Angling News
Angling News from Lough Mask & Lough Corrib - 24 August 2016
By Kevin Crowley
24, Aug 2016 - 22:00

Lough Corrib

Declan Gibbons reports that Corrib is fishing reasonably well, with anglers taking fish on sedges, olives and mayfly patterns. In the Cornamona area Tom Doc Sullivan (087-6113933) hosted father and son duo Joe and Jack Seegar from Calgary, Canada on Wednesday last, and they enjoyed a good day wet fly fishing landing 5 fish with 11-year old Jack landing the 2 best fish of the 5 estimated at 1.5-2lbs.

In the Oughterard area on Saturday last Gerry Molloy (087-9190673) guided Leinster rugby player Rob Kearney and girlfriend Jess Redden, with Jess landing 2 trout dapping.

Also in the Oughterard area Basil Sheilds (086-0869758) from Ardnasillagh Lodge reports mixed fishing on sedges, olives and mayfly with angling activity being mostly to wet fly. On Monday last father and son Frank and Alfie Guy from Dublin had 5 fish for their day and on Tuesday had 7 fish with the best fish weighing 3lbs. Visiting Scottish angler Joe McDonald had 5 fish on Wednesday with the best fish being 2lbs. Also on Wednesday Shannon angler John Fitzgerald had 1 fish for his day's fishing.

Staying in the Oughterard area Kevin Molloy reports on the Martin Molloy Cup in which 40 anglers participated with 24 trout weighed in. First place went to Ryan Dixon with 4 fish for 2.965kgs (dapping), second place went to John Deacy with 3 fish for 2.925kgs (dapping), third place went to Patrick Barton with 2 fish for 2.580kgs (dapping), fourth place went to Mark Colton with 3 fish for 2.235kgs (fly) and fifth place went to Kevin Molloy with 3 fish for 1.545kgs (fly). Gene Aherne residing in Galway, also landed 6 fish for 2 days on wet fly during the week.

On Sunday Annaghdown Angling Club hosted The Paddy Cunningham Memorial Cup in which 11 anglers

participated and 7 fish were weighed, in with Cork angler James Linehan in first place with 2 trout for 2.42kgs. James also had the heaviest fish weighing 1.72kgs. Second place went to Mike Sullivan from Galway City with 1 fish for 1.13kgs and in third place was Adrian Lynch from Cork with 1 fish weighing 1.03kgs.

Ronan Cusack has mixed reports from Mask this week as anglers continue to hunt the deeps in pursuit of daphnia-feeding trout.

Peter Byrne of Lough Carra Anglers organized the annual catch-and-release competition on Carra/Mask on Sunday last in aid of the Water Protection Group. This is the 10th anniversary of the competition and had a good turnout of anglers despite Mayo being in the All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park that day. On the day 46 anglers fished and 89 trout were recorded. The competition was run to a 30cm limit, which 54 trout exceeded. Philip Clesham from Castlebar came out on top with an overall length of 241cm. Philip also had the longest fish on the day which measured 56cm. Using the World cup conversion chart Philips fish would convert to over 4lbs.

Ray Broughton and Kevin Beattie from Ballinrobe fished the deep on Tuesday of this week and they reported plenty of action. The lads finished with 5 good keepers and numerous undersize (best fish 1.75lbs). Richie Cameron had 1 fish on wets on Saturday last in very rough conditions. Danny Joyce from Ballinrobe had 2 on Sunday and a further 3 on Tuesday, all on wet flies from the deep (best fish 1.5lbs).

Heavy rain over the past week has raised water levels on Lough Mask significantly. Any anglers who may not have seen their boat recently may be advised to do so.