The Western Regional Fisheries Board
Western Region Angling Report September 12th. 2000
by Danny Goldrick
Lough Corribby Danny Goldrick
The moderate to fresh south to south-west winds with long periods of light drizzle kept temperatures above 15 degrees all week. On the days when the winds were strongest, brown trout angling was very good for most anglers using wet fly. Dapping the terrestrials gave good results, too, as also did trolling for large ferox trout on the calmer days. Frank Rigney from Galway is reported as having two magnificent specimen trout, each weighing around 17 lb. He also landed 8 for around 10 lb to wet fly on Saturday.
One of the big angling stories of the week involved Sonya Curran from Knockferry Lodge, on the very shores of Lough Corrib. Sonya went fishing with her father-in-law Patrick Curran and boatman Paddy O'Farrell, shortly hooking into a huge ferox trout which, when landed, weighed 12.2 lb. This was Sonya's first-ever fishing trip and one she will always remember. Particulars of the trout have been recorded and have been sent to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee, The Central Fisheries Board, Mobhi Boreen, Glasnevin, Dublin, 9. Keith O'Malley from Dublin, who recently fished from Knockferry Lodge, was overjoyed when he landed a magnificent trout of over 8 lb.
39 anglers fishing the area between Greenfields and Cornamona landed 57 trout for 129.5 lb. Kevin O'Toole had a very good trout of 9.5 lb and Paul Douras from England landed 19 for 25 lb in 6 days to the dap. In 2 days Frank Reilly and Ray Ferguson had 9 for 12.5 lb, all to wet fly. Sunday was calm when the Ennis Anglers fished a competition. 27 rods could only account for 5 trout on the day, Chris Meehan taking the cup with 1 small trout.
134 anglers fished in the Oughterard area of Lough Corrib, landing 143 trout for 224.5 lb in 135 angling days. There was an excellent catch of 66 trout to 46 anglers for 117 lb in the Western and North-Western Regional Fisheries Boards' competition test last week. Tony McQuinn emerged the overall winner with 4 trout for 6.6 lb and the best Lady Angler was Miriam Gallagher from Ballina. Frank Reilly and John Bourke were third and fourth respectively.
Back to top of report
Lough Mask
Surprisingly, trout fishing has been quite slow in the past week but, then, very few anglers fished the lake since the most successful "World Cup" competition a few weeks ago.
Back to top of report
Lough Carra
There are no reports from the lake this week.
Back to top of report
Galway Salmon Weir Fishery
At the moment, development and enhancement works are being carried out to the river downstream of the Cathedral bridge, so most of the fishing is being done at the weekends. For salmon fishing apply to: Seamus Hartigan, telephone: 091 562388.
Back to top of report
Bunowen And Carrowniskey
A number of salmon were caught on the Bunowen River in the past week and there is a record of one caught on the Carrowniskey. Terry Browne, Caroline Preston, Seamus Ball and Chris Huxley all landed salmon during the week. Permits and licences from: Charles Gaffney, Gaffney's Bar, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, telephone: 098 66150
Back to top of report
Moher Lake
No report available from this lake this week.
Back to top of report
Lough Inagh Fishery
Colin Folan, the manager at the fishery, reports that the fishery has been doing well in the past week and that there are lots of salmon in the lower reaches of the fishery. He say 8 rods landed 25 trout for a day, the best so far this season. 2 salmon for 16 lb were caught by Costales Hector from Switzerland, using a Gold Dabbler and Grey Badger at Greenpoint. Paul Nissans and Ciaran Wilson from Moycullen had good fishing when they caught and returned 15 trout for a day, best around 2 lb to a Claret Bumble. M. Ryan and G. Kelly from Drogheda had 13, all to a Kingsmill, Bibio, Daddylonglegs and Watson's Fancy. For boat hire and fishing apply to: Lough Inagh Valley Hotel, Inagh Valley, Recess, Co. Galway, telephone: 095 34706.
Back to top of report
Kinlooey Lake, Aughergower, Westport
No report from this fishery was available this week
Back to top of report
Kylemore Fishery
While there are plenty of salmon in Kylemore Lake, they are rather slow to take at the moment. However, as the month progresses there is little doubt but they will come more freely to the fly. A number of North of Ireland anglers fished the lake in the past week and they reported a good catch of trout, one having 15 to his own rod and another having 8. All were returned again to the water. Boat and fishing permits from Nancy Naughton, Kylemore House, Kylemore, Co. Galway, telephone: 095 41143.
Back to top of report
Erriff Fishery:
There is no up-to-date report from this fishery.
Back to top of report
Sea Angling
Once again, there are many reports of excellent deep sea angling the west coast, anglers having up to 15 different species each day. Reports from Westport seem to be the best of all, some of the boat owners saying fishing is the best in twenty years. One angler from Warrington, England, Brain Beth landed a 65 lb monkfish while fishing off the White Sea Horse, owned by Vinny Keogh from the Helm Restaurant in Westport, telephone: 098 26194. Mackerel and pollock are everywhere and anglers are having great fun, even from the shores and beaches. Another boat to do well in the past week is Padraic Conlon's (098 26899.) All his guests are having lots of good sport.
Mackerel Time is Still with Us: Huge amounts of mackerel continue to come into the bays and coves around the West Coast and is attracted great attention from young and old. Hundreds of young anglers are taking to the seashore in the evenings where they are landing dozens of mackerel. Tourists continue to have wonderful sport in many areas, so too have the seals who are seen to chase the shoals and often snatch the mackerel from young anglers' lines.
Back to top of report
Previous Reports:
Angling Report 05/09/00 Angling Report 29/08/00 Angling Report 16/08/00Lake Reports:
Lough CorribLough Mask
Lough Carra
Galway Weir
Bunowen And Carrowniskey
Moher Lake
Lough Inagh Fishery
Kinlooey Lake
Kylemore Fishery
Erriff Fishery