River Moy

The final week of this year's salmon fishing season has arrived and the penultimate week proved a productive one on the River Moy. There was an increase in angling effort as many anglers travelled to the area for their ‘last cast' of the season. A total of 326 salmon were reported, with some fisheries recording up to 50 fish for the week. A significant number of these fish were safely released.

The Ridge Pool yielded six salmon, with Paul Christie, Scotland, landing one on the fly and releasing a sea trout of 2lbs. Graham Childerley, U.K. also landed one with the fly, with Raul Lobo Garcia, Spain, capturing two grilse with the spinner on the Ridge. The Ballina Salmon anglers' water fished relatively well, while Mount Falcon and the Knockmore water produced very good numbers, with 41 fish being returned on the Mount Falcon Fishery.

At Coolcronan, Ken Wright, U.K. was among those to enjoy success, landing one of 4lbs to the worm and a 5lbs fish on the spinner over two days. Armstrong's and Gannon's fisheries also had a good week, reporting good numbers of fish, mirroring the increased angling effort.

Both the Foxford Fishery and Rinanney reported good numbers of fish, with Phil Whitehead, U.K. landing a fine12lbs salmon at the Foxford Fishery and Belgian angler Eric Stalmans, capturing one of 11lbs on prawn at Rinanney. Some fly anglers enjoyed great sport on the East Mayo Anglers' water, where Danny Knowles, Co. Dublin, had five grilse, Jean Lensi, France, landed one of 10lbs and Billy McGhee, Ballyvary, had two fine fish of 12lbs and 18lbs. In total 25 salmon were released on the East Mayo Anglers' water throughout the week.

Lough Conn
The Lodge Cup competition was hosted on Saturday past on Lough Conn and with conditions very challenging, relatively few fish were caught. Bill Coughlin won first place, Seamus Kelly took second, Micky Kelly third and Gary Binley fourth.

Fishing out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Patrick O'Sullivan and Brian Moran, Boston U.S.A. had three trout for 3lbs, while Jaques Refines and Jon Penet, France, boated two trout for 3lbs, taken on Green Peters. Also fishing out of Pontoon were Michelle Leidi and family, who had four trout and two perch, with Mr B. Bernard, Switzerland, recording four trout for two days.

Elsewhere on the lake, Stephen Browne, Cloghans, reported one trout of 1.75lbs and out of Murphy Boat Hire, Massbrook, John Lynn, Co. Offaly, and Joe King, Co. Laois, had five trout to Claret Dabblers.

Sea Angling

Anglers on board the Leah.

Killala Bay
Donal Kennedy, skipper of the ‘Leah' reported on a recent fishing trip on Killala Bay, on Saturday 22nd September with a party of anglers from Drogheda and Dundalk. Weather conditions were fine with south easterly winds, which were moderate at first but freshened later in the day. On the first drift they hooked numerous large mackerel then fishing the bottom they boated a number of nice flounder along with tub and grey gurnard. The second drift produced plenty of L.S.D.'s and poor cod but unfortunately for the party, no ray. Travelling further out the bay, drifting in 40 to 50m they landed some nice ling, the best weighing approximately 7 lbs. Pouting were also present in good numbers. Around 30 pollock were caught, the best up to 7lbs and also some nice coalfish.

Delphi

D. Mc Evoy of Delphi Lodge reports that the salmon have become a little more co-operative with 11 fish landed since the 15th. On the other hand, the sea trout have been proving difficult to tempt of late. Edward Westropp got last week off to a quick start with a fish off Doolough on Sunday morning of approximately 2.5lbs, taken on a Willie Gunn.

Jack Browne, Co. Dublin, made it onto the record sheet again, with three fish landed. His first was on Sunday afternoon off Finlough, an 8lbs 12oz salmon taken on a Delphi Collie. His second was taken on Tuesday off Finlough weighing 4lbs3ozs, on a Silver Stoat, finally his third on Friday, again off Finlough was 5lbs10ozs, again falling to the Delphi Collie.

Paul Sims landed two fish, both from Finlough and both taken on the Willie Gunn. They weighed in at 3lbs11.5oz and 4lbs1oz respectively.

Messrs Corps and Shortt did rather well on Sunday past with five fish off the Turn pool. Mark Corps had four, one of 5lbs10oz on a weighted Prawn fly, one of 5.5lbs again on the Prawn fly, one of 9lbs on a Tara and finally the fourth also of 5.5lbs on a Prawn fly.

Mike Shortt had one of 9lbs1oz from the Turn Pool on a beaded nymph, which turned out to be a milestone catch, as he recorded his 100th salmon at Delphi, joining the elite group that now numbers thirteen members. Congratulations to Mike on his achievement.

Sea trout fishing has been somewhat disappointing, with only 20 landed since the 15th of September.

Kylemore

Fishery manager Nigel Rush reports a slight improvement on the previous week with four fish landed. Phillip Johnson, visiting from England landed a 3.5lbs fish from the Rock Pool, Denis McMuray had a 5lbs Rock Pool grilse.

Nigel caught a 3.5lb grilse also from the Rock Pool with Val Flynn landing a 4lbs fresh run grilse from the Lower Rivers Lunch Pool.

Seamus O'Neil, a Kylemore regular started the final week rolling with three fresh fish from the Lower River on Sunday, it appears that the rain at the beginning of last week did in fact assist a run of late grilse. This brings the seasons total to 129 salmon to date. Twenty three sea trout over the past week adds to the seasons catch, which now stands at 254, reflective of the poor conditions on the lake and a relative downturn in lake angler numbers.

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.

Sea Angling

Conor Mountaine, chairman of the Galway Buccaneers Sea Angling Club reported on the sixth and final competition of their Boat Master Angler Series sponsored by Galway Bay Fishing, which was held recently. Conor wishes to offer his congratulations to Steve Turner on winning the day. With the weather forecast predicting fresh westerly winds it was up to skipper Kevin MacGabhann to produce the goods and yet again he delivered. Fishing out of Rossaveal, the angling was good from the start with plenty of different species coming to the boat. Steve was picking off species after species and clocking up the points, followed closely by Declan Horan who was also chalking up a good number of species and was just beaten to take second place on the day.

The overall winner of the inaugural Galway Buccaneers SAC Boat Master Angler Series was the young man from Achill, Danny Sweeney. Danny fished very well throughout the series winning three days outright and his commitment and dedication was there for all to see as he fished hard and was a most deserving winner. From all your fellow club members a hearty congratulations on becoming the Galway Buccaneers S.A.C. Boat Master Angler for 2012.

A big thank you has to go to our skipper Kevin MacGabhann and his crew for looking after us during the year. He always had a plan of action for each day and was not afraid to burn some diesel to ensure "you're on the fish" and on top of all that he sponsored our Master Angler Series for which we are all much obliged.

Welsh and Irish Ministers check out Celtic Sea Trout Project

(Suzanne Campion)

Sea trout were top of the agenda at a recent meeting between Minister Alun Davies from Wales and Minister Fergus O'Dowd held in Dail Eireann, Dublin. Both ministers were briefed about progress with the INTERREG IVa Ireland-Wales funded Celtic Sea Trout Project which finishes in 2013.

Sea trout are present in most coastal rivers discharging into the Irish Sea and their status in freshwater and in the marine environment in the Irish Sea is central to the project. By providing detailed information about the status of sea trout stocks, their genetics and their varied life histories the project aims to enhance the fisheries for the benefit of all stakeholders. Strengthening the contribution of sea trout to rural economies, to general quality of life and well-being, to national biodiversity are also important project aims. Sea trout life history variation may also contribute to understanding the effects of climate change.

For sustainable management the Celtic Sea Trout Project team is working on developing a number of management tools which will assist fisheries managers to assess fishery performance and better manage this valuable species. The requirement to manage sea trout sustainably across the Ireland-Wales interface (i.e. the Irish Sea) was strongly emphasised to both Ministers.

Both Ministers heard that angler engagement across the project has been important to provide sea trout scale samples and that the project has served to increase awareness of the value of this excellent angling species.

Minister Davies, who is Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes, was also briefed about the role and broad responsibilities of Inland Fisheries Ireland.