Ronan Cusack reports that as predicted, the sudden change in weather conditions over the past few days brought a welcome improvement to the fishing on Mask. Heavy downpours and high winds dominated the weather towards the end of last week which saw a drop in water temperature and trout feeding more aggressively.
Well known Mask and Carra angler Peter Byrne organised a fund raising competition in aid of the water protection group over the weekend. This was a catch and release event and was supported by 42 anglers. The overall winner was Johnny Moroney, Ennis, with 8 trout measuring 276cm. In second place was Denis Kelleher, Ballinrobe, with 8 trout measuring 271 cm. Third place went to Westport angler Ronan Gibbons, with 7 fish measuring 229cm. Mark Devine from Sligo had the longest fish of the competition measuring 40cm.
After a disappointing defeat in this year’s All Ireland football semi-final, Mayo legend Donal Vaughan spent a day pulling wet-flies in the deep last Monday. Donal described the day as one of the best he has ever spent on Mask, finishing with 5 good fish over the limit and returning numerous undersize fish throughout the day (best fish 1.75lbs all returned)
The Kilbride Angling club visited Mask earlier this week and reported some excellent sport on a combination of wets and dries. Regular Mask anglers Christy Crotty and John Ronane from Waterford had 3 fish over the weekend (best fish 2lbs). Partry angler John Munroe had 8 trout over the legal limit on Friday last and also returned numerous undersize fish during the day (best fish 1.5lbs, all returned).
Kevin Sheridan, Ballinrobe, spent a day dapping Daddy Longlegs this week and finished with 4 fish (best fish 2lbs, all returned).
The weather is more settled this week, but with lower water temperatures and fish feeding hard before their spawning migration, prospects for sport on Mask for the last few weeks are very good.
Alan Crinnion was in touch to report on superb fishing on the Finny River on Saturday, a major tributary of Mask, just before the season closed there. Fishing a dropping flood, Alan landed 8 good trout on fly, cinlduing one cracker of approx. 7lbs, and several more between 2 and 4lbs. All fish were sportingly released again on a day that Alan described as his best day’s fishing in years.
Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at 087 2869487, or by email at [email protected]
