Trout (Salmo trutta)
LAKE
Specimen weight: 4.536 kg (10 lb).
Record weight: 26lb 2oz Lough Ennel, 1894.
RIVER
Specimen weight: 2.268 kg (5 lb).
Record weight: 20lb River Shannon - Corbally, 1957.
The brown trout is a native Irish species, and the most widely distributed freshwater fish in Ireland. It thrives in rivers and lakes of all types, from small mountain streams and upland lakes to broad limestone rivers such as the Boyne or the lower Liffey and the famous limestone lakes of the west. Lough Corrib has been very prolific for specimen trout in recent years.Features:
The average size and colour is variable. Limestone rivers and lakes produce larger fish which can vary from all silver to gold with numerous black and red spots. In more acid waters trout tend to be smaller and darker.
Spawning:
In redds (gravel nests) in flowing water in winter.
Fecundity:
400 eggs per lb.
Longevity (age):
River trout can be up to 8 years old, while lake trout can live to between 12 and possibly 15 years of age.
Diet:
Seasonal variations in diet occur. Insects form the mainstay of the trout's diet with all stages (larva to adult) being taken at some time during the season, minnows and other small fish are also taken. Large lake trout may be exculusively pisciverous.
Best Angling Methods:
Fly fishing, spinning, worming and trolling.
Best Baits:
Dry and wet flies in tradtional and more imitative patterns. Large lake trout fall to trolled dead baits, spoons and plugs.
Salmon (Samo salar)
Specimen weight: 9.072 kg (20 lb).
Record weight: 57lb River Suir, 1874.
Features:
Slender and streamlined with silvery appearance and relatively large scales. some dark spots on flanks and has an adipose fin.
Spawning:
Sexually mature after 3 years. Eggs laid in redds (gravel nests) in flowing water in winter.
Fecundity:
600 eggs per lb.
Longevity (age):
Short life span. A 5 year old fish would be old.
Diet:
Migrating salmon do not feed in freshwater.
Best Angling Methods:
Dependant on water conditions.
Best Baits:
Traditonal flies, spinners spoons also worm, shrimp and prawn as conditions and rules allow.
Pike (Esox lucius)
Specimen weight: 9.1 kg (20 lb), River and 13.6 kg (30 lb), Lake.
Record Weight: 42lb River Barrow, 1964. 42lb 12oz White Lough, 2005
do not fully give the measure of the biggest Irish pike, for greater fish swim in Irish waters. Pike can be found in almost every part of the country and they may be sought from boat or bank, in very big waters and very small ones. They can be fished for in every season, and they can also be caught by a wide range of methods; recently fly-fishing for pike has become very popular. It is important to sustain the high quality of Irish pike fishing.
Features:
The pike's body is streamlined, olive green in colour with a white belly. They have a large mouth containing many rows of backward pointing sharp teeth.
Spawning:
They spawn between February and April when water temperatures are less than 8°C. They attach their adhesive eggs to flooded grass, reeds and other vegetation.
Fecundity:
Adult pike produce between 9,000-20,000 eggs/kg. Longevity (age): Pike rarely live beyond 15 years of age.
Diet:
Adult pike are pisciverous, feeding on available fish species, but invertebrates are an important part of the diet of smaller pike. Male pike rarely exceed 4.5 kg (10 lb) in weight and occasionally become part of the diet of larger female pike.
Best Angling Methods:
Spinning, trolling and fly fishing; float fishing, float ledger, ledgering and sink and draw a range of deadbaits.
Best Baits:
A range of plugs, spoons, spinners, jerk baits, pike flies and a range of small deadbaits including herring, mackerel, smelt, sprat and other sea deadbaits.
Perch (Perca fluvialtilis)
Specimen weight: 1.2 kg (2.646 lb).
Record weight: 5lb 8oz Lough Erne. 1946
Features:
Perch are easily identified by their olive green colour and the distinctive vertical black stripes on their flanks. The pectoral, pelvic and tail fin are reddish in colour.
Spawning:
Perch can mature at two years of age. Spawning takes place in early April to mid May on aquatic weeds or submerged bushes or tree branches. Egg size is 2-2.5 mm.
Fecundity:
Number of eggs produced per adult is c. 45,000 eggs/kg. Longevity (age): Perch live for about 12 years.
Diet:
Perch are fish-eaters but they also feed on aquatic insects.
Best Angling Methods:
Float fishing, ledgering and spinning.
Best Baits:
Maggots, worms, casters, a selection of small spinners, spoons and plugs and occasionally small dead fish for big specimens.
Sea Trout (Salmo trutta)
Specimen weight: 2.268 kg (5 lb).
Record weight: 16lb 6oz Shimna River - Co. Down, 1983.
A very gamey fish which is a smaller cousin of the salmon. But whereas salmon remain in freshwater once they run a river seatrout may run in and out a number of times. Often a microscopic examination of scales is needed to differentiate a salmon from a seatrout. Finnock (fish which spend a few months at sea) or 1 Sea winter trout (fish that spend a full year at sea) dominate catches in Ireland. Lough Currane in Co. Kerry is one of the best sea trout waters in Europe.Features:Similar to salmon in colour but more thickset and often heavily spotted on flanks.
Spawning: Eggs laid in redds (gravel nests) om flwoing water in winter.
Fecundity:
600 eggs per lb.
Longevity (age):
They have a maximum life-span of 12 to 15 years.
Diet:
Sandeels, prawns and shrimp at sea, insects in freshwater.
Best Angling Methods:
Dependant on water conditions. The best flyfishing is often after dark. Are regularly caught at sea and estuaries are popular locations in some areas (Rivver Moy, Erne).
Best Baits:
Traditonal flies, spinners and worm as conditions and rules allow.
