Previous Reports:
Angling Report 01/05/01 Angling Report 24/04/01 Angling Report 08/04/01 Angling Report 19/02/01 Angling Report 03/10/00 Angling Report 26/09/00 Angling Report 12/09/00 Angling Report 05/09/00 Angling Report 29/08/00 Angling Report 16/08/00
The Western Regional Fisheries Board
Western Region Angling Report May 8th. 2001
by Danny Goldrick
Lough Corribby Danny Goldrick
Last week's trout angling was slightly slower than during previous weeks, all due to the hard, cold northerly winds. Then came calmer conditions at the weekend leaving wet fly fishing difficult for the most part, except for dry fly fishing which was very good during the chironomid hatches in late evening. A few anglers had good sport using this method, particularly in the Cong/Lackafinna area where Russell Whiteman and two friends landed 7 trout over two evenings, best 4.25 lb and the smallest 3 lb. Conor Tolan from Crossmolina and Cork had one for 4.25 lb trout to dry fly on Sunday evening, while Oliver Ryan landed a 5.5 lb to the same boat. Some anglers trolled and several specimen trout over 10 lb were caught, the heaviest of 16.5 lb by Paul Geraghty from Ashbourne, Co. Meath. 12-year-old Seamus McMahon from Galway also landed a specimen of 10.5 lb. Noel O'Toole from Galway had two trout for 15.5, best 10.25 lb, and the best catch of the week was by James McGeough and a friend from Oughterard who had 9 for 12.5 lb to wet fly for a day. Over the week in the Oughterard area sixty anglers landed 128 trout for 206.5 lb in 90-rod days.
44 anglers in the Greenfields/Cornamona area landed 44 trout for 232.5 lb over 91 angling days, the catch including trout of 4.5 lb and 3.75 lb. The Olive hatches were patchy over the week but chironomid hatches were good in late evening, bringing to the surface good rises of trout, particularly in the Knockferry, Cong and Lackafinna areas. Jereme Hernan from England recorded a good day's catch of 7 for 11 lb, and Frank Reilly took 19 for 29 lb in 3 days to wet fly.
Paddy Kinneavy from Cornamona had 5 for 7.5 lb in just one evening's wet fly fishing. Best flies for this part of the lough included various Olive and nymph tyings as well as chironomid nymph and dry fly tyings.
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Lough Mask
The lough fished very well whenever conditions were favourable but the cold northerly winds kept a lot of the anglers away on the colder evenings. Hatches of Olives were excellent during daytime and chironomid hatches were good in the late evenings, bringing on big rises of trout in several of the bays. Best flies over the week included the various tyings of Olives as well as Olive nymphs. The best trout taken so far this season came to an Olive nymph when Dr. Billy Waldron fished out from David Hall's Lakeshore Holiday Homes at Cahir, Balinrobe, at the weekend. He landed a magnificent 5.75 lb trout. Other wet flies to do well were the Claret Bumble, Bibio and Green Peter. At the time of writing there is no sign of any mayfly yet.
Over the week 37 anglers fished and they landed 53 trout for 71 lb over 50 angling days. Mick Dunne from Dublin had 10 for 12 lb in 2 days with wet fly and J.A.Howe and two friends had 11 for 13.5 lb in 3 days.
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Lough Carra
While there were some hatches of Olives and midge all week there was little sign of worthwhile Mayfly hatches- just a few were seen in a few areas. 48 anglers using wet and dry fly methods were reasonably lucky landing 58 trout for 78 lb in 118 days. However, a lot of smallish trout were caught and released again which don't show up in the records. The good news is that lots of good trout were also seen rising to the various fly-life and some good fish were caught including a few between 2 and 3 lb. Pat savage from Dublin had 6 for 8 lb in two days with dry fly, and S. Moylan and his friend from Northern Ireland had 7 for 10.5 lb in 3 days with wet fly. Mr. Lennon and Mr. Turnley from Northern Ireland landed 5 for 7.5 lb in 2 days, best 2.5 lb.
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Galway Salmon Weir Fishery
Salmon fishing was slow all week with just 7 fish taken, best of 13 lb by Damien Nolan from Limerick who was spinning at the time the fish took. Raymond Kerry from Northern Ireland landed the smallest fish, one of 8.5 lb, and a French angler, Maurice Mourier had three in two days - 13 lb, 12 lb and 10.5 lb, all to spinner.
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Bunowen And Carrowniskey
No report from this fishery yet
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Moher Lake
The lough has been restocked twice in the past few weeks by the Western Regional Fisheries Board and reports say the fishing is excellent with trout to over 2 lb being caught, some of them from last season's restocking. Permits and boats are available from Michael McDonnell, Liscarney, Westport, telephone 098 21638.
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Lough Inagh Fishery
No report from this fishery yet
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Kinlooey Lake, Aughergower, Westport
This lough has recently been restocked and permits and boat hire can be obtained through John Scott's Shop, Aughergower, telephone: 098 25119
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Kylemore Fishery
No report from this fishery yet
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Erriff Fishery:
No report from this fishery yet
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Coarse Angling
No report for this season yet
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Sea Angling
Clifden: John Ryan's boat is deep sea fishing every day and he reports excellent fishing (around 4 to 5 boxes of fish per day). Pollock are most common with some ling, mackerel and collie coming fairly well most days. Cod are pretty scarce at the moment. John can be contacted at 095 21069. Westport: Deep sea angling in Clew Bay is yielding around 4 boxes of various species each day, pollock, wrasse and mackerel making up the bulk of the catch. All the boats are in operation from Westport Quay and Vinny Keogh's (098 26398/26194/26427
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Lake Reports:
Lough CorribLough Mask
Lough Carra
Galway Weir
Bunowen And Carrowniskey
Moher Lake
Lough Inagh Fishery
Kylemore Fishery
Erriff Fishery
Coarse Fishing
Sea Angling