High winds and frequent rainfall made angling last week difficult, but this week, while conditions are still difficult, hatches at last are picking up, and more mayfly are being seen on the water.

Eamon Walsh reports that last week brought further disappointment for anglers on the Corrib. With a continuations of the cold weather accompanied with gusty winds, fishing was made all the more difficult with the lack of fly life on the water.  Those who did brave the conditions had contrasting fortunes.  Some anglers reported not catching at all, while others, like Dermot and Barry Brewster of Northern Ireland fishing out of Molloys of Carraig, had 21 fish for 3 days fishing, and local angler Enda Brown had 16 over 5 days.  Another international angler, Daniel Paris had 5 fish for 3 days fishing with John Walsh.

Craig Mc Kirdy reports that fishing activity in the Greenfields area had been slow to take off this year, owing mostly to the lack of may fly being seen on the water.

While activity on the Oughterard shore of the lake had been slow to get going, improvements are being seen, with small pockets of mayfly appearing in sheltered bays.  Tommy Kelly informs us that the Eoin Jacob party, fishing out of Basil Shields Angling Center, had 15 fish for 32lbs over two days fishing with a best of over 5.5lbs.  Donal Hayes and Eddy O’Brien of Waterford had 6 trout for 14lbs, with Donal also having a fine fish of over 5lbs for their 3 days fishing.   A competition run out of Collinamuck had mixed results, with Christy Reilly coming out on top with 3 trout weighing 7lbs, Mike Keady was second with 2 fish for 5.5lbs.

Deirdre Forde from Camillaun Angling Centre in Oughterard reported that some of their guests enjoyed good fishing during the week.  Jim O’Sullivan of Cork  landed 5 trout in Oughterard Bay for 12lbs while spinning – having to adapt due to the lack of fly life! Patrick Walker had two lovely trout while dapping an artificial daddy long legs – again a good adaptation to conditions as there is a reasonable hatch of daddies – all in the Oughterard area.

Brian Esmie and Keith Bentley also fishing in Oughterard had 10 trout keeping just 2 from 1 ½ – 2 ½ lbs over 4 days with both dapping and wetflies.

To book accommodation or boat hire with Camillaun, call Deirdre at 091 552678 or check www.camillaun.com

 

Donal Connolly from Nonaim Lodge also reported that while fishing was slow, it is starting to pick up, with fish taking olives early in the week but turning on to mayfly patterns towards the weekend. Thibaut Giband, a French fishing guide from Alsace, on his first trip to Lough Corrib, had 6 fish for approx 7.25lbs, all released, for a day’s wet fly fishing.  Christophe Fresard, Clermont, France caught and released 2 trout for 2.25lbs on wet fly in very difficult wild conditions.

Marc Boesch, a fishing guide from Nice, had 7 trout over a couple of days on wetfly, best was 1.75lbs, all were released to fight another day. Andrew Mackean and Robert Streathfield, from Hampshire, regular visitors to Nonaim Lodge since 2001, had extremely difficult conditions of wind and cold but still managed to produce some good results given the conditions, ending up with 8 trout for 10.25lbs, all on wet fly and also released. Donal Connolly, had 6 trout for 9.5 lbs to wet fly on Sunday the 12th, all were released. To book fishing or accommodation, contact Donal or Connie at 085 7364830, or check www.fishingcorrib.com

 

Finally, Gary Costelloe from Lakelands Angling Centre, Oughterard, was in touch to report on fishing for his guests. The DAD’s (Dublin Amateur Dapping Society), annual visitors to Lakelands, despite some initial disappointment with the lack of fly life persevered and were rewarded somewhat by dapping artificial mayflies.  Rookie DAD’s Fergus Cullen and Gerry Coleman landed their first ever Corrib   trout, 2.5lbs and 1.5Ibs respectively. It was Dave Richards who took the DAD’s trophy for this the first leg of their twice yearly trip to Lakeland, with 3 fish, (3lbs, 2lbs and 1.5lbs respectively); Bernard Kennedy, David Buggy and Chris Meehan also landed a fish each weighing on average 1.5lbs.

Also fishing from Lakeland Dermot Seymour from Mayo landed 3 fish, biggest 2.5lbs caught on a Silver Invicta. Roger Patterson, also dapping artificial mayflies, caught a 2.5lbs and 3lbs fish. Dai Williams and John Cowan from Wales had a mixed week catching 7 fish on the buzzer, best 2lbs 2oz.  For further information on accommodation and boat hire please contact Gary on [email protected] , call 091 552121, or check www.lakelandanglingcentre.com

 

Inland Fisheries Ireland would like to take this opportunity once again to remind anglers that fisheries officers are continually carrying out checks and patrols around Corrib, Mask and Carra lakes to ensure that local bye-laws and regulations are being adhered to.  Anglers should be mindful that since 2008 it is illegal to be in possession of any trout under 33cm (13 inches) and that there is a daily bag limit of 4 brown trout per angler per day.