clones in Co Monaghan were staying in the splendid Bloomfield House Hotel on the shores of Lough Ennell. The couple are now living in Laytown Co. Meath and are both carers. Miroslaw and Carolann had never fished but were keen to see Bloomfield House Hotel and Belvedere from the lake and also to try their hand at fishing. Unfortunately the weather was brutal on Sunday evening, with savage blustery winds and heavy showers. Still, a plan was put in place and we managed a few hours taking shelter from the winds and Miroslaw had his first ever pike. We only caught a small jack pike but had a great chat over a cup of tea. Carolann actually has friends living in Mullingar and knows Mullingar quite well, having attended a wedding some time back in the Annebrook House Hotel.
GOING WILD IN ATHLONE: I have been up and down to Athlone and the Glasson area lately and hope to get back to Jude Quigley of Shannon Outboards quite soon to check out his range of Lifejackets and Outboard Engines. On my last trip to Athlone I dropped into Wild Hunter Angling & Shooting Center near Golden Island Shopping Center. Some month’s back I picked up a boat seat and was looking for another similar to the one I have. Sure enough, Chris Keogh of Wild Hunter had a few in stock and they are quite comfortable on the back. Then again, I am not getting any younger and need all the comfort I can get these days. While in Wild Hunter I met Andy Marlow who is just back from Kosovo and keen to get back at his angling. Andy is based in Custume Barracks in Athlone and I have fished with Andy and his fellow comrades before as my younger brother J.J. is now retired and worked with Andy. At that time J.J. was based in Connolly Barracks in Longford which is now closed. Connolly Barracks was the home of the 4th Cavalry Squadron and they are now based in Custume Barracks. The Cavalry Squadron had a great angling club and I had some fantastic days out with these soldiers, which was covered years back in Angling Focus.
THAT’S IT: The old marbles are rolling around in my head these days and I hope I will get news on the local competition scene quite soon. Plus I will feature a few cracking photographs of pike caught by Davie Blyth, who is an early bird and can be seen out fishing from early morning. Well the fish have to feed some time and many anglers are starting to venture out at the crack of dawn. Tight lines until next week.
Mick Flanagan
Angling correspondent and photographer.
Mobile: 087-2797270
E mail mick@midlandangling.com
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