| | Fishing & Angling in Co. Leitrim | Many
people choose Ireland above all others locations in Europe to fish. The
amount of fish is plentiful, partly due to Ireland's climate and low
pollution levels, and laws that outlaw illegal fishing. Ireland also
has a plentiful supply of the much sought after and prized Atlantic
Salmon, thanks to its geographical placement on the edge of western
Europe. Salmon and sea trout are native species with an honoured place
in Irish culture. And Ireland's lakes and rivers have preserved their
character in a landscape that has changed very little over the
centuries.
Ireland is also known as one of the most scenic
countries in the world with Lough Derg and The Shannon river being two
of the more famous waterways. Put it all together and Ireland really is
one of the top fishing holiday destinations worldwide.
There are
28 lakes within a 5 mile radius of the town of Ballinamore, and 11
miles of the Woodford River. All these waters can be fished from the
bank or from fishing stands. These waters are continually monitored for
their fishing quality by the local Angling Association. Fishing is free
all year around and maps of all local waters are provided. Fishing in
Ballinamore is varied - from the Tench and Rudd fishing of lakes
Willowfield, Corgor, Bolganard, Drumlonan and Corduff to the Bream and
Roach fishing of lakes Gardice, Drumcoura, Keenheen, Drumlea, Scur,
Templeport and Lakefield. These are just to name a few of the fishing
and angling destinations closeby. | | | | If you would like some more information regarding fishing or angling in Ballinamore or Co. Leitrim, please contact us | | | | Some useful angling tips for fishing in Ireland |
WEATHER FORECAST:
Weather
Forecasts are broadcast daily on RTE Radio and Television. Check
programme guides in the daily newspapers for times. They are also
available on Aertel. Telephone weather forecasts are available from the
Irish Meteorological Service - Met Éireann.
| COARSE BAIT:
If
bringing your own bait, anglers must take care that it is not packed in
soil or vegetable material, the importation of which is prohibited by
Law. Maggots are best packed in sawdust and worms in damp shredded
newspaper. There is however, no need to bring your own bait as maggots,
worms and groundbait are available from a network of stockists at all
the popular angling centres throughout the country. It is always very
advisable to order in advance. Please contact us with your orders.(
Skippers Choice Baits) is our own brand of quality baits available all
over Ireland. A summer cyprinid that offers great sport to those
fishing light tackle in streamy water. Maggots, bread flake and worms
are all effective baits, as are the fly and tiny spinning artificials.
In Ireland the fish is present in the Munster (or Cork) Blackwater
river and in Doon Lake in the East Clare Lakelands. Dace live in shoals
and move around in or near the surface in well-oxygenated water,
generally where there is a sandy or gravel bottom. They'll be in
channels near the weedbeds and in quieter water off the main current
during floods, but mostly you'll find the larger ones in deep holes
near weits. In autumn's colder water they tend to move into deeper
quieter places. They spawn from April into May.
PERCH:
Perch
are plentiful in Irish waters but really big ones are a rarity. They
are found almost everywhere, including game fisheries, and will respond
to a legion of angling baits. They spawn from mid-April into mid-May.
Artificial spinning baits account foremost perch, especially during
warm water conditions. Dead baiting with minnows scores consistently
throughout the season.
As we approach the end of our first year of
training on this counselling & psychotherapy course, I reflect back
over the year with a sence of achievement.
PIKE ANGLING:
The
Pike (Esox lucius) is our largest predatory freshwater fish and is
widely distributed in lakes, rivers, canals and ponds all over Ireland.
There are countless stories and legends about mammoth Irish Pike and in
many authoritative texts on Pike and Pike angling, Ireland is given
pride of place. Large Pike are present in the majority of our branded
coarse fisheries, particularly the large River Shannon lakes and on
many of our major rivers. Pike over 20lbs (9 kilos) are regularly taken
and fish of 30lbs + (13 kilos) are recorded every year from lakes as
small as 20 acres (8 hectares). The abundance of excellent stocks of
fodder fish (bream, roach and hybrids) ensures that Irish pike
generally grow faster and mature earlier than in other EU countries.
This guarantees better all round sport for the pike angler throughout
the year. A copy of the Irish Specimen Fish Committee`s Annual Report
provides the angler with valuable information on the locations of all
big Pike captures in the previous season and the successful baits. Pike
spawn from February to April in shallow flood margins on lakes and
rivers and many of our biggest Pike are captured just prior to the
spawning period. Young Pike feed mainly on aquatic insects but turn to
an almost exclusive fish diet after the first year. A mature Pike will
eat about five times its own weight of fodder fish in a year. Various
angling methods are successful for Irish Pike. On rivers like the
Shannon, Suck and Barrow, many big Pike live in quieter areas usually
on the fringe of a shoal of Bream or Roach. Often coarse anglers
fishing on a shoal of such fish can provide a vital clue to the
location and capture of bigger fish. Pike anglers are well advised to
walk softly along the margins and drop dead baits beside the near bank
or cast the bait or spinner over to the other side of the river. Big
Pike do not like to lie in open water, so over hanging trees and back
eddies are often key locations. Many Irish anglers like to spin or
wobble dead baits, walking miles of river bank in a day covering acres
of water. In the winter months, however, if shoals of fodder fish are
located, an angler using a float or ledgered dead bait in a static
fashion can find success for bigger pike. Small lakes can usually be
fished profitably from the shore but on many of the bigger lakes, a
boat is often required and these can be hired at most of the major
angling centres. Trolling large spoons, spinners, plugs and dead baits
are favourite methods. In recent years on the very large lakes, e.g.,
Derravaragh, Ree, Derg, Allen, etc., some anglers have employed the aid
of modern echo sounding equipment to locate the vast shoals of Bream or
Roach. Baits are then fished at the edge of these shoals to catch big
Pike. The majority of tackle shops around the country stock a wide
range of dead baits, e.g., Herring, Mackerel, Smelt, etc., and
information on nearby waters and boat hire is available from this site
or any tourist office. There is a network of Pike angling clubs all
around the country. They can provide helpful information and also
regularly run competitions on many waters.
PIKE NOTES:
All
Pike should be returned alive to the water and should be handled
carefully. It is important to use strong trace wire in excess of 25
lbs. (11.3 kgs) and reel line over 12 lbs. (5.4 kgs) and that the use
of small strong hooks be employed in tackle. If freelining or ledgering
dead baits, it is important that tackle is not left unattended and at
the first sign of a fish taking a bait, the angler must strike
instantly to ensure that the pike does not swallow the bait into the
stomach.
LEGISLATION TO BE NOTED:
In the interest of conserving pike stocks and maintaining product quality, the following laws have been introduced:
The use of live fish as bait is prohibited.
It is illegal to fish with more than two rods.
It is illegal to transfer live roach from one water to another.
An additional bye-law introduced in 1990 prohibits:
The taking and killing by any person of more than one pike on any day.
The taking and killing by any person of any pike exceeding 6.6 lbs. (3.0 kgs.) in weight.
Any
person having in his possession more than one dead whole pike, or
alternatively, more than 3.3 lbs (1.5 kgs) weight of pike flesh or
parts.
The above mentioned prohibitions do not apply to specimen
pike (as defined in the bye-law) provided only one such pike is taken
and killed by any person on any one day and that only one such pike, in
whole and ungutted form, is in the possession of any person.
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