January . February . March . April . June . July . August . September . October . November . December

May 09

(these reports are displayed as most recent first)

22nd / 31st May

For the last 10 days the weather has gone into overdrive, But it's all to the bad for fishing, Easterly winds, High Pressure. Bright Sunshine and seething temperatures have brought things to a halt.

I did pass by Shrule Bridge several times and to my surprise there were Anglers and there were Fish Topping and being caught after all that's gone on over the early part of the month. A local angler had very good catches during a couple of evening sessions with good bags of Roach, 3 visiting anglers had a fish a chuck but failed to return the following day after starting so well.

Chris and I had to try several more trips to the Canal again, from 5-oclock until dark, but failed to contact any Tench although they could be seen moving about under our floats. There were plenty of small Roach and Perch to be had. We did see two young lads who landed a great trout from the Canal...

Tommy is back from his holidays and his boats are in big demand by the Pike fishermen and Trout boys, but this Hot weather must be a torment out on the lake, no reports as yet as to what has been caught.

More trips to Doonis Bog in the early hours in pursuit of more wild life, this has been very successful with the Kingfishers still feeding their young, Warblers, Larks, Chats, Dragon Flies and Cuckoos in abundance. With great footage we hope to produce a DVD shortly for the local school and others of our findings.

Weather reports say that it will cool down shortly and become Normal Irish Weather to the disgust of our local farmers who are about to cut Silage and has all the Sheep stock sheared. Now that were entering June I have to say that it has been the worst May I've ever experienced in all the years I have fished around the Midlands, but we must press on.

After my rant about the local fisheries board we had an interesting email from Michael Bebb in England, I am including the reply as is:

"Dear Sir, I cannot believe what I have just in your updated Inny report. Ireland has aways been blessed with many clever and creative citizens but alas my faith is once again restored when I read of the incredible goings-on at Shrule by people who can only be devoid of any grey matter whatsoever ! Who in their right mind would consider electro-fishing a river full of spawning fish most of which are already on the redds ? It simply beggars belief. The thought of thousands of spawning roach belly up floating down the river disgusts me. All in the name of a chub cull. Have these mindless buffoons ever thought of calling any of the numerous scientific officers in the Environment Agency in the U.K. who would have been only too pleased to help and advise these IDIOTS that to stun to a state of unconsciousness a hen fish full of spawn is likely to result in the fish miscarrying all her eggs and in the case of a male fish causing it to be incapable of fertilisation. These are simple facts known to anyone with an inkling of intelligence and knowledge of the lives of freshwater fish. Why did these fools not speak to Dr. Bruno Broughton or indeed ANY of the scientific officers at the EA ? They would have been told of the disaster they will cause. Roach failing to spawn in this year will have an adverse effect on stocks in years to come when there is a massive problem already. These people are ignorant fools with probably too much time and money on their hands seeking to justify their existence. On some rivers in England even wading is forbidden to give the fish a chance of a successful spawning season....and I read of lunatics stunning fish (many to death) when in the very act of spawning! They should be lined up and shot. It is significant that the regions in Ireland where there is a serious decline in fish stocks and the quality of fishing generally is where these Regional Fishery Boards exist and have ruined what was one a fabulous place to visit to fish. I am like thousands of English anglers who no longer come to Ireland because of the beauracratic destruction of this natural bounty you have. I am coming for a week in June, as I have for many years, but it will be my last. I will enjoy my Spring fishing trip in Holland or Denmark where sensible, informed and intelligent protection of their fisheries takes place. None of these can describe what takes place in Ireland where the place is PRESERVED by backward buffoons. Yours Incredulously Michael V. Bebb "

Many thanks Michael we heartily agree.

13th / 22nd May

For the last 10 days we've had the worst weather for any May in years, Strong winds, Torrential Rains and low temperatures.

Very few anglers have reported any good catches throughout the Midlands and the River Inny has shut down. There were a few Green Shoots on the river at White Bridge with Roach appearing in numbers until the Fishery Board decided to Electrify the Whole River from above Red Bridge up to Ballymahon and beyond in search of Chub.

For 2 consecutive days 4 boats loaded with all the equipment and generators, enough to power Ballymahon and a gang of so-called fish conservationalists 12 in all, swept the river at this Spawning Period stunning everything in their path. End result, NO Chub, just the river surface covered with thousands of Stunned Roach of all sizes.

Exclamation of this bazaar two days of wasted funds from one person seemingly slightly to be in charge with a little higher brain cell count, as to the people in the boats, he was allowed to stand on the bridge waving a bundle of papers.

I would think that with the money they are flittering away they could produce a program of breeding fish of this nature along with other species like, Barbel and Dace to enhance the rivers thus encouraging anglers to come over and spend their hard earned cash on a worthwhile holiday, which will be lost in a few years if nothing is done.

Angling in Ireland was a pleasure years ago with an annual influx of visitors from England and Europe from May until September, like the famous Corncrake, all gone bar a few.

On a much happier note, Chris, Scully and I managed a few hours on the Canal at Abbyshrule on Thursday 21st between the heavy showers this evening and were delighted to find there were fish to be had, plenty of small Roach, Rudd and Perch followed by some large Tench in the latter part of this session right up until dark.

Fishing over a bed of Chopped worms and maggots we found the weed growth was at a minimum due to the water temperature over the past so no raking was needed. Pictures were taken of the bigger fish, as we still don't use Keep- nets as part of our conservation towards trying to keep stress to a minimum. (Fish that is !!!)

Today Doonis bog was the spot to be with Kingfishers flying backwards and forwards feeding their young, the resident pair of cuckoo have been hopping about with a good selection of smaller birds mobbing them, dragonflies are abundent with Broad-Bodied Chasers and even the local Hares have been enjoying the sunshine today with one amorous pair multiplying happily, even the Wood Pigeons were feeling close.

13th May

We had a grand report from the Tiverton Boys, and as promised they have sent over some excellent Photos of their trip over here. We are including the report as is:

"This year was properly the hardest for several years with the weather and high water levels but we still enjoyed ourselves.

We caught quite well early on, on the Inny both below Shrule and down at Tommies at the Bog hole, No big bags but 10 to 20 pounds a session but the Inny is still as unpredictable as ever, Both myself & Anthony and Chris and Rob had good evenings on the Stick below Shrule Bridge then came back the next morning and you wouldn't think there was a fish in the River, we wondered if the high levels were any thing to do with it.

The river seemed to have a lot more smaller fish that we put down to males waiting for spawning females to arrive, Chris had 5 Roach over 1lb 14oz Anthony and myself had 2 @1lb 15oz, Rob Harv & Mike all had fish well over 1lb 12oz but none of us could better the magical 2lb mark although we had several hybrids up to 4lb.

The weather seemed to worsen over the Bank holiday weekend and after another fruitless morning on the Inny and the River Suck out over the fields down below Athleague we spent most of the rest of the Holiday fishing Lough Allen, Rob having the best bag of 90lb of hybrids, Chris Best Bag of 60lb and Anthony had 40lb 3 day's on the trot, my best bag was 29lb 12oz of Roach caught on the waggler on the last day of the holiday."

Many thanks for the Report lads and we hope to see you again soon !

10th - 12th May

The Wind is still a problem and it's from the East, Temperatures in the early hours are around the Frost Zone.

At least a large group of anglers were having a match with one section on the Canal at Abbyshrule and another further up the canal between the lock gates. The results were very poor, 6 lbs odd and not a Tench in the lower section.

Dennis was tucked away beside the bridge at Shrule catching plenty of Roach, on a nice trot through just off the bank. Red Bridge had the attention of a lonely Pike angler downstream with a good 6 rods out when he spied me he gathered up his rods and moved off further downstream clutching his Lidl Bag. Makes you wonder!!!

Away from the river, Chris and myself did the rounds along the canal only to find more of the same, so we had a Bird Watching session instead. In the early hours Monday morning, I squatted for Hours under a Camo Net waiting for our friendly Kingfishers whilst Chris did a walk-a-about and found some interesting Butterflies.

I had 4 fly-bys and an encounter with my CamCorder of a Female Kingfisher with a small fish for her young. I was delighted until I had to straighten up from under the netting and I am still 6inches short of being normal. Chris thought this to be quite hilarious and have not yet ceased chuckling to himself.

Tuesday 12th weather is bright and sunny but the wind is cruel and the forecast is not good for the next few days.

6th - 9th May

With the strong winds and cold showers we have been forced to put the fishing on hold for a few days. The river has risen and has a bit of colour in it.

The Tiverton boys have been fishing away and have promised some photos shortly, Denis has been back down at Maladys so the fishing is still good.

At an undisclosed site we have spent a couple of highly enjoyable days watching a pair of Kingfishers catching Sticklebacks (pinkies) to feed to their young. We carefully constructed a Hide so as not to disturb the pair, we allow about one hour of watching, this is because Kingfishers are notorious for abandoning the nest site if they get disturbed.

1st - 5th May

We still have days with heavy showers and of late there's more wind from the SW.

The fish in the Inny; still not knowing what to do, reports of No Fish and Good catches have taken place.

Dennis has arrived for his week and has had mixed bags with good Roach and Hybrids from White Bridge and a few hours at Malady's in the evenings.

More anglers seen at the Canal above Abbyshrule with small bags, odd Tench and small Roach with the wind factor blowing up the Canal it's a hard venue to fish.

News from Athlone at Charlie's Island (stages on the west bank) that there's good size Roach taken (2lb plus) A lot of lakes around Leitrim were very short of anglers after a trip around the popular lakes there's hardly a blade of grass trampled which is sad to see.

Now that Chris is back from his holiday in Portugal the web will be kept up to date and a little bit more fishing done.

Chris has returned from the Algarve and has been raving about the birdlife and has taken over 10,000 photos in the 10 days he was away. Below are a quick selection of his better shots...
In Order: Avocet, Pair of Golden Eagle, Black-Winged Stilt, Hoopoe,
Azure-winged Magpie, White Stork, Griffon Vulture, Flock of SandGrouse.

Top of Page

Home . . . . . . Gallery . . . . . . Accommodations . . . . . . Links. . . . . . Wildlife