PIKE AND PERCH: We have had a lot of fresh water filtering through our lakes and rivers in recent weeks and at times it has a huge effect on fishing. Some lakes and rivers get very discoloured with floodwater and a sudden rise in water levels knock fish off the feed. I was out with my pal Stan Ryan last Thursday in search of pike and we fished in terrible wet conditions at times. The lake we fished was 2-3 ft above normal levels and the pike were very hard to entice. We did get quite a few hits on lures and some pike even followed the lures right up to the boat only to turn away at the last moment. Still, we stuck in out and would you believe it, Stan got locked into a huge pike, which really tested his angling skills. Stan has featured in Angling Focus for years – fishing all year round for pike and perch – but this beauty was a personal best pike for Stan up on the 20lbs mark and measured an impressive 102cm. On the perch scene I only had a few small fish during the week but got chatting to the “Nodger” Andy Boyle and he told me he had some cracking perch on his recent angling adventures. The Andy boy is a seasoned all round angler who loves his game and coarse angling and the perch he is pictured with this week is a beauty.
LENE ANGLERS: I had a few days on Lene last week where I was fly-fishing and also did a few hours trolling. On Wednesday evening I was in the company of Des Byrne of Mullingar and got down to Fagan’s Point a bit before Des arrived and did a few hours. Prior to heading out, my old pal from Trim Gerry Peppard was coming off Lene with his angling pal Patrick Gartland, also of Trim. The lads had a wonderful day fishing and had some lovely trout on the fly. Jack is as sound as a trout and gave me a few pointers on where the fish were moving and sure enough I had a beauty of 3lbs only 10 minutes out on the lake. Later that evening Des and I managed to boat another trout and a colourful rudd as darkness fell. This is the first Lene rudd that has landed in my boat but in recent years I.F.I. test netting have rudd listed along with other fish species on Lene. I have always said we just don’t know what’s lurking in our lakes and rivers.
GIRL POWER ON THE LAKES: Quite regularly we feature ladies angling in Angling Focus and they are certainly a force to be reckoned with on the angling scene. Recently on the Whitelake young Killucan angler Meadbh Monaghan landed a super 3lbs rainbow. Christy Molloy of Longwood was also on the Whitelake with his 10 years old daughter Moya who matched her dad Christy fish for fish. That day they also had their two beautiful springers on board – Pearl & Judy. Last Sunday I also had a father & daughter day out on Lene and April had two lovely rainbow trout and a super brownie on lures.
TROUT COMPETITIONS: Last weekend on Lene I spoke to Chairman Tom Fagan about the competition scene and the Chairman’s Pairs charity fundraising competition penciled in for Sunday 27th September, with all proceeds going to North Westmeath Hospice. I also spoke to Gerry Heaslip who had to cancel last Saturday’s big charity competition on Lene due to Covid- 19 restrictions. All proceeds from this this fly competition were due to go to The Irish Cancer Society. On Owel, the L.O.T.P.A. are hoping to hold their last fly competition in the coming weeks, which is the Clonhugh Cup. I will be keeping in touch with Lene Chairman Tom Fagan, Gerry Heaslip and L.O.T.P.A. Hon-Sectary Stan McKeon regarding these competitions and hopefully before the trout season ends on October 12th they will take place.