The first Moy Fishery salmon for the 2007 season was caught on 20 April by ghillie John Howley on the Ridge Pool. John was using a size 8 Ally?s cascade fished on an intermediate line. The fish was estimated to weigh approximately 11 lbs and was released immediately after being landed.

Half an hour later Gary Fullerton from Buncrana Co. Donegal caught the second salmon of the season on the Ridge Pool. He was also using a size 8 Allys Cascade. His fish was estimated to weigh about 6 lbs and was also released.

Angling Report for Week Ending 15 April

River Moy

The Moy had a total of 19 salmon reported for the week. Again, the bulk of the fish were caught on Foxford club waters, upstream of Foxford, and on Gannons? Fishery, downstream of Foxford. A fine salmon, weighing 8 lbs., was also caught on the East Mayo Anglers stretch by fly angler John McGrath from Tipperary.

Free fishing continues to be available on the Ridge Pool at Ballina until the first salmon is caught there and fishing on the lower Moy Fishery beats, including the Cathedral Beat and the Point, has opened on Tuesday, 17 April.

Carrowmore Lake

No report available for this fishery.

Lough Beltra

There were two fish caught this week on Lough Beltra, both by guests of Newport House. Mr McClune, Northern Ireland, had a nice salmon at 9 lbs. and Edwin Oxlade also from Northern Ireland landed a salmon weighing 8 lbs. Both fish were, of course, released as Lough Beltra is open on a Catch & Release basis only.

Clogher Lough

Philip McGing, Westport, caught 4 trout, Sean Hanley, Castlebar, had 3 trout and Michael Smyth, Belfast, landed 10 trout, all of which were returned.   Permits and boat hire for Clogher Lough can be arranged through Mrs. Gibbons on 098-25061.

Lough Conn & Lough Cullin

Despite the very calm and sunny conditions it has been a rather good week on both lakes with 40 anglers reporting 60 trout, weighing 63 lbs. (just as many fish to about ? lbs. were returned) in 50 rod days.

The most successful flies were Bibio, various Dabblers, Olives and Buzzer patterns.

On Sunday, 22 anglers from the Conn & Cullin Anglers held a competition on Lough Conn. A total of 9 trout were caught and the event was won by Adrian Murphy, Cloghans, with a nice fish weighing 2.16 lbs. Second was Michael Monaghan with 2 trout for 1.86 lbs. and Ian Wyse came third with a trout at 1.68 lbs.

Elsewhere, Ronnie Cox, Ballina, caught 12 trout over 3 outings, all of which were returned and Peter Roche, Cloghans, had 9 fish (over 3 evenings). Peter also returned all his fish. Joe and Kay McBride, Dublin, had 7 trout with the best at 2 lbs. and Walter & Susan Byrne fishing together with Michael Kelly took 11 trout for 14 lbs. with the best at 2.5 lbs. Seamus Kelly, Cloghans, caught and released a nice trout at 2.25 lbs.

Ulah El Khulfash and her husband Abdullah, two wedding guests at the Downhill Hotel, Ballina and both from Kuwait, experienced a very enjoyable day out on Lough Conn. The couple was looking for some relaxation before the big event and after enquiring it was suggested to try some fly fishing for the first time. They promptly caught 2 beautiful trout at 1.5 lbs. and 1.25 lbs on a Bibio and a Dabbler.  
 

Lough Arrow 

Due to the long dry spell and the exceptionally warm and sunny weather fishing on Arrow was quite slow during the week. However, local angler, Leo Conlon, had a trout at 1.5 lbs. on the troll and visiting angler, Barry Kelly from Athlone caught 6 trout with the best at 2.75 lbs and 3.25 lbs. which he retained and the others were put back.