Salmon Angling
River Moy

A poor week on the lower Moy fisheries around Ballina town, not surprising with virtually no angling effort combined with high water levels. The most significant catches were recorded in the mid and upper stretches of the Moy, where the weekly combined catch totalled an excellent 376 salmon. However, the upper Ballina Salmon Anglers' water did produce good catches as did the Mount Falcon fishery, where John Price, U.K., landed a total of 10 salmon, releasing all but one.

The Knockmore, Attymass and Coolcronan water's all produced relatively good sport. At Coolcronan, Chris Cosgrove and Dickie Harte, N.Ireland, both had success landing a grilse each to the worm. At Byrnes, angler's enjoyed some success, while good angling was reported from Armstrong's and Gannon's. The Foxford Fishery also enjoyed a good week, as did Rinanney and the Foxford town fisheries.

At Cloongee, anglers enjoyed relative success, again despite the low angling effort. Among those catch fish at Cloongee were Christian Moranzoni, France, who had two small grilse and a further 5lbs grilse while spinning. Marco Kelser, Switzerland, also had one of 5lbs while Beatrice Valaize had a fine fish of 10lbs, also to a spinner.

East Mayo Anglers' water also enjoyed success, with fish being caught on fly, spinner and worm, the majority of which were sportingly released. Christian Lischke, Germany, had two on spinner at East Mayo, as did fellow German Thomas Weiss, while Matthias Engles (also Germany) had two small grilse on fly.


Newport River
Good sport was had on the river once again this week with 8 salmon reported. David Nevin, Newport, caught 2 salmon of 8lbs and 4lbs, with both fish released.

Fergus Rothwell also had one of 8lbs which was released while Jimmy Lawlor, Westport, caught one of 5lbs and also lost another. David Mc Clune had one grilse of 4lbs with E. Kennedy, Newport, also landing a grilse of 5.5lbs. Later in the week, David Mc Clune caught a further two grilse, one 5lbs and another of 5.5lbs which was released.

Burrishoole Fishery
The windy weather experienced of late discouraged angling but despite the poor conditions seven salmon were caught for the week. Those to have success on the fishery were Bernard Wojner, Co. Dublin who had two salmon, Dermott Seymore, Partry, who had one wild salmon (returned) and Joe Donnellan, Srahmore, who had 4 salmon (all wild and returned). There was also 8 sea trout caught, all of which were returned.

Ballisodare Fishery
The river had been in severe flood for most of the week, as a result few anglers fished. Despite this, few anglers did have success, with several salmon caught and most fish released.

Trout Angling
Loughs Conn and Cullin
The Paddy McDonald Memorial Cup competition was hosted recently by the Conn and Cullin Anglers Association. Twenty-one anglers participated, with seven trout weighed in at the evening function at Hineys of Crossmolina. In first place was Stephen Browne, Cloghans who had two trout for 1.465kgs. Joe Quinn, Ballina took second place with Danny McGovern taking third.

Elsewhere on the lakes, angling effort was low due to blustery conditions. Fishing out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Tony Rushton, London, had three trout to a Silver Invicta, his best 1.5lbs. William Phelan, Co. Dublin, had one of just under 2lbs, while Liz Burke, Co. Kerry & Dublin, had one, as did ghillie Jack Mellet, with both fish weighing just over 1lbs and both taken on a Claret and Mallard.

Fishing out of Cloghans Bay, Co. Donegal pair Enda Hoey and Peter O'Sullivan had five trout between them for two days, all taken on sedges, their best weighing 1.5lbs. Angling in the Crossmolina area, Jim Rooney, Co. Cork, had two trout to black flies, while Dublin pair Stuart Cleary and Michael McMahon had three to their boat, their best 2lbs.

Pike Angling

Everett Sharp, USA, with a fine fly caught pike in the Foxford area.

Angling guide Kenny Sloan reported good action on the fly recently for pike in the Foxford area with visiting anglers David Anchell, Co. Tipperary, and Everett Sharp, Alabama (U.S.A). They enjoyed boating a magnificent catch of 14 pike on the fly during one session. The biggest weighed in at an excellent 22 lb. Only four of the pike weighed less than 10lb. Conditions were just right with a good westerly wind and pike were taking the fly just sub-surface. Good pike fishing can be expected from now on as the weather changes. For guided pike angling in the Foxford area, contact Kenny Sloan on +353 (0)949256501 or +353 (0)879670310.

David Anchell, Co. Tipperary with another fine fly caught pike.

Sea Angling

Party of anglers from Longford and Athlone, displaying a sample of their catch onboard the Leah.

Donal Kennedy, skipper of the Leah, reported some good angling in Killala Bay on Friday 16th, following the rough weather of last week. A party of anglers from Longford and Athlone departed from Killala Harbour, with fresh winds from the south south east, which freshened and moved to blow from the west south west. The weather did not stop the party having a good day, with plenty of fine big mackerel caught. Early in the day a drift over sand produced 14 fine thornback ray, the best 3 were up to 10lbs. Dabs and whiting were also boated, as well as lesser spotted dogfish (20 in total) up to 2lbs. A move to rougher ground yielded pouting, pollack and coalfish, with the best pollack of the day taken by Damien Neary, Athlone, weighing approximately 8lbs.

Damien Neary, Athlone with a fine pollack caught recently on Killala Bay.