Some drier weather last week resulted in a drop in water levels, with 2 gates open since last Friday. Grilse are starting to enter the fishery in greater numbers, and fishing has picked up considerably. There were 49 fish landed this week, which is the best week so far this season. Flyfishing and shrimp are the most successful methods at the moment, with spinning also taking a few fish.
Local angler Enda Scahill landed a 7lbs fish while spinning, while Dublin man Colm Adams had a nice grilse on shrimp. William Miller from Northern Ireland landed 2 grilse on spinner and shrimp, while Brian Howard fished over 2 days and landed 4 fish, including 3 grilse to 7lbs and a fine salmon of 10.5lbs, all on fly. Athenry angler Declan Tuffy landed 2 grilse on fly, as did Des Hackett and Pappy Cotter, while Donegal angler George Houston took 2 fish on shrimp. Moycullen angler John Anderson landed 3 fish on fly, including 2 sportingly released, while Northern Ireland angler Davy Hoy landed 2 grilse on fly. Gary Kilroy from Westmeath had 2 grilse to 7lbs on spinner, and Galway man Tom Power had 2 grilse on shrimp. Dave O’Reilly from Dublin landed 2 grilse on fly, while brother Declan had a fish on shrimp, and Jimmy Scotson from Monaghan landed 2 grilse on fly.
Water levels are currently ok for flyfishing at 2 gates, with grilse starting to run in better numbers all the time, and as long as we avoid a prolonged wet spell then fishing prospects in Galway are very good for the coming few weeks.
