River Moy

The River Moy accounted for some good angling over the week with a reported angling catch of 134 salmon for the week, which was up on the previous week, bringing the total for the year, so far, to 750 salmon. The continuing dry spell saw water levels well below the expected for this time of year. Heavy thunder storms at the head waters of the Moy System over the weekend saw a very slight rise in the water levels but had little or no effect on the angling. 

The Moy Fishery continues to fish well with some nice spring salmon still being caught. English angler, Niel Thomas, caught his first salmon while fishing on the Ridge Pool, a lovely fish of 11.98 lbs, on the fly. Another fine fish of 11.94 lbs was landed on the Ridge Pool by Sean Maye, from Sligo. The Weir pool also fished well, producing a nice salmon of 9.46 lbs for Northern Irish angler, Ivor Trimble. 

Mount Falcon proved productive for Northern Irish angler, Tom Foy. He banked two salmon for 5.5lbs and 9.5lbs. German Angler, Axel Schmidt, landed an 8 lbs salmon on worm, while fishing at Gannon’s Fishery. 

The Foxford Fishery produced 3 fine salmon for Joseph Martin of Sligo, for 9.5, 10 & 12 lbs, while the Foxford Salmon Anglers water at Rinanney, proved lucky for German angler, Thomas Murtagh, with two lovely fish of 10 & 12 lbs caught by him. East Mayo Anglers waters provided good sport for a number of visiting anglers. Belgian, Claud Grosjean, caught two fish for 9 lbs on worm and 7 lbs on fly. German, Jean Claud Polls banked a 8 lbs fish on fly while Belgian, Marcel Jacquess landed 2 fish on worm of 4 lbs and 6 lbs. 

The Marine Institute, in association with The North Western Regional Fisheries Board, is carrying out a salmon tagging survey on the River Moy. This is the second year of this important scientific program.

Two orange tags are being inserted in salmon released by anglers on the Moy Fishery in Ballina. Two green tags are being inserted in a number of salmon caught and released at the Moy Fishery traps. The tags are located just beside and/or behind the dorsal fin. Any angler who catches a tagged salmon is asked to participate in the survey and rewards of €10 and €20 are payable for returned tags.

If a tagged salmon is caught and killed, both tags should be removed. However, if the fish is being released, only one tag should be removed and this should be done very carefully by cutting it off close to the flesh. The fish must be kept in the water in accordance with the law. The angler should record the following details

1. Time and date and location where the fish was caught
2. The number on the tag(s)
3. Total Length (cm) of the fish (where possible)
4. Method of Capture.

Recovered tags should be retained by the angler who should then contact the Marine Institute (098-42300) or the Fisheries Board (096-21332). Once contacted, arrangements will be made to collect the tag(s).

A reward of €10 will be paid for each orange tag (or pair) returned and €20 for each green tag (or pair). The results of this survey will greatly assist in future management of salmon stocks in the Moy system.

Picture showing exact location of tags.

Lough Conn

Angling conditions were extremely testing on Lough Conn over the week, with North East winds and temperatures reaching 24oC! Despite this, some good catches were had. Approximately 280 anglers reported 175 trout for 520 rod days, with a mean weight of .91 lbs.

Most of the trout were taken on dry flies, Yellow and Grey Woulfs proving successful. Other popular parterres used were, Green Peter, Teal and Yellow and the Watson’s Fancy.

Larry Kelly from Dublin and John Jacks from Scotland had 36 trout for the week, returning them all, the best a nice brown trout of 3.5 lbs. They fished dry flies all week. Welsh angler, Ray James, boated 6 trout for 8 lbs, while fellow country men, Paul Edwards and boat partner caught 10 trout, returned them all. German angler, Die Rolliams, had 7 trout for 17 lbs, the best a 2.5 lbs fish.

The Lough Conn and Cullin Anglers association held there annual two day competition. One hundred and twenty-three anglers took part. 1st Denis Goulding – Dublin, 2nd Padraig Mulghow – Castlebar, 3rd William Burke – Tipperary. The ladies prize went to Julie Gerry.

An Garda Síochána held there annual angling event during the week. 1st Declan Calon – Kildare, 2nd Neil Kenny, 3rd Joe McEntaggert – Longford.  

Ballisodare River

The low water levels confined angling to the lower stretches of the river during the week. The Grilse started to show in good numbers, with a lot of 3 to 4 lbs salmon caught and released during the week. Seanie Maye caught a fine 11lb Salmon on the fly, which was retuned to the river, while D Glennon caught and released an 8lb fish.

Carrowmore Lake

Carrowmore Lake fished extremely well in spite of the unsuitable angling conditions, with a reported total of 14 salmon caught for the week. The continuing bright days and North Easterly winds during the week made for challenging angling. John Long, from Dublin had 3 fish for the week of, 6, 6.5 & 7 lbs. Ben Barnes boated 2 salmon for 6 and 7.5 lbs. A party of Scottish anglers had a good day, each catching a salmon, Jeff Little for 7.5 lbs, Alistair Machellr for 6 lbs and Daniel Morrison for 6.5 lbs.  

Lough Gill

Five salmon were reported caught on Lough Gill during the week. Thomas O’Donovan boated the best of these with a fine 10 lbs fish.  

Moy Estuary

The Moy Estuary continued to fish well over the week, with large numbers of Sea trout present. Good angling catches were to be had, with bags of 40+ trout reported. 
Ballin Lough.  
Ballin Lough fished well over the week considering the bright sunny conditions with 27 anglers catching a total of 33 Rainbow trout, 13 of which were released. The most successful fly patterns used were Cats Whiskers, Golden Olive, Muddle’s, Nymphs and Damsels patterns. A good average size of fish was encountered with a number of trout over the 3.5 lbs mark. 

Visiting Israeli angler, Mr. Katz, and boat partner, had 2 trout, while Peter Gray from Castlebar and boat partner had 6 fish, the best 3.5 lbs, releasing 5 of these fish.  

To book fishing on Ballin Lough, anglers should contact Mrs. Gill on 098-26128

Coarse  Angling

The angling on Ballinascrrow lake improved over the week with a bag of 25 fish, mostly bream and some hybrids for 75 lbs for 5 hours angling, reported by Keith Coleman, fishing the pole.