Angling News
Angling News - WRBD Ballina - 30 Sep 2013
By Bryan Ward
5, Oct 2013 - 09:59

Another salmon season has closed in the region, with some fisheries closing the season on a very quiet note, others enjoyed good sport right up to the final day. I will be bringing you an end of season round-up from each fishery in coming weeks, but would like to take this opportunity to thank all our regular, and occasional contributors, for their reports, information and images throughout the season, with out whom these weekly reports would not be possible. Many thanks to all who have contributed.

Salmon Angling
River Moy
Yet another salmon angling season has drawn to a close on the River Moy and although final figures are yet to be confirmed, the reported catch for the system to date is well over 7000 salmon for the season. The Moy produced over 300 for the final eight days of the season (including Monday 30th), with catches reported from almost all fisheries on the river. The Moy Fishery had just two for the final week, one from the Ridge and one from the Freshwater beat, with the Ballina Salmon Anglers' water reporting 42, 19 of those released. Mount Falcon also had good sport over the final week, with 58 salmon recorded, 55 of those released. The Knockmore waters also had just over 50 salmon, with the other mid-river fisheries also reporting reasonable catches for so late in the season.
At Foxford, the Foxford Fishery had 9 and anglers enjoyed good sport at Rinanney where 38 were recorded. There were 10 caught at Cloongee, 6 of those released, and at East Mayo, 25 of the 37 salmon caught were released.
Anglers are reminded that they are required by law to return all completed Anglers' Log Books (even where there is no catch recorded), as well as any unused tags to Inland Fisheries Ireland before the 19th October 2013, using the business reply envelope issues with the Anglers' Log Book.

Trout Angling
Lough Arrow
The end of year competition hosted by Lough Arrow Fish Preservation and District Angling Association raised an impressive €1051 for the North West Hospice. In total 35 anglers participated, with nine fish caught. The Juvenile winner, who also received the award for Juvenile Angler of the Year, was Killian Walsh, who landed a trout of 1.55lbs on the day. In the senior section, Joe Sharry took first place with one of 4.096lbs, Thomas Walsh was second with his catch weighing 3.082lbs while Francie White was third, with his catch weighing 2.040lbs. Karl Murrin was 4th, Frank Stenson 5th and Philip Candon 6th. Karl Murrin took the coveted Angler of the Year award.

Sea Angling
Killala Bay
Skipper of the Leah, Donal Kennedy reported on a recent trip on Killala Bay which produced just a few surprises! On Sunday, 29th September 2013 a party of anglers from Co. Sligo and Belfast set out from Killala Harbour. The morning was bright with some clear sunshine, with the wind from the east and moderate. At first we drifted out in the middle of the bay to catch some fresh mackerel, which were slow to find at first, but during the second drift the group came upon a good shoal and landed plenty for fresh bait.

The next drift produced some small pollock, pouting and small coalfish which were all returned.
We then moved out to deeper water as the winds turned east to north east, producing sloppy waves. The fishing was slow but steady, with some patches of quiet moments but this did not deter the anglers. A number of drifts produced some fine fish including cod, pollock (the best weighing 7lbs) and some cracking ling, the best up to 10lbs.

Mike Roulston, Co. Sligo and his excellent bull huss of 20lbs which was safely released after this image was taken.

As the day moved on the group were surprised to catch some fine spurdogs, the best weighting in at 10lbs. The wind never went around the South East as forecast, and as anglers would say from time to time in reference to the winds, ‘east is least'. As with another saying, the best is always kept till last, Mike Roulston a keen angler from Easkey Co. Sligo proved this point when he hooked into a strong fighting fish. After a number minutes, he landed a beautiful bull huss weighting 20lbs, just 3lbs short of the current Irish record. Congratulations to Mike on his catch, who, after a quick photo removed the hook and sportingly returned the fish.