Connemara
The good salmon angling just goes on and on in Connemara this year, with fantastic fishing reported from the Erriff, where 79 salmon were landed for the week, as well as good fishing from Kylemore

Erriff
Fishery manager Jim Stafford reports from the River Erriff on fishing up to Saturday last:
Water levels on the Erriff were extremely high at the start of the week, with a spate of 2.5 metres recorded at Aasleagh Gauge on Sunday the 11th. The river was unfishable and levels had dropped marginally to just 2.2 metres on Monday. After dinner on Monday saw the first anglers throw a line. Levels dropped to perfect conditions for fly fishing and maintained so throughout the week averaging 1.4 to 1.6 metres. In total 79 salmon were caught for the week with 20 of those caught on Saturday the 17th. There were 19 sea trout also caught for the week.

A number of anglers caught their first salmon ever on the Erriff this week, including Alberto Gavigan who caught a fresh grilse on the Falls Pool, Beat 9 to a shrimp pattern fly. On 18th September Sean Hayde, England caught his first salmon to an Erriff pattern on Beat 8 which weighed 4 lbs. Mr. Bernard Vedrines caught his first salmon on 15th September at the Black Banks on Beat 6 which weighed just under 4 lbs. Marc Parinot, France caught his first salmon on the 12th September on Beat 4 which weighed 5 lbs.

The Muckian and Duffy party from Dundalk, Co. Louth had 10 salmon for 3 days angling during the week. The Winthrop party from France caught 7 salmon for 5 days angling while at Erriff Fishery, best fish weighing 12 lbs. The Chambers party had a very successful weeks angling with 22 salmon caught ranging from 4 to 7 lbs. Most of these salmon were released alive. The level of catch and release on the Erriff has become more popular of late with anglers more interested in conservation of salmon stocks.

The Lynas party from Northern Ireland had 9 salmon for just 1 day's angling, the heaviest fish being 11lbs, likewise all fish were released. Enda Kenny and his father Pat from Enfield had 10 salmon between them for 2 days angling, heaviest fish weighing 9 lbs caught at the Quarry Pool on Beat 2. Most of the salmon were released. Mr. F Hompesch from Germany caught 3 salmon on Munroe Killer and Kylie Shrimp for 6 days angling. Another fine example of catch and release angling was displayed by Galway man Neil Spellacy who caught 4 salmon at the Tawnyard Pots Beat 3 on an Allys Shrimp and released all fish alive. Tom Gillen from Ballymena had four fish for three days over the weekend all released with the best fish 7.5lbs on a shrimp fly in the Coronation pool.

Local Erriff Anglers fished Beats 9 and 2 on Sunday 18th with a water level of 1.7 metres. Michael Coyne, Leenane landed 1 salmon just under 5 lbs to an Ally's Shrimp on Beat 9.

The river is, to put it mildly, fishing its head off at the moment, and with frequent rainfall water levels are perfect for the fly. Fishing could be really good over the last 10 days of the season, so book a rod now if you can!

To book fishing or accommodation, contact Jim at Aasleagh Lodge on 095 42252, or email erriff.fish@iol.ie


Kylemore Abbey
Nigel Rush reports from Kylemore on good fishing, with 132 salmon landed for the season, almost up to last year's total of 137, despite much lower fishing effort. Geoffrey Fitzjohn had a good day on Sunday, landing 5 fish including 2 from the Middle River and 3 from the Lower River. 4 fish were landed on Saturday, including one for Denis McMurry, and 2 for Nigel himself. Michael Blake had success with one fish at 8.5lbs from Adam's Pool on the Upper River, and angling partner Russell Whiteman landed one of 4lbs from Bog Dale also on the Upper River.

To book fishing at Kylemore Abbey, contact Nigel at 095 41178 (fishery office) or 095 41161 (home).


Gowla/Athry
The Connaught Angling Council in conjunction with the Zetland Hotel held the TAFI Interprovincial Lake Championships on the Gowla and Athry Fisheries last Saturday. It was a great success, with 30 anglers participating representing the 4 provinces of Ireland. Anglers travelled from as far as Warrenpoint, Co. Antrim, Kerry, Cork and Donegal. The competition was held on a catch-and-release basis with 80 trout caught for the day.

Kenneth Cormican from Loughrea Anglers won the individual event and also the longest trout, a fine specimen of 50cm. The team event was closely contested by Connaught and Munster, with Munster taking the prize in the end. The Connaught Angling Council would like to thank everyone who travelled and participated including Mr. Colm Redmond and all his staff at the Zetland Country House Hotel.

My thanks to Sean Finnerty, PRO of the Connaught Angling Council for the report.

Western Lakes
The season is coming to an end on Lough Corrib, where fishing has been reasonably good lately. I just have reports from a few local competitions fished on the lake over the weekend. The Ennis Anglers held a competition out of Greenfields, with local guide Basil Shiels taking first place with a catch of 4 trout for 6.25lbs. Second place went to Ger Colohan and another angler whose name I haven't received, with one fish for 1.5lbs each.

The Martin Molloy Cup was held out of Derrymoyle, with 27 anglers recording 12 trout over the size limit. Tim Molloy took first prize, with 2 trout for 1.55kg. Peter Curran was 2nd, with 1 trout for 1.02kg, and Gerry Dixon was 3rd, with 1 trout for 1.008kg.

The McGrath Cup, a team event, was won by Harold O'Toole and Stephen Greaney, with 7 trout for 8.25lbs, while Pat and Mike McGrath took second place with 4 trout for 4.8lbs. 50 anglers competed and landed 32 trout over the limit.
The only other report I have is from Sean Naughton from Tuam, who landed a fine trout of 7.5lbs on the troll.

High winds today will put many anglers off the lake, but winds are due to moderate over the next few days and fishing should be good over the last week or so of the season. At this time of year many trout are getting ready to spawn, so please exercise restraint and don't take gravid fish - releasing fish now will pay off with better fishing in the years to come.

Clare River
The Connaught Angling Council in conjunction with the Tuam Anglers Association held the TAFI Interprovincial River Championships on the Clare River last Sunday. Anglers participated from the four provinces of Ireland with people travelling from Warrenpoint, Cork, Kerry and the midlands. The competition was held on a catch-and-release basis with 22 trout caught for 26 anglers. Conditions could only be described as challenging with high water levels.

Ian Howard from Munster won the individual event and the team prize was contested between Leinster and Munster, with Leinster taking pole position. The Connaught Angling Council would like to thank everyone who helped with the event including the staff and management of the Ard Rí Hotel. My thanks to Sean Finnerty, PRO of the Connaught Angling Council for the report.

Sea Angling

The high winds of the last 10 days have made boat angling next to impossible, and many charter boats are confined to harbour at the moment. Shore angling is going well, however, and Shane Rochford from Collooney, Co. Sligo managed a fantastic catch over the weekend, landing a bull huss of 20lbs from a mark in Clew Bay. I also have reliable reports of good bass fishing on lures from the north Clare area. If the weather settles down at all I would expect to hear good reports from charter boat anglers, as this time of year is very productive if you can get out at all.