Ghillie Vincent Appleby reports on the salmon and sea trout fishing in the past week on Lough Currane:

Fionan with his C&R Sea Trout,
Fionan with his C&R Sea Trout

16/9/15 All the head lines go to French angler Marthial of Roscommon, who caught his first Salmon on the troll and may it be the first of many. His Gillie Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com was telling me that they were only fishing 10 minutes when the action started. Another French angler fishing with his Gillie Mr. Michael O’Sullivan of Waterville Boats and at [email protected] caught a fine Grilse on the troll. In the C&R department and in the words of Mr. Sion Brain of www.kbfishingireland.com Fionan Brain caught and released a lovely trout. Very happy boy to let it live to fight another day.  What wind was there was NNW with bright sunshine for most of the day.

17/9/15 There was some good action in the fly department. We start on the South side of the lake. Bob from Luxemburg, caught 3 Sea Trout from Junior class up to 3 lbs. While fishing with his Gillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com.  Now we cut across the Lake to the North Side and the Bungalow for catch and release of the day. That goes to the supreme fly Fisherman Mr. Sean Smith of the UK, who caught a fine 7lbs. Salmon drifting down Edery Bay. Sean went for the Cream de Menthe in the afternoon by catching a fine 8 lbs. Salmon as other Gillie’s watched with envy and Sean’s Gillie, Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com, watched with satisfaction. Staying with Sean in his Sea Trout department he caught and released 1 Junior and lost a very good one. Mr. Colm Rigney and Keith McGovern from Co Mayo, fishing with Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com caught and released 3 Juniors.Wind NW light with good cloud cover with the odd light shower.

Heading out...
Heading out…

18/9/15 The Currane Championship’ Waterville’s Sea Trout Catch and Release Fly-fishing Competition got underway today and Mr Rod Robertson of www.loughcurrane.com gave me all the facts of the day and they are as follows. Most rods recorded fish. There were quite a few Sea Trout in the 40 to 50 cm class and Local Angler Mr. Liam Ellis recorded the best of the day at 50 cm. So there is; all to fight for tomorrow – so let the Rod Benders commence. Local Gillie Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com with his client, French Angler Olly, caught 3 Juniors on the drift. Now to catch of the day and that goes to UK Angler Mr. Michael Smith and for good reason he caught and a released a fine 4lbs. Sea Trout and his Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com reported to me that Michael and his son Sean Smith caught two more Sea Trout and just for the record all fish were put back. Wind NNW light and overcast.

North Side competitors
North Side competitors

19/9/15  The Currane Championship’ Waterville’s Sea Trout Catch and Release Fly-fishing Competition was into its second and final day and all the facts again were provided by Mr. Rod Robertson of www.loughcurrane.com: Mixed day today, but at least every one caught a fish or two.

This years Winner Mr. Colin  Wilson receives first prize from Neil O'Shea
This years Winner Mr. Colin Wilson receives first prize from Neil O’Shea

Overall, the ‘Lough Currane Championship’ the annual Sea Trout Catch and Release  Competition, hosted by the Waterville Lakes & Rivers Trust, was voted a resounding success by the competitors!  84 sea trout were caught and released by the 24 anglers, over the two day contest. A good number of Lough Currane’s famous larger sea trout, up to 50 cm , featured in the catches. It was a close run thing for the top two rods with Colin Wilson from Belfast winning with just a few points lead over Dublin angler, Enrico Fastasia.

The Appleby Cup, For the Longest Fish was jointly awarded to Colin Wilson and Liam Ellis by Neil O'Shea
The Appleby Cup, For the Longest Fish was jointly awarded to Colin Wilson and Liam Ellis by Neil O’Shea

The Appleby Cup, awarded to the angler catching the longest fish, was a tie between Colin Wison and well known local angler Liam Ellis, both catching and releasing fish of 50 cm. At the prize giving dinner, which was well attended and enjoyable, the Waterville Lakes & Rivers Trust welcomed the many newcomers to the competition including the contingent which had travelled all the way from Belfast!

Many of the competitors swearing to return, with reinforcements(!) next year.

Elsewhere  on Lough Currane, Mr. Peter Liddell, caught 3 Trout to his rod, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com Staying at the Bungalow, Mr. Lindsay Richards caught and released 3 Juniors, fishing with his Gillie Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com Wind light and variable with good cloud cover.

20/9/15 Now today’s fact, Local Gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com reported Mr. Peter Liddell caught and released a fine 4 lbs. Sea Trout and not be out shined UK anglers Mr. Michael Smith and his Son Michael, caught 3 Sea Trout up to 4 lbs. Wind SW strong and overcast and just for the record it made a reasonable flood this morning.

21/9/15 The Bungalow takes all the head lines in the Sea Trout fly department, first in the striking zone were UK anglers Mr. Peter Twomey and his party, while fishing with their Gillie Mr. Tom O’Sheaof www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com had 2 Juniors for the day, staying at the Bungalow, UK Angler Mr. Sean Smith, while fishing with his Gillie Mr. Junior Scully, was in stunning form with 2 fine Sea Trout both in the 4 lbs. class and just for the record all today’s catches were returned. Wind West fresh with reasonable cloud cover with showers. The amount of rainfall yesterday was 21.4 mm.

22/9/15 Lough Currane was all quiet on the SW front, in other words my Noble Anglers failed miserably in their duties and the least said the soonest mended, the same couldn’t be said for Waterville Boats and at [email protected] over the last few days. Mr. Trevor Dewberry of the UK and his party caught a total of 5 Salmon of which 3 were caught on the fly, 2 on the troll, weights ranging 4 lbs. up to just under the 6 lbs. Will give all Trevor’s party names as soon as I have them. Wind NW then veered NE light with reasonable cloud cover.

That is your ration from the opening days on Lough Currane, from your Gillie and the Waterville Fishery, no spin no fly’s just facts.
Vincent Appleby

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Vincent Appleby Eureka Lodge, Caherdaniel West, Co. Kerry.
Telephone: +353 (0)66 9475248
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.salmonandseatrout.com

Find out more about Lough Currane…

The rivers and lakes of Waterville drain a large catchment and are regarded by many as the foremost Salmon and Sea-Trout fishery in the country. The lake system is well developed with access to boats and guides being readily available to the tourist angler. The Sea-Trout caught here are renowned for their size and quantity. For more details see
Waterville lakes and rivers system