The Western Regional Fisheries Board
Western Region Angling Report August 29th. 2000
by Danny Goldrick
Lough Corribby Danny Goldrick
When weather conditions were anyway favourable for wet fly and dapping, anglers found lots of trout rising and quite a few were taken by either of these two methods. 28 anglers fished in the Oughterard area over 90 days and they accounted for 84 trout for 146.5 lb. among which was an outstanding day's catch of 10 for 14.5 lb by Anthony Walsh and Paul Ryan who used wet fly. Using the same method, Niall Fingleton landed 4 for a day while visiting Lakelands Guesthouse, and Jane and Joe Carpineto took a magnificent 6.25lb on the troll while staying at Currarevagh House.
Lough Mask
The Westport Angling Club held its annual wet fly competition on Lough Mask last Sunday, attended by all 32 members.
With 3 trout for 5.5 lb Paul Smith took first prize; in second place was Toby Gibbons, who is secretary of the Club for the past 20 years, with 3 trout for 4.5 lb. Vincent Rigney was third with 1 fish for 1.75 lb., and Sean O'Malley had a trout of 1 lb for 4th place. This was the total catch for the day, leaving 28 anglers without fish.
Michael Fogherty from Cork won the Ballinrobe and District Anglers' wetfly competition on Sunday with 3 trout for 5 lb. Ballinrobe angler Sean Maloney was next with 2 for 3.56 lb., and Liam McLoughlin from Kells had 2 for 3.02 lb.
Ballinrobe's Ronan Cusack and Cork's Dan Deenehy won the Lough Mask/Lough Carra Development Fund competition at the weekend, Ronan having 3 trout for 5.12 lb and Dan having 2 for 3.14 lb. Locals Pat and Mary Feerick were second with a total of 5 trout for 6.78 lb. Richie Holmes and Eric Jones from Tourmakeady took 3rd place with 4 for 5.87 lb.
Others to land trout during the week included two North of Ireland anglers who caught 2 good trout for 7 lb., and Sean Watson had 2 for 3 lb for a day. Overall, trout fishing was quite good on the days when conditions were suitable for wet fly, most of the trout, once again, being taken in the deeper waters between the Tourmakeady and Rocky shores.
Lough Carra
There was very little trout angling on the lake over the week but anglers may have missed some good opportunities when falls of red ant attracted quite a lot of trout to the surface on the flat-calm evenings. Rory deBarra, while dry fly fishing on Wednesday evening, rose a few good trout. Peter Roberts from Partry reports 9 trout landed by 6 anglers over 42 hours, 5 of which were returned again to the water.
Galway Salmon Weir Fishery
The water levels are extremely low at the moment and there is hardly any fishing taking place. Enquiries to Seamus Hartigan, 091 562388.
Bunowen And Carrowniskey
Water levels are low again but the rivers hold a good few salmon. Five salmon were caught when water levels were suitable. Anglers can fish both rivers for £20 per day by contacting Chalres Gaffney, The Bar, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, telephone 098 66150.
Moher Lake
Reports from the lake are mixed, some anglers having little trouble in getting their bag limit of 4 trout per day while others find it difficult to locate some of the larger trout. Toby Gibbons and a friend from Westport had an enjoyable evening recently on the lake when they landed 6 of the larger trout plus a number of the native brown trout. Enquiries for boat hire to Michael and Margaret McDonnell, Liscarney, telephone 098 21638.
Lough Inagh Fishery
Reports from the fishery say that quite a few large brown trout are being caught on the fishery including one of 5 lb by an English angler, Robin Painter Bagart, and one of 3 lb by Ewart Guiness (UK) on the trout pool. Brown trout of 2.5 lb are frequently caught on Lough Inagh. Mike Heenan and Colin Folan landed 6 sea trout on Lough Inagh in two hours and David Beckett from Dublin had 3. Best flies over the week were: Bibio, the Dabbler patterns and Green Peter. Enquiries to Colin Folan, Fishery Manager, at 095 34706
Kinlooey Lake, Aughergower, Westport
Four hundred trout averaging well over 1 lb were released into the lake this season but very few anglers are bothering to fish and therefore there are few reports on the quality of fishing there. Enquiries for boat hire to John Scott's shop, Aughergower, Westport, telephone 098 25119.
Kylemore Fishery
Some sea trout are being caught even though the weather is, generally, is not too suitable and the low water is also against good fishing. No salmon were caught in the past week. Enquiries to Kylemore House, telephone: 095 41143
Costello Fishery
July was a very dry month at the fishery and temperatures reached 26.5C on the 22nd of the month, the hottest for a long time at the fishery. Despite poor fishing conditions 15 salmon were taken for the month, three of them coming to M Murphy from Ennis, and Mrs McDonnell from Drogheda landed her first-ever, a nice grilse of 4.5 lb. 161 rods over the month caught and released 446 sea trout, 14 of them for a day on the river by Rene Lachenmeir from Cavan. For salmon and trout fishing apply to the manager, Tim Moore, telephone: 091 572196.
Erriff Fishery:
There is no up-to-date report from this fishery.
Sea Angling
For the second week, there are reports from all the sea angling boats around the west coast of excellent deep sea angling, and also reports of some Porbeagle shark having been encountered in some areas. Blue shark are being caught during most outings and the best day's catch so far has been 7 by anglers using John Brittain's boat (095 21073) off the Clifden coast. News from the Westport deep sea angling boats is also good, the owners saying that fishing is the best in twenty years. There has seldom been as much mackerel and pollock around, anglers engaged fully whenever they choose to catch either of these two species. For daily trips or charter contact: Padraic Conlon at 098 26899.
Mackerel Time is Here Again: Huge numbers of mackerel have come into the coves and bays around the West Coast and is attracting 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. A most popular place is Seapoint at Salthill where dozens of mackerel are being landed each evening with the tides. Tourists and local children are having a bonanza. Anglers of all ages are really having tremendous fun fishing for mackerel at Kilsallagh, near Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, where recently the Western Regional Fisheries Board, through a FAS scheme, provided a roadway to the sea shore from the Westport/Louisburgh road. The area has become very popular with anglers and great use is being made of this fine facility at Michael Conway's farm.
Previous Reports:
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
Costello Fishery
Erriff Fishery
Sea Fishing