Markus Muller, Angling Information Manager from the IFI office in Ballina reports on recent pike fishing in the North West Mayo area
Trout Fishing
Lough Conn & Lough Cullin
Trout anglers experienced good fishing on Loughs Conn and Cullin during the week. On Lough Cullin, father and son, Richard and Gary Binley, Foxford, kept 8 trout, best at 2 lbs. on dry mayfly patterns, while Liam Flynn and Michael Hopkins, both Roscommon, caught and released 5 fish averaging 1.5 lbs., also on dry mayflies.
Richard Binley, Foxford, displaying two Lough Cullin trout
Fishing out of Brackwansha and around the Cormorant Rocks, Philip Coogan and boat partner, Danny Kilcawley, both Sligo, had 5 trout between 1.25 lbs. and 1.5 lbs., all on dry mayflies and Green Peters, while Victoria Bay produced 3 trout, best at 1.5 lbs. for Gerry Walsh and Michael Coleman, both Galway.
The northern end of Lough Conn also fished well with many nice trout up to 2 lbs. taken by anglers. Amongst the successful anglers were Dessie Ruthledge & son Pierce with 3 fish on Green Peters and Vincent O’Boyle & Michael Cawley with 5 fish on wet and dry mayflies.
Kelly’s Boat Hire reported god fishing for local angler, Padraig Kelly Snr. & Dermot Dunne, Offaly, who boated 9 trout in Home Bay, best at 1.5 lbs. Karl Henry, Northern Ireland, had 6 fish in Castlehill Bay on dry olives, while Fintan Phelim, Castlebar, was successful off Cloghans with 4 trout on traditional wet flies.
Cloonamoyne Fishery, Enniscoe, Crossmolina, reported excellent fishing for their clients with John Baker and Julien Linton from the UK catching 13 trout over 2 days on wet Goslings and Fan Wings, best at 2.25 lbs. Ian Wise and boat partner, David Flynn, UK, enjoyed very good fishing in Bog Bay with trout up to 2 lbs. To book guided fishing with Cloonamoyne Fishery, contact Ian at [email protected]
A couple of competitions were also held on Lough Conn during the week. Results were as follows.
Saturday 3rd May – Annual Dublin Anglers vs. Lough Conn & Cullin Anglers Competition (35 anglers, 63 wild brown trout taken)
1st Padraig Traynor – 4 trout 3kg.
2nd John McNeely – 5 trout 2.5kg.
3rd Michael Monaghan – 4 trout 2.3kg
Best fish: Padraig Traynor 1.6kg
Sunday 4th May – Annual Pratt Cup (40 anglers, 25 wild brown trout taken)
1st Sean Goulding, Dublin – 3 trout 3.6 kg
2nd Noel Shields, Dublin – 2 trout 2.1kg
3rd Billy McGhee, Foxford – 3 trout 1.3kg
4th Justin Clarke, Dublin – 2 trout 1.2 kg
Best fish: Sean Goulding – 1.4kg
Lough Arrow
Conditions on Lough Arrow improved considerably in recent days. The mayfly is up on the lake with good numbers of anglers out and a lot of small to medium sized fish being returned. K. Gibson, K. Hutchinson and K. Tully, all guests of Lough Arrow Caravan Park enjoyed a good week’s fishing with many trout in the 2 lbs. range, most of them returned. Local angler, Walter Frazer, also had a 2 lbs. trout, while Muriel Frazer caught a cracking fish weighing 5 lbs. 6oz. on the dab.
Muriel Frazer with her magnificent Lough Arrow trout (5 lbs. 6 oz.) caught on the dab
Lough Arrow Fish Preservation Association & District Anglers will hold their annual Mayfly Competition on Sunday 11th May from 10am until 6pm. Weigh in for single heaviest fish will take place at McDonagh’s Bar, Ballindoon, at 7pm. Entries will be taken at Flynn’s pier between 9am and 10am or by text message to the following committee members (Alison +353 (0)87 9541835, David +353 (0)86 3825376, Karl +353 (0)086 8343584, Sarah +353 (0)87 9734101).
Ballin Lough
The Ballin Lough Fishery near Westport produced some decent fish for visiting anglers this week. Amongst the lucky anglers were John Muldoon with his boat partner who had a rainbow trout of 4 lbs. and 3 browns, best at 1.75 lbs. Pat Murphy, Galway, boated a 3 lbs. rainbow trout and a nice brown trout weighing 1.75 lbs. Best flies included Dabblers and nymph patterns.
To book fishing on Ballin Lough contact IFI Ballina at +353 (0)96 22788.
