Donal Connolly from Nonaim Lodge in Glann, Oughterard reported on fishing for his guests over the last week in the Glann area. There were still some good hatches of mayfly and good sport, however fishing was very variable with some very good days and then a slow day with the trout reluctant to move to the flies.
Donal was guiding Marc and Olivier from France on their last day before going home, and they landed 7 trout, mainly on wet fly with a couple also on dry fly. They also lost a couple of bigger fish. The average was not huge at approx. 1.25lbs but they all fought well, and all were released. Marc ended his trip with 12 trout for 3 days fishing, best about 1.75 lbs, and all released.
Earlier in the week Sean and John Maher, Pat Lynch and Mike Fogerty, Tipperary, had excellent fishing ending with 30 trout, best 2.5lbs. on wet and dry fly and dapping, they also had a large number of smaller fish. Roger Thomson, Lurgan, had 2 trout for 4.75lbs including a nice 3.5lbs trout on wet fly.
Paul Joyce, Glann, had a number of trout on wet fly as well as a salmon of 6lbs on a Toby, while his 10 year old brother Shane had a lovely 2lbs trout on the dap. Dave and Tom Gilpen, Hampshire, had 4 trout on dry fly, all released, on Monday. Hammy Hamilton, Cul Aodh, also had 2 trout on dry fly on Monday.
To book fishing or accommodation with Donal and Connie, contact Nonaim Lodge at Tel: +353 (0)85 7364830, email [email protected] or check www.fishingcorrib.com
Eamon Walsh reports that during a week in which was patchy at best, some anglers managed to find good fishing in the Cornamona area, but as always they were slow to reveal their secret locations. The first few days of the week saw good fishing in the Cornamona Bay area and along the south shore of the Dooras peninsula. Tom Sommerville had 8 fish for 2 days while dapping with his children, sizes ranged from 1.5lbs up to 3lbs, John Sommerville also had some luck with the dap, taking one nice fish on an evening’s fishing. Padraic O’Malley from Maam, along with 3 friends, had 7 fish, returning 6, also fishing the dap on the south side of Dooras. Wednesday proved a very frustrating day for many anglers with large hatches of fly but with no wind to drift onto feeding fish. While meeting anglers on the lake shore it was clear to see trout rising to fly just off shore. This was very evident along the Carraig shore where a group of 4 brothers, the Babuarys from Westmeath, Killkenny and Kildare reported averaging 3-4 fish per boat per day between Saturday and Tuesday.
Colin McRory and party from Glasgow had 42 fish over a 6-day stay for 8 rods, while Keith Nicolson and 6 friends for Tunbridge Wells, Kent had 48, both parties fished out of Tom “Doc” Sullivan’s in Dooras. While numbers of fish may have been down on previous weeks, the reports are that all fish are very well fed and showing great condition.
Fishing in the Derrymoyle/Oughterard area shows no sign of slowing, with all anglers reporting excellent fishing, large hatches of fly and plenty of trout of all sizes rising to them. One angler claimed that this year has been one of his best in almost 50 years. John Jack of Scotland and Larry Kelly of Dublin had over 50 fish for the week, with Jack having 2 trout over 6lbs. A group of 3 anglers from the Barrow Angling Club had a good 3 days, with 38 fish up to 3.5 lbs.
Anglers fishing out of Currarevagh House also reported excellent returns. Michael Jenkins had 8 fish, 4 returned for one day with his best being 2.5lbs. The Prendiville party had 14 fish for 2 days, most of which were returned.
The reports from the Headford/Greenfields area have been patchy at best, with some anglers reporting difficult conditions in the middle of the week. Activity picked up somewhat towards the weekend. The Headford Mayfly Cup team event was run on Sunday with 20 anglers returning 24 fish. The winning team was Basil Shields and Tom Coyle with 3 fish for just over 3kgs, Martin Murphy and Colin Doherty were second with 4 fish for 2.7kgs, third were Martin Molamphy and Ray McSharry with 3 fish for 2.4kgs.
Craig McKirdy and Dutch angler John Skines had 6 fish over the weekend with 5 returned.
The expected big rise in temperatures may see hatches petering out over the next week, with evening buzzer hatches starting to figure in angler’s plans, but it is safe to say that even if mayfly hatches continue for another while, this has already been one of the best mayfly seasons for many years on Corrib.
Tomi Kurman from the Corrib Predator Team emailed to let us know of the great fishing that some Czech visitors experienced with himself and fellow guide Jack Gorny over 2 days recently. Between the 2 boats they landed 19 Trout, including 7 over 70cm long. The best 3 fish measured 75, 78 and 83 cm, weighing up to 16.5lbs. Conditions were perfect for ferox fishing, and their guests were dedicated to catch some monster ferox. All fish were released safely.
To book fishing with one of the Predator Team guides, contact them on 085 7318541 (Tomi) or 085 7741578 (Jack), check Jack’s website at www.fishingireland.pl or find Tomi on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001817618251
Raymond Dawes from North Norfolk in the UK, a regular visitor to Lough Corrib and in his 93rd year caught a wonderful Corrib trout on the dapped mayfly on Thursday the 17th. It weighed in at 4.5lbs after a heroic battle. Raymond said: ‘It was the expert knowledge of our guide Gerry Molloy from Glann, Oughterard that made it at all possible as conditions on that day were very far from ideal!’ He went on to say he will be back next year for another foray on the lake at this glorious time of the year.
To book fishing with Gerry Molloy contact him on 087 9190673. or visit his website at www.loughcorriboughterard.com
