Lough Corrib

No trout reports this week, but Kenneth Lowe sent in a photo of a fantastic pike that he landed on Sunday. Fishing with his buddy Alfie Joyce, Kenneth caught the fish on a roach deadbait. The pike was longer than the 1.2 metre tape that the lads had, and weighed 32lbs exactly on the scales, a personal best for Kenneth. The fish was photographed and quickly released back alive again, giving Kenneth a good soaking as she went back!

Kenneth Lowe with his 32lbs pike taken on Lough Corrib 25-8-2013.

Erriff Fishery

Fishery manager Jim Stafford reports on fishing for the week to the 25th August, which started with a big spate of 1.7m on the 20th/21st - levels then dropped back to 0.82m on the 23rd. Heavy showers increased levels back up to 1.0m on the morning of the 25th. Fish continued to run through the counter throughout the week.

Good fishing continued for Anthony Holden and John McCullough, both from Dublin, who caught another 6 fish. Anthony caught two grilse on a Cascade in the Sea Pool and Gauge Pool on Beat 9. John caught another grilse on an Orange Shrimp in Yellow Banks on Beat 5 - John also returned a nice sea trout of 2lbs. John then finished up with another two in Doyle's Pool on Beat 6 on a Silver Rat and Orange Shrimp, and another one from Poleen on Beat 4.

Mario Sanz, Germany, caught his first ever Atlantic salmon on a Black Shrimp pattern in the General's Reach on Beat 9 and also caught a sea trout in Yellow Banks on Beat 5. Rudy Djuinhoven from the Netherlands caught a sea trout in Yellow Banks.

The Otter Pool on Beat 7 produced a grilse for Bertrand Gautier, France. Philip Harte, Ireland, caught a grilse and a nice sea trout on a Stoat's Tail on Beat 6.

Dirk Odemann, Hamburg, Germany released a fish estimated at 6lbs which he caught on a Cascade in Yellow Banks on Beat 5, and was unfortunate to part company with another three rilse. Fishing the Bridge Pool on Beat 9 a Gold Head Cascade produced a fresh run fish of 7lbs for Jeremy Abgrall, France - the fish was returned to the water. Nick Fenton (NI) caught one in the Colonel's Pool on Beat 6.

Once again Neil Spellacy's good fortune continued on Beat 5 with three salmon. best estimated at 8lbs and a sea trout - Neil retained one fish and released the other two - all fish were caught on a Black Shrimp pattern. Fishing the Erriff for the first time and all the way from the Orkney Isles in Scotland Mike Sutherland caught three grilse - two from the Colonel's and another from Humps & Hollows - all fish were taken on a Stoat's Tail. Stuart Topp, also from Orkney, released one estimated at 5lbs and lost another very big fish taken on a micro Cascade in Black Banks on Beat 6.

The total catch for the week was 19 salmon (of which 13 were released) and seven sea trout.

To book fishing or accommodation at Aasleagh Lodge, contact Jim at +353 95 42252, or check www.aasleaghlodge.ie for details.

Ballynahinch Castle

Fishery manager Simon Ashe gives us an update on how things are going at Ballynahinch Fishery:

August has really turned out to be a memorable month at Ballynahinch with over 70 salmon landed, including only three lank days in the register where no fish were taken. The sheer number of resident salmon within the Castle Stretch is really fantastic.

Favourable weather conditions and near perfect water levels brought some very good fishing over the past week with a good deal of salmon landed. The two best fish were taken by mother-daughter combination, Ann Corcoran and Roseanne O'Grady-Walshe. Mrs Corcoran took a fabulous 8.25lb cock salmon from the tail of Ranji's Rock whilst Roseanne landed an equally impressive 8lb fish from the stream of Beat 1. Both anglers were ably assisted by Cyril Biggins.

With September just over the horizon, we are predicting this really impressive season to continue at Ballynahinch. Many of the resident fish tend to get more active as the month progresses and we have a tendency to take larger salmon during the month also. Water levels are perfect at the moment and the weather does not appear to be settling; which is good news for the anglers!

The final ten days of September are nearly booked out at this stage, however, we still have some space up until then. Contact the hotel reception on 095 31006 to make a reservation, or check www.ballynahinch-castle.com.

Lough Inagh

Fishery manager Colin Folan was delighted to report that the fishery is starting to fish again. The recent floods have had the desired effect on the water and the fish.

10 salmon and 60 sea trout were recorded for 44 rod-days. Dan O Donovan (Cork)fished Inagh for a day and landed three grilse to 6.5lbs, and eight sea trout to 2lbs on black flies of his own tying. Michael Heery and William Hamilton (Dublin) boated eight sea trout to 2lbs and had two salmon to 6lbs on Green Dabbler and Connemara Black. Richard Maguire (Dublin) landed two salmon from Greenpoint to 5.5lbs on a small Silver Stoat. And finally Joe Creane (Galway) fished Greenpoint for a couple of hours yesterday and landed one salmon of 6lbs on a Stoat and four sea trout to 1.5lbs.

For bookings and enquiries call the hotel on 095 34706, or Colin at 0868679459, or check www.loughinaghlodgehotel.ie.

Kylemore Abbey Fishery

Nigel Rush reports that another remarkable week has passed for the Dawros/Kylemore fishery. 27 fish were landed for just 32 rod-days giving us our third best week of the season. 177 salmon/grilse have been landed so far for the season for just 186.5 rod days... a catch per effort rate possibly unequalled on any other fishery in the country.

Top rod of the week goes to Seamus O'Neil, with eight fish to 8lbs for just two half days, and foufour fish to Neil Spellacy for two days effort. Visiting anglers Paul Frapwell and John Armstrong (UK) each had a fish of 7.5lbs. John Curran, Dublin, started his season rolling with three fish to 5lbs.

A spectacular salmon of approximately 18lb was landed by Nigel himself from the Rock Pool with an audience of nearly 100 strong tourists. The fish would have been at least 20lbs when it entered the river a couple of months ago.

Of the 27 fish landed just 3 were taken, one of which was a hatchery fish not native to the Dawros. So far this year our C+R rate is standing at 64% and should rise dramatically in September with ever ageing and maturing fish.

At this rate topping the 200 fish for the season is very possible if we can maintain good angling conditions over the next five weeks remaining of the season.

To book fishing contact Nigel at 095 41178, or mobile 087 9580702, and for latest news check the website at www.kylemorefishery.ie.

Sea Angling

Skipper John Brittain was our host last week, as I got to fish with angling journalist Rudy van Djuinhoven from the Netherlands, and his friend Mario Sanz from Germany. The objective was blue shark on fly (!), and although we didn't manage to hook a blue, we did have a close encounter, with a nice shark swimming around the boat and having a good look at the flies on offer (large mackerel imitations). John worked incredibly hard to put us over the fish, and it was just bad luck that the shark he brought to the boat wouldn't take the fly. Over the 2 days, Rudy and Mario landed some fine pollack on fly gear, with come really big fish actually breaking them on occasion, even 12-weight fly rods found it tough to cope with crash-diving pollack! John has uploaded a nice video of Mario playing a good pollack on fly.

Other anglers were also aboard, and landed some nice fish on conventional gear, including Emma from Devon, who was over with her partner to buy ponies at the pony show, and really enjoyed her first time afloat.

Pollack taken on Bluewater August 2013.

To book fishing with John aboard Bluewater, give himself or Sue a call at 095 21073, or John himself at 086 2779622