Angling News
Angling News - Mayo/Galway - 4 Sept 2011
By Bryan Ward
8, Sep 2011 - 08:09

Salmon Angling
River Moy

Angling on the lower Moy Fishery beats has been slow of late, with only three reported for the week. Andrew Craig, N.Ireland, had two on worm while Michael Francey, N.Ireland, had a grilse on the fly. Those fisheries above the Salmon Weirs did fair somewhat better, with the Ballina Salmon Anglers' water producing 40, and Mount Falcon just over 40, including 12 over two days for the Mark Geesink party of three from the Netherlands.

The Knockmore water, Attymass and Coolcronan all produced fish, including a grilse of 5lbs for Philip Thomas, U.K. on a spinner. Byrne's experienced a relatively good week, with over 20 caught, including a fine 10lbs salmon on worm for eleven year old Owen Jackson. At Armstrong's, over 15 were reported, including one for Bernadette Johnson, Co. Dublin, of 7lbs.

Gannon's and the Foxford Fishery both had almost 30 salmon each, at the Foxford Fishery Sean Sheehan, Co. Louth, had three to fly. Rinanney also had a good week, with almost 40, including a 7lbs fish for Liam Dowd, Navan.

The Cloongee Fishery produced over 5 salmon, including a grilse for Uluik Overgaard, Denmark, and one for Gary McNamara, Co. Offaly. On the East Mayo Anglers water 23 salmon were caught, with 12 released. Ronnie McMorris, Co. Donegal, had two to the fly of 6lbs and 8lbs. Mastan Trono Moreno, Italy, also had two (on worm) while Georg Gisselmann, Germany, had a fine salmon of 9lbs to fly.

Anglers are reminded that from September 1st, the bag limit for salmon or sea trout over 40cm is now one per day, and that anglers must revert to recognised catch and release methods once one fish is retained. Anglers are also reminded that the River Deel is closed for all angling as of the 1st September and will reopen on 1st June 2012.

Owenmore River
Despite low water conditions at the beginning of the week, reports from the Owenmore have described the fishing of late as excellent, with 40 salmon reported, 18 of which were returned. Brothers Stephen and Brendan Corr had success with a grilse each, while John Maughan had two of 5lbs and 6lbs. The Levin party, from Lancashire, England, enjoyed their week, landing 6 salmon. Both Michael Noone and Matthias Muhl had two grilse each, while Jack Smith; Pat Glennon and Cathal Gallagher had one each.

ESB club members Mark Tolan and Hannes Malan both had their first ever salmon to the fly, while Damien Downey and John Egan both had grilse. Gerry Coyle also had success with two salmon, including one nice fish of 11lbs.

Newport River
The Newport River experienced a relatively good week for the time of year, with seven salmon reported. Eamon Kennedy, Newport, had three, one of 7lbs and two of 6lbs, while Graham Wright, also Newport, had success on the Garry Dog with two, one weighing 4.5lbs the other 5.5lbs. David Nevin also had two grilse.

Burrishoole Fishery

The fishery produced four wild salmon for the week, all of which were released. Co. Dublin angler Tommy McGowan had his first ever salmon, a grilse of 4lbs, while Stephen Bird, N. Ireland landed one of 5lbs. Michael Reid, U.K., accounted for two grilse.

Trout Angling

Loughs Conn and Cullin
Despite the unfavorable conditions of late with rain and gusty winds, there have been good hatches of olives in the sheltered bays, particularly in northern Lough Conn. Angling out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Co. Cork pair Sean Murphy and John Finn had four trout for their day, their best weighed 1.5lbs and was caught on a Golden Olive Bumble. David Conaghan, Co. Derry, had three trout (heaviest 2lbs) and a 7lbs salmon while fishing the Claret Dabbler over two days. David Duggan and Harry Byrne, Belfast, also had trout to 2lbs while fishing the Connemara Black.

Angling from Murphy's of Massbrooke, Patrick Mangan, Co. Offaly had one trout of 1.5lbs while regular visitors Mick Sweeney and Liam McHugh, Loughrea had three small trout. Anthony Gallagher, London and nephew John enjoyed good sport in the Coleman's Shallows area, with Anthony boating a 4lbs trout to a Teal, Blue & Silver, and John capturing a 3lbs grilse on the Connemara Black.

In the Crossmolina area of L.Conn, Gary Crossley and Ian Wise had 4 trout to the boat for an evening's fishing. Bobby Cording, Dublin, had a 2lbs trout near Massbrooke Point, Peter Roach had two trout for 2lbs while Sean Creane had one of 2lbs to a dry Wulff.

On Lough Cullin, Jim O'Sullivan and son Declan, Co. Dublin, had three trout on sedge patterns, their best weighing 1lbs.

The Foxford Anglers recently held the annual Chris Downey Memorial Cup competition on Lough Conn, with 22 anglers participating. First place was won by Joe Ferguson, Knockmore, second went to Joe Quinn, Cloghans, and in third was Michael Monaghan, Knockmore.

Murphy's Bar and Boat Hire are hosting a competition on Conn on Saturday 24th September. Registration is at Browns Bay from 9.30am with angling commencing from 11.00am. First prize for this competition is €500.

Ballin Lough

A total of 25 rods fished the lough for the week, accounting for 28 rainbow trout (13 of which were released). Pat Murphy, Co. Galway, boated four trout, his best weighing 3.5lbs. John Freestone, Crossmolina, had 5 to the boat while Emmet Stagg, Co. Dublin, had three.

Sea Angling

The final league of the Pat O'Hara Cup competition was held on Saturday 3rd September in Killala Bay, to determine the makeup of the Connaught team. This competition was run alongside the first ever John Kinheart Cup event, held in memory of the late John Kinheart, well know skipper in Killala Bay. The anglers participating enjoyed good sport throughout the day, with a total of 15 species boated including megrim, scad, three species of ray, three species of gurnard, pollack, ling, turbot, plaice, dabs, dogfish, coal fish and pouting. Winning on the day and in the overall league, to claim both cups was Josie Barrett, Killala Bay SAC, with 12 species. In second place was Shane Gilvarry, also with 12 species, third place went to Kevin Walsh, in fourth was Geariod O'Scolai and fifth was John Munnelly.

Rudy van Duijnhoven, angling journalist, Holland, with a fine fly caught Pollack off the Innishkea Islands.

Dutch angling journalists Rudy van Duijnhoven and Jos van der Wouw enjoyed great saltwater flyfishing during the week. The two keen fly anglers fished various shore marks on the Mullet Peninsula and around Portacloy catching Pollack up to 7 lbs. However, the highlight of their trip was flyfishing offshore out of Blacksod with Sean Lavelle, skipper of the Doloree. Sean can be contacted at www.fishwestireland.com. Rudy and Jos were using 9 - 11 weight rods with fast sinking lines. The most productive area was south of the Innishkea Islands where over 50 Pollack could not resist their Clouser patterns.