River Moy

The Moy system accounted for a reported catch of 133 salmon for the week. With varying water levels fishing conditions remained difficult for most of the week

On the Moy Fishery, John Howley had 3 salmon (all released) from the Weir Pool on the fly. John also caught the fist salmon of the season on the Cathedral Beat. Donegal angler, Shaun O’Doherty, also was successful on the Cathedral Beat and caught a salmon at 7 lbs. on the fly and Alan Keaveney, Ballina, had a fine 10 lbs. fish on the Point Beat.

On Mount Falcon, Stuart Price had 2 fish, one at 6.5 lbs. on the worm and one at 7.5 lbs. on the fly.  On Armstrong’s, Tom Kane, Northern Ireland, landed a fine fish at 11 lbs. on the worm and French visitor, Gilles Boudier, had a 5 lbs. salmon. There were also good reports from Gannon’s, where Juergen Gasser, Switzerland, had a 9 lbs. Salmon and Robert Orr, UK, caught a fine 10.5 fish. Both fish took the prawn. On the Foxford fishery, Howard Bayliss, Wales caught 2 salmon at 4 lbs. and 11 lbs. and on Rinanneys, Thomas Murtaugh, Germany, also had fine fish on the prawn weighing 14 lbs.

Further up river, the Cloongee Fishery produced 7 salmon for the week including 2 fish (6 lbs. & 6.5 lbs.) for Mike Tulley, UK. Also on Cloongee, Tommy Colgan, Westport, had an 8 lbs. salmon, Peter Deegan, Carlow, landed a fish at 7.5 lbs. and Laois angler, Sean Moore, had one at 7 lbs. all fish were caught on the worm.

The East Mayo Anglers association water also fished well during the week. Amongst the successful anglers were Ernest Piere, France with a salmon at 14 lbs., Pat Donovan, Dublin, who also caught a 14 lbs. salmon and Lois De Nardo, Italy, who landed a 10 lbs. salmon.

Moy Estuary

Fishing picked up during the week in the Moy Estuary.
Michael Hyland and friend, Dublin, who were out fishing with Judd Ruane (www.fishingireland.ie) reported 5 trout on mackerel strip. Benjamin Perutschnig, Austria and Harry Feeny, Foxford, who were also fishing with Judd, had 15 sea trout up to 1.75 lbs. on mackerel strip and sand eel.

Carrowmore Lake & Owenmore River

Angling on Carrowmore Lake improved this week and despite the windy conditions 9 salmon were caught for the week. The Derek Rutter party, UK, had 2 fish at 5.5 lbs. and 6 lbs., Franz Kaizer, Bangor Erris & Germany, landed 2 salmon at 4 lbs. & 4.5 lbs and Dave Elliot, Enniskillen, also caught 2 salmon, one at 6.5 lbs. which he returned and another one at 9 lbs. Anglers also reported the first sea trout catches of the season. 

On the Bangor Angling Club stretch of the Owenmore River a total of 4 salmon was caught for the week. Declan Foley had the best fish for the week, weighing 11.25 lbs. and Martin Reuland, Belmullet, also was successful and added another fish (7.5 lbs.) to his account.

Lough Beltra

The windy weather effected angling during the early part of the week. However, later in the week 5 salmon were caught and released on the Co-Op side of Lough Beltra. Rocky Moran and Kieran Byrne, both Castlebar, had 2 fish each all weighing between 8 lbs. and 9 lbs.

Ballin Lough

The Lake fished very well for the week with a total of 19 rods catching a total of 59 trout (27 released). Amongst the successful anglers were: Willie Scully & Tony McGrattan, who had 6 rainbow trout, best at 2 lbs. and one brown trout at 1.5 lbs.; David Jackson and friend, UK, with 8 rainbow trout, best at 2.5 lbs. and 3 brown trout, best at 1.5 lbs.; Willie Scully, Mullingar, with 4 rainbows and 4 browns, best at 2.5 lbs. and Peter Grey & Shane Walsh from Castlebar, who had the best bag for the week with 4 rainbow trout, best at 5.2 lbs. and 17 brown trout, best at 2.5 lbs. Most successful flies were: Damsels, Nymphs, Muddlers and Hopper patterns.

Lough Conn

The strong north-east winds impacted on the fishing for some time during the week. However, anglers again reported some great fishing despite the difficult conditions: About 170 anglers landed 260 trout, averaging 1 lbs. in 240 rod days.

The Castlebar Anglers held a competition on Sunday, 27 May with 26 fishermen taking 22 trout. Peter Byrne won the event with 2 trout for 3.75 lbs. and Adrian Murphy came 2nd with 3 trout for 2.25 lbs.

Elsewhere, Brian Morgan, Dublin, had 4 trout for 5 lbs., Peter Roche, Cloghans, caught a 3 lbs trout on a wet fly, Richard Johnston, Wicklow, had one for 3.25 lbs on a dry fly and J. McLaughlin, UK, landed 4 trout for 6 lbs. on a Royal Wullf. The Jonathan Barbour, party, UK, comprising of 6 anglers, had 20 trout with 13 over 1 lbs., best at 2.25 lbs. the fish of the week, however, goes to Glen Allen, Scotland, who was staying at the Pontoon Bridge Hotel, and was fishing with Kieran Connolly from Pontoon. Glen, a regular visitor to Pontoon caught his fine 4.75 lbs. trout on a dry Fan Wing Mayfly.

Guide Bodo Funke pictured with Wim, Tom & Philip from Holland at Ballisodare Falls

Ballisodare River

The Ballisodare Fishery accounted for 31 salmon, (24 returned) for the week. All fish caught were averaging 7 lbs. – 8 lbs. with the best fish of the week, a 10.8 lbs. salmon, landed by Sligo man Patrick Scallan. Peter caught his fish upstream of the Butt on the worm. Dutch angler, Philip Speekenbrink, who was part of a group guided by professional angling guide, Bodo Funke of Angling Services Ireland, also landed a fine 10.7 lbs. salmon on the worm.

Drumcliff River

The first salmon of the season was reported from the Drumcliff River during the week. The lucky captor was local angler,Johnny Lockney, who landed his 7 lbs. fish on a stretch of the river known as the “Lurgan”.

Lough Arrow 

There was still some good mayfly fishing on Lough Arrow during the week. Peter Smith, Scotland, had 2 trout at 2 lbs. each on a Dry Sedge. Peter Dunne, Drumshanbo, landed 4 fish weighing between 2 lbs. and 3.5 lbs in an evening on the Spent Gnat.  Philip Murray, Kenneth Murray and Liam Eweritt, all from Drogheda, also enjoyed excellent fishing on the Lough during the week: Philip had 2 fish at 1.45 lbs. each, Liam accounted for 3 trout for 5 lbs. and Kenneth topped the scales with 6 fish for a total of 18 lbs., best at 4.5 lbs. the successful anglers caught their fish on the dap and the Spent Gnat.