Ronan Cusack reports that the strong north westerly winds that pounded the eastern shorelines of Mask this week produced some of the best wet and dry fly fishing we have seen for years. Rod averages of 10 plus trout over the size limit were not uncommon throughout the week. Mayfly hatches were also steady and trout responded well to these.

Regular visitors to Mask, Mike Donaghy and John Webb from Scotland fished with Ronan Cusack for 3 days this week in very blustery conditions and they maintained an individual rod average of 8 trout each day (best fish 3.25lbs, all returned). Ronan also fished with UK angler Pete Dighton for 2 days over the weekend and they again averaged between 15 and 20 trout each day on a combination of wets and dries (best fish 3lbs, all returned).

Mike Donaghy with a nice Mask trout caught on his recent visit, where himself and friend John Webb enjoyed excellent fishing.
Mike Donaghy with a nice Mask trout caught on his recent visit, where himself and friend John Webb enjoyed excellent fishing.

Local angler Declan Gibbons had 2 nice trout on Friday afternoon on wets (best fish 2lbs, all returned). Eddy Gibbons (Tourmakeady) fished with Dublin angler Doug Armstrong on Friday last and they had 5 trout along the Tourmakeady shore (best fish 3lbs). Shane Jones, also from Tourmakeady, fished on Friday and he had 4 fish on wets (best fish 2lbs). UK angler Phil Brooks had a day on Mask with Declan Murphy (Ballinrobe) last Saturday and they had 12 trout on wets and buzzer (best fish 3.5lbs). Declan fished alone again on Sunday and he had 4 fish (best 2.5lbs, all returned).

John Webb from Scotland, who enjoyed excellent fishing recently on Lough Mask, with one of his catch.
John Webb from Scotland, who enjoyed excellent fishing recently on Lough Mask, with one of his catch.

Overall Mask is fishing extremely well and if conditions remain good it is well worth a visit over the next couple of weeks.

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