Opening Week on Lough Corrib

After a mild winter, trout anglers returned to Lough Corrib last week, optimistic of a good angling season ahead. The lack of snow and ice this year led to expectations of good early fishing, and there were certainly fish feeding, rewarding anglers who ventured out during the opening week.

Jack Gorny with 90cm 17lb 6oz ferox.

In the Greenfields area, a number of anglers reported trout on the fly, including Frank Reilly, who had 2 good trout averaging 2lbs on wetfly patterns. Peter Byrne from Castlebar also had 2 trout for about 2.5lbs, both returned, while Gerry Feeney from Athlone landed a trout of 1.25lbs on fly. Paul Dignam from Ennis also reported a good trout of 2lbs on fly.

In the Dooras-Cornamona area, about 12 boats were out on opening day, mostly trolling, and fly anglers here had less success. Peter Curran from Cornamona had 2 trout trolling for 3.25lbs. Jimmy Molloy from Cong and his son landed 5 trout on the troll, and Padraic Kerrigan caught and released 2 fish for 3.5lbs, also on the troll. Stephen Burns from Cornamona caught and released a 2.5lbs fish while trolling, and Tom Ormond from Meath landed 2 trout on the fly, both returned alive. Over the weekend Peter Curran landed another 2 trout for 3lbs while trolling, and Mike Shanks took his first trout of the season, a nice fish of 1.5lbs caught on a fly of his own tying aka the Shaggy B****d!

Tomi Kurman with 83cm 17lbs ferox.

On the Oughterard side, Donal Connolly from Nonaim Lodge was on the lakefor opening day with Roger Thompson, who landed one trout on the fly. Harold and Kenny O'Toole from Galway trolled for 2 days and landed 10 trout for approx. 15lbs, best fish was 3lbs. Mark McGauley landed 4 fish over 2 days trolling, best fish 8lbs, and Seamus Kelly landed 3 fish for his day out, including a fine trout of 10lbs. Gareth Molloy landed 3 trout for 5lbs for a day trolling also. Aidan and James Kelly fished the fly on Friday and landed 7 good trout, releasing 3, and Ger Feeney from Headford landed 3 trout on the fly for 5lbs.

The Corrib Predator Team guides were back in ferox action over the weekend and landed a number of big ferox trout, including 8 fish between 50 and 90cm. The 90cm fish was caught by angling guide Jacek Gorny weighed 17lbs 6oz having probably spawned this winter, and like the rest of their catch was released again to put on more weight. Tomi Kurman also had a fish of 83cm which weighed 17lbs, and their guest on Sunday landed a trout of 84.5cm which weighed 16lbs 3oz - a personal best for him. Such is the quality of the ferox fishing on Corrib that neither of the big fish were personal bests for Tomi or Jacek! To book a day fishing with the guys, contact Tomi on 085 731 85 41 or Jacek on 085 774 15 78, check out www.fishingireland.pl or search for the Corrib Predator Team on Facebook.

Anglers are advised that Inland Fisheries Ireland will be commencing a fish stock survey on Lough Corrib on Monday 27th February. This is the first major survey of trout stocks in the lake since 1996, and involves the use of gillnets to capture fish. Trout that are still alive will be measured, recorded and released alive again, while some fish will be killed and full details recorded, including stomach analysis. The survey will give a good overview of the health of fish stocks in the lake, and will further increase our knowledge of the genetic pool of trout in the lake. This helps identify which are the most important spawning tributaries, and improves our understanding of the ecology of the lake.

All nets will be clearly marked with brightly coloured buoys with IFI SURVEY printed on them. While all nets are set on the bottom and only fish the lowest 2 metres of the water column, those set in shallow areas may be close to the surface. Anglers and other lake users are asked to keep an eye out for marked nets and to avoid them if possible.

Conor Sean Cusack 5-5lbs release.

Lough Mask Opens with Good Fishing

Ronan Cusack reports that Mask got off to a flying start to the new season

Water levels are still fairly high but this did not discourage plenty of anglers from venturing out. Conditions on Wednesday were perfect with mild temperatures and a soft westerly breeze. Ballinrobe Anglers chairman Tommy Foley and boat partner Paul Loscher had 7 good fish on opening day, all too various wet flies. Their best fish was 1.75lbs and all were returned. Tim Hannon, Ballinrobe, also fished on Wednesday and he had 2 fish for his day (best fish 1.5lbs, both released). Noel Moran and Kevin Beattie from Ballinrobe fished wet flies on opening day and they also had 4 fish (best fish 1.5lbs). Ronan Cusack and Kieran Biggins fished on Wednesday afternoon and they had 2 fish, again on wets (best fish 1.5lbs, both released).

Shore angling on the western side of Mask was reasonably good on opening day with trout up to 4lbs reported. Unfortunately this was short lived and the going was tough for the remainder of the week, possibly due to the dry spell and drop in water levels.

Young Sean Cusack spent a few hours trolling on Sunday with dad Ronan and older brother Conor, and landed a lovely 5.5lbs ferox trout, which was carefully photographed and released again.

Sea Angling

Shore anglers in Connacht and further afield are reminded that the Grauvell West Coast Shore League 2012 gets underway this weekend, with the first leg scheduled for the stony beach in Renvyle, Co. Galway on Saturday 25th. Fishing is from 6pm to 10pm, with check-in from 4.30 to 5.30. Entry this year is again €25 for the league for senior anglers, while junior anglers are free. This year there are optional pools for longest flatfish, longest roundfish (including rays) and most species over the league. This is a competition that has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years, and is one I look forward to taking part in again myself.

This competition is pre-entry only, as organisers need to know how many competitors to peg the venue for. Entries to Peter Atkins at 087 9538750.