River Moy
There was a notable increase in the number of anglers fishing the Moy system over the past week, with 201 salmon reported which brings the total catch for the year to date to 756 salmon.
On the Moy Fishery, Des Chew, Dublin had a fine 12 lbs springer from the Ridge Pool. The salmon which was taken on an Ally’s Cascade was released immediately by Des who is actively involved in the Dublin Angling Initiative. Athlone angler, John McKinley had three fish on the Weir Pool while visiting English angler, Paul Ainley had a nice 11 lbs fish on the fly from the Ridge Pool and a smaller 5 lbs fish from the Cathedral Beat fishing a spinner. On the Point Beat, Peter Reintjens, Holland had a 5 lbs fish on spinner.
On Armstrong’s Fishery, Johny Clarke, Navan had 2 salmon. On Gannon’s Jurgen Gasser, Switzerland had an excellent 16 lbs springer and Nigel Tucker, England had 2 ten pounders fishing the prawn. On The Foxford Salmon Anglers Rinanny stretch, Frank Geib, Germany had 2 fish of 11 lbs & 13 lbs on prawn. Peter McGowan, England who fished the Foxford Fishery had 3 fish on worm and Richard Milner also from England had a nice fish of 10 lbs also on worm.
Upstream of Foxford on The Cloongee Fishery, John Gilbert, England caught his first salmon which weighed in at 10 lbs on spinner. Lee Cooper, England took a fish of 7 lbs on worm and Paul Wymes, Dublin had a small salmon of 5 lbs on bubble and fly, which he released.
Moy Estuary
Persistent north winds made fishing conditions very difficult for most of the week. A French party fishing with Judd Ruane had 5 trout on sand eel, best fish 2.5 lbs. Also fishing with Judd Ruane, Sean Ruane, Dublin had 4 trout on sand eel and mackerel strip.
Carrowmore Lake & Owenmore River
Weather conditions were mixed with rain and wind in the latter part of the week on Carrowmore Lake. However, The lake fished very well over the week with 25 salmon caught. Cameron Brant, Bob Sullivan and a group of anglers from the USA enjoyed good fishing with 3 salmon and 4 sea trout. The salmon averaged 7 lbs and the best of the sea trout weighed in at 3 lbs. Ronnie Mayock and Mr Peter McGuire Dublin had 2 and 4 salmon respectively. Other anglers who had a salmon on Carrowmore during the week included Franz Kiaser, Marvin Corway, Owen Warren, Kieran Carey and Michael Noone who also took a fine 3.5 lbs sea trout.
The Owenmore River produced two salmon on the club stretch where Con Cleary and Clive Coose, Dublin had a 7.5 lbs and 8.75 lbs fish respectively.
Ballin Lough
Fishing was excellent on Ballin Lough where 40 rods were fished for the week and landed a total of 109 trout, 31 of which were returned. Tommy Carlon, Islandeady had 8 trout all of which were released, his best fish was a 3 lbs rainbow. English anglers, B Vinali and A Birkett caught 19 rainbows and 2 browns, best fish was a 4.5 lb rainbow and all were released. Local angler Tom Bourke had 5 rainbows and a fine brown trout of 5.5 lbs, four of which were released. Best flies on Ballin Lough this week included Green Peter, Olives and Silver Dabbler.
Newport River /Lough Beltra
Angling also improved on the Newport River/Lough Beltra system where eight salmon were caught and returned as this fishery is strictly catch and release. Rory Murray, Portlaoise had an excellent day on the Glenisland Co Op side (Beltra East) where he landed two salmon, a fine 12 lbs fish and a smaller one at 6lbs. Declan Dooley, Dublin and David Nevin, Newport had fish of 8lbs and 7lbs respectively. On the Newport House side of the Lake (Beltra West), Dublin anglers, Ian Conn and John Chew each had 7 lbs fish and Eamon Kennedy, Newport caught a nice 9lbs salmon.
Burrishoole Fishery
The Burrishoole fishery opens on Monday next 11th June.
Lough Conn
Despite persistent north westerly winds which made conditions unpleasant, fishing on Lough Conn was generally good with an estimated 286 trout reported for 380 rod days with an average weight of approximately 1lbs. Two major angling competitions were also held on the lake during the week.
The Garda Síocáhna annual event was fished in poor weather by 54 anglers who took 28 trout. The overall winner was Jim Caden, Ballina with 4 trout for 5 lbs. Michael McNeely, Mullingar won the retired Garda event with 2 trout for 2.34 lbs.
The biggest competition of the year, the Lough Conn and Cullin Anglers 2 day event was fished over the bank holiday weekend with 112 anglers taking 91 trout with an average weight of 1.22 lbs. The top prize, the Traynor & Tolan Cup went to Frank Guilfoyle Jnr., Co. Clare who had 6 trout for 6.43 lbs. Joe Quinn, Ballina took the Tommy Kiely trophy with 5 fish for 6.04 lbs. Michael O’Toole, Dublin was third with 4 trout for 4.87 lbs. Best lady angler went to Sorcha Weld with two trout for 2.5 lbs and heaviest fish at 2.14 lbs went to Cecil Marshall.
Amongst other anglers to report good fishing during the week were Pauraic Kelly, Cloghans who said it was the best May fly fishing he had seen on Lough Conn in years. English anglers, Ned Quigley and Mark Francis had 8 good trout on Saturday with their best weighing in at 2.5 lbs which they kept. Other anglers to record good catches were Dermot Dunne & Seamus Kelly, Cloghans, Clement McRory, Belfast and Dr Bill O’Connell, Arklow who took 19 trout over the weekend the best of which at 4 lbs he kept.
Ballisodare River, L Arrow and other Sligo & Leitrim Fisheries
The Ballisodare fishery reported a total of 32 salmon for the week, 24 of which were sportingly released. Local anglers, Francie Kearns and Alan Marshal fishing worm at the "Butt" had the two best fish of the week which weighed in at approximately 7 lbs each.
With the best of the May Fly fishing over, there was very little angling activity on Lough Arrow over the week. However, Carl Murrin had 2small trout on wet fly and Noel Fairbanks had a very nice 3 lbs trout fishing a dry sedge. Reports have been received of several salmon having been caught onGlencar Lake where Bernard Mc Dermott, Sligo took two fish on a Silver Toby. Anglers have also reported some good fishing on Lough Doon where the water is clear at present and goodhatches of fly are encouraging trout to rise freely. Any of the regular black pattern flies are proving successful on this small productive lake.