Ronan Cusack reports that angling remained difficult on Mask again this week despite reasonable conditions and good fly hatches being reported from all around the lake.
The Carra/Mask Water Protection Group held their annual catch-and-release fund raising competition on Saturday last. This event is organised by Peter Byrne of Castlebar Anglers and is fished to the old 12-inch limit, with all fish being released. 35 anglers took part on the day and 38 trout were recorded, with 18 exceeding the 13-inch limit.
The winner on the day was Tommy Carroll (Castlebar), with 7 trout for 278cm. in second place was Frank Reilly with 5 fish for 176cm, and third place went to Peter Byrne, with 3 fish for 95cm.
14 anglers from the Garrykennedy Angling Club had a day on Mask on Sunday last and they had 3 fish in bright conditions for the day. Padraig Kerrigan (Cornamona) fished for an evening with Ronan Cusack this week and they had 3 fish (best fish 1.5lbs, all released).
Stella Harte and her daughter Orla from Dublin spent a day dapping grasshoppers with Kevin Sheridan on Wednesday and they had 1 trout for 2lbs. Kevin fished dries in Ballahalla for most of the week and had a total of 7 keepers (best fish 2lbs, all released).
Castlebar Anglers held a club competition on Sunday last on Lough Carra. 20 anglers weighed in three fish after a tough day. First place went to Ray Broughton from Moorhall with 2 fish for 3.10lbs. Second place went to John Deacy, Castlebar, with 1 fish for 1.68lbs.
