Angling News
Angling News - Mayo/Sligo - 28 Aug 2011
By Declan Cooke
1, Sep 2011 - 07:35

Angling on the Moy has slowed down slightly, with a total of 385 salmon reported for the week. Once again, the continuing unsettled weather and fluctuating water levels have favoured the Fisheries upstream of the weir in Ballina, with the, normally productive, waters of the Moy Fishery yielding just four fish for the week. The best of these was a four.2lb grilse which was caught, on fly, by Thomas Cooke from Co. Clare.

Immediately upstream, the Ballina Anglers Assoc. enjoyed a productive week with 71 salmon recorded, 15 of which were released. Mount Falcon also produced some excellent angling and reported 63 fish for the week. Steve Rivers from the UK had his first ever salmon and followed this with six more over his three day visit.

Further upstream, on the Foxford Fishery, Jean Marie Blouet from France had four salmon on worm and prawn in a single day, one of which was released. This Fishery reported 33 salmon for the week. Armstrong's Fishery also had a good week with 40 salmon, the best of these was just over 10lbs and was caught on a spinner by Michael Tierney from Northern Ireland.

Aiden McGuinness and Michael O’Byrne with their days catch from the Cloongee Fishery

East Mayo also continues to fish well with 27 salmon reported last week. Most notable catches were recorded by Luke Maber from Kiltimagh who had a salmon of 9lbs on a spinner. Jean Miscobex from France had four salmon on the fly and Henry Cooke from Dublin had a four lb grilse also on the fly.

The Cloongee Fishery was only lightly fished, despite god angling conditions. It produced nine salmon amongst which was a lovely 10lb harvest fish caught by Aiden McGuinness from Galway , who also had a 5lb grilse on his trip. Michael O'Byrne had a 5lb and a 3lb grilse in one day.

The Moy Estuary also fished quite well last week with over 20 sizable seatrout reported by Judd Ruane. As the previous week's floodwater cleared, fresh seatrout began to appear and there are still plenty of herring fry about to keep them feeding. Patrick Kennedy and Partner had 11 sea trout on mackerel strip and Alec Hoare, had seven good keepers also on mackerel strip. Water is particularly clear at the moment and angling prospects remain good for the coming week.

Sligo District

The Garavogue/ Bonet system produced some excellent angling last week with over 60 salmon caught and released. Prospects are good for the coming week as there is still plenty of water in the lake and more rain forecast over the weekend.

The Drumcliffe river also fished well for both sea trout and salmon with 21 fish reported. Again all fish were released

There are still some salmon in the Ballasodare system but angling has tapered off and very few fish are being recorded by anglers.

Bangor District

In the Bangor District, Lough Beltra has been producing quite a few decent seatrout recently with fish up to two.5lbs reported. Eamon Lawlor caught three sea trout averaging 1lb each all and John Corry and Henry Hamilton caught six sea trout of about 1lb each, all fish were returned. Malcolm Killian also returned an eight pound salmon on the lough during the week.

The Newport River fished reasonably well, with local anglers taking advantage of the excellent water conditions. Eamonn Kennedy had four salmon in one day and Oliver Corcoran caught two grilse one nearly 5lb and another three.5lb. Visiting angler James Herron also had a 6lb salmon

Carrowmore Lough and the Owenmore river reported no fish for the week.

Trout

Lough Conn
Trout fishing is picking up again on Lough Conn, with all Anglers who ventured out encountering fish. There was some fresh water from the Deel and Castlehill rivers which appears to have livened up the fishing and there are reports of mayfly still hatching in some sheltered bays.

Pontoon Bridge Hotel reported some good angling during the week. Glen Spragg from UK had a nice 1.5lb trout on an Octopus while fishing on L. Cullin with numerous smaller trout caught and released.

Mathew Corkery ,Glenstall Abbey Limerick also had a nice trout of nearly two lbs on L.Conn which was taken on a claret dabbler and Jack Mellet , Castlebar had two trout on L. Conn to dry flies , best 1.five lbs.

Murphy s Boat-hire, Massbrook also reported some lively fishing. Limerick anglers Malcolm Bell and his son Tom, who was dapping had eight trout for two days in Victoria Bay and released seven. Best fish was two lbs.

Pat Mangan, Edenderry , also fishing in Victoria Bay seven trout to various wetfly patterns, all fish were released.

Ned Tryell also from Edenderry had four trout for 1 day while boat partner Barry Greham had two, their best fish was two lbs. Regular visitors Liam Mc Hugh also from Edenderry and Mick Sweeney, Loughrea had four trout each over the weekend all on wetflies, their best fish was two.five lbs.

Old reliables Johnny Warren, and Ian Wise, from Errew, crossmolina ventured out around Roe Island and Bog Bay. They picked up three trout on dry Wolfs and returned five more small trout.

Brian Ruttledge , from Cloghans had two trout for 3lbs while trolling near the Deel.

Lough Arrow

Now that the evening fishing has tapered off on Lough Arrow, few anglers are venturing out onto the lake. There is still some decent fishing to be had during the day, however, and Peter Dunne had two nice trout one day last week, the best of these was two.5lbs. Noel Fairbanks also had a nice fish of three.2lbs on a dry fly.

Ballin Lough

13 rods fished Ballinlough for the week. They caught 16 trout, eight of which were released. Paul Heaney and friend had six trout, only two of which were kept. Their best fish was 2lb. Bernard Mannion and friend from Castlerea, Co. Roscommon caught six trout and they released four. Their best fish was two.5lb. The most successfull flies for the week were Silver Dabbler, Daddy longlegs, Bibio and a Black Pennell.