Mick Flanagan, Angling Correspondent for the Westmeath Topic and Sunday World Newspaper Tel: 087 2797270:  reports on Midland Lakes and Rivers.

OWEL TENCH AND RUDD.....

The Shannon  Regional Fisheries Board are netting Tench & Rudd on Lough Owel at the moment. I met with Dermott Broughan ShRFB & his staff on Monday, while they were stocking the Royal Canal at the Harbour Bridge & at the New Bridge on the Ballymahon Road.  Local anglers Andy Boyle & Justin Kerrigan witnessed some super Tench & Rudd going into the canal. More info & pics on  this next week.  

Photo: courtesy of Mick Flanagan Angling Correspondent

The ShRFB reports for Ray Duithie Old Forge Banagher, Bait Stockist and Accommodation provider  Tel: 0509 51504.  BANAGHER area this week.

Fishing hasn't been as good this week. Warm weather has led to a significant increase in water temperature over recent days. Fishing activity should confined now to early morning or late evening. Some anglers are managing bags of 20lbs to 30lbs, no bumper catches reported this week. 

Alan Snow Address: 164, Sileby Rd, Barrow on Soar, Leics LE12 8LS Tel Number: 01509620361 Email Address: alansnow7@aol.com reports on his rcent trip where he fished the Grand Canal Pollagh
" It was interesting to read Ray Duithies report about the catches at Pollagh last week on Monday. My mate Bill Bush and I were also at Pollagh on the down stream stretch of the canal and finding fish cleaning off after spawning we decided to try where they were active. Having set up we started to catch large bream and hybrids steadily and at the end totalled 140lbs of fish. The following day produced 280lbs and on Wednesday 240lbs, what fantastic fishing. However on Thursday the fish had moved but what a fantastic three days we had. I also read with interest the report about Finnimores and the large Bream, Kevin and his son Mark who caught the large bream meet up with me every year and I would like to verify that they had some large bream, the one I witnessed and weighed was 11lbs 12ozs,  a hell of a fish. Thanks to the Kelleher's at SLEEPY HOLLOW for the best digs in Banagher and to Eugene and his staff in Flynn's for the crack and to yourselves for providing brilliant fishing in the area. See you in September."

ShRFB reports for Mark Egan Athlone  Bait Stockist,  Accommodation Provider Email:  info@shannonsidehouse.com Website www.shannonsidehouse.com  Tel: 090 64 94773 Mob 087 8517299 - the River Shannon and Inny ATHLONE area.

Kevin Clarke from Norfolk fished Lough Ree at Killinure and reported best bags 130lbs of hybrids up to 2.5lbs. John Ford from Cambridgeshire fished on the Athlone platforms had very poor fishing up until 8pm and then suddenly got into the action bagging 25lbs of hybrids and roach over the following hour.  Late evening is the best chance of getting fish.  River conditions are perfect and anglers should see better results on the main Shannon from now on. The Meadows is worth trying best  pre-bait in advance. 

ShRFB reports for  INNY BAY B&B -  Tel: 090 6485284 Mobile Number: 087 6370237 fishing at Tom Foxes Angling Stretch RIVER INNY 

Very slow this week on the River Inny, fish seem to have moved out of the usual haunts. On the upside the Royal Canal at Abbeyshrule has rewarded a few anglers with quality Roach and Tench

ShRFB reports for John Dyson, Ballyshrule Lodge , PORTUMNA Tel: 090 97 41528    Email: Ballyshrule@eircom.net

River section town and salmon run are fishing fairly well at present. Lake fishing is in lull waiting for fish to return after spawning.

Owen O'Carroll, ANGLING ACCOMMODATION & GUIDING SERVICE, Lorrha PORTUMNA. Tel Outside Ireland +353 90 9747143 Inside Ireland 090 97 47143 Mobile Number from Internal 087 7591523.

Two anglers Jim Power and John Atkins from Liverpool fished Lough Derg for bream and had 60lbs and 55lbs of fish up to 3.5lbs last Wednesday.

ShRFB reports for Dermot Killeen Shannonbridge Tel 090 96 74112 Email:   jimmyjkilleen@yahoo.com reports for SHANNONBRIDGE area

Water levels have dropped back and running very clear on the Shannon. Anglers reported good fishing again this week from several different locations. The backwaters on the Shannon  produced the best weights and the Grand Canal has dominated the news column this week with steady fishing for several visitors, best location Pollagh and Ferbane. George Stones from Walshal had 120lbs of roach  on the backwater using pole to hand, he reported lots of pike activity also, landing three pike to specimen size, weights were 22lbs, 19.5lbs and 12lbs. Norman Danes in a party of three from Birmingham fished the River Suck on Sunday May 23rd and had bags of mainly roach and some skimmers to 60lbs fishing maggot off a stick float. Mr Cox from Tyne and Wear had 25lbs at Coreen Ford, Bream, Roach Rudd and Hybrids. Phil and Mark Brammer from Stoke on Trent fished up from Portumna at Sally Island on Monday May 24th. He described his fishing as excellent bagging plenty of Bream and other coarse fish using worm and maggot. Mick Park from Lancs fished the Shannon at Victoria Lock Meelick earlier in the week and later tried the Grand Canal at Ferbane reporting good mixed bags to 40lbs, mainly roach. He commented that they were the largest roach he had ever seen on the Shannon.  Brian Parker and friend fished the Grand Canal on Thursday May 27th and had a good day with mixed bags to 50lbs, mainly roach and bream, with large roach showing. Bob Tilly also had a good day on Wednesday on the canal bagging 35lbs, including large Tench over 5lbs. Kevin Boltz and Brian Tilly from Bristol fished the backwaters more recently from May 28th to 30th, bagging up to 62lbs of Bream, Tench, Roach and Hybrids, he commented that a few bream were in poor condition.

On the pike angling front Marietta Olerhuber landed her largest pike yet , an 86 cm fish caught on the hot water at Shannonbridge on May 25th dead baiting. A visiting angler had a fish of 81cms.

ShRFB reports for the RIVER SUCK VALLEY - Mid River Suck