Castlebar - County Mayo - NW Angling News

River Moy

The Moy had its best week of the season, so far, with a reported catch of 91 salmon.

The Ballina Salmon Anglers water produced 13 salmon for the week, including a 3.6 kg (8 lbs.) fish for Jimmy Conlon. On Mount Falcon, young John Meade had a very memorable day. The twelve year old youngster caught his first ever salmon on the famous Wall Pool (see photo below). The fish took a worm and weighed in at 4 kg (9 lbs.). This was the first fish of the season for the Mount Falcon Fishery!

Twelve year old John Meade with his fist ever salmon caught on the famous Wall Pool.

The Foxford Fishery produced 7 salmon for the week, including a 3.6 kg (8 lbs.) fish for Seamus Darby, Westmeath, a 3.7 kg (8.25 lbs.) salmon for Dermott Lavery, Monaghan and a ten pounder for Jim Martin, Northern Ireland. All three fish were taken on worm. Patrick Finnegan, Monaghan, who fished on Gannon’s landed a fine salmon at 4.9 kg (11lbs.) also on the worm.

Further up river, the Cloongee Fishery accounted for 7 salmon for the week. Amongst the successful anglers were Andrew Reilly, Northern Ireland with a 4.0 kg (9 lbs.) salmon on worm and Jez Leech, UK, who landed two fish (4.9 kg & 2 kg) also on the worm. Also on Cloongee, Bruno Harne, Bernard Merzic and Joel Le Beuze, all from France, enjoyed great sport catching salmon weighing between 3.6 kg and 4.9 kg.

The best of the fishing, however, was on the East Mayo Anglers Association water. A total of 23 salmon were reported for the week, including a fine 4.9 kg (11 lbs.) fish for Jimmy Kilcoyne on spinner.

Lough Conn & Lough Cullin

The strong cold winds and high water levels impacted on the angling for most part of the week. As a consequence, only a few anglers ventured out and braved the conditions. The Loughs saw just sporadic hatches of olives and some mayflies in sheltered bays.

Fishing from Gerry Murphy’s Boat Hire, Massbrook, Paddy Hickey, Cork, landed two trout for 1.3 kg (3 lbs.), while John Müller, Germany, had one fish for 0.45 kg (1 lbs.) on a Dabbler. Gary Crossley, Enniscoe - Crossmolina, who was fishing with his brother, had 5 trout over 3 days averaging 0.45 kg (1 lbs.); all to dry mayfly patterns. Fishing out of Cloghans, Susan and Walter Byrne, Cloghans and Offaly, boated 6 trout and Seamus Kelly landed 3 trout for an evenings fishing. Pontoon Bridge Hotel reported 4 trout for the Gerry McDonnell party, Northern Ireland, while Brian Clarke, also Northern Ireland, had one fish for 0.9 kg (2 lbs.) to a Bibio.

The Lough Conn & Cullin Anglers held two competitions over the Bank Holiday weekend. They were fishing against the Dublin Trout Anglers and results for the Dublin Bowl Competition (Saturday, 2 May) were as follows:

1st Padraig Traynor with 2 trout for 2.02 kg
2nd Michael O’Toole with 2 trout for 1.40 kg
3rd John Walsh with 2 trout for 1.34 kg

The Pratt Cup which was fished on Sunday, 3 May was won by Sean Creane with 3 trout for 1.9 kg. Karl Murrin was runner up with 2 trout for 1.47 kg and Joe Moffatt finished in 3rd place with 1 trout at 0.91 kg.

The Foxford Anglers are holding a junior day on Thursday, 14 May for the Foxford Lodge Cup on Loughs Conn and Cullin. Registration is at Brown’s Bay at 5 pm.

Carrowmore Lake & Owenmore River

Despite the breezy conditions and a discolouration during the week, Carrowmore Lake produced 4 salmon for the week: Denis Summers, Dublin, caught two salmon at 3.1 kg and 3.6 kg, one of which he returned. The lake also produced salmon for Edward Reeper and Ronnie Mayock

The first salmon of the season was landed on the Bangor Angling Club stretch of the Owenmore River by local angler, Martin Rouland. The fish was caught in the Pound Pool and weighed in at 3.6 kg.

Lough Beltra

On the Glenisland Co-Op side of Lough Beltra, Ben Barnes caught and released 2 salmon at 3.6 kg and 4.0 kg. Anglers should note that Lough Beltra and the Newport River are fished on a “Catch & Release” basis until May 11.

Ballin Lough

Ballin Lough enjoyed very good fishing for the week with 25 rods reporting a total of 79 trout, 35 of which were released.

Tommy Brennan and friend had 11 trout (6 released), best at 1.3 kg (3 lbs.) while Vincent Roche, Alan McGurdy and Harry Lloyd caught 12 trout, average .6 kg (1.25 lbs.), of which they released six. Most successful flies included Olive patterns, Cat’s Whiskers, Muddlers and Black & Peacock Spider.

Ballisodare

Ballisodare enjoyed another good week with 53 salmon caught of which 26 were released. The average weight was around 3.6 kg (8 lbs.) but a number of fish over 4.5 kg (10 lbs.) were recorded. Visiting angler, Terry McSweeney releases a 5.4 kg (12 lbs.) fish which took his “Willie Gunn” fly and local angler Josie Trotter had a fine 4.5 kg (10 lbs.) salmon on an Ally’s Shrimp.

Glencar Lough and Drumcliffe River

Glencar produced 8 salmon for the week but there were no fish reported from the outflowing Drumcliffe River.

Lough Arrow

Angling on Lough Arrow was rather slow this past week. However, anglers who ventured out reported good hatches of olives with the first mayflies to appear as well. Karl Murrin enjoyed good sport with 2 trout for 1 kg (2.25 lbs.) and 1.2 kg (2.75 lbs.). Both fish came to dry Olive patterns.

Please note that the Lough Arrow Fish Preservation & District Anglers annual Mayfly competition will be held on Sunday, 17 May. Entries are taken at Brick Pier between 10am and 11am.

Lough Bo

A party of five French anglers had 12 trout, heaviest at 0.5 kg, while the Elliot family, Sligo, landed a total of 4 fish, best at 0.9 kg. John Ferris, Scotland & Boyle caught 1 fish for 0.45 kg. on wet fly and Jim Armstrong, Roscommon, landed 4 trout, best at 0.68 kg also on wet flies.

Doon Lough

Doon continued to produce good numbers of trout to the fly with most anglers catching between four and eight fish for an afternoon of fishing on this productive lake in Co. Leitrim (near Dromahair).