Salmon Angling
River Moy
Conditions on the lower beats improved up until the weekend, when heavy rain led to a rise in the river once more. Catches on the lower beats increased, with the Moy Fishery yielding 87 salmon for the week. However, the fresh water which entered the system over the weekend really improved conditions upstream, resulting in a total weekly catch of 456.

Both the Ridge Pool and Cathedral beats enjoyed a good week, with the Ridge producing 46 and the Cathedral Beat yielding 30. Eddie Corry, Co. Clare, had three grilse to the fly on the Ridge Pool while Brendan Doyle, Co. Monaghan, also had a grilse on fly. County Fermanagh angler Barney Lawn also had success with the fly, catching two, his best weighing 6.9lbs.

Sean Price, England had good sport on the Cathedral Beat fishing the worm, landing three salmon, his best 8lbs. Fishing the fly, Bill Campbell, Scotland, also had three grilse off this beat. The Weir Pool, the Point and the Black Banks all produced a few salmon, while at the Ash Tree Pool, Pat Kane, Co. Donegal and David Cadman, Co. Sligo, both had grilse to the fly.

Ballina Salmon Anglers' water produced reasonable numbers, as did the Mount Falcon Fishery, where Bill Whitwell and party of anglers from the U.K had 15 salmon for their week. Knockmore, Attymass and Coolcronan also yielded reasonable catches. At Knockmore, Co. Cork anglers Peter McNulty and Tadg Moylan, fishing the Moy for the first time enjoyed success while angling with guide Kenny Sloan. They had two grilse, one on worm the other on shrimp.

Peter McNulty and Tadg Moylan, Co. Cork with their first ever Moy Salmon, taken on the Knockmore Anglers' water.

At Coolcronan, Sean Harbeson, N.Ireland, was among those to catch a grilse. Armstrong's Fishery had a good week, with over 40 salmon reported, including several for U.K. angler Lorenzo Serrano, his best weighing 10lbs. Gannon's Fishery also had a good week, while the Foxford Fishery produced over 50 salmon, including two for Trever Bolton, U.K., and 6 for Sean Sheehan, Co. Louth to bubble and fly.

The Foxford Rocks had a few fish while Rinanney had a very good week, with over 60 salmon reported. The Cloongee Fishery yielded 12, including one for Garry McNamara, Co. Offaly, on worm and 8 in total for Thiery Colum and Beatrice Valaize, France. The East Mayo Anglers' water had a relatively slow week in comparison to other weeks. Despite this, Tom O'Neill, Co. Wexford, had three grilse on fly with Clark Little, N.Ireland, also landing one on the fly.

Lorenzo Serrano, U.K. pictured with one of several salmon he caught recently while fishing at Armstrong's.

Owenmore River
Very low water conditions of late have not been conducive to good angling, with very few anglers fishing. However, the river did experience a short spate on Sunday, allowing a short window of opportunity. Those who fished during this period did enjoy good sport, with many grilse landed and a few larger fish also reported. Among those to have success were Brendan and Stephen Corr, Declan Dooley, Michael Noon, Gerry Heston and Cahal Gallagher. The Hairy Mary, Black Doctor and small Shrimp patters proved the most effective flies.

Ballisodare
The fishery continued to produce very good sport, with the daily catch averaging just under 20 salmon per day, with a weekly catch total of 135. Over 60 of those fish caught were safely released. Many grilse in the 4-5lbs range continue to be caught. However, the occasional larger salmon continued to appear, with fly angler Albert Berry, Co. Monaghan, landing one of 7lbs. Jim Doherty also had success on the fly, with a fine fish of 8lbs as did James Maguire who caught one of 7lbs.

Garavogue / Bonet System
The system is continuing to see fresh grilse enter, with several reported for the week in the New Bridge/Back River area. Adam Kelly, Sligo Town, caught and released three grilse, all on a dry fly. Anthony Walsh, also of Sligo Town, caught and released one of 4lbs, taken on an Alexandra.

Burrishoole Fishery
The fishery produced 8 salmon last week, three being wild fish which were released. U.K. anglers Sean and Michael Smith caught 6 of these grilse, while David Nevin, Newport had one of 5lbs and Mike Murphy landed one of 6lbs.

Trout Angling
Loughs Conn and Cullin
Crossmolina Anglers hosted a Ladies and Juvenile angling competition recently on north L. Conn, sponsored by Ballina Beverages. Fourteen Ladies participated and 6 trout were caught in total. First place went to Mary Benson, with one trout of 2.2lbs. Aoife Keary won second with two trout for 1.8lbs while Mary Mulligan took third with a trout of 1lbs.

Twenty Juveniles competed in their section, which produced two salmon, 4 trout, 4 pike and numerous perch. The under-twelve section was won by David Crane, Jack O'Dowd won the under-fourteen section while Sinead Timlin took the honors in the under-sixteen section.
Also in northern Conn, Kay and John McBride, Dublin, had good sport fishing dry flies in the Errew area, boating 7 trout in total, their best weighing 2lbs. Peter Roche, Cloghans, had one of 1.5lbs, while Adrian Murphy had two.

Elsewhere on the Loughs, angling has been rather slow, yet this is not unusual for the time of year. Fishing out of Murphy's Boat hire, Massbrook, Gerry Keating, Co. Cork boated 4 trout, his best 2lbs while John O'Donnell, Edenderry, had two. Fishing from Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Adrian Gallagher, Co. Dublin, had one trout of 1lbs while James O'Sullivan, U.S.A., had one of 1.2lbs to a dry Wulff. Chris Wathen, London, also had success, boating two trout.

Lough Arrow
With the evenings now cooling, the Green Peter rises are starting to decrease and late evening fishing is becoming more unproductive. Late August and early September should see an improvement in day time fishing. However, some anglers did enjoy good sport fishing the Green Peter. Mark Irwin, Belfast, boated two trout of 2lbs and 3.5lbs while David Grey, had four fish to 3.5lbs. Jimmy Frazer had one of 2.5lbs as did Padraig Traynor.

Ballin Lough
A total of 8 rods fished Ballin Lough throughout the week, boating 28 trout between them (20 of which were returned). Pat Murphy and boat partner enjoyed great fishing, with 16 rainbow trout, their best weighing 3.5lbs. Trevor Knott and boat partner had 7, their best weighing 4lbs while J O'Malley and boat partner had 5. The most productive flies over the last week were the Green Peter, the Cats Whisker and various nymph patterns.

Sea Angling
The 40th annual Belmullet Sea Angling Festival, run by Belmullet Sea Angling Club in conjunction with the Broadhaven Bay Hotel will take place between the 14th and 21st of August. The Festival commences with the Shore Angling Competition for the Paddy Meenaghan Memorial Cup, with check in at 11.45 at M.J. Nallen Fishing Tackle Shop and weigh in taking place at 7.00pm. Other events will run throughout the week. The two day International Open Boat competition begins on Saturday 20th, concluding Sunday 21st, with the weigh in taking place in the Town Square, Belmullet each evening. The prize giving for the competition will be hosted by the Broadhaven Bay Hotel on Sunday night. To enter the competitions or for further details contact Tony Lally (after 6.00pm) on +353 (0)97 82093 or M.J. Nallen, Fishing Tackle Shop, Belmullet on +353 (0)97 82093.