Lough Mask

On Mask, Ronan Cusack reports that angling on Mask last week could only be described as "hot and cold". The low air temperatures and relentless northerly winds have kept both angling and fly hatches to a minimum. Winds subsided and temperatures rose a little on Wednesday, which brought a sparse hatch of olives and Campto buzzer in some of the sheltered bays.

Hall's Angling Centre had a busy week, with anglers enjoying some good sport. James Craig from the UK stayed at Hall's and he had 6 fish on Sunday, best fish 1.75lbs. Mr Martin from France, also fishing from Hall's, had a great day on Monday with 8 trout, best fish 3lbs. To book fishing or accommodation at Hall's, contact David or Helen on 094 9541389 or check www.lakeshoreholidays.com

Sean O'Loughlin from Galway had 7 fish to 2lbs for 2 days on Mask last week. Frank Reilly From Headford fished with Stephen Cole on Saturday and they had 6 trout on wets (best fish1.5lbs, all returned). Padraig Kerrigan and Ronan Cusack fished buzzer on Wednesday evening and they had 4 fish (best fish1.75lbs, all returned).

Ballinrobe Anglers chairman Tom Foley, had 2 nice fish on Sunday (best fish 2 lbs, both returned). Tim Hannon from Ballinrobe had 3 fish on small dries on Tuesday afternoon (best fish 3 lbs).

The Kilbride Anglers had their annual weekend away on mask this week. 18 anglers organised a friendly competition among themselves on Saturday. They fished to a 14 inch limit with 10 trout weighed in. The winner was Martin Carney from Dublin with a trout of 2lbs.

The majority of anglers are reporting releasing up to 6 undersize trout for every trout over the legal 13inch limit, which is a similar trend to last year.

Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at 087 2869487 or by email at cusackronan@gmail.com

Lough Corrib

Hatches are well behind on Corrib, with olives only making their first appearances this week. Some fish have been spotted feeding just under the surface, presumably on olive nymphs, although in the windy conditions hatching fly were difficult to observe. Donal Connolly from Nonaim Lodge was out with guests Engue and Olivier, from France, on Sunday. The day was cold with strong north west winds, but they landed 3 trout, and moved a few more. Donal reported little or no fly hatches in the cold wind, but they did see a few fish moving and taking just below the surface. Donal and his wife Connie run a guesthouse at Glann, Oughterard - to book fishing or accommodation contact them on +353 (0) 85 7364830, or check www.fishingcorrib.com

Karel Sourek with a beautifully-marked 15lbs ferox trout.

The Cornamona Anglers held their annual Hospice Competition on Sunday, raising much-needed funds for the Galway Hospice. The event is run on a catch-and-release basis, with fish length being used to score. Tom Doc Sullivan reported on the competition for us:

This event has gone from strength to strength each year, and this year we had an entry of 31 teams of two, making up 62 rods on the day. The lake is currently at that difficult stage where there are no major hatches of fly, we are still waiting for the olives to hatch and there are no sightings at all of any Mayfly. It is interesting to note that the competition, on the same date last year was fished with the Mayfly hatch well up! Not so this year thanks to the cold weather. With a fresh north westerly wind and cloud pulling wet flies was going to be the order of the day, and this method accounted for virtually all of the fish caught on the day

The event was won by Seamus Kelly, Oughterard and Joe Crane of Roundstone, popular winners. Seamus and Joe have supported the competition from its inception, and have come close to the top spot on a number of occasions, finally making the breakthrough this year - the two anglers had a total of 6 trout for 1,180 points. Second place went to Mike Coyne, Renvyle and Tom Carroll, Westport, continuing their recent good run having won the Oughterard 50, with 4 trout for 980 points .Third place was Phillip Rooney, Leitrim, former World Cup winner and Irish Ladies International Dorrie Gibbons from Cong, with 4 trout for 980 points

In total the 62 rods recorded 62 trout which considering the lull in fly activity was a decent return. The longest fish of the competition was shared between Martin Kinneavy and Phillip Comer who each had a trout measuring 47cm. The average length of the fish was 36cm.

On a side note Tom Sullivan of Cornamona landed a 9.5lb springer on an Olve Bumble while fishing the competition! All proceeds of this event go to the Galway Hospice and the event could not be run without the generous sponsorship it receives for the prizes.

The Garda club held a competition on last Friday, with 14 anglers recording 7 trout over the limit. Barry Carolan took top honour with 2 trout for 3.5lbs, with Mick Bradley in second with 2 trout for 3lbs.

The Braithreach na Coiribe club, based in Galway City, also held a competition on Sunday. The top boat was Nick and Mark Hanley, with 5 fish for 11.5lbs. Harold, Kevin and Hazel O'Toole were second, with 3 trout for 6.2lbs, and third place went to Mike and Pat McGrath with 1 trout for 1.25lbs.

The only other report of fly fishing came from Gerry Dixon, who landed 4 trout for approx. 6lbs to wetfly.

Karel Sourek from the Czech Republic, who readers may remember caught the 25lbs monster ferox trout a couple of years ago, was back recently to visit his friend Emil Bucko, who lives in Oughterard.

This was his fourth year in a row visiting Corrib in springtime, and while the high winds were not helpful, they still managed to land some great fish. This time the best fish was a beautifully-marked 15lbs trout. As Karel is a firm believer in catch-and-release, the fish was sportingly released again after a quick photograph.

Galway Fishery

Heavy rain in the middle of last week caused a small increase in lake levels, and downstream the OPW opened 14 sluice gates on the weir to compensate. The huge flood resulting has wiped out fishing for the week, and consequently there are no fish to report. 10 gates have been closed today, and with 4 open gates conditions are much more fishable. Normally the spring run is getting well underway at this time, and given the good reports of spring salmon from elsewhere I would expect to have some good fishing to report from Galway soon.

The first fish was followed quickly by the second, as John Bresnihan from Oughterard, home from London on holidays, landed a nice salmon of 9.5lbs on a Willie Gunn in the Sea Pool, with the river at a height of 1.4 metres on the gauge. This was John's first ever salmon, so congratulations to him! John also caught and released one small sea trout.

Donavin Brinklow caught 12 brown trout on wet fly in an afternoon session on Tawnyard Lough, and Delphi Rods accounted for 4 brown trout as well.

With the weather set to continue unsettled for the remainder of this week, water levels should keep the river in good condition for flyfishing, and prospects for a springer are good. Water temperatures have finally risen over 10 degrees as well, which should encourage fish to run the river.

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

Kylemore Abbey

Fishery manager Nigel Rush reports that Kylemore Abbey Fishery recorded its first salmon of 2013 last week. Geoffrey Fitzjohn landed the first fish on Wednesday. The fish weighed in at 6.25lbs, and was taken in Gavins pool on the Middle River, on Geoffrey's usual Black Shrimp fly. He missed another earlier on in the Upper River. According to Nigel plenty of fish have been seen over the past couple of weeks, but bitter winds have left the fish reluctant to move very far from the bottom of the river and angling effort has been very light. Now that things are warming up a bit, fishing should pick up significantly.

To book fishing, contact Nigel on 095 41178 or at nigelrush@eircom.net

Delphi

Fishery manager David McEvoy reports that last week provided very good sport, with 16 fish landed. There were 4 off the River, 11 off Finlough and 1 off Doolough. The earlier part of the week was especially good when the weather was milder, but it became more difficult when the winds swung around to the North and the temperatures plummeted.

Heinz Hoefler was first off the mark on Friday with a beautiful sea-liced fish from the Whin pool weighing in at 10lbs 2oz. The fish was taken on a Collie Dog. The second fish was taken by Urs Leibundgut who having arrived a few hours earlier managed to land a sea-liced fish of 8lbs 9.5oz from the Meadow on a Willie Gunn.

Fredo Dietrich (who hasn't been here for 13 years) had a fish of 7lbs 1oz off Finlough on a Silver Ally shrimp. Then Tim Chilcott had his first ever salmon, a sea-liced fish of 8lbs 9oz from the Rock pool. The fish was taken on a Delphi Collie and I suspect there will be one great salmon party back in London in the next few weeks. Yvonne also had a sea-liced fish from the Meadow pool of 6lbs 13oz on a Delphi Collie.

Since Urs arrived, he also informed me that I had made a serious error in last year's newsletter. I'm afraid I only credited him with a total Delphi catch of 376 when it should have been 380. For this error I apologise profusely!! So all he now needs is another 19 to hit the 400!!

Thanks to David for the report. To book fishing or accommodation at Delphi call the lodge on 095 42222, or check www.delphilodge.ie