Ronan Cusack reports that angling on Mask blew very hot and cold for the second half of last week, as low pressure and easterly winds dominated the weather. Mayfly and olive hatches were very unpredictable and changed from one day to the next.

Ballinrobe and District Anglers held their annual 2-day development competition over the bank holiday weekend. 66 anglers took part and 105 fish were weighed in over the 2 days. First place went to the team of Tourmakeady angler Mick Dunne and Frankie Guilfoyle from Ennis, with 10 trout for 14.07lbs. In second place were Tom Foley (Ballinrobe) and John Forde (Cork) with 11 trout for 13.30lbs. Denis Kelleher (Ballinrobe) and Ronnie Law (Northern Ireland) took third place with 10 trout for 12.34lbs. Richard Cleary (Cork) weighed in the heaviest fish of 3.37lbs. Kevin Egan (Ballinrobe) won the best Ballinrobe angler prize with 6 fish for 8.88lbs.

Cavan anglers Vincent Kelly, Cian, Darragh and Brendan Murtagh spent 3 days on Mask last week with Ronan and Joe Cusack. Conditions were tough and the lads finished with 9 trout over the size limit. Cian and Vincent were fishing Buzzer in Ballahalla on Friday when Cian asked boatman Ronan to hold his buzzer rod in order for him to set up dries. No sooner had he done this when the line ran off and a cracking trout of 6.75lbs was on the other end. After a 20 minute battle Cian landed the fish with the help of his boat partners Vincent and Ronan.

Cian Murtagh (right) with a beautiful almost 7lbs trout that he caught while fishing buzzer in Ballahalla Bay on Lough Mask. Also in picture is his boat partner Vincent Kelly.
Cian Murtagh (right) with a beautiful almost 7lbs trout that he caught while fishing buzzer in Ballahalla Bay on Lough Mask. Also in picture is his boat partner Vincent Kelly.

 

Hugh Jameson Northern Ireland fished with David Hall of Hall’s Angling Centre on Saturday last and they had 6 fish for their day (best fish 5lbs). 2 French anglers also staying at Hall’s fished for 3 days last week and they had 12 trout (best fish 2.5lbs). Norwegian angler Rune Dunne fished for 3 days in the early part of last week and he had 7 trout on dries (best fish 4.5lbs). Ivan McGough Northern Ireland had 11 trout over 3 days on Mask last week (best fish 2lbs). David Hall fished on Bank Holiday Monday and he had 3 fish (best fish 1.5lbs). To book fishing or accommodation contact David or Helen at 094 9541389 or check www.lakeshoreholidays.com

Hugh Jameson with a 5lbs trout he caught on Lough Mask while fishing with David Hall
Hugh Jameson with a 5lbs trout he caught on Lough Mask while fishing with David Hall

 

Eamon Kennedy, Tommy Foley and Damien Walsh guided 6 anglers on Mask on Tuesday last and they had a total of 6 fish (best fish 1.5lbs). Ballinrobe angler Sean Maloney also fished on Tuesday with Noel Fay from Kildare and they had 2 fish for the day (best fish 1.75lbs). Peter McGroary from Donegal had a superb day the previous weekend, landing 13 trout, many undersize but including a lovely fish of 3.75lbs

Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at [email protected] or at 087 2869487