Western Lakes

The season opened on Wednesday the 15th, a cold, breezy day, but considerably warmer than it was earlier in the winter, when most of the lake was frozen solid. Action on opening day was slow, with most anglers heading out heavy laden with kettles and pans for the traditional long lunch on an island, more concerned with food than serious fishing.
The best return on the 15th around Oughterard was by John and Frank Butler, from Roscahill, who had 3 trout for 8.5lbs to win the Langan Cup. Phil Donaghy and Pat McDonagh were 2nd with 1 trout for 3.5lbs. Sport picked up towards the weekend here, with Gerry Molloy from Glann, Oughterard, landing 4 trout for approx. 12lbs. The fish were in excellent condition. Fishing guide Patrick Molloy and Darren Higgins landed 3 trout for about 14lbs, including a fish of 8.5lbs. All fish were taken trolling, with very little to report from fly anglers so far.

Over on the Cornamona-Greenfields side of the lough, 10 rods reported 14 trout in 41 rod-days, most taken on the troll. Miko Keane had a bumper opening day, landing 4 trout for 7.25lbs. Peter Curran also had 2 trout for 3.75lbs. At the weekend, Sean Dixon and David Egan from Greenfields had 2 fish for 3.5lbs. They also released 6 undersize fish. Anglers also hooked and released 10 salmon kelts. These fish are currently migrating back to sea, and anglers should take great care to land and release kelts as quickly as possible, to give them the greatest chance of survival.
Thanks to John Wash, Frank Reilly and Tom Kelly for the Corrib reports.

On Lough Mask, the 15th was bitterly cold and damp and few boats were seen on the lake. Any anglers seen departing from Cushlough seemed to be well armed with Kelly kettles, Jameson and pots of stew. Sean Maloney, Ballinrobe, and Eugene Fagan from Dublin fished wet fly on opening day for 1 fish of 1.25lbs. Two anglers from the midlands out from Halls Angling Centre had 5 fish trolling on the first day which were all very thin and in poor condition. Shore fishing from the Tourmakeady shore was very productive all week with fish of up to 4lbs being reported on worms. Conditions were perfect this year for this form of angling with the high water levels and a rise in air temperature.

Thanks to Ronan Cusack from Cushlough for the Mask report.