Ronan Cusack reports that the rise in temperatures this week has reflected in a slight improvement in mayfly hatches. Anglers fishing the southern end of Mask in particular reported seeing plenty of fly on the warmer days and trout responding well.
The Tourmakeady Angling Club held their annual European Cup over the weekend. This event is run on the combined weight of the catch over the 2 days. 62 anglers took part with a total of 133 trout weighed in. First place went to well-known Lough Mask angler Pat Feerick, with 8 trout for 10.14lbs. Second place went to Pat’s younger brother Martin, who also had 8 trout for 9.12lbs. Club chairman Eddie Gibbons took third place with 6 trout for 8.10lbs. Overseas French angler Yan Le Fevre took the heaviest fish prize with a fine trout of 3.13lbs. The main topic of conversation on the shore in Gortmore on both evenings was the countless number of undersized trout that anglers were returning each day. Conditions were excellent over the weekend with plenty of wind, broken cloud and a good sprinkle of fly.
Dublin anglers Jeff Matthews and his son had a day to remember on Sunday last while fishing with Noel Moran. They had 8 fish for 15.5lbs on a combination of wet flies and dapping. Kevin Sheridan, Ballinrobe, also had 8 fish on dries, on Sunday last (best fish 4lbs, all returned). Kevin had a total of 40 trout for his week. Noel Lowry from Northern Ireland fished with Martin Carney from Dublin on Saturday, and they had 6 trout for the day on wets and dries (best fish 2.5lbs).
Garth Love and Ivor Hazlet, Northern Ireland, had 17 good fish over their 6-day trip to Mask last week. Garth had a grin like a Cheshire cat on the second last day of their trip, when he landed his best trout to date on Lough Mask weighing 3.5lbs.
Hall’s Angling Centre had a busy week this week with plenty of good fishing to report. A group of 5 retired banking staff had 40 fish for their week (best fish 6lbs). A French angler also staying at Hall’s had over 20 trout for his 7 day holiday. To book accommodation or boat hire at Hall’s, contact David Hall at 094 9541389 or visit www.lakeshoreholidays.com
Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at [email protected] or on 087 2869487.
Margaret Gorman from Isham Self Catering and Angling Centre at Dringeen Bay reports that all of their anglers are having lots of enjoyable days on the lake. Isham guests Des McDonough and a party of anglers from the Waterford/Cork area had a fantastic week accounting for 40 trout for the week. Cris and Edith Loots from Belgium had 2 days fishing with 16 fish recorded. They also reported many small fish. Most of their catch was returned.
Pat Gorman had a nice evening on Saturday with a good trout of almost 3lbs to a Green Dabbler and numerous small fish all of which were returned. Conor Dennedy and his father Bert, Eoin Kelly and his friend Patsy fished on Monday with a lot of small fish coming to the dap and wet fly methods. They kept just 2 fish for their day.
Best flies for the week were Olive/Dabbler patterns with fish also being taken on the Mayfly. For boat hire and angling information available on site see www.congselfcatering.com, phone 087 7908107 or email [email protected]
Eric Houalet from Greenlands Tours, a company catering for French visitors in the Mayo area, sent in a photo of a fine trout taken by one of their guests, Nicolas Boireau from Paris. Guided by Jean-Phillippe Carnet from Greenlands Tours, Nicolas hooked and played the fish which measured 88cm and was weighed at 14lbs, and is one of the best fish taken this year on Lough Mask.
