Angling News
NW Angling for Week ending 9 May 2010
By Bryan Ward
16, May 2010 - 15:18

River Moy

Water levels on the River Moy have continued to drop over the past week and are now approaching normal summer levels. Anglers accessing the Board's web-site www.northwestfisheries.ie can view real time water levels on the Ridge Pool and also access information on tide and weather conditions. This drop in levels has not impacted the salmon run, with large numbers continuing to move into the system and good numbers being caught by anglers.

The Moy Fishery enjoyed exceptionally good catches with a total of 23 salmon caught for the week. Both the Ridge Pool and Weir Pool had six salmon each with Paul Mc Crory, Louth, catching a 9.17lbs fish on the fly and releasing one other on the Ridge. On the Weir Pool, fly angler Gareth Byrne, Offaly, had one at 9.5lbs and John Binns, Foxford took a fine fish of 12.43lbs on the worm. The Cathedral Beat accounted for eleven salmon with Gareth Byrne, Offaly, again landing a salmon of 11.65lbs. Ballina Salmon Anglers water had four salmon for the week and Mount Falcon Fishery had its first salmon of the season caught by John Flynn, Dublin.

Further upstream, Gannon's Fishery continued to produce good numbers with twenty-one salmon being caught including a 10lbs fish landed by Trevor Stewart, N.Ireland, on the worm with Johannes Konrad, Austria, also catching a 6lbs salmon with the prawn. The Foxford Fishery had seven salmon and at Rinanney five were caught including a cracking fish of 17.75lbs for Xavier Le Corre, France. The Cloongee Fishery had a great week with seventeen salmon caught with Ian Forde, Westmeath, catching one at 11lbs, John Hehir, Offaly, catching one of 10lbs and Benny Hopkins and Peader Duffy both of Monaghan catching a salmon each at 8lbs. On the East Mayo Anglers water Louis Lecour, France had a salmon of 5lbs and local angler Ian Guegan having a successful week with three salmon in total weighing 10lbs, 15lbs and a great fish of approximately 20lbs.

Visiting French angler Xavier LeCorre and his 17.75lbs salmon caught at Rinnaney, River Moy 9.5.10

Lough Conn and Cullin

Continued cool north-easterly winds and bright sunshine remained a significant factor affecting fishing throughout the week on the Loughs, making angling difficult. However some anglers enjoyed good late evening fly fishing. Others had some success while trolling, with Peter Boylan, Dublin, boating a 7lbs salmon near Pontoon.

The Albert Berry annual angling trip to Lough Cullin was well attended with 64 anglers taking part over two days, landing a total of 39 trout with the best at 2lbs with the majority being taken on Mayflies. All trout were released. Micky Kelly, Dublin, had a total of seven trout on Lough Cullin with his best at 2lbs.

On the northern end of Lough Conn anglers had some success with trout being taken on the Wickham's Fancy and Mayfly, with local anglers Ian Wyse and John Warren enjoying a great evenings fishing, boating 15 trout with the best at 2lbs and all fish being released. On the western shores in the Cloghans area Noel McLaughlin, N.Ireland and friend had five trout in one evening on the Mayfly while local angler Seamus Kelly and Barry Fox, Sligo, had four trout each for an evenings fishing with successful flies being the Silver Invicta, Mayflies and Green Peters.

Carrowmore Lake

Carrowmore Lake continued to produce great catches with thirty-one salmon being caught for the week. Visiting anglers enjoyed success with Adrian Blackwell and Brian Ward, England, having caught three salmon averaging 7lbs and Andreas Lyche and friend, Norway, catching fish at 5.5lbs and 6lbs. South African anglers Wyane Laurenson and Wyane Oldfield also had success catching a salmon each at 6lbs and 7lbs.

Lough Beltra

Lough Beltra continued to produce sizable salmon with Paddy Kelly, Dublin, catching one at 9lbs and Alan Donaghue landing one at 12lbs from the Glenisland Co-op water. Jonathan Murray, fishing out of Newport House had a very successful week catching three in total with his fish weighing in at 8lbs, 8.5lbs and 10lbs.

Ballin Lough

Noel Barber with a fine 14lbs springer taken on the Willie Gunn, 5.5.10

Despite the cool winds and bright conditions of the past week, Ballin Lough has produced good fishing for those who ventured out. A total of twenty-four anglers accounted for 68 rainbow trout, with forty-two of these safely released. Vincent Roche, Harry Lloyd and Alan McGurdy had 10 trout, with their best weighing in at 2.5lbs. Tommy Carrol and friend, Islandeady, caught 13 with their best at 2.75lbs while Matt Foley and friend accounted for 10 with their best at 2.5lbs. Most successful flies on Ballin Lough were Dabblers, Nymphs and Cat's Whiskers.

Ballisodare Fishery

The Ballisodare system continued to fish well, with over 50 salmon caught for the week. Eddie Harte had a salmon of 10lbs taken on an Ally's Shrimp while Lindsay Luney also had a 10lbs fish on the worm. Fly angler Noel Barber, Knock, enjoyed great sport catching a fine 14lbs springer on the Willie Gunn, the same pattern proved successful for Anthony McDonnell who landed a 12lbs fish.

Lough Arrow

Lough Arrow had some good angling for the week, with some sizable trout being caught on the fly. Peter Dunne had ten for the week with two weighing in at 4.5lbs, all taken on Buzzers, with John Hargadon also boating one at 4.5lbs. Thomas Walsh had three trout while Francie White had two all fallen to wet flies.