Previous Reports:

The Western Regional Fisheries Board

Western Region Angling Report June 15th. 2001
by Danny Goldrick

Lough Corrib
While Mayfly hatches are coming to and end all over the lough, bringing to a close one of the best periods of trout angling ever recorded in Ireland for wild brown trout water. Corrib produced more trout during the month of May than all the other lakes together in Ireland, securely placing it as the top wild brown trout angling lough in Ireland and Europe.

Last week showed a big drop in the number of anglers fishing. However, there were many periods when trout rose freely to the wet fly and good sport was had by a number of local and visiting anglers. In the Oughterard area alone 60 anglers took 98 trout for 129.5 lb in 138 angling days, Alwayn and Newman Jones from Wales having 17 in 4 days, all but 7 of which were released again, and Aiden Kelly from Burrisheen had 6 to wet fly for 10 lb for a day. John Madden from Galway landed the best trout of the week to wet fly, a magnificent fish of 5.5 lb.

A report from Donal Connolly covering a number of anglers staying at his Nonaim Lodge between May 14 and June 1st says: Joe Ryan and Seamus Tierney from Cork landed 31 trout for about 50 lb, over half of which were released again, all in 3 days with wet and dry fly; a party of 5 Yorkshire anglers fishing over 3 of the calmer days landed 23 for around 24 lb, all but seven of which were released; Dave Meirs and Pat Collins from Cork had 10 for about 14 lb, for a day to wet fly (half the catch released); Gordon Laing and Claus Lohr took 11 for over 14 lb for a day; Bob Woodhouse from Tipperary had 10 for 12 lb for a day with wet fly; Martin Quigley and Mike Sheehy had 9 for 12 lb for a day, most of which were released; Rev. Jack Fowler and Fr. Henry Keenan from Co. Down had 12 for about 18 lb, all released but one. The Rev. Fowler hooked and lost two salmon to wet fly.

Trout fishing in the Greenfields area to the Cornamona area was regarded as "fairly good" to wet fly and for the ones dapping the mayfly. Here, too, the mayfly hatches are on the way out but sedge are plentiful in the evenings and trout are taking the emergers. Mayfly patterns, dabblers and the green peter were best wet flies. 131 anglers in the above area landed 274 trout for 393 lb in 181 angling days, best weighing just over 4 lb. Sean Murphy and a friend from Greenfields recorded 7 for 11 lb to the dap for a day; Damien Lawlor from Offaly took 6 for 10.5 lb for a day to wet fly; Bob Weatherby from England had 7 for 13.5 lb for 3 days; Sammy Wilson (NI) had 15 for 23 lb in 3 days and Michael Waters from Cornamona had 8 for 15 lb in 4 days. Two English anglers - Bob Forshaw and Dave Weatherby - trolling between May 12 and 20th had a catch of 18 trout for 118.5 lb, individual weights as follows - 14.5 lb, 13.5 lb, 12.25 lb, 8.25 lb, 7,7,7, 6,5 lb, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 3.75, 3, 2.5 and 2 lb. These two anglers very sportingly released all but two of their remarkable catch. Robert Holian from Bayview Guesthouse, Cross, won the Cross Anglers Juvenile Cup on Sunday with 3 trout for 4.25 lb.

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Lough Mask
The lough continues to give good trout returns whenever conditions are favourable and over the past week lots of trout were seen to rise to the small hatches of mayfly, olives and sedge. 43 anglers fished over 132 rod days and they accounted for 127 trout for 158 lb, best 3.75 lb. Prospects for the coming week look good if conditions are suitable.

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Lough Carra
Very few anglers fished over the week with just 9 rods having 9 trout in 16 angling days for a weight of 13 lb. Only sedge and some olives appeared on the water with hardly any mayfly around. A lot of small trout still continue to rise to the fly-life, particularly in late evenings.

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Galway Salmon Weir Fishery
The week past has been a good one for salmon anglers, many from overseas, when 111 salmon were caught, mostly all grilse and many of them to fly. Some of the anglers who did very well included Mick Browne who landed 5 for a day, 4 to fly; Wolfram Hoppe, Germany, who had 3 for a day for 14 lb, all on fly; Manfred Wilke, Germany, who caught 4 for 24 lb; Jack and Laurence Flood, UK, who had 6 for 38 lb, best weighing 9 lb; David Lenihan, Galway, 4 for a day for 24 lb, and Dennis Quill and Frank Kinsella, Galway, who had 5 between them for a day.

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Bunowen And Carrowniskey
Reports from the area say the two rivers are in need of fresh water as they only rose by a few inches from the small amount of rain in the two catchments last week. However, so far locals have caught 5 salmon. Permits and licences are available from Charles Gaffney's Bar, Louisburgh, telephone: 098 66150, and from the Board's office at Ballyhip, Louisburgh, telephone: 098 66404.

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Cong River
Big numbers of salmon are being caught daily in the river and along the mouth of the river, some fishermen having 3 to 6 fish per outing. The Western Regional Fisheries Board staff, along with help from FAS workers, have built a magnificent fishing platform for disabled anglers along the river at the hatchery grounds, replacing the other one that was built several years ago for the same purpose. Salmon and trout can be caught from this stand and disabled anglers can go there by telephoning the hatchery manager beforehand - 092 46049.

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Moher Lake
There were mixed results in trout fishing on the lough last week, some anglers doing very well while others found it difficult to rise fish. However, the lough is fishing very well most of the time and anglers, young and old, are getting their bag limit of 4 trout without much effort. Apart from the larger trout, anglers are also having lots of fun with the wild brown trout, which are coming freely all the time. Alan Chadwick and his friend from Castlebar landed 7 for an evening while Swords angler P. Heron and Edinburgh angler N. Nelson got 4 each for an evening. Isobel Kelly from Westport landed a few also. Permits and boats from Margaret and Michael McDonnell, Liscarney, Westport, telephone: 098 21638.

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Lough Inagh Fishery
Colin Folan, manager of the fishery (095 34706) says that a fresh flood is required to allow a large number of grilse to enter the river and lakes on the Lough Inagh system. 4 salmon were caught there last week, best of 9.75 lb at the Derryclare Butts by Colin himself, taken on a size 12 Silver Stoat. Simon Howe from the UK had a 4.5 lb grilse in the same place, and Nigel Kirkman, also from the UK, landed a nice 8 lb fish at the Derryclare Butts to a Silver Stoat.

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Kinlooey Lake, Aughergower, Westport
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 week.

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Sea Angling

No report for this week.

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Castlebar Main Index

Lake Reports:

Lough Corrib

Lough Mask

Lough Carra

Galway Weir

Bunowen And Carrowniskey

Moher Lake

Lough Inagh Fishery

Kylemore Fishery

Erriff Fishery

Coarse Fishing

Sea Angling

The Western Regional Fisheries Board

Western Region Angling Report June 15th. 2001by Danny Goldrick

Western Region Angling Report June 15th. 2001
by Danny Goldrick