Drowes Salmon Fishery News
First Salmon Of 2010

1 January 2010

The first salmon of the 2010 season was caught at 1.15pm on 1st January by Enniskillen angler Brian Mc Evoy. The 10lbs fish was taken on a yellow belly devon minnow from the Two Islands Pool below the Four Masters Bridge. Conditions were bitterly cold all day with rod eyes freezing during the morning.
There were some fresh fish seen at the deep and Meadow and a large numbers of kelts reported.

Water levels remain low for the time of year. Weather conditions are set to stay very cold but mainly dry for the coming days

 

Tarifs des séjours de pêche

Ireland's Fisheries

Mulkear and Shannon Rivers

East Clare Lakes
 Fly/ Spinning and worm fishing for Salmon & Trout and Pike on Ireland's loughs & Rivers

(The Mulkear River flows through Millnank Farm)

Pêche, irlande, shannon, peche, Irlande, PECHE, IRLANDE, poissons, guide, français, ligne, mouche, truite, saumon, brochet, bateau, mer, rivière, lac, truites, lacs brochet –saumon – truite – blancs – carpe – mer

Coarse Fishing (Bream, Hybrids, Tench, Rudd, Roach, Eels, Carp)

The East Clare Lakes, Lough Derg and the River Shannon offers a huge body of water and fishing hot spots ranging from small lakes in the East Clare Lakelands District  to larger and more challenging waters of the main Shannon. These waters are but a 'stones throw'  from Millbank. The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board provide extensive information and even rate angling according to your target species. See www.shannon-fishery-board.ie/sitemap-coarse.htm to be directed to the many angling centres in the Lower Shannon area, where you can follow the links to seek all the info you need on the various waters. 

Pike Fishing in Ireland

Lough Derg on the Shannon is renowned for it's stock of pike, the record being 90lbs caught with a rod and line. It is rated one of Ireland's top waters for specimen pike (30lbs+) with a very good stock of moderate fish. There are many smaller lakes nearby that offer good pike fishing. Boats and guides are arranged at Millbank. The Pike season is open all year round. 

Sea Angling in Ireland

We offer Sea Fishing from Kilrush marina, which is an hour and a half drive from Millbank, where you will have the opportunity to catch Tope, Pollock, Conger Eel, Blue Shark and many other specimens, in the Atlantic ocean, off the West coast of Ireland. Shore angling is also available. For all the info you need, please visit the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board website to select suitable sea angling marks at www.shannon-fishery-board.ie/sitemap-sea.htm 

Mulkear River (Salmon & Trout)Shannon region of Ireland

Methods of fishing

We practice Fly Fishing Spinning and Worm on Mulkear River (The Mulkear River flows through Millnank Farm)

The river Mulkear is one of Ireland's most prolific Salmon spate rivers, which flows through Millbank farm. It offers 20 miles of good angling water with lots of character, lively streams, and plenty of good pools where Salmon can be caught right through the season. From mid May to the end of September, annual rod catches are estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 salmon per year. This river fishes best after a spate.  

Another feature of the River Mulcair and its Tributaries is the very good stock of brown trout. On the upper stretches up to the Bilboa River, Cappaghmore (fish to 28 cms) can be caught. On the main river trout from 25 cms to 35 cms are frequently caught. 

Castleconnell Salmon Fishery

Historically famous Castleconnell Salmon Fishery, the the Shannon river is just 10 minutes drive from Millbank. It has eight private positions, which are available as day tickets and should be reserved in advance. Annual rod catches averages up to 800 salmon in a season. Mulkear flows through Millbank Farm.

The Suir River (Trout)

The River Suir is 40 minutes drive from Millbank - this is a limestone river with good brown trout stocks (fly only). There are many other lakes and rivers in the area where a good days fishing for brownies is assured. 

Clonlara Trout Fishery

The river provides natural fishing for both the beginner and experienced angler the river is stocked regularly with wild brown trout varying in size from one to twelve pounds .

The methods recommended are spinning with barbless hooks or fly fishing, classes are run for fly casting throughout the season.

River Suir

Open Season

Brown trout: 17 March to 30 September
Salmon and sea trout: 17 March to 30 September

The River Suir is renowned for its game angling, holding both salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). This guide deals primarily with brown trout angling and its purpose is to assist both Irish and visiting anglers by providing as much information as possible on trout stocks within the catchment and by outlining where the best fishing is available. The season runs from 17th March to 30th September inclusive. Where left bank and right bank are referred to, this means left and right when looking downstream. We hope that the information contained in this booklet will help to make your visit to this beautiful river a rewarding experience.

When fishing the River Suir, you will often need to cross farmland and access is courtesy of the local farmer. Please respect their property, crops and animals, light no fires or leave any litter and leave gates as you found them. When parking make sure that you are not blocking gates.

Description of the Suir Fishery

The River Suir Catchment drains an area in the southeast of the country of approximately 3546 km2. This represents about 4% of the land area of Ireland. The Suir main channel and its tributaries flow mainly through counties Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford, though very small pockets of the catchment are within Limerick and Cork. The River Suir rises in the Devils Bit Mountains near Moneygall (North of Templemore) and flows in a southerly direction until meeting the Knockmealdown Mountain range where the river changes its course northwards. Further downstream its course is again altered, where, at Knocklofty, the river turns east passing north of the Comeragh Mountains and continues to flow on through Waterford City until it enters the sea at Waterford Harbour. The river is tidal to a point upstream of Carrick-on-Suir.

The river is a paradise for both the trout and the angler. Unlike most rivers, it cannot easily be divided into distinct ecological zones. Almost its entire channel from Templemore down to the estuary at Carrick-on-Suir is a continuous series of shallow and deep (< 2.0m) glides interrupted occasionally by shallow riffles. It simply increases in width as one proceeds downstream, remaining relatively shallow and maintaining its very good trout carrying capacity over practically its entire length. It has many tributaries, which drain large areas of limestone and these give to the river as a whole, most of the best characteristics of a chalk stream.

A few tips in the successful angler’s approach: A standard dry fly rod (9 - 91/2 ft.) which has an A.F.T.M. rating of 5 – 6 is ideal. Most anglers use a standard double-taper floating line. A 4 lb (1.5 kg or 2 kg) B.S. leader tip is desirable in most situations. You may hook more trout with lighter nylon. A very light (2 lb or 1 kg B.S.) leader point should only be used when fish are taking smuts or midges.

Chest waders and a wading stick are an essential part of an angler’s tackle when fishing the main Suir channel. In most areas the river bed is a stable stone / gravel / sand matrix which is reasonably firm. Remember that this is a big strong river and anglers wading should always be careful particularly in high water levels. In addition it is advisable for the angler to bring layered clothing, as the weather can change from being very warm in the morning to heavy rain in the afternoon. A waterproof wading jacket is a must.

Although the trout stocks are abundant, remember that this does not make them easy to catch. They are extremely selective, so fine leaders and small flies are the norm. This is not due to over fishing, it just appears that these have always been very smart fish. The River Suir was deemed to surpass the celebrated chalk streams the Test and the Itchen by Lord Grey of Fallodon. In his book “Fly Fishing” first published in 1899, he wrote of the River Suir when he fished it in 1880 “in May and in June it might be the finest dry fly fishing in the United Kingdom”. However, the fishing on Irish rivers is challenging. The rivers have abundant fly life therefore making the trout very selective and they often refuse a fly. Lord Grey also wrote “There were trout visibly and audibly rising, which had never seen an artificial dry fly…. They defeated me utterly. I walked and knelt and waded and laboured and perspired under August sun without success.”

Hatches & Flies on the River Suir

Insect hatches on the River Suir are prolific, with good hatches of BWO, sedges, spurwings and many other olives. The hatches have declined in recent years as with most rivers, however during warm balmy evenings the river and its tributaries come alive with trout.

The highlight of the angling season is the “Evening Rise” during the summer months from mid May until the end of August, From 7pm onwards, the river comes alive with spinner falls and hatches, for example in the earlier part of the evening the angler can encounter BWO duns, followed by some spinner action, and after that if conditions are right a hatch of sedge. It is a technical river to fish, with lots of slow pools and “slick” water with conflicting currents, making it hard to achieve a long drift. This adds to the mystery and beauty of the river, making the Suir a fascinating river to fish.

Five flies which we’d recommend in an angler’s box on this river are pictured below. Having these flies in various sizes would cover most fishing situations. Where possible, local knowledge should be sought as to the correct fly to use.