The Moy had its best week of the season, so far, with a recorded catch of 388 salmon bringing the total for the season, so far, to 1,367. With most of the salmon running right through the system, the fisheries around and above Foxford continued to provide the best fishing for the week with a good number of double figure salmon, up to 15 lbs. reported.

The Moy Fishery had a total of 37 salmon for the week. The Ridge Pool accounted for 22 salmon and Paul Steward, Northern Ireland, had 2 salmon on the fly as had Gordon McElvogue, also from Northern Ireland. Also on the Ridge Pool, Nigel Cox, England, landed a salmon weighing 7.4 lbs. and James Watterson, Scotland, had one at 5.24 lbs. Both fish came to the fly. On the Weir Pool, Keven Clayton had 3 salmon, all of which were released and Charlton Peters, UK, caught 2 fish (1 released), best at 7.57 lbs. The Cathedral Beat produced 3 fish for the week and Pat Kane, Donegal, succeeded on the Spring Wells with a fish at 6.83 lbs. on spinner.

On Coolcroonan, Garry Perks, UK, had 3 fish (2 released) and Duncan McKinley, also from the UK, who was fishing Byrne’s landed 2 salmon at 4 lbs. & 7 lbs. while on Gannon’s, Brian Larrigan got 2 fine fish (10 lbs. & 11 lbs.) on the worm. The Foxford Fishery also produced some nice salmon during the week, including fish for Geoff Morrow (12.5 lbs.) & Steven Morrow (8.75 lbs.) form the Isle of Man. On Rinanney, Peter Bench, UK, landed a 12 pounder, while French angler, A. Bouchard, had two salmon at 10 lbs. & 11 lbs. The fish of the week however, came from Kevin Keogh, Mullingar, who caught a cracking 15 lbs. salmon. Kevin also got another fish weighing in at 10 lbs. All fish came to the worm.

Further up river, the Cloongee Fishery accounted for 21 fish for the week including 3 fish for Steven Brown, UK, with best at 6 lbs. and 2 salmon for Richard Ash, Northern Ireland, best at 11 lbs. The East Mayo Anglers Association water also produced some nice double figure salmon during the week. Amongst the lucky captors were: Jean Claude Thomas, France, with a salmon at 12 lbs., Jean Luc Le Frere, also France, with an 11 lbs. fish and Mixie Clarke who landed a fine 13 lbs. salmon.

The Marine Institute, in association with The North Western Regional Fisheries Board, is carrying out a salmon tagging survey on the River Moy. Two orange tags are being i se ed 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.

Moy Estuary

Despite persistent northerly winds which made angling conditions very difficult for most of the week anglers did quite well reporting good sized sea trout up to 3 lbs. Mike & Mark Devery, UK, who were fishing with Judd Ruane had 3 good trout on bait, so had Milo Breslin & friend from Mullingar. Oliver Cunningham & his father from Northern Ireland, who are regular visitors to the Moy Estuary enjoyed their best ever day’s fishing with over 40 sea trout (38 released) on the fly. Local juvenile angler, Even Regan, was also successful and landed a fine 2.5 lbs. sea trout off the Quay. His trout took a mackerel strip.

The strong and gusty winds impacted on the water conditions and therefore fishing was mixed over the week on Carrowmore Lake, with 3 salmon and approx. 30 sea trout reported by anglers: David Lennon, Westport, had a small grilse, and Cavan angler, Patrick Deary, got one at 5.5 lbs. Now that the lake has settled again prospects for the coming days are looking better.

There were also 2 fish caught on the Bangor Erris Angling Club water of the Owenmore River, both by visiting anglers from the UK. Michael Levin had one at 5 lbs. and Andy Thompson landed a fine 9 lbs. salmon.

The first fish of the season, a nice 6 lbs. wild grilse, was caught on Sunday, 24 July by Bernard Wajner from Dublin. This fish was returned as the policy of the Burrishoole Fishery is to return all wild salmon. However, anglers may retain ranched salmon. Also on Sunday, Martin Hughes, Newport, landed a 4 lbs. ranched salmon. With the arrival of the grilse expected any day, the prospects for this interesting fishery are looking good. To book fishing at Burrishoole anglers should contact Pat Hughes, Fishery Manager, at 098 42300.

Again, a very good week for the Ballin Lough Fishery with 16 rods catching a total of 28 rainbow trout (7 released) and 11 brown trout (9 released).

Amongst the successful anglers were Greg Perry & Robbie Pitman, Galway, with 3 rainbows, best At 3.5 lbs., Michael Hayes, Spain, who also had 3 rainbow trout, best at 3.5 lbs. and local anglers Sean O’Malley, Westport & Joe Gibbons, Kilmeena, with 5 rainbows, best at 2.5 lbs. Best flies for the week were Booby, Minkie, Green Peter and Bibio. To book a boat on Ballin Lough, anglers should contact Mrs. Gill, beside the lake, on 098-26128.

It has been a very quiet week on Lough Conn and the strong and persistent north to north east winds towards the latter half of the week also impacted in the fishing.

Eighteen anglers from the Dargle Angling Club held a competition over the weekend with Conor Devlin who had a 1.5 lbs. trout winning the event, Nicky Moore runner up and Richard Burgess in 3^rd place.

Elsewhere, Tanja Marlich, Germany, fishing together with Pauric Kelly, Cloghans, had one trout weighing 1.25 lbs. on a Golden Olive, Gerrard Asquith, UK, and his friend landed 3 trout for 4 lbs. with best at 1.5 lbs. on Sooty Olive and Octopus and Graham Daniels, US, fishing with Bud Morton, caught one each at 1.25 lbs. and 1 lbs. Local angler, Dermot Dunne, took an 8 lbs. salmon on a Connemara Black and professional guide, Ken Hall, reported 3 fish for his client, Ray Warrick, from Dublin also on an Octopus.

This was the best week of the season for the Ballisodare Fishery, so far with a total of 114 salmon reported, 86 of which were released. Seamus Brogan, Sligo, had two salmon at 5 lbs. & 9 lbs. on the Shrimp Fly, both of which were returned. Local angler, Vincent Henry, caught and returned 6 fish over the course of the week while G. Kenny landed two salmon weighing 4 lbs. & 9 lbs.

There was very little angling activity on Lough Arrow during the week. However, a magnificent 6.2 lbs trout was caught by local angler, David Gray who released a further 3 fish averaging 3 lbs. David was fishing late in the evening well into darkness and he took all his fish on a Murrough.