Salmon Angling
For the second time in three years, Ballina native Martin Conroy has hooked and landed the first fresh run salmon of the season on the Moy system. This is the earliest date the ‘first fish' has been reported for a long number of years. The fish was caught today at approximately 9.30am just upstream of the newly refurbished Salmon Weirs, in the Ballina Salmon Anglers water. The salmon is surprisingly small for the time of year; at approximately 3lbs. Inland Fisheries Ireland staff have collected scale samples to ascertain the age of the fish, as it does not appear to be a multi-sea winter/spring salmon. Salmon anglers are reminded to be vigilant over the coming weeks when angling, as there are large numbers of kelts present in many systems.

Trout Angling
Lough Conn

Over the past week a few anglers have ventured out on Lough Conn, with limited success. However, with increasing temperature forecast for the coming days, angling opportunities should improve as should catch reports!

Lough na Leibe
Ballymote and District Angling Club have reported a very productive week on Lough na Leibe. An increase in temperature, combined with water levels dropping close to normal level, has seen a substantial increase in invertebrate and fish activity. Almost 200 trout were landed over the past week, with all but a few returned. The increased temperature towards the end of the week saw the first small hatches of insects, witnessed by anglers on the lough. These included small duck-fly, brown and dark olive buzzers and small lake olives. This brought a considerable number of fish close to the surface of the water. Some club anglers had great sport, with Vice Chairman Bernard McDermott recording over 40 trout for two days fishing. Other Club members including Dave Cadman, Francis Brady and Martin Lawrence recorded catches well into double figures. Many other Club anglers also enjoyed great sport over the week, too many to name. If you have a catch to report please e-mail it to the Club email address available on the Club website www.ballymoteangling.com. Successful fly patterns included the Sooty Olive nymph, Duckfly emerger, Pheasant Tail nymph and various lure patterns such as the Nomad, Orange Blob, the Booby in various colours and the Woolly Bugger.