Salmon Angling

River Moy

Fishing on the River Moy picked up during the week with fresh spring salmon caught throughout the system. Local Angler, Vall Mitchell, who had the first salmon of the season on the River Moy, caught another fine springer of 12.5 lbs. on the Ballina Salmon Anglers' water. Also on the Ballina Salmon Angers' water, Tommy Egan Snr., Ballina, had one of 11 lbs.; both fish were caught on worm.

Further upriver, Gannon's reported the first fish of the season for local angler, Eugene O'Boyle on spinner. On the Foxford Fishery, fishery ghillie, Vincent McDonnell, had the first fish of the season, a fine 10 pounder!

Derek Doyle, Co. Wicklow, caught the first fly caught salmon of the season on the East Mayo Anglers' water, while local angler, Mixie Clarke, landed his second salmon (11 lbs.) of the year on a spinner. Pat Doherty Jnr. was also successful on East Mayo with two salmon of 8.5 lbs. & 10 lbs., both on spinner.

On Lough Conn, Collin Rea, Northern Ireland caught a 7.4 lbs. salmon trolling a copper & silver Toby in Victoria Bay.

Fishing conditions on the River Moy are perfect at present and with falling water levels and mild temperatures we should see more salmon being caught in the coming weeks.

Carrowmore Lake

The good salmon fishing continued on Carrowmore Lake over the past week. Anglers had a total of 14 salmon, six of which were released. Amongst the successful anglers were David Rogers and David Stanford from Northern Ireland who had a 9 lbs. salmon each. Regular visitor, Brian Butler, UK had 2 fish at 6 lbs. and 8 lbs., while Albert Barry, Co. Monaghan, also had two, both at 7 lbs. However, it was Dave Cazabon from Westport who caught the best fish of the week, a fine springer weighing 13 lbs. Dave's fish is the heaviest salmon caught on Carrowmore Lake so far this season! Successful flies included Clan Chief, Green Peter, various Shrimp patterns in sizes ranging from 12 to 4.

Please note that Carrowmore Lake is a Brown Tag Fishery this year! For fishing on Carrowmore Lake contact Seamus Henry on +353 (0)97 83487 or visit www.bangorerrisangling.com

Lough Beltra

Lough Beltra produced a number of cracking double figure salmon during the week. Glenisland Anglers Co-Operative reported three fish up to 10 lbs. for Tommy Foley. Ben Baynes had a sea-liced eight pounder at Fahey's, while Dave Patton landed an 8 lbs. fish at Flanagan's Bridge. The best fish of the week, a whopping 15 lbs. spring salmon, was caught by Brian Gallagher also at Flanagan's Bridge. Most successful flies were Willie Gun, Hairy Mary and Beltra Badger.

To fish Lough Beltra East please visit www.loughbeltra.com.

Ballisodare Fishery

After a productive opening week, the Ballisodare Fishery reported a total 10 fish this week, averaging 10 lbs. Amongst the successful fly anglers were Noel Barber with an eleven pounder (released), Sean Maye who had two fish at 12 lbs. and 8 lbs. and James McGuire with an 11 lbs. salmon. However, it was Club Secretary, Dermot Glennon, who landed the best fish of the week with a fine 14 lbs. springer! Best flies included a variety of tube fly patterns including green bodied Willie Gunn, Park Shrimp and Cascade.

Trout Fishing

Lough Arrow

The ITFFA Connaught Cup was held on Lough Arrow on Saturday 13th April. Sixty-seven anglers fished the competition weighing in 42 wild brown trout! There was a bag limit of 3 trout and a minimum size of 13 inches. Results were as follows:

1st - Basil Shield (5.020 lbs.)
2nd - Fechin McMorrow Jnr. (4.698 lbs.)
3rd - Eugene Nolan (3.966 lbs.)
Heaviest fish - Eamon Keaney (3.108 lbs.)

Lough Conn & Lough Cullin

Trout fishing on Loughs Conn and Cullin had been steady during the week with traditional wet fly methods working best.

On Lough Cullin, Paul Caslin and Peter Gray, both Castlebar, had 9 trout, best at 1.5 lbs. Chris Meadows, UK/Swinford, reported some trout around the one pound mark from Browns Bay on Lough Conn, while Jim O'Brien and Karl Mathews, both Dublin, boated 7 trout off Glass Island. At the northern end of Lough Conn, local anglers, Ian Wise and John Warren had numerous trout over the week averaging one pound, best at 1.5 lbs., while Padraic Traynor, Crossmolina, took 3 trout (best at 2 lbs.) in Bog Bay.

Foxford Angling Club held the Devaney Cup on Saturday 13th April. A total of 15 anglers took part and recorded 7 wild brown trout for weigh in. Results were as follows:

1st - John O'Connell, Pontoon (2 trout for 3.75 lbs.)
2nd - Billy McGhee, Ballyvary (2 trout for 2.8 lbs.)
3rd - Stephen Browne, Knockmore (2 trout for 2 lbs.)
4th - Michael Tiernan Jnr., Foxford (1 trout for 1.25 lbs.)

Pike Angling

Local angling guide, Kenny Sloan reported some more pike action from the Foxford area for two of his clients. US visitors Will Rinehart and Andrew Lindley from Indiana enjoyed some nice pike fishing. Since conditions were quite windy, little boat fishing took place and a range of different methods were tried including flyfishing, trolling and deadbaiting from the shore. Although the bigger fish were not feeding the two US anglers enjoyed their day on the water catching their first pike on the fly. In total they caught and safely released 5 pike up to 87cm. They hope to return next year to try their hands at some more pike and salmon fishing in Co. Mayo.

To book a day's guiding or boat hire contact Kenny Sloan on +353 (0)949256501 or +353 (0)87 9670310 or visitwww.pikemania.co.uk

Happy US visitors, Will Rinehart & Andrew Lindley, with one of their fly caught Mayo pike.

Sea Angling

Donal Kennedy, skipper of the Leah, reported on some nice mixed fishing for a party from Germany. On Thursday 10th April a party of 5 anglers from Düsseldorf, Germany and another angler from Foxford set out from Killala Harbour for a day's fishing in Killala Bay. The weather was fine and bright with a sharp north-west wind which made the sea a little choppy but still fine to fish. The first drift was a little fast and only produced a few pollack together with some pouting. However, as the drift slowed down, some nice cod (best at 6 lbs.), coalfish, ling, more pollack, and pouting were caught with many small ones returned alive. All of the party returned ashore well pleased with their outing and it was a nice end to their stay in Ireland.

To book a day's fishing in Killala Bay contact Donal Kennedy on +353 (0)0868174509 or visit http://www.dkennedyangling.net/

Delighted with their catch from Killala Bay - the group from Düsseldorf, Germany, on board the Leah.