Lough Mask
Margaret Gorman from Isham Self-Catering and Boat Hire reports that mayfly hatches are beginning to improve on Mask, and with higher temperatures forecast, prospects for the week ahead look good. Anglers enjoyed mixed fishing for the week, with northerly winds giving low temperatures and unfavourable fishing conditions. There were good records of catches to Olives and Sedges, with the aforementioned mayfly picking up later in the week.

Chris & Edith Loots, Belgium completed their holiday after fishing from Dringeen Bay. They recorded 119 trout for 10 days angling, including the best fish of over 5lbs taken from Dringeen Bay. Virtually all of their catch was returned. Lonan O'Farrell and his dad Pat had a nice day on Saturday, with Lonan landing 5 trout - best fish over 2lbs on wet fly. Conor Dennedy and Michael Lennon had 3 trout for a wet and blustery day.

Jim Dix, Dublin and his friend Jackie, Northern Ireland fished for a couple of days from Dringeen Bay and had good success on wet flies. Digby Lewis, UK and John Wilson, Malawi continue to fish on Lough Mask and Lough Corrib with some success. Pat Gorman and friend fished for an afternoon and had 3 nice trout on wet flies - best fish 2.5lbs.

Dr. Ian and Rosie Gordon, Northern Ireland and Roderick and Caroline Murphy, Kilkenny stayed at ‘Isham' Self Catering and fished Lough Carra. They had some fish on dry flies but were hampered by windy conditions and poor hatches of mayfly.

All anglers report encountering large numbers of small fish. The best flies for the week were Sooty Olive, Red Arse Green Peter and Claret Dabbler.

For Accommodation, Boat Hire and Angling Information available on site see www.congselfcatering.com , phone 087 7908107 or email isham@eircom.net

Lough Corrib
Eamon Walsh reports that this week bought a welcome improvement in fishing conditions on the Corrib, with hatches of mayfly becoming more prevalent as the week progressed in the Corrnamona area. Anglers fishing the dap have become more effective with the increasing availability of hatching mayfly and fly life on the water.
First time angler, Victoria Stratton from London, had some beginners luck when she landed a lovely 1.5lbs trout 5minutes into her very first drift along the Dooras shore. Tom Summerville enjoyed two excellent evenings fishing during the week, landing 3 fish on each outing, the best being over 3lbs while fishing in Cornamona bay. Peter Robinson, a regular visitor from the UK, had 10 fish for his week's effort, all of which were released. Peter`s boat man, Padraic O`Malley of Maam also managed to land some lovely fish, the best being over 3lbs while they fished from Cornamona Bay to Inis Dooras.

The weekend brought with it a mix of conditions, as Saturday provided some favourable winds and hatches of mayfly. Sunday on the other hand saw relatively clam conditions with the wind changing direction on a number of occasions. The annual Dapping Completion held by Cornamona Anglers resulted in 7 anglers accounting for a total of 8 fish caught. First place went to Peter Curran with 2 fish while Tom Sullivan was second with 1 fish.

Frank Reilly reports that the week began slowly in the Headford and Greenfields area, with no great hatches of mayfly to speak of. While anglers had success fishing wetfly and dry Olive patterns, those using buzzer recorded some fine fish. Tim Rowley landed a lovely trout of over 5lbs. Another father and Son team from the UK had 10 fish for the week the best of over 4lbs. Mayfly hatches are also starting to pick up in the Greenfields area and should see dapping and wetfly anglers enjoy more success this week.

Deirdre Forde from Camillaun Angling Centre in Oughterard reports that the he past week has seen plenty of anglers brave some very windy conditions searching for the elusive mayfly. The annual visit of "Johnny Mac's" Welsh party took place at Camillaun during the week - having changed their dates to ‘hit it right' they conceded they were a tad early. In all they still managed to boat 67 trout with the best a beautiful fish of 3.5lbs. They kept just 4 to prove they actually were fishing! All fell to wet mayflies fished beneath the surface - you will have to ask Johnny Mac about the tying!

The Priestly party also came as usual despite one angler sporting a broken hip! They fished hard and landed 8 nice trout despite a lack of fly. Pat Doyle from Killarney and Dermot O'Mahony had 19 trout over three days all on wet flies. There was not sufficient fly hatching for the dappers to be able to collect enough fly to dap.

With the hawthorn flower starting to open earlier this week - the mayfly hatch in earnest is anticipated in the coming days. There are plenty of boats available ready for the enthusiastic angler just call Deirdre at 091-552678 and visit www.camillaun.com

Finally, Gary Costelloe from Lakelands Angling Centre, Oughterard, was in touch to report that while conditions were still tough on Corrib this week, some good fishing was had by guests, all dapping artificial mayflies. The Clermont Party from France recorded 6 trout over 7 days. Mr Pissot, also from France, had 13 trout over 7 days. John Mc Grath, Co Clare had a nice trout of 2lbs fishing Son Saturday, and the Swiss Nussbamer party had 4 trout, best 3.5lbs For further information on accommodation and boat hire please contact Gary on mayfly@eircom.net , call 091 552121, or check www.lakelandanglingcentre.com

Inland Fisheries Ireland would like to take this opportunity once again to remind anglers that fisheries officers are continually carrying out checks and patrols around Corrib, Mask and Carra lakes to ensure that local bye-laws and regulations are being adhered to. Anglers should be mindful that since 2008 it is illegal to be in possession of any trout under 33cm (13 inches) and that there is a daily bag limit of 4 brown trout per angler per day.

Erriff
Fishery manager Jim Stafford reports that water levels were very favourable on the Erriff during the week. Monday 13th proved a successful day for John Krapzmuir, Canada, fishing the Erriff for the first time. John caught and released a fish of 8lbs taken on a Park Shrimp in the Bridge Pool on Beat 9. The following day Anthony Holden, Dublin caught one of 12lbs on a Cascade in the Gauge Pool on Beat 9.

Fishing a Shadow Shrimp Enda Kenny, Co. Offaly caught a fish of 12lbs in the Holly Pool on Beat 8. Paddy Gargan, Moycullen retained one of 9lbs and released one estimated at 15 lbs - both fish were caught on a Munro Killer in the Bridge Pool. The final fish of the week was caught by Urgen Mantel in the Coronation Pool on a Willie Gunn and weighed 10.25lbs.

To book fishing contact Jim at Aasleagh Lodge on 095 42252, or email erriff.fish@iol.ie

Lough Inagh
Fishery manager Colin Folan was in touch to report the happy news of the first salmon taken at Inagh on Saturday the 18th. The fish weighed 12.5lbs and was caught by lady angler and regular Inagh guest, Eileen Magill (Donegal). The fish was taken at the Derryclare Butts on a size 10 Cascade, and Eileen was using a 10 foot, 7 weight rod with a sink tip. Eileen had the fish on the bank after an electric 20 minutes. The sea-liced fish was visibly marked from dolphins at sea. The following day, Andy Bowman from Scotland caught and released the second fish of the season, a 6lbs grilse, also from the Derryclare Butts and taken on a Yellow Badger. Colin reports good water levels at the moment, and with an improvement in temperatures, fishing prospects from Inagh look good for a few fish this week.

To book fishing or accommodation contact Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel at 095 34706 or check www.loughinaghlodgehotel.ie

Eileen Magill from Donegal with the first salmon of the season at Lough Inagh, Connemara. The fish weighed 12.5lbs and took a Cascade fly. Also in photo is fishery manager Colin Folan.


Delphi
Fishery manager david McEvoy reports that Week 20 turned out to be the best week of the season so far with 33 fish landed. It was indeed a great week finished in style with Paul Wymes landing a sea-liced fish of 15lbs 11oz off Finlough. This was nearly matched by Ciaran Boland's 14lbs fish off the Meadow pool. There were also three more of similar size lost on Friday and Saturday.
Among the other anglers to score were Leigh Hookes, who had two beautiful fish off Fin on the 15th weighing in at 9lbs 8oz and 12lbs 2oz, both taken on an Executioner. Robbie Burton had a well-deserved fish off Fin on a Red Arsed Green Peter Muddler of 7lbs. Paul Smyth had one off the Horseshoe on a Collie Dog of approx. 6lbs.

Peter Milne took a fish of 5lbs 15oz on a Shrimp Fly off Fin, as did Stuart Lyon whose fish was 7lbs 10ozs and took a Delphi Collie. Rocky Moran landed a fish in the Meadow pool of approx. 10lbs.

Andy Bowman, from Total Flyfisher landed a fish of 6lbs 3.5ozs off Fin on a fly named after his daughter Jennifer, followed by the only fish from the Whin pool of 9lbs 9oz on a turbo Collie Dog (i.e. one that is stripped extremely fast). Believe it or not it was actually the 13th time a fish came to the fly before it actually took.

Barbara Ceillier got her season off to a great start with a nice 4lbs 9oz fish from the Rock pool on a Temple Dog. Simon Albertini had one of 9lbs 12oz from the Waterfall on a Red Francis, while John Plumb had his first Atlantic salmon from GB and Ireland from the Waterfall of 10lbs 2oz on a Willie Gunn. Steve Jones also had one from the Meadow of 4lbs9ozs on a Willie Gunn.

Those were just some of the catches from a fine week for Delphi.

Finally today at the time of writing we have one landed, by Steve Jones again, off Finlough on Delphi Collie, weighing in at 7lbs13ozs To book fishing or accommodation at Delphi, contact the lodge at 095 42222, or check www.delphilodge.ie

Galway Fishery
After 3 weeks of heavy water, the OPW finally closed 10 sluice gates on the weir, and with 4 gates open the river came into fishable level again on Monday. The river is still a little high for the fly to be effective, and most of the fish have been taken on shrimp. Since then 7 fish have been landed, with Ray Foster from Dublin the first to score, taking a 10.5lbs fish on shrimp. French visitor Jean le Moal landed the first grilse, a 4lbs fish taken on spinner, while Tuam angler Louis Brennan had 2 grilse of 5lbs and 5.5lbs on shrimp. Local angler Bert Lynch took a 10lbs fish on shrimp, and Sean O'Toole had a 4lbs grilse, also on shrimp. Finally UK visitor Steve Turner had a 5lbs fish on shrimp.
Given the relatively dry forecast and falling lake levels, I would hope that more gates will be closed soon, and we will see decent fly conditions. With grilse arriving on time and fresh spring fish being taken in good numbers upstream, prospects here look very good for the next couple of weeks.