Angling News
Angling News - Mayo/Galway 5 Sep 2012
By Kevin Crowley
9, Sep 2012 - 10:21

Erriff
Fishery manager Jim Stafford reports that last week featured prolonged periods of heavy rain and downpours, and water levels in the river changed continually throughout the week. With an almost continuous flush of fresh water the clarity of the water remained remarkably clean. Sea-liced grilse in addition to fish which were holding up on Beat 9 were observed passing through the fish counter at Aasleagh Falls.

Charles Cooper, Markree Castle, caught and released 2 grilse - best 6lbs, and 1 sea trout - all fish were taken on a Garry Dog and a Cascade in Mike's Pool on Beat 3 and in Poleen on Beat 4. Mike Denny (UK) released a 2lbs sea trout caught in the Tawnyard Potholes on a Muddler. Filips and Barbara Hanysz (UK), fishing the Erriff for the first time, caught 2 sea trout on Yellow Banks.

Jim Wilson, fishery manager at Mount Falcon, released a grilse of 6 lbs and a good sea trout of 2 lbs taken on a Willie Gunn and Gold Shrimp in the Tawnyard Potholes. John Nevin (Scotland) caught one in the Garden Pool on Beat 9.

Ulick Cronin's Party from Cork fished for 3 days and caught 17 salmon and several sea trout - top rod was David Forde with 7 fish, including 4 from Jenkins's Pool on Beat 5, all taken on a Cascade in the one day. Dan Hinds, Cork caught 2 on Beat 7 on a Shrimp Fly. Sean Mannion caught 4 including 9lbs fish from Jenkins on Beat 5. Mick Kellegher caught one on a Cascade. Fishing the Erriff for the first time Colman Counihan and Paul McCabe, Cork, caught one each on Deadman's on Beat 2 and Coronation Pool on Beat 8.

Higher up on the river on Beat 1 Neil Spellacy, Moycullen, fishing in a gale force wind hooked and lost 2 salmon, and rose several more. He also released 2 good sea trout in the 2lbs mark.

Tawnyard Lough was not fished during the week but it is well worth a visit during the coming weeks.

The total catch for the week was 23 salmon of which 17 were sportingly released and some 18 Sea Trout.

To book fishing or accommodation during the last weeks of the season, contact Aasleagh Lodge at 095 42252, or check the website at www.aasleaghlodge.ie

Delphi
Fishery manager David McEvoy reports that salmon fishing has continued of late as it did for most of August - slow - with only 4 salmon landed in the last week. Delphi regular Hugh Brennan had a 6lbs 4oz fish off Finlough on a Green Highlander on the 24th. Terry Mulligan had one the next day of 3lbs 10oz, also off Fin and also on a Green Highlander.

Tim Sharpe from the US, who was in Ireland for the Notre Dame vs Navy game, managed to land his first ever salmon on the 28th. It was a sea-liced fish of 6lbs and took a Delphi Collie in the Holly pool.

Finally John Monaghan had a sea liced fish from the Meadow pool of approx. 5lbs on a Black Pennell.

The sea trout fishing on the other hand has been encouraging but difficult at times. Anglers over the last week of August landed 107 sea trout. Among the more successful anglers were Brendan Keenan and John McManus who had 25 for their week. Tom and Shirley Morrison, who are the most renowned sea trout couple in Delphi, managed 45 sea trout for their stay.

I would be hopeful that sea trout fishing will improve when and if we get some settled weather, so for those sea trout heads out there, please feel free to contact us.

To book fishing or accommodation, contact Delphi Lodge at 095 42222, or check their website at www.delphilodge.ie

Kylemore
Fishery manager Nigel Rush reports that sea trout fishing has picked up "big time" with 43 fish released for a mere 8 rod-days to the lake anglers. Hopefully, September of 2011 will repeat itself this year.

Salmon fishing, on the other hand, was slow, with another hard week that was narrowly saved by Colin Lynham and Jim Dix who both secured grilse on Friday. Colin landed one fish of 3.5lbs from the Lunch Pool and Jim Dix one of 5.5lbs from the Castle Lake. Had it not been for these 2 fish, we would have had the first blank week since the salmon catching season started.

To book fishing at Kylemore Abbey, contact Nigel on 095 41178, or mobile 087 9580702, and for latest news check the website at www.kylemorefishery.ie

Lough Mask
Ronan Cusack reports that angling remained difficult on Mask again this week despite reasonable conditions and good fly hatches being reported from all around the lake.

The Carra/Mask Water Protection Group held their annual catch-and-release fund raising competition on Saturday last. This event is organised by Peter Byrne of Castlebar Anglers and is fished to the old 12-inch limit, with all fish being released. 35 anglers took part on the day and 38 trout were recorded, with 18 exceeding the 13-inch limit.

The winner on the day was Tommy Carroll (Castlebar), with 7 trout for 278cm. in second place was Frank Reilly with 5 fish for 176cm, and third place went to Peter Byrne, with 3 fish for 95cm.

14 anglers from the Garrykennedy Angling Club had a day on Mask on Sunday last and they had 3 fish in bright conditions for the day. Padraig Kerrigan (Cornamona) fished for an evening with Ronan Cusack this week and they had 3 fish (best fish 1.5 lbs, all released).

Stella Harte and her daughter Orla from Dublin spent a day dapping grasshoppers with Kevin Sheridan on Wednesday and they had 1 trout for 2 lbs. Kevin fished dries in Ballahalla for most of the week and had a total of 7 keepers (best fish 2lbs, all released).

Castlebar Anglers held a club competition on Sunday last on Lough Carra. 20 anglers weighed in three fish after a tough day. First place went to Ray Broughton from Moorehall with 2 fish for 3.10 lbs. Second place went to John Deacy, Castlebar, with 1 fish for 1.68 lbs.