Ronan Cusack reports that fishing was difficult on Lough Mask this week, with strong winds and temperatures barely moving out of single figures. Despite this, anyone who decided to brave the elements was well rewarded.

Ivor Hazlet and Gareth Love, Northern Ireland, had 9 fish over 2 days (best fish 1.75lbs). Gerry O’Brien, Ballinrobe, had a total of 11 trout for the week on dries (best fish 4lbs, all returned). Gerry also returned countless undersize fish in the course of the week. John Moorhead and Alan Cogan, Cork, fished with Ronan on Saturday last, and they had 2 keepers plus several undersize fish (best fish 1.75lbs). Noel Fay, Kildare, fished with Oliver Wickam, Partry, on Tuesday and they had 5 fish for their day (best fish 2.5lbs). Frank O’Hara, Ballinrobe, had 2 fish on Tuesday (best fish 1.75lbs). Kevin Sheridan, Ballinrobe, had 23 fish for the week on a combination of wets and dries (best fish 2.5lbs, all returned). Kevin Beatty, Ballinrobe, had something to smile about on Thursday when he landed a cracking trout of 6.75lbs on a dry olive. Sam and Mark Proctor, Co Down, had 4 trout on Monday last (best fish 1.5lbs).

Ronan Cusack fished with two UK anglers on Monday and Tuesday, and they returned 14 fish over the 13 inch limit, plus numerous undersize fish.

Mayfly hatches are still very sparse on Mask, yet olives continue to hatch in large numbers all week

 

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 on Lough Mask, reports that guests endured difficult angling conditions during the week with north/north-easterly winds prevailing.   However, they received surprisingly good returns this week from anglers fishing out of Dringeen Bay.

Jean Yves from Corsica and Christian Desgrippes from mainland France had a great day during the week and caught 5 trout, with their best fish weighing 4lbs. Isham guests, Des McDonough and friends from Carlow had another good day with 6 trout – all good fish. All of these anglers were fishing wetfly and most fish were returned to the water again.

Dr. Ian and Rosie Gordon, Northern Ireland, had a very enjoyable day’s fishing with dry flies on Saturday, 12th May and had 3 trout and a lot of small fish. Their best fish was 3lbs and again, most of their trout were returned to the water.

Despite Sunday being a difficult day to fish with almost gale force southwesterly winds, Adrian Gorman and Martin O’Neill retreated from Lough Mask to the shelter of Dringeen Bay to be rewarded with a fine catch of 5 trout for 9.5lbs and numerous small fish, most of which were returned, best fish 2.5lbs.   Adrian and his friend were fishing wetfly and all of their fish were caught on mayfly patterns.

Other anglers fishing from Isham during the week all reported good activity with lots of small fish showing.

For boat hire and angling information available on site see www.congselfcatering.com, phone 087 7908107 or email [email protected]

 

Roger Martin from Westport, Co. Mayo, with a 10lbs brown trout taken while shore fishing on Lough Mask, May 2012
Roger Martin from Westport, Co. Mayo, with a 10lbs brown trout taken while shore fishing on Lough Mask, May 2012

 

Mike Varley from Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, with a 6.5lbs brown trout taken while shore fishing on Lough Mask, May 2012
Mike Varley from Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, with a 6.5lbs brown trout taken while shore fishing on Lough Mask, May 2012

 

Ronan also reported on trout salvage operations being carried out at the moment by Inland Fisheries Ireland staff, who are working tirelessly at the moment in an effort to remove the many fish which have become trapped in the Cong canal. The dry spell we have been experiencing of late has resulted in a significant drop in water levels, and given the porous nature of the limestone within the canal, this happens at an alarming rate. During this period fishery staff monitor water levels on a daily basis, watching for shoals of juvenile trout and pools to form within the canal. Once this happens the young trout are at their most vulnerable from herons and low oxygen levels. Only now is it possible for electrofishing to be carried out efficiently, allowing the greatest percentage of fish to be removed, causing the least amount of harm or stress. Once removed from the pools, fish are then placed in an oxygenated tank before been transported back to the lake and released into the wild.

Previous surveys carried out by IFI have shown that the Cong canal is the main spawning channel for the much sought after ferox trout, and its survival for the future relies greatly on this type of work. In the past two weeks alone over 5,000 juvenile trout have been removed from shallow pools in the Cong canal and given a second chance of survival in the lake.

IFI Staff John Campbell and Padraic Kerrigan using electro-fishing gear to rescue stranded trout from the Cong Canal before it dries out completely. The salvaged fish are released back to Lough Mask.
IFI Staff John Campbell and Padraic Kerrigan using electro-fishing gear to rescue stranded trout from the Cong Canal before it dries out completely. The salvaged fish are released back to Lough Mask.