Angling News
First 2013 Angling Report for Mayo
By Bryan Ward
27, Feb 2013 - 21:09

River Moy

The River Moy yielded its first salmon of the 2013 season on Sunday 24th past. It was taken by a worm on the Ballina Salmon Anglers' water in Ballina town by Donegal native Brendan McMenamin and weighed 5lbs. Congratulations to Brendan for capturing the first, of many, on the River Moy this season! Anglers are reminded that the river presently contains many spent salmon or kelts, which may appear deceptively like a fresh run fish. These fish should be handled carefully, returned to the river immediately and recorded in the salmon angler's log book.

Bangor District

There have been some changes to the Salmon and Sea Trout Angling Regulations for the Bangor District for the 2013 season. The Owenmore River and Carrowmore Lake will be open as normal until the 11th May. From the 12th May a quota system will be in place in these fisheries, with anglers requiring a brown tag in addition to the regular blue tag for any salmon or sea trout (over 40cm) retained.

As in the 2012 angling season, the Newport River and Lough Beltra will be open on a catch and release basis up to the 11th of May and will open as normal for the remainder of the season. Anglers are reminded that only single, barbless hooks are permitted under catch and release regulations, and all fish released must be recorded in the anglers log book.

Sligo District

In a change from the 2012 Salmon and Sea Trout angling regulations, there is no brown tag requirement in the 2013 season for the Drumcliffe River, Garavogue River/Lough Gill and River Bonet systems.

Trout Angling

Lough na Leibe

The season is now open on Lough na Leibe, where four hardy anglers took to the water for opening day. Although conditions were far from ideal, two of the anglers managed to tempt an opening day fish. Martin Lawrence landed four trout while Francis Brady landed three. The quality of the fish was excellent with all except one weighing over 2lbs. Over the course of the opening week the weather conditions remained poor with strong winds and cold temperatures keeping fishing action to a minimum. Club member Tommy Lynch managed ten fish over two days during a brief spell of favorable weather. Tommy reported that three of the fish were taken on a dry fly on Tuesday 5th February, with a good number of fish seen to be feeding at the surface. Successful patterns were an Olive-Pearly Pennell, Red Tag Sooty-olive Nymph, buzzer patterns and small black midge dry fly pattern.

Sea Angling

Killala Bay

Killala Bay Boat Angling Club hosted a shore angling competition on Lacken Strand on Sunday, 24th. Conditions were very calm on the day with the competition fished at low water. Thirteen anglers took part, landing a total of seventeen flat fish. Fiachra McKenna took the honors on the day, with four fish, his best measuring 23cm in length.

Pike Angling

Bilberry and Lannagh Angling Club hosted an open pike angling competition on Sunday 24th, in which twenty-two anglers participated. In total thirty-six pike were caught on the day, with the heaviest fish falling to juvenile angler Kyle McMenamin, weighing 9lbs 8oz. The heaviest bag of the day was caught by Shane Walsh and weighed 18lbs, in second was Martin Connor with a total of 16lbs 8oz, and in third was Matt Fahy with 16lbs 2oz.