Work begins on the La La

At the start of November myself, Tadas and Tom bought a Norman 32 Cruiser from Waterways Ireland as a winter project. we have only put two days in work wise and the La La aptly named is already stripped inside.

When we got the La La she had been under water for almost four years due to some unknown ailment that affected her water prowess or neglect we will never know. However after seeing her the first time I knew there was potential there and plenty of room for improvement.

Well all I can say is we worked very hard and bailed out gallons and gallons of water, removed loads of timber, shower, toilet, fridge, cooker, sinks, beds, wires, boilers, lights and silt and after another day or two being put in we have a lovely blank canvas from which we can restore the La La to her former glory and sail her up the Barrow.

The Pike we can't get

I went down to the Barrow yesterday in search of an evening Pike to brighten up an otherwise boring afternoon. I rang Neville at around two thirty to see did he want to go with me for a few hours and at 3pm Nev, Christian and I headed down to the slack water in Graiguecullen. Armed with a few Mackerel and small shop bought Roach we were sure of a fish for an oul pic however as is the story with all types of fishing you can't get what isn't there.

Nev and Christian

I had packed a few chocolate Kimberly biscuits, Turkey sambos and tea making gear so we were fed and watered and remained warm for the few hours that we were out. We headed to my house just after the light faded and had good craic chatting etc. especially about the Pike we never got.

 Ah the joys and tribulations of Pike fishing, I remember Nev having seven in one earlier on this year

Converting Sea Anglers Wednesday 21st Dec 2011

http://www.carlowcoarseanglingguides.com

We had a cracker of a day down fishing the Barrow again yesterday. I was joined by Decky and Ger Walsh who took a break from their normal routine yesterday to sample a wee bit of what the river Barrow has to offer.

Ger took a break from his Hurley making for which he is well known in Wexford to have a go at catching a Trout or maybe a Perch one of the Barrow species that has alluded him so far. Not any more as Ger managed to catch his Perch along with several nice Roach, Skimmer Bream and Dace.

Ger Walsh with a Roach

We were joined later on in the day by George Quinlan (Treasurer) and river patrol officer from the local Carlow Cac whilst out doing his rounds. George stayed for a wee while and landed a few Perch and Roach then headed off on his rounds again.

George on patrol yesterday

Just after George left us yesterday we we pleased to see that the Inland Fisheries Ireland officers were again out on the beat and after a chat with the lads and showing them our quality Roach they headed off

in search of unscrupulous anglers. Good to see the I.F.I. out on a regular basis. Miriam joined us at 1.30pm to collect me as the kids play was on and managed a fine Roach as I was packing up, We took a pic of Decky's bag for the few hours then headed off leaving Ger and Decky to enjoy the Barrow.

Miriam and her Roach on the Picker rod

A good few methods were tried out yesterday Ger was using a maggot feeder and waggler float, Decky tried the 5 mtr Whip before changing to the float rod and I started with the float rod then the pole and finally the bomb road. The best method on the day proved to be the float rod with a 2gm pole float and bulk to the bottom to get through the Dace.

Decky Walsh with his catch up until 1.30pm

We arranged to meet up with Ger and Decky next week again on the Barrow at a different location and in return we will go with the lads to Wexford for a spot of Cod and Pollock fishing.



Cold Sunday good for days Perch fishing

A few of us decided to go down local this morning to a wee spot

 called Mikey Websters named after the old lock keeper).After fishing the main river

for over an hour we decided to fish the wee marina instead with the poles and float rods

and put the feeder rods away for the day. A loose feed of red maggot's did the trick for the

rest of the day and we ended up getting fish after fish.

Leon and his Christmas hat

Myself and Tadas arrived around 9.30am and Leon arrived around 11.00am and at first the fishing was very slow on the main flow of the river Barrow, however ever vigilant as we are it wasn't long until we started targeting the resident Perch population. ollie arrived a short while later and had Perch, Roach, Dace and Skimmers from the swims we were fishing.

Tadas below with one of his Perch

We stayed fishing until about 2.30 pm today as it was getting cold again and after issuing a stern warning to a previously caught poacher we headed on our way up the road.

My-self with a good few Barrow perch

Leon below with the Perch etc. he caught today

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 from all at Southeast Ireland's premier guides.

Carlow Coarse Angling Guides

Tight lines for 2012

Pictured: Graiguecullen, Carlow

http://www.carlowcoarseanglingguides.com

Inland Fisheries Ireland Update for the week

Coarse Anglers judge the catch at Southern Counties Rainbow Fishery

Click on the link below for the full story.

http://fishinginireland.info/news/trout-reports/carlow-coarse-anglers-judge-the-catch-at-southern-counties-rainbow-fishery/

Great reviews and write ups in Ishootandfish E-Zine

This months December issue of the I Shoot and Fish E-Zine

 is packed full of stories and articles.

Carlow cac get plenty of coverage

on pages 66, 71 and 72.

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1v0yh/IShootandFishEzineDe/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fl.php%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcontent.yudu.com%252FLibrary%252FA1v0yh%252FIShootandFishEzineDe%252F%26h%3DTAQEerqwpAQGEN6_iIRP9HQHlCM6gfdNn38XiY2npS45neA

Carlow coarse anglers help out at Southern Counties

 

The weekend saw an absolute first for the Carlow Coarse Angling Club as they were asked to judge a competition and present prizes at two competitions being ran in the Southern Counties Fishing Resort in Garryhill, Co. Carlow. Ms Martina Foley contacted the Carlow cac chairman Mr Gerry mcstraw regarding the competition and after a committee meeting it was proposed that two individual competitions would be better in the current economic climate as some people wouldn't be able to attend a two day event due to work related issues.

 

    With the back drop of the beautiful mount Leinster as a canvas the competitions kicked off on Saturday morning with competitors well wrapped up for the day ahead. Several competitors in the fly fishing only competition netted Rainbow Trout that were over two foot long thus keeping judges Gerry mcstraw and Leon Deere from Graiguecullen busy for the day measuring and documenting each anglers catch. Anglers turned up from Shileliagh and as far afield as Sallins and Dublin for the competitions and were not dissapointed at the stamp of fish being caught, most of which were in the 4 to 5Lb bracket.

 

    After two hours on both Saturday and Sunday the anglers breaked for a well deserved cup of tea. The Foley family provided a very well recieved bowl of homemade soup, sandwiches, rolls and cakes for all competitors in the purpose built clubhouse at the lakes. Angling resumed at 2pm on both days with all anglers eager to get at the very hard fighting fish and fill up their cards for the day. The first competition was eventually won by popular Leinster angler Mr Robbie Phelan with eight fish averaging around 50cm each, the biggest fish of the weekend also went to mr Phelan at 63cm. Young 12 year old Ozzie Conway from Sallins Co.Kildare won the Sunday event with five fish averaging 40cm each. Pics taken during the event can be viewed on the popular blog ran by the Carloc cac chairman http://carlowcoarseanglingguides.blogspot.com/ If you require any information regarding the fishery or indeed the Carlow Coarse Angling Club please do not hesitate to contact Gerry on 085 2844566 

 

Pictured: Gerry mcstraw Carlow cac Chairman presenting Ozzy Conway with his winners Trophy

 

Competition time again at Southern Counties Resort

I was asked again to judge and present the award to the winner at the Southern Counties Fishing Resort again today following the competition yesterday. The resort is a family ran business in Miltown, Garryhill, Carlow and absolutley stocked full of decent sized and very hard fighting Rainbow Trout.

http://www.southerncounty.ie/

Ozzie Conway from Sallins fighting a fish

The day in general turned out to be mainly cold with short spells of rain but this didn't hamper all concerned in the competition as lines were cast and fish were caught.

Another decent Trout

The Foley family again provided a more than welcome bowl of soup and sandwiches etc. for all competition entrants which was well recieved by all.

They just keep coming

Gerry mcstraw presenting Ozzie with his 1st place trophy and voucher

Sat 10th Dec 2011 @ Southern Counties

We arrived out to the Southern Counties Fishing Resort Yesterday morning around 10 am. The air was absolutly freezing literly as the small puddles had frozen on the path. I looked up at mount Leinster and seen that it was actually white up there.

Un detered by the coldness the lads all made their way down to the lake for a days fishing and they were not dissapointed as several 60cm pluss fish were caught throughout the day. We had a break after two hours for tea/coffee, some lovely homemade soup, sandwiches and cakes laid on by the very curteous staff at http://www.southerncounty.ie/ .

Young Ozzie with one of his fish

The eventual winner on the day was Leinster team angler Mr Robbie Phelan whose fish on the day averaged out at arround the 50cm mark. A good day was had by all in attendance with plenty of banter evident and the craic was great.

Gerry mcstraw presenting Robbie Phelan with his winners trophy

Gordon Hill pictured below with a fine 2 foot long trout



Huge shock whilst Pike fishing

Carlow cac Junior member Lewis Parr had the shock of his life whilst dead baiting today after school with a small shop bought Roach.

 Lewis was fishing in a well know Carlow Town hot spot for a Pike when all of a sudden his rod signaled a bite which spun the rod right around and the young lad had the sense to let the tension off and play the fish!

 Imagine the suprise on the wee mans face when he eventually landed the fish he thought was actually a Pike!

Lewis with his catch

Was good to see the wee man release the fish back to the water safe and well!

Yesterdays papers

http://www.carlowcoarseanglingguides.com/

We were fortunate enough to get a call from the Sue Nunn show asking me to go on air to discuss the current situation in Ireland Re. Mr Kenny's speach and more cuts in payments making people with four children worse off. Sue also mentioned the club and the good work we do as regards poaching issues on the river Barrow. I added a wee plug for the Southern Counties Fishing Resort seeing how they so nice to us on Monday out there.

The Carlow Coarse Angling Club were also publicised in the Carlow People and Nationalist papers this week recieving the Bursary award from the Carlow Sports Partnership for their work with groups from the local community.

Pictured:Tracey Byrne Carlow Sports Partnership

Gerry mcstraw (me) Carlow cac Chairman

Thomas Kinsella Carlow County Council Chairman

Ian Warburton Carlow cac P.R.O.

George Quinlan Carlow cac Treasurer

The Carlow People Newspaper yesterday

Visit to Southern Counties Fishing Resort, Milltown, Garryhill, Co.Carlow

http://www.carlowcoarseanglingguides.com/

Myself and Derek from the Carlow Coarse Angling Club headed out to the fishing resort in Garryhill for a days fishing on one of the three lakes ran by the Foley family. The lakes are surrounded by a landscape that is second to none and absolutely beautiful. We were made more than welcome by miss Martina Foley who even took pity on us and offered us tea and coffee which was well appreciated on such a cold morning. The cut in the air however didn't dampen our spirits as not even a minute after casting a line into the lake beside the purpose built clubhouse I was into my first fish of the morning. The bend in the rod signaled what could only be described as a cracker of a Trout and after four or five minutes I landed the fine specimin pictured below.

Several fish later all caught and released off course Derek and I decided to call it a day and definatly make a return visit to the resort again in the near future.

I have been invited out to the resort this coming Sat and Sunday to help run a competition.