The Moy had its best week of the season, so far, with a reported catch of 183 salmon.

On the Ridge Pool, Vincent Woodlock, Dublin, had a salmon on the fly weighing 8.16 lbs. and Vincent Foley, also from Dublin, landed a fish at 5.58 lbs. on spinner. The Weir Pool produced 4 fish for the week including a fine 9.5 lbs. salmon on the fly for Brian McGlashan, Scotland, who had a second fish at 8.86 lbs. on the worm. Keith Brand from the Isle of Man, who also fished the Weir Pool, caught a salmon at 8.35 lbs. on the fly.

On Byrne’s, Dave Roe, England, had an 11 lbs. salmon on the worm and Patrick Finnegan from Monaghan who fished Gannon’s landed a fine fish at 12 lbs. also on the worm. On Rinanney, German angler, Horst Hermann caught a salmon weighing 7 lbs.

Further up river, the Cloongee Fishery produced 13 salmon for the week including 3 fine fish for Pat Carr, Wicklow, at 9, 10 and 12 lbs. Pat caught all his fish on the worm. Fintan O’Toole, also from Wicklow, had a 10 lbs. fish and Keneth Chandler, England, had a very memorable day on Cloongee as he caught his first ever salmon weighing 6.74 lbs.

There was also good fishing on the East Mayo Anglers water during the week. Amongst the successful anglers were Jean Luic Le Frere, France with a salmon (worm) at 7 lbs., Martin Gross, Germany, with a fish (spinner) weighing 9.79 lbs. and John McDonagh, Galway, who landed a fine fish (worm) at 14 lbs.

Carrowmore Lake & Owenmore River

Despite the breezy conditions and a slight discolouration during the week, Carrowmore Lake produced 8 salmon for the week: David Baggenstos from Switzerland, a regular visitor to the Bangor area, landed a fish at 6.5 lbs. and his friend, Neville Thomson, Dublin, did well with a fine 9.5 lbs. salmon. The lake also produced fish for Liam Gilsenan, Mullingar, Mel Parrott, UK, John Long, Dublin and NWRFB Fishery Officer, John Cosgrove.

On the Bangor Angling Club stretch of the Owenmore River, Rory Murphy, Portlaoise, landed a 6 lbs. salmon and Marvin Corway, Dublin had one at 11 lbs.

Lough Beltra

There were 4 salmon caught and released on the Glenisland Co-Op side of Lough Beltra this week: Declan Foley, Dublin, had 2 fish at 7.5 lbs. and 9 lbs., Rory Moran, Castlebar, had 1 salmon at 9 lbs. and Kevin Byrne, also Castlebar, caught a fish at 12 lbs.

Ballin Lough

Ballin Lough continued to fish well for the week with 18 rods reporting a total of 25 trout, 6 of which were released.

Pat and Damien Murphy, both from Castlebar, had 6 trout (2 released), best at 2.5 lbs. and Martin McGuire, Newport, landed 3 fish, best also at 2.5 lbs. Most successful flies were Bibio, Green Peter and Buzzer patterns.

Despite the strong gales and varying winds during the week fishing on both Loughs has been excellent for the past week with very good mayfly fishing reported by anglers. About 250 anglers landed 350 trout, averaging 1 lbs. in 300 rod days.

Padraig Traynor, Crossmolina, fishing together with Michael Monaghan landed 35 trout for the week weighing between 1 lbs. and 2.25 lbs. John Walsh and Joe Quinn, both from Cloghans, took 8 trout for 10 lbs. At Kelly’s Boat Hire, Cloghans, Noel Loughnane, Dublin, had 15 trout for 24 lbs, with best at 2.25 lbs. Gerry Hoey, Cork, and friend reported 11 trout for a day’s fishing with best at 2 lbs. Dr. Clemence McRory, Dublin, caught 7 trout for 7 lbs and Dermot Dunne, Offally, fishing together with Seamus Kelly, Cloghans, caught and released 23 trout over 2 days, all weighing between 1 lbs. and 2 lbs. John O’Brien, Wicklow, a guest of Pontoon Bridge hotel, took 2 trout for 2 lbs. and Stewart Lyon, Scotland, had 6 fish, best at 2.1 lbs. Best flies for the week included Grey Wulff, Green Wulff, Gosling and Spent Gnat. Professional angling guide, Ken Hall, also reported good fishing for the week. Ken was guiding Austrian visitor, Andreas Werzer, who had 9 trout (6 released) ranging from 1.25 lbs. to 2.5 lbs. Andreas was fishing Dry CDCs and Green Duns.

Elsewhere, the Foxford Angling Club held a competition for the "Foxford Lodge Cup" on Thursday, 17 May. Twenty-seven anglers took part and the event was won by local angler, Stephen Browne, with 3 trout for 4.25 lbs. The Lakelands Angling Club, Mullingar, also held a competition on Lough Conn during the week. Thirty anglers landed 45 trout and Darren Cox won the event with the heaviest bag of 7 lbs.

Seventy-five salmon (50 released) were reported for the week for the Ballisodare Fishery.

The best fish for the week weighed 9 lbs. and was caught by local angler, J. Power, on a Yellow Shrimp. Further fish were caught by Thomas O’Donovan, Chairman Ballisodare Fishing Club Ltd. (salmon 7.5 lbs.) and Fechin McMorrow, Coolooney, who had fish at 6 lbs.

Lough Arrow

Anglers who ventured out on Lough Arrow during the week were rewarded with some exceptional catches. Gerry Martin, Drogheda, had a total of 10 fish including 2 at 4.75 lbs. each, 2 at 3.5 lbs. each and on at 2.75 lbs. His brother Jim landed 3 trout, heaviest at 2.5 lbs. Gerry and Jim were fishing Dry Mayflies and Spent patterns. Sean and Peter Dunne, Drumshanbo, caught 9 fish together weighing between 1.5 lbs. and 3. 5 lbs. They also took their fish on dry flies. Local angler, Noel Fairbanks, landed a fine 5 lbs. trout on the dap and Philip Murray had a nice bag with 2 fish at 2 lbs. and one trout at 6 lbs.

Lough Bo

Recreational Angling Ireland (RAI) in conjunction with The North Western Regional Fisheries Board held an "Angling Tuition Day" on Lough Bo on Saturday, 19 May. Twenty participants including many youngsters attended the event. The enthusiastic beginners enjoyed the day despite the squally weather conditions and 10-year old Walter Frazer, Ballindoon, was rewarded with his first ever fish. Walter caught a 1 lbs. brown trout on a Connemara Black!

Ten year old Walter Frazer carefully playing his first ever fish.