Galway Weir

Some drier weather last week resulted in a drop in water levels, with 2 gates open since last Friday. Grilse are starting to enter the fishery in greater numbers, and fishing has picked up considerably. There were 49 fish landed this week, which is the best week so far this season. Flyfishing and shrimp are the most successful methods at the moment, with spinning also taking a few fish.

Local angler Enda Scahill landed a 7lbs fish while spinning, while Dublin man Colm Adams had a nice grilse on shrimp. William Miller from Northern Ireland landed 2 grilse on spinner and shrimp, while Brian Howard fished over 2 days and landed 4 fish, including 3 grilse to 7lbs and a fine salmon of 10.5lbs, all on fly. Athenry angler Declan Tuffy landed 2 grilse on fly, as did Des Hackett and Pappy Cotter, while Donegal angler George Houston took 2 fish on shrimp. Moycullen angler John Anderson landed 3 fish on fly, including 2 sportingly released, while Northern Ireland angler Davy Hoy landed 2 grilse on fly. Gary Kilroy from Westmeath had 2 grilse to 7lbs on spinner, and Galway man Tom Power had 2 grilse on shrimp. Dave O'Reilly from Dublin landed 2 grilse on fly, while brother Declan had a fish on shrimp, and Jimmy Scotson from Monaghan landed 2 grilse on fly.

Water levels are currently ok for flyfishing at 2 gates, with grilse starting to run in better numbers all the time, and as long as we avoid a prolonged wet spell then fishing prospects in Galway are very good for the coming few weeks.

Erriff

Fishery manager Jim Stafford reports on good conditions and good fishing for the first couple of weeks in June. Several spates resulted in good fishing conditions for much of the period, and also encourage fish to run the river in good numbers. Among those to land fish were Deirdre Herbert, Dublin, who landed her first ever salmon. Deirdre was also the first lady angler to catch a salmon on the river this season - the fish weighed 6lbs 6oz and was taken on a shrimp fly in Doyle's Pool on Beat 6. William Sullivan, Boston U.S.A., also fishing the river for the first time, released a sea-liced grilse taken in the Upper Garden Pool on Beat 9.
Prolonged heavy rain resulted in a massive spate of 2.7 meters on the 8th, which rendered the river unfishable, but brought a run of both springers and grilse into the river. The following morning levels had dropped to 1.6 meters and angling conditions were good. A Yabbie was the successful fly for Dr. Eoin Bresnihan, Oughterard who caught a sparkling fresh fish of 9.25lbs in the Garden Pool on Beat 9. Mr. Robert Devriese, the Belgian ambassador to Ireland, released a grilse taken on a Hairy Mary in the Glenacally Pool at the top of Beat 5. Michael Parry, UK, on his annual visit to the lodge and fishery, had a red letter day on the Erriff catching 3 salmon in the one day - one each from the Top Square Pool and the Garden Pool on Beat 9, and another estimated at 9.5 lbs which was released in Doyle's Pool on Beat 6. A Red Shrimp Pattern produced 6 fish for the week for Selby Knox, also a regular visitor from the UK. Selby also caught 3 fish in the one day with water levels at 0.8 meters on the gauge on the 13th of the month.

Donal Chambers, Athy, Co Kildare, took a 6.75lbs fish from the Black Banks on a Cascade on the 14th. With heavy rain, water levels reached 1.8 meters on the 15th. Terence Miley, Cong, had 2 grilse from Nee's run on a Vambeck. James Keogh, Dublin, caught one of 8.75lbs on a Cascade in the Twin Rocks. Urgan Mantle, Clonbur, caught a fish of 8lbs on a Shrimp Fly in the Broken Bridge Pool on Beat 5. John Lyons, also from Clonbur, released a fish of 7lbs taken on a Cascade in the Glenacally Pool on Beat 5. John Dardis, Kildare, had a sea-liced grilse of 5lbs taken from the Bridge Pool and lost another estimated at 10lbs in the Sea Pool. A Black Shrimp fly produced a fresh run fish of 9lbs from the Garden Pool for Peter Hunt, Clonbur. The last fish of the week, a 10lbs springer, was caught in the Falls Pool on an Erriff Green & Gold.

On Monday, at the time of writing this report, another run of spring salmon and grilse could be seen coming in on the tide and showing in the Garden Pool and Falls Pool before passing up through the fish counter. The first of the sea trout run were also observed in excellent condition passing through the fish counter. With good water levels these fish will be able to reach the higher beats. The total catch for the period was 22 salmon and 10 sea trout.

There are still places available for a casting and flyfishing course for ladies, which will take place from Thursday the 5th to Sunday the 8th of July, led by qualified casting instructor mark Corps. All accommodation and meals are included, as well as tuition in all aspects of flyfishing and salmon fishing, and plenty of time on the river to practise the skills acquired. The cost for 3 nights B&B, lunch and dinner, and fishing tuition is €500 per participant. Partners can stay for €300, and may fish the river on the other beats for free. Contact Aasleagh Lodge for information and booking.

To book fishing on the Erriff or accommodation in Aasleagh Lodge, contact fishery manager Jim Stafford on 095 42252, or visit www.aasleaghlodge.ie for details. The lodge and fishery also have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AasleaghLodge.

Delphi

David McEvoy reports that good fishing has continued at Delphi, with 16 fish landed since last week. Among those to land fish was Pat Cassidy, who started salmon fishing in 2008, and finally managed to land his first ever salmon. Ten minutes later he then managed to land his second. Both fish were taken on Finlough on a Delphi Collie. The fish were both sea-liced and weighed in at 5lbs 8oz and 7lbs 8oz. Pat's fishing partner was his brother-in-law Cian Murtagh, who was a mere spectator on the day as Pat took all the glory.

Delphi regular Alan Dunlop had a fine 9lbs 1oz fish off Finlough. The fish was taken on a Silver Stoat. Thomas Ahlers had a sea-liced grilse of 4lbs 9oz from the Waterfall Pool on a Collie Dog. Chris Flanagan had a fresh grilse of approx. 2lbs 8oz from the Schoolhouse on a Collie Dog. Jim Jackson and Alan Dunlop had 1 each off Doolough weighing in at 10lbs and 6lbs respectively. Alan Dunlop had a fresh fish of 11lbs on a Collie Dog and John Somerville had one of 8lbs15ozs on a Delphi Collie, both fish taken on Finlough.
David Hewetson-Brown landed a fish off Doolough of approx. 8lbs, and Alan Dunlop had a fish off Finlough on a Collie Dog and weighing in at approx. 5lbs. Peter Eaton had 1 of 3lbs2oz on a Green Highlander. Rocky Moran managed to land a fish on the Deadman's of 6lbs 10oz on a Willie Gunn.

Garret Byrne had one off Finlough of approx. 5lbs on a Cascade, and David Dunne had one off the Rock pool of 5lbs 15.5oz on a Willie Gunn.

To book fishing or accommodation at Delphi, contact the lodge at 095 42222, or check www.delphilodge.ie

Lough Inagh

Colin Folan reports that Lough Inagh received plenty of rain last week, which brought levels well up and brought a run of salmon and sea trout into the fishery. Inagh ghillies Dara O Connor (aged 18) and Colin Folan ( aged 18 and a bit!) fished Lough Inagh on Saturday morning, and caught two 5lbs grilse on a Cascade and a Green Peter. The grilse seem to be running to the top of the lake and not stopping in the river beats. When it comes to salmon, they can be a bit like buses. Roundstone angler, Noel King has fished Connemara for 10 years without success. But Monday was Noel's day. He landed his first salmon on the fly rod at 11a.m. and the fish was estimated at 12lbs, but was released as it was a coloured hen fish. Minutes later he landed a fresh grilse of 5.5lbs. Both fish took a Green Peter.

To book fishing or accommodation at Lough Inagh Lodge, call the lodge on 095 34706, or check www.loughinaghlodgehotel.ie

Lough Corrib

Fishing activity on Lough Corrib has been very quiet recently, with pike and ferox anglers more evident on the lake than trout fly anglers. There are still some mayfly hatching off sporadically, and anglers who venture out during the day are having sport when a hatch comes off, but fishing this month is generally restricted to early morning Caenis hatches and late evening buzzer and sedge fishing.

On the pike fishing front, Tomi Kurman from the Corrib Predator Team reports that the start of June has seen some some great fishing during May for Tomi, fellow guide Jack Gorny, and their clients. Most fish are still in shallow water and are feeding well to recover after an unusually late spawning this year. They have been targeting pike on fly and jerkbaits to great success, with savage takes and hard-fighting fish. Guests landed several fish over the 1 meter mark, but their catch of the week goes to the father and son team of Wojtek and Filip Stypula, from Poland.

4-year-old Filip caught a jack pike on small jerkbait, but while he was playing the fish (with a little help from his dad) it was attacked by a real "crocodile". Filip played the two fish for a few seconds, but he landed just the smaller one with some skin taken off and some huge teeth marks! Wojtek and Filip ended up catching 6 pike, with the 3 best fish at 98cm, 104cm and 105cm.

To book fishing with one of the Predator Team guides, contact them on 085 7318541 (Tomi) or 085 7741578 (Jack), check Jack's website at www.fishingireland.pl or find Tomi on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001817618251