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April 2012
(these reports are displayed as most recent first)
29th April
This morning David and Chris (fresh back from Majorca) was off out in the boat to see if things were moving, they used the sounder up the Inny and located only one school of fish which turned out to be Perch, but they were a handful, still Dave did manage a good impression of Al Pacino:
They even tried trawling in Lough Ree but without a nibble and the wind made it impossible to continue so they came back here soaking wet and set off for the Canal at Branigan's only to find that there were a lot more anglers than there were fish, Denis and John had spent the day there and managed one bite each. Dave and Chris matched this achievement with one bite each and no fish again.
I was e-mailed late last night from the boys from the UK with very good news of Fish moving into the river in the upper reaches of the Inny, awaiting more news.
Mervyn was in for a big drop of Scrumpy, celebrating his award for the best late lamb producer in Longford.
We heard our first Grasshopper Warbler today in Ballymahon, which is 9 days later than last year and this seems to tie in with everything else, the Green Hairstreaks are a lot later and no cuckoo are in the area yet. Perhaps this is why the fish are so late running this year, the weather is grim and doesn't look to be improving any time soon. At least we still have some scrumpy to drown our sorrows with !
26th - 28th April
David has landed all ready to go until we got the weather forecast, all Doom and Gloom…….Windy, Showery, all from a Northerly Direction for the next 2 weeks.
Peter was out at strokestown pond where things were very quiet apart from a small bag of Roach and Rudd. John Wilson was on the canal at Branigan's where we joined him for the afternoon session, later joined by Dennis, this was my first outing of the season and I Failed Miserably with not a single bite. End result was Dennis with 3 Roach and a Tench, John had 1 Roach and a Tench and David had 1 Roach and a Jack Pike, I came last!!!.
David and I met up with a couple of lads, Wayne Russell and Kevin, from the UK in Ballymahon overlooking the River Inny and wondering if the Fish were up that far yet as they have travelled to all know venues along the river. We had a great chat and suggested other spots along the river and excess points on Lough Ree to which they could launch their boat. With boats in mind, David and I launched my boat at Tommy Foxe's and set it up with a sounder so that David can check out the report of a Hugh amount of fish out in the Lough, nestled in "The Hole"and getting ready to move into the River, This happens each year and if anglers are here at this event they will be in for a good time.
This evening the 28th David is out checking the entrance to the Inny to check on any movement of Fish, will keep updating any news… ( a couple of small Perch)
18th - 20th April
Weather has been a typical April with sunshine and hail storms with early Frosty mornings.
Peter has been resting up in preparation for the Roach Madness, fishing is very slow everywhere!
We are still awaiting pictures of the Trout but we did get a shot of the 'Woodcock Boys' with a nice Pike:
Doonis Bog is alive with Blackcaps, Bullfinches and Repolls, with Oak Eggar Caterpillars grazing on the Gorse:
14th - 17th April
Weather has remained cold and showery.
The Woodcock boys are staying with Paul and Deirdre at Innybay B&B and finding things very difficult. They did have one moment of joy when they took a 10lb Trout from Lough Ree and we are awaiting the photographs.
Peter has been very quiet, he is still prebaiting a swim and we will wait and see what takes place. He did inform us that the only place to catch fish is at Lanesborough on the Hot Water Stretch but spaces are limited.
Phil has gone back to England, the fishing was poor overall and the few fish that were caught were probably glad to have escaped Phil's hands (we were told not to publish this photo but couldn't resist, nice hat!!):
Chris had one trip down the river today to drown a few maggots. Two casts two bites two Trout and then nothing at all.
Doonis Bog is full of life with the first large hatch of Damselfly, the Orangetips are now numerous in number and solitary bees and hoverflies are covering the Gorse flowers in huge numbers. The Greater Diving Beetle are also enjoying the vigours of Spring and the Willow Warblers are in full voice...
6th - 13th April.
The weather and the fishing has taken a dive over this last week, winds are still in a Northerly direction with Frosts early morning.
Peter has still braving the elements and has tried all his usual haunts with very little to show in the way of Fish.
Chris and Cousin Phillip, who has been on a few days break, have been fishing down the river and have struggled throughout even on the Canal, which was switched off apart for a pair of Kingfishers feeding to which Chris spent hours under the camouflage net armed with the video camera on the 12 th only to be spotted by them and they cleared off.
Today, the two of them have been glued to Malady's determined to have the best of what has been the clearest day this week. Peter was out searching for a pond near Strokestown after hearing of Bream being taken in large amounts, he spent a few hours there but without a bite before joining the boys down at Maladys.
Other venues have been very disappointing. I have seen Anglers travelling around but have failed to talk to them for now. On the wildlife front the River Inny has got its first Swallows collecting water from the River and the odd House Martin, Chris and Phil saw a Silver Washed Fritillary go past them as well.
Lainsbourgh is enjoying isolated catches in the Hot Water Stretch with some good Tench and the odd Bream.
As I write there's a Large Shower of Hail which has transformed the landscape viewed from my window and a telephone call from the boys down on the bank to bring Tea and a Hot Water Bottle ( I will ) !!! Their Keepnet and brollies were covered in hail and ice.
Brian Cooke from Dublin was down at Maladys and suffered with a smattering of small Roach and after a few hours of that he popped in for a chat and a cup of tea. John Wilson was also on to us and has updated his website which can be found at: johnjwilsonfishing
Breaking News: Late evening today saw lots of fish moving their way up the river.
April 2nd - 5th
Day two, of the start of the fish run in the Inny. With the weather turning Colder by the day and Northerly Winds, and a threat of Rain and Wintry Showers forecast for next week. With the sudden cold snap the fishing has temporarily stopped dead.
Peter was off for a days fishing down at Mallady's today (2nd April) with a start around lunchtime up until 8 o'clock this evening. His returns were very good with Roach around the 1lb + mark with Hybrids and plenty of Trout.
Over the last couple of days Peter has been fishing the Canal trying for more Tench on the upper stretch, only to find Roach taking his bait. A trip to Lough Lee due to the low water level allowed him to make a heading for the usual swims but the fish were non-existent.
We have also updated our Local Accommodation page click here for details.
April 1st
Well this is no April fools day prank the river is full of Fish.
Chris was down at Mallady's early with little success until midday where it went mad with Roach running up the river in good numbers. All the Roach were females with the larger ones coming in at over a pound and loaded with Roe.
The Trout were also present in large numbers and the biggest caught was a good 3lb thanks to a hatch of Mayfly.
Peter was fishing on the Canal catching a few Roach but got the Call from me and left for the River Inny at once. He joined Chris late on with a keep net and had a couple of hours of good sport catching Roach, Hybrids and Perch. Amazing that only a few days ago Frank was down there and couldn't buy a bite.
There were 4 Hares down at Mallady's, in the breeding mood, and a Kingfisher which did frequent flybys making for an excellent day.
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