Despite the poor weather conditions with high winds, thunder & lightning and some heavy rain, Lough Conn saw another very good week. Mayfly and olive hatches were still plentiful and good numbers of trout were caught throughout the lakes.

trout
Pat Haslin with his fine 4 lbs. Lough Conn brownie

On Lough Cullin, local anglers, Paul Breslin and Peter Gray, had seven trout each (all released) with Paul catching a fine 3 pound trout on a ginger Dabbler. Other successful anglers on Lough Cullin included Brian Golden and Peter Neary, both Dublin, who had a total of 26 trout, all released and all around the 1 lbs. mark. On the last drift of the day, Pat Haslin had a cracking 4 pounder on a Daddy from the Pontoon area.

From Pontoon Bridge Hotel ([email protected]), all anglers reported good fishing, releasing most of the trout. Joan Lindsay and Davy McCabe, UK, had 18 fish between them, best at 1.5 lbs. US visitors, Brendan O’Kelly and his son, John, caught & released a total of 7 trout, best at 2 lbs., while Geoffrey Cooke, UK, averaged 6 trout a day for his week. Chris Wathen, UK, also reported excellent fishing, averaging 15 keepers a day, best at 2lbs.

From Murphy’s Boat Hire ([email protected]), regulars to Lough Conn, Liam McHugh, Offaly, and Mick Sweeney, Galway, averaged 8 keepers a day, best at 2 lbs.  Ned Tourell and Barry Greham, both Offaly, had approx. 20 trout between them, best 1.5 lbs., while David Passmore, Wales, and his party of 8 anglers averaged 15 trout over 3 days with one angler alone having 30 trout over 12”.

From Cloonamoyne Fishery ([email protected]), John Flynn & son Bill, Kilkenny, caught and released 47 trout over 6 days fishing. Michael Gill and Dermot McAleese, both Dublin also enjoyed great fishing with 39 trout for two days, best at 2 lbs., while David Craig and Mark Hagans, both Northern Ireland, boated 15 fish, best at 1.75 lbs.

In the Crossmolina area, local anglers also did very well with many good fish up to 2.5 lbs. being caught. Successful anglers included Freddie Canavan with 5 trout up to 2 lbs., Fred Finlay and Brian Gallagher with trout up to 2.5 lbs. and Michael Lynn, who also boated a good number of nice trout up to 2.5 lbs.

Fishing out of Kelly’s Boat Hire, Martin Cawley, Cloghans, and Clive Tyrell, UK, caught 10 trout each, best at 1.5 lbs., while Trevor Cooke and Barry Bradley, both UK, had over 30 trout between them. The Brackwansha area also produced some notable catches including 4 trout for local angler, Orla Walsh, best at 2 lbs. and 3 trout for John Finnerty, Knockmore, best at 2.75 lbs.

Two competitions were also held during the week. Results were as follows:

Annual Aidan Conor Cup (Crossmolina Angling Club)

  • 1st Tommy Gallagher – 1 trout 0.905kg
  • 2nd Padraig Traynor – 1 trout 0.770kg
  • 3rd Michael Monagahn – 1 trout 0.645kg

 

Annual President’s Cup (Foxford Anglers)

  • 1st Ian Bertie – 2 trout @ 1.57kg
  • 2nd Stephen Brown – 3 trout @ 1.54kg
  • 3rd Peter Roche – 2 trout@ 1.30kg
  • Heaviest fish: Michael Tiernan Snr.