Lough Mask

Ronan Cusack reports that the excellent fishing has continued on Mask over the last 2 weeks, as the boat moorings finally begin to fill up around the lake. Weather conditions have been variable over the past few days with a mixture of sun, rain and light winds. Anglers willing to adapt and vary their angling techniques have done well and reaped the rewards.

Members of the Dargle Angling Club enjoyed a break at Hall's Angling Centre. The 9 anglers had 24 fish over the two days with their best fish weighing 4.25lbs. The lads also had a further 3 trout over 3lbs and all fish were released to fight another day. Simon Tarpey, also staying at Hall's, had 6 fish on dries, with his best fish 1.5lbs (also all returned). Martin McCoy from Northern Ireland spent 3 days wet-fly fishing on Mask and he had 15 good trout plus numerous undersize fish during his visit.

Young Ballinrobe Anglers Cian Sheridan and Conor Cusack had a day to remember this week when the landed a 12lbs ferox trout on their first outing of the season. No doubt that will only whet the appetite, and the lads will be keen to get out over the Easter holidays!

Cian Sheridan and Conor Cusack with the magnificent 12lbs ferox trout they landed on their first outing of the season on Lough Mask, April 2014.

Ballinrobe angler Denis Kelleher had 3 nice fish puling wet flies last week in stormy conditions (best fish 2.5lbs). Martin and David Connors, Northern Ireland, had a very productive day on the Sunday boating over 20 trout with almost half exceeding the 13 inch limit. Noel Moran and Kevin Sheridan from Ballinrobe had 4 fish in calm conditions on the Saturday using a combination of dries and buzzer (best fish 2lbs). Ronan says "overall the lake is fishing extremely well and well worth a visit".

Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at cusackronan@gmail.com or at 087 2869487.

Other catches reported from Hall's Angling Centre included Pat Hogan from Dublin, who had 2 fish of 2.5lbs and 1.5lbs on Saturday. Ivan McGaw (Northern Ireland) landed 11 trout on Friday and 9 on Saturday, best 2lbs. Richard Dodds had 6 trout on Friday, followed by 7 on Saturday, all between 1 and 1.5lbs. Kenny Halliday took 5 fish on Friday, and 7 on Saturday to 1.5lbs. Pat Cox and friend Garry from Northern Ireland landed 9 fish on Tuesday, best 2.5lbs with most of the rest around 1 to 1.5lbs. Hall's provide boat hire, guiding and self-catering accommodation, and anglers should contact David or Helen on 094 9541389 or check www.lakeshoreholidays.com.

Margaret Gorman from Isham Self-Catring at Dringeen Bay was also in touch last week, with a nice report and a great photo of her daughter Paula and twins Ronan and Karl. Dad Pat brought the kids out for an hour on the local bay on Sunday the 30th, and Paula caught two beautiful trout weighing 2.25lbs and just under 4lbs. Another case of "Dad, when are we going fishing again?!"

Ronan, Paula and Karl Gorman from Cong, Co. Mayo, with two fine trout for over 6lbs they landed in Dringeen Bay on Lough Mask on a recent outing.

There were reports of fantastic fishing out of Dringeen the previous week - Jimmy Fleming and Dan McAuliffe from Killarney, Co. Kerry fished from Dringeen Bay for two days, and reported some of the best fishing they have ever experienced. They landed 16 trout on the Monday, with a further 10 on Tuesday. Most of the fish were returned. While some of the fish were small, some were in the region of 1.25 to 1.5 lbs. Fly patterns were varied with fish being taken on Gorgeous George and Claret Bubble amongst others. Kieran McNicholas and two friends fished on the Thursday, and reported a fantastic days sport, landing 20 trout, most of which were returned. Anglers are reporting lots of activity, with fish feeding freely on the surface. As water levels continue to drop, and temperatures are on the rise, things look good for the week ahead.

Boats are available for hire from Isham - with or without outboard motors. For further information on accommodation and angling advice, please contact Margaret Gorman at 094 9546582 or email isham@eircom.net

Lough Corrib

Frank Reilly reports that the last two weeks on Corrib have seen pretty good fishing during the good duckly hatches, although the duckfly is petering out now, with some olives starting to appear.

The week up to the 6th saw mixed reports of duckfly hatches, with the north and south ends having the best hatches, and anglers reporting poor hatches in the Greenfields area. Fishing in the Cornamona area for the week was slow with very few anglers fishing. Peter Curran fished for one day and landed 2 trout for3lbs. The Greenfields area had mixed fishing, with 22 anglers fishing for 38 rod-days and landing 27 trout. Seamus O'Loughlin from Ennis fished with a friend for 1 day and landed 7 trout (all returned) for 12 lbs. Don Stiffe and Mick Bradley also fished for 1 day, landing 2 trout (both returned) for 4 lbs. Lloyd Vincent and Ian Mc Ginley, England fished for 2 days and landed 7 trout (all returned) for 13 lbs. Sean Dixon, Ennis fished for 2 days and landed 5 trout for 9lbs. The Ennis Anglers held their first competition from Greenfields on Sunday the 6th April with 8 anglers landing 10 trout. 1st was Basil Shields with 2 trout for 5.5lbs. Joint 2nd was Brian Mc Inerney and Tommie O Loughlin, also with 2 trout each.

The Oughterad Anglers held the Bartley Mc Gauley Cup on Sunday the 6th of April with 42 anglers landing 15 trout. In 1st place was Mike Faherty with 2 trout for 1.52kgs. 2nd was Willie Molloy with 2 trout for 1.2kgs. 3rd was Mick Coyne also with 2 trout for 1.16kgs. The winner of the youth section was Cillian Tierney, with 1 trout for 0.65kgs. Fish of the week went to Joe Creane, Roundstone, with a trout of 6.5lbs. The catch of the week was Larry Kelly, Dublin and John Jack, Scotland with 38 trout (all released) for 53lbs for their week.

The lower lake saw good fishing reported, with 6 anglers landing 24 trout for 20 rod-days. John McCarthy, Tuam started his season well landing 4 trout (all returned) for 7.5lbs. Larry McCarthy and Dara Lynch fished for 1 day and landed 7 trout (all released) for 13.5lbs.

Frank was in touch again this week to report that the duck fly hatches are coming to an end, with anglers reporting small hatches of olives. The number of anglers fishing in the Cornamona area is well down on other years, with anglers reporting poor fishing, however Peter Curran fished for 2 days and landed 3 trout for 5lbs.

Anglers fishing the Greenfields area reported the best of the fishing was early morning or late evening. The Galway Garda A.C. held their first competition on Wednesday the 9th April 2014 with 12 anglers landing 3 trout over the limit. 1st was Phil Donoghue with 1 trout for 3.2lbs. 2nd was Seamus Kelly with 1 trout for 1.4lbs. 3rd was Christy Reilly also with 1 trout for 1.2lbs. Mick McCluskey and Morris McDavitt (Northern Ireland) fished for 5 days and landed 12 (10 released). Frank and Paddy Guilfoyle from Ennis fished for 1 day landing 4 trout for 7lbs.

Anglers fishing the lower lake again reported good fishing. Larry McCarthy, fishing with one angler landed 37 trout for 7 days (35 released) - their best fish was 4.75lbs. John Ryan and a friend from Dublin fished for 2 days and landed 7 trout for 15lbs. Larry provides boat hire, guiding and B&B accommodation and can be contacted at www.corribangling.com. Simon Tarpey also enjoyed some good fishing on Corrib during the duckfly, his best fish coming on a day out of Birchall with friend Robbie Pitman. The trout weighing 5.25lbs was taken on a size 16 dry post hackle midge. Robbie ably assisted on the oars as the fish took a while to get in. The beautiful trout was weighed and then sportingly returned. Well done Simon!

Simon Tarpey with his cracking 5.25lbs trout taken on a dry midge during the duckfly hatch.

Galway Fishery

Finally water levels have dropped in Galway, and no sooner had the OPW closed 10 sluice gates on the weir than anglers were wetting a line for the first time this season. That well-known expert angler Dave Lenihan was the first to score, landing the first fish of the season the day after the water levels were lowered. The salmon was 8lbs and was taken on shrimp.

Since then there have been 4 further fish landed, with more fish showing in the river every day. Long-time Galway regular Michael Leonard landed a fine 11lbs fish on shrimp, while Fergal Cormican also had an 11lbs fish on spinner. Local expert Sean O'Toole has also landed 2 fish over the last few days, both taken on shrimp, one of 9lbs and the other 10lbs.

With water levels finally at a fishable level, albeit a bit high still for the fly, weather and water temperatures improving and fresh fish being seen every day, fishing prospects are looking much better in Galway for the coming weeks. Hopefully last year's excellent run of grilse will mean a bumper spring run this year, we can but hope!

Salthill man Dave Lenihan with the first fish of 2014 from the Galway Fishery, a sparkling fresh 8lbs spring salmon that was taken on shrimp. Photo courtesy Danny Goldrick.