Angling News
NW Angling for Week Ending 8 June 2008
By Rory Sheehan
12, Jun 2008 - 00:16

River Moy.

There was some excellent angling on the River Moy, with a reported angling catch of 203 salmon for the week, which was up on the previous week, bringing the total for the year, so far, to 953 salmon. The break in the dry spell during the week saw some fresh water enter the river. Heavy rain showers in the East of Co. Mayo helped to raise water levels, in the upper reaches, to a moderate flow for this time of year, with some color in the water. This saw a number of fish moving to the upper beats of the river.

Dr Gordan Gavrilovic, from Serbia with a fine Sea trout from the Moy Estuary.

The angling so far this year on the River Moy has been very good considering that the grilse run has not yet started. The number of fish caught is ahead of this time last year, but it is the quality of the fish that is of most interest. A good general size of salmon has been caught with many fish in the 8 – 10 lbs range, and a good number much larger.

The Moy Fishery had a good week with some fine salmon up to 13.39 lbs being taken by anglers. Selby Knox of the UK had a 10.11 lbs fish on fly while James Doran had two salmon for 7.71 and 12.37 lbs on the Ridge Pool. The Cathedral Beat was productive for visiting Spanish angler, Fernando Fernend, who landed salmon of 10.5 lbs and 12.5 lbs.

Up River, the Mount Falcon Fishery produced a 5.5lbs salmon for Mullingar angler, Noel McEntyre, while Gannon’s Fishery produced a fabulous salmon of 14.5 lbs for Alan Lendrum from Northern Ireland. Chris Goodenough from the UK caught his first Moy Salmon, a 6 lbs fish at the Foxford Fishery. Rinanney produced some fine fish for Northern Irish anglers, Stephen Scott and Neil Shields, of 12.5 lbs and 12 lbs respectively.

On Cloongee Fishery, Paul Wymes from Dublin banked 4 salmon, keeping 2 fish for 7 and 9.5 lbs. Pat Sherry from Wicklow had a 4.5 lbs salmon, also on the Cloongee Fishery.

East Mayo Anglers waters produced a stunning 18 lbs salmon for Dermot Drain from the North of Ireland.

Lough Conn.

The angling on Lough Conn improved when compared to the proceeding week. The westerly winds and more un-settled weather helped encourage fish to rise more freely to the fly. One hundred and forty four anglers accounted for a reported catch of 110 trout, with an average weight of just under the 1lb. mark.

Sporadic hatches of May Fly were reported over the week with some fish still falling to dry May Fly patterns. Green Peter, Watson’s Fancy, Golden Dabbler, Yellow Wolf and Spent Gnat were productive patterns for the week.

Dermot Dunne from Offaly and Seamus Kelly boated 4 nice trout for 7 lbs while Spent Gnat fishing, the best a 3 lbs fish. Sam and Gerard Lynch of Cork had 6 trout over two days, returning all of them. Welsh anglers, Karl Jenkins and Alien Wade, took 4 trout for 6.5 lbs, the best a 2.75 lbs fish.

The Foxford Angling Club fished for their annual Presidents Cup, on Sunday the 8^th of June on Lough Conn. Twenty five anglers competed with first prize taken by Ray Stewart with 2 trout. Second was Peter Roche, with 2 trout, while John Burke was third, also with 2 trout. The prize for best junior angler went to Michael Tiernan who finished 5^th over all.

Ballisodare River.

Angling on the Ballisodare River over the week was extremely good. Catch and release was very much to the fore with 50 salmon caught and 40 of these fish being released. The grilse run is well under way, with a good number of salmon in the 3-5 lbs range falling to anglers. Local angler, Jimmy Cuffe had a good week’s fishing on the system catching a 9lb fish, and releasing several others, including an 8 and a 6lb salmon.

Carrowmore Lake.

Angling on Carrowmore has slowed somewhat, compared to other weeks, but is expected to pick up again with the imminent arrival of the Grilse run. Franz Kaiser from Bangor Erris, boated a fine salmon of 13 lbs.

Moy Estuary.

The Sea trout angling continued to be extremely good on the Moy Estuary over the week. Anglers were rewarded with good catches of trout in the 1.5 – 2 lbs mark. Dr Gordan Gavrilovic from Serbia and a party of visiting anglers boated 40 trout for 2 days angling, with guide Judd Ruane, with most of the fish released.

Ballin Lough.

Ballin Lough was stocked with 250 Rainbow trout during the week. The fish are of fantastic quality with a mean weight of 1kg. The Lough provided some challenging but enjoyable sport over the week, with a good number of trout encountered. Bill Flynn Jnr. from Castlebar boated 6 trout, keeping one fish. Louis O Brien and boat partner caught 2 fish the best a 3 lbs Rainbow trout.

Popular flies for the week were: Black Bomber, Claret Bumble, and Dabblers.

To book fishing on this popular and productive Rainbow Trout fishery, anglers should contact Mrs. Gill on 098-26128.

Pike.

The change to more unsettled weather over the week has brought an up turn in pike angling with fish to 20 lbs caught by clients of Bodo Funkes’ Angling Services Ireland.