Angling News
NW Angling News - to 31 Aug 2008
By Rory Sheehan
3, Sep 2008 - 20:18

River Moy 

Angling on the River Moy remained steady over the week with the best catches coming from lower and middle beats.  

Catches on the Moy Fishery for the week were subdued due to the continuing high water levels. On the Ridge Pool, Jim McCooey, Northern Ireland, landed 2 fish with the best, a fine 8.01 lbs. salmon. Pat Kane, Donegal, caught 4 salmon (2 released) while fishing with a spinner on the Ash Tree Beat.  

The Ballina Salmon Anglers’ water continued to produce the best catches on the river with a good number of fresh fish taken. On the Mount Falcon Fishery, a group of 3 UK anglers caught 8 salmon for 2 days fishing. Thomas Stieninger, Austria, and Bill O’Regan, Dublin, both had one salmon each fishing worm on the Cloongee Fishery.  

A number of very fine salmon were caught on the East Mayo Anglers’ Association water. Jim Wheelan, Swinford, was the lucky captor of an excellent 17 lbs. salmon. Jim was fishing a spinner and also caught a 7 lbs. grilse. Steven Pender, Achill, landed a lovely 14 lbs. fish on fly, while Mark Duncalf, Wales, banked an 11 lbs. salmon, also on fly.  
 

Loughs Conn & Cullin  

Water levels on Lough Conn remained high over the week and angling conditions were unfavourable. Padraig Kelly, Cloghans, fishing with Jake and Kevin McCabe caught 3 trout for 5 lbs. with the best fish at 2 lbs. Karl Heinz and boat partner, Switzerland, had 6 trout over 2 days with two of the fish over 1.5 lbs. Wayne James and David Lang, Wales, boated 4 trout for 6 lbs. The best fish was 1.7 lbs and took a Golden Dabbler.  
 
 

Owenmore River 

The Owenmore River fished very well over the week. High water levels did not prevent anglers from catching a good number of fish with a large average size.  

Dough Armstrong had 2 fine grilse for 7 and 8 lbs. while Pat Foley also had 2 grilse for 6 and 7 lbs. On the Bangor Club water, a group of 2 anglers caught 3 fine fish at 7, 8 and 9 lbs while James Clarke had 2 salmon for 4 and 6 lbs.   

Newport River 

The good angling on the Newport River continued over the week. Local angler, Jimmy Lawlor, caught and released 2 very nice salmon at 10 and 12 lbs. and kept a 5 lbs. grilse. Barry Kenny had 2 salmon at 6 and 9 lbs. while Mike Murphy caught a 6 lbs. grilse and a nice sea trout of 1.5 lbs.   

Lough Furnace 

On Lough Furnace, Sean Smith caught 2 salmon for 5.4 and 3.5 lbs. while Matthew Solon, Clare, had a 6 lbs. grilse.  

The best flies for the week were the Ally’s Cascade and Daddy Longlegs.  

Ballisodare River  

All fish caught on the Ballisodare River for the week were released, showing a commendable regard for conservation. Dermot Glennon landed a fine 9 lbs. salmon on the fly.  
 

Garravogue River 

There was some good fishing on the Garravogue River over the week with a number of salmon caught, including a 7 lbs. grilse for F. Walsh. 
 
 
 

Lough Arrow 

Few anglers fished Lough arrow for the week but brothers Peter and Seán Dunne had 6 trout between them, all over 2 lbs. with the best fish a lovely 4 lbs. brownie.  

Ballin Lough  

Thirteen anglers fished Ballin Lough for the week and a number of trout to 4 lbs. were caught.

Pat and Denis Murphy, Castlebar, boated 4 fish with the best at 4 lbs. while Tom Davin and Mike Ruane also caught 4 trout with the best a 4 lbs fish. John Cowen had 4 fish with the best at 3.5 lbs.  

The best flies for the week on the lake were the Green Peter, Black Pennell and Nymph patterns.  

Sea Angling 

Good species fishing has been reported off the coast of the North Western region. A number of boats have reported good gurnard fishing in the waters around Achill Island. Mary Gavin-Hughes, skipper of Shamrock 1, reported that one of her clients caught a skate in excess of 210 lbs. This huge fish was caught from a mark on the Northern side of Clew Bay.