Angling News
NW Angling News - 23 Aug 2009
By Markus Müller
27, Aug 2009 - 08:13

River Moy 

The Moy system yielded 284 salmon for the week with the best of the fishing, again, in the middle reaches of the Moy between Ballina & Foxford. The unseasonal high rainfall yet again impacted on angling on the tidal beats of the Moy Fishery and made fly fishing nearly impossible.

While angling on the Moy Fishery was slow, a number of anglers enjoyed success including James Doherty, Donegal, Conor O’Hara, Waterford, and local angler, Simon McHale, as well as Peter Duffy, James Kirk & Jim McCooey, all from Northern Ireland. Mount Falcon continued to fish well with the Bill Whitewell party of four from the UK catching 19 salmon over 4 days. Also on Mt. Falcon, novice lady angler, Margret Pye, UK, caught her first ever salmon! On the Coolcronan Fishery, Ollie Brown, UK and Reg Tyrell, Dublin had a grilse each, while James Cornally, Offaly, landed a 10 pounder on Gannon’s. Up river, on the Cloongee Fishery, Brian Heraty and Liam Burke, Meath, had 2 fish each, best at 7.8 lbs. Other successful anglers included Bill O’Regan (2 salmon), Michael Conway (1 salmon) and Michael Rigney (1 salmon), all from Dublin. All salmon were caught on worm. On the East Mayo Anglers’ water, Angus O’Marchaigh had 3 salmon on spinner, two of which he released. 
 

Easkey River 

The Fortland Fishery had its best week of the season, so far. Forty-three salmon were reported, 12 of which were released. Most fish were taken on fly and spinner. The Pritchard party of 4 anglers had a total of 24 salmon and some fine sea trout, with Lee Pritchard catching the best fish of the week, a fine 8.5 lbs. salmon.

Owenmore River 

Yet, another excellent week for anglers on the Owenmore River! Very good numbers of grilse were running the river and water levels were suitable all week, although a little bit on the high side. On the Bangor Angling club water, a total of 28 salmon were reported, 9 of which were released. Brendan McGhee had a 10 pounder, while Dermot O’Hora, Roscommon caught two fish including the heaviest fish of the week, a fine 13 lbs. salmon. Mark Mason, Joe Hutton and local angler, Larry Mitchell all had bags of 3 with most fish released. The recent rain kept water levels well up and therefore prospects for the coming week are excellent. 

Newport River & Lough Beltra 

There was little angling activity on the Newport River during the week. However, Eamon Kennedy, Newport and John Paul Hayes, caught and released a 10 lbs. salmon each. 

The sea trout fishing picked up on Lough Beltra with good bags of sea trout reported. On the Glenisland CoOp (Lough Beltra East) side of the lake, Jack Deffley enjoyed good sport with a 4.5 lbs. grilse and 20 sea trout, all of which were returned. Other successful anglers included Pat Burns with a 4 lbs. grilse, Seamus O’Neill with a 3 lbs. sea trout, Aiden Byrne (8 sea trout), Phil Byrne (4 sea trout) and Kevin Byrne (3 sea trout). All sea trout were sportingly returned. On Lough Beltra West, David Edis, UK, had 4 sea trout, best a cracking 4 pounder, on a Peter Ross.

Ballin Lough

Ballysadare River & other Sligo/Leitrim Fisheries 

Angling on the Ballysadare Fishery was slow despite suitable water levels for most part of the week. In total 13 salmon were caught, 7 of which were released. The best fish of the week, a 7 lbs. salmon, was caught and released by local fly angler J. Trotter.  

Fishing on Lough Doon continued to be good, with Ray Measley, Northern Ireland, catching 8 trout (4 released) averaging 1 lbs. Daddys and sedge patterns worked best.  

With suitable water levels fishing on the Drumcliff River picked up during the week. Amongst the successful anglers was John Loughney with an 8 lbs. salmon caught in the Lurgan area.  
 

Sea Angling 

On Saturday, 22 August, & Sunday 23 August, Belmullet Sea Angling Club in conjunction with Broadhaven Bay Hotel held a 2 day open boat competition as part of the 38^th Belmullet Sea Angling Festival.  

Forty anglers from Ireland & the UK participated in the event. Conditions were very poor on both days with very strong and gusty north westerly winds. Despite the extremely difficult conditions a wide variety of different species was caught including pollack, coalfish, dogfish, ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse, red gurnard, grey gurnard, tub gurnard, whiting, dab, flounder, ling, thornback ray, John dory and cod. 

Results were as follows: 

1^st Greatest Variety over 2 days: Tony Lally, Belmullet SAC

2^nd Greatest Variety over 2 days: Peter Coyne, Belmullet SAC

3^rd Greatest Variety over 2 days: Arthur Thurratt, Belmullet SAC

Greatest Variety over 2 days Out of State: Peter Ross, Carrickfergus SAC

1^st Greatest Variety over 2 days Junior: Conol Gilmore, Donegal

Heaviest Fish Saturday: Kevin Walsh, Belmullet SAC

Heaviest fish Sunday: Arthur Thurratt, Belmullet SAC