Its certainly looking good for the coming Peter & Murrough season as we settle into July. This time of year some super trout start to feed late into the night, and the next few weeks local and visiting anglers will latch onto some beautiful fish. Last weekend I ventured out to check the evening rise, and even dough little or no fly activity some fish were on the move. On Lene Marty Smith had a savage take and boated a brown trout of 4lbs 1oz, and during day time fishing Derek O, Brien had a rainbow of 4lbs. Derek is a season angler and has fished for Ireland, and really knows his stuff, when it come to fly fishing. On the pike scene Lithuanian Anglers had a ball on derravaragh with local Predator guide Barry Darby. The lads were on a stag party and chilled out for a few ours on Derravaragh.On the sea front we have a super photograph of a huge skate, and this was caught by regular visitor to Mullingar Stan Ryan of Borough Sea angling Club. The club members drop down to Mullingar for the pike fishing, and decided to show readers what they are up to on the high seas. Also this week another non-native species has popped up, and this time the dragonfish was found in the River Suck. Plus we were contacted about illegal angling taking place on Midland lakes.
TROUT. Its early days but anglers fishing late into the evenings are reporting some good fish on the move as sedge type flies start to hatch before dark. Some nice fish were reported coming from Owel as darkness fell, but Lough Lene produced the fish of the week when Marty Smith rattled the scales with a savage brown trout of 4lbs 1oz.I weighed the fish on the new D-A-M- digital waage/scales and it was spot on. It’s a lovely bit of kit, and goes to 30kgwith 50 grams accuracy. Its also water-resistant and stainless steel hanging parts. Check it out in your local angling center its lightweight and handy for carrying in your pocket. Anyway back to the trout. Also on Lene some anglers are reeling in good fish during day time fishing, and I photographed Derek O’Brien with a colorful rainbow of 4lbs.Derek is from Stammullen Co, Meath a seasoned angler who has fished for Ireland and Lough Lene Club Member.Derek is tying me up a few sedge patters for the coming Peter fishing, and I am sure these little jems will entice the fish to come on board. “Watch This Space”.
PIKE. On the pike scene local pike angling Guide Barry Darby was Out & About on Derravaragh last weekend, and boated a few colorful pike. Barry teamed up with some lads from Lithuania, who are living in Dublin and dropped down for a Stag party. On the day they boated a number of pike well into double figures, wit hall fish caught on the troll. Thomas Sveikata, and Antanus Urbonavicius really enjoyed the day on Derravaragh, and are planning a return trip in the coming weeks. Barry Darby is one of the Midlands top predator guides and competition angler, and I always try to do a day with Barry from time to time just to keep in tough with what’s happening on the predator angling scene. Barry can be contacted on 086-8831488 if you fancy a day at the pike, or trolling Ree for a huge trout.
SKATE. No to often we feature a skate in Angling Focus, but in recent weeks members of Borough Sea Angling club in Dublin have fallen in love with our Midland lakes, and when it’s a bit rough for sea angling they drop in land for a bit of fishing. I have featured the lads in recent weeks with super pike and perch from Ennell and Derravaragh.Last week the Borough Anglers were at Sea, and Stan Ryan hit the deck with a Skate of 200lbs.The huge fish took 50 minutes to land, and it took 20 minutes to bring to the surface, and then dived down 60m back to the bottom. What a battle for Stan. It had a wingspan of 180cm and measured 220cm from snout to tail. After a few quick photographs it was returned to the depths of the sea. The lads also had conger to 30lbs, and ling to 10lbs.Thats really putting me under pressure for the next trip at the pike here in Westmeath.
ILLEGAL ANGLING AND NON-NATIVE SPECIES. Our report last week on the yellow-bellied turtle rattled a few nets, and readers were very interested in what’s happening on the non-native species scene. It an ongoing problem and recently on the River Suck not a million miles from Westmeath a Dragonfish was discovered by a local angler, and this really highlights the dangers of Illegal Aquarium releases to our waterways. All information on the dragonfish can be checked on my angling site. We also had reports of illegal fishing in recent times, and its an ongoing problem but anglers and members of the public are asked to contact fisheries officers immediately if they come across illegal fishing taking place. If you think you have witnessed someone fishing illegally or poaching you should phone 1890 34 74 24 or for easier recall 1890 FISH 24.
THAT’S IT. I more than likely forgot something. This coming Sunday July 6th Lough Derravarag Anglers host the Weir Cup. Fishing from 11am-5pm.Boat hire please contact Karl Meehan on 085-8003525.Tight Lines till next week.
CONTACT. Mick Flanagan
Mobile: 087-2797270
E mail mick@midlandangling.com
www.facebook.com/midlandangling