Previous Reports:
Angling Report 16/05/01 Angling Report 08/05/01 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 25th. 2001
by Danny Goldrick
Lough Corribby Danny Goldrick
There has been some of the best wild brown trout angling on the lough in over 25 years with anglers catching upwards on 20 fish in a single outing, many of which were returned again to the water. Dapping the Mayfly has been outstanding in areas such as Cornamona, Cong, Greenfields, Oughterard and Knockferry. One guesthouse and boat operator on the shores of the lough near Oughterard - Basil Shields - recorded over 700 trout for his guests over two weeks, quite a few of which were returned again to the water. And at Deirdre Forde's Camillaun Angling Centre, Oughterard, 493 trout were recorded by a handful of anglers. 20 per cent of the fish were kept and all the rest released again. The best return was by a party of anglers from Wales who landed 251 trout. Fishing from the same Centre John McMuleen had 50 trout, Anthony Cartright had130 and Chris Hutching had 50. The David Evans party of 4 anglers had 104 trout for their stay, only keeping one trout and returning the rest. Declan Shannon and David Gadd had 43 in 5 days.
In the Oughterard area alone, 2,700 trout were recorded caught by Fisheries Board staff over 2 weeks with an average weight of 1.25 lb. The majority of the catch was taken between May 12 and 19th when conditions were best and when hatches of fly were at their best. The above return of 2,700 trout caught only reflects perhaps 50 per cent of the total caught as many anglers leave the lough without reporting their catch to guesthouses or hotels. Unfortunately, at the moment the weather conditions have changed to bright sunshine and calm waters so dapping is completely hampered. Hatches of mayfly may not be as good under these conditions. However, there is wet and dry fly fishing and some anglers are taking quality trout to the dry fly, including 5 over a few evenings by Danny Goldrick that averaged over 4 lb. Jan and Debora Tinnemans from Holland went fishing on the Corrib river close to Lough Corrib and Debora landed a specimen 6.5 lb trout.
In the Greenfields area to Cornamona the trout rose freely to the dapped version and to wet and dry flies. Over the week 478 anglers landed 2,180 for 2312 lb in 917 angling days. . Mark Wilson from Northern Ireland reports on his visit to the Cornamona area last week: "Just a line to let you know we had great fishing in Cornamona from the 12-16. 8 of us had about 45 trout all in the 1- 2lb range. The mayfly hatches on Tuesday and Wednesday were very good and the evening fishing saw a lot of trout move to both spent and buzzer behind the islands. In our party was Peter smith, Davy Smyth, Jim Stewart, Arthur white, Alan morrow, David Gault, Martin Wilson and Mark Wilson. Arthur White has been fishing a long time and has sampled many of our lakes and rivers around the country. He has a lot of experience having reached the over 80's stage in life and this time he caught more trout than any of the other party members, having fished harder of course." Mark extends his thanks to the local Cornamona people for their great welcome and hospitality.
Back to top of report
Lough Mask
This lough has been giving top-class fishing over the past few weeks and there is nothing but good reports from anglers visiting the lough and from locals who report good rises of trout to Olives and chironomids in particular. There are small hatches of Mayfly on the lough at the moment and with a change in weather conditions from the present heat wave, hatches should improve. 87 anglers fished over 198 angling days for 267 trout for 329 lb, best 6.5 lb. In addition to this Jim Stafford and his son Trevor fished dry fly for an evening near Cushlough Bay and they landed 3 for 7 lb. Former World Cup fly-fishing champion, Billy Graham from Northern Ireland, fished last Friday and got 8 good trout for 17 lb, taken on a new fly pattern to this part of the world named "the telephone fly." Well-known anglers and regular visitor to Mask, Greg Donohoe from Dublin landed 43 trout for 58 lb in 6 days, taken on wet and dry fly. He took 4 averaging 3 lb to buzzer in late evenings. T. Slevin and two friends from Dublin caught 27 for 38 lb in 5 days with wet fly, and two English anglers - Mr. Luttrell and Mr. Crippon - took 31 for 42 lb in 7 days to wet and dry fly.
The Ballinrobe Angling Club competition held last Sunday was won by Michael Fogarty from Cork with 5 trout for 7 lb, and this in almost flat calm conditions. Local angler Ronan Cusack was close second with 5 for 6 lb, and Phil Brooks from England had 3 for 5.5 lb to take third place.
Back to top of report
Lough Carra
Trout fishing was regarded as good when conditions were favourable with 82 anglers landing 287 trout for 366 lb in 216 days, best 3.5 lb. Mayfly hatches were fairly good at times but Olive hatches were best of all. There was spent gnat fishing when conditions were warm and some fish were caught to this method of angling. A regular feature of the week's angling was to see the number of small trout under 1 lb rising to the various fly hatches. Among those who recorded good fishing were: H. Tumbell and a friend from Armagh, 24 trout for 33 lb in 6 days to dap and wet fly; 38 for 52 lb to 4 anglers from Cork; 23 for 30 lb in 5 days to R. peters and two friends from Tipperary; 21 for 27 lb in 4 days to Frank Smyth from Drogheda, and the Roberts' guesthouse reports 157 trout to 35 anglers in 38 rod days, and of those 134 were returned again to the lake.
Back to top of report
Galway Salmon Weir Fishery
Salmon fishing is at a lull presently, an in between time before the big grilse runs commence. Only 4 fish were caught in the week, all grilse.
Back to top of report
Bunowen And Carrowniskey
No report from this fishery yet
Back to top of report
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.
Back to top of report
Lough Inagh Fishery
No report from this fishery yet
Back to top of report
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
Back to top of report
Kylemore Fishery
No report from this fishery yet
Back to top of report
Erriff Fishery:
No report from this fishery yet
Back to top of report
Coarse Angling
There are 12 English anglers staying at the Cloonabinna House Hotel on Ross Lake, Moycullen, all led by former world champion coarse angler, Dave Coster from London. Dave reports great fishing for the entire group at Ross and Ballyquirke lakes, mainly for roach and skimmer bream. The large bream are spawning at the moment so they are staying away from feeding for the time being.
Back to top of report
Sea Angling
No report for this week.
Back to top of report
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