WESTERN ANGLING NEWS, JUNE 3, 2003.

Lough Mask: Once again, over the week past, the lough produced some of the best trout fishing experienced in years, 156 anglers having 437 trout for 586 lb in 413 angling days. There were days when mayfly hatches were more than patchy, mainly in certain bays and during stormy weather conditions. Olive hatches were reasonably good and on several evenings buzzer hatches brought a lot of large trout to the feed in the more sheltered bays. Following are some of the more notable catches of the week: 58 trout for 75 lb in a week by 2 German anglers fishing with David hall, including 2 @ 4 lb and 2 @ 3 lb each; 6 for 18 lb by Joe Fitzharris (Ballyhaunis) and Sean Maloney (Ballinrobe) in one evening’s wet fly angling, best 6.5 lb, 5 lb and 3.5 lb; 16 for 21 lb by R. Vernan and P. Duffy (Dublin) in 2 days with dap and wet fly; 11 for 14 lb in 2 days by Kerry anglers S. Griffin and Frank Lynn; 19 for 24 lb by Kildare anglers S. Slevin and two friends, all to wet fly over 2 days. Anglers fishing from the Camilaun Angling Centre, Oughterard recorded 357 trout during the mayfly period, releasing 247 back to the wild and Lough Corrib.

One man and his dog and a brace of trout

Lough Corrib: Angling was quite poor over the past week when only small hatches of mayfly occurred, especially after mid-week. There was a marked drop in the number of anglers fishing as compared with the same period in past seasons. Only 136 trout were recorded over 132 angling days for a weight of 212 lb, all to 64 anglers. In addition, Donal Connolly from Nonaim Angling Centre sends a report for anglers fishing from his establishment: Bernard & Judy Brazell, Reading, UK, had 5 trout for 10lb. - best 3lbs.-on wet fly and dapping over two days. Ian & Ernie Cullan, Belfast, caught 20 for 30.5lb, and they also caught 1 grilse of 5 lb, all to wet fly and dapping over six days. Andrew Mackean & Robert Streatfield, Hampshire, while fishing wet fly with Donal Connolly over 3 days, they landed 30 for 51.75lb, best 3.25lb, and Dave Kenny, Dublin, had 9 for 11.25lb over 2 days. Gerry Joyce, Glann, Oughterard, had 2 Salmon for 16.25lbs (best was 11.75lbs) while trolling.

Anglers in the area of Greenfields, Cong and Cornamona found that trout fishing really went dour from Wednesday onwards, especially to wet fly and dapping. Fishermen trolling spoon or dead bait, including fish of 13.35 lb, 10.25 lb, 7 lb and 6.5 lb, though, caught some great trout. Over the week 280 trout were caught for 415 lb in 460 angling days. Vincent Hughes, The Neale, Ballinrobe, landed 4 trout weighing 38.25 lb while trolling dead bait, including fish of 13.5 lb, 10.5 lb and 9.75 lb., and Vincent along with his brother, Mattie, had a great day’s dapping, landing three trout including one of 13 lb and 9 lb. Louis Rouder had 5 for 14.5 lb while dapping, best 6.5 lb. Belfast angler Mark Lennon, who was staying in Ashford Castle, landed a magnificent 7.25 lb trout to the spent gnat, and Malcolm McCleggan, Scotland, caught and released a 13 lb 2 oz trout. He was using dead bait. Frank Costello, Ashford, Cong, also caught a really splendid trout of 6.5 lb to the dry fly.

Marie, Rose and Gerard Nissen, Belgium, caught 22 trout over 6 days while dapping the mayfly. 

Lough Carra: Mayfly hatches have by this stage petered out and are replaced by a lot more sedge and some olives. Chironomid hatches are much better in late evening and some trout are moving to them as dusk falls. 27 anglers fished last week and they accounted for just 39 trout for 48 lb in 62 angling days, best 2.35 lb. Anglers are reporting lots of small trout rising with fewer quality fish coming to flies. The Western Regional Fisheries Board would like to hear from anglers about how good or bad mayfly hatches were this season, or indeed from anybody with an interest in observing hatches over the past five years.

Galway Weir Salmon Fishery: Only 11 salmon were caught for the week, easily one of the worst weeks for salmon fishing for the time of season. Normally, the last week of May and early June is a peak time for runs, but the fish didn’t seem to be present this end of May. It was mainly grilse that were caught with one good 13.5 lb spring salmon by Paul Molloy who used a shrimp. Dr Betty Phelan, a long-time visitor to the fishery, struck it luck with two grilse for a day, 8 lb and 5 lb.

Lough Inagh Fishery: Colin Folan, Manager of the Lough Inagh Fishery, telephone: 095 34706, reports that very little salmon fishing has taken place so far this season, but says also that several salmon have already been caught, the best of 12.5 lb by Senator John Dardis from Kildare who fished a Silver Stoat at the Butts beat at Derryclare Lake. UK angler Andrew Crouchman had the first fish of the season, a fresh-run 8 lb salmon, taken from the same beat on a Shrimp Fly. Enquiries for salmon and sea trout fishing, as well as best fly patterns, to Colin at the above telephone number.

Bunowen River: Following the heavy rain in the Louisburgh area in recent days, both the Bunowen and Carrowniskey Rivers are in prime conditions for salmon fishing. Anglers can now obtain licences and permits from the Western Regional Fisheries Board office at Ballyhip, Louisburgh, telephone: 098 66404.

Moher Lough: The wild weather hampered fishing somewhat but, nevertheless, most anglers caught their bag limit of farmed trout along with returning many others, and they also had lots of sport with the small native trout coming freely to the wet flies. Boats and permits can be had from: Michael McDonnell, Liscarney, Westport, telephone 098 21638.