The past week saw very little angling activity on the River Moy. Water levels remained on the high side for the 3rd consecutive week and obviously prevented most anglers from venturing out. However, the Moy system still produced almost 200 salmon for the week with all fisheries but the tidal section reporting some catches. French visitor Jean Claude Thomas did particularly well on the East Mayo section, catching four grilse over 3 days averaging 4 lbs. Other successful anglers included Bill Cleary, Dublin, with a 10 lbs. salmon on fly and John McDonagh, Galway, who landed an eleven pounder on spinner.
However, the highlight of the week in the Moy Valley was without doubt the Foxford Riverfest! The event which was held for the second time attracted good numbers of visitors over the weekend.
On Sunday 30th August, the Irish Open Spey Casting Competition was held as part of the festival. Due to very high water levels on the River Moy the competition was moved to nearby Lough Cullin. Conditions on the Lough were near ideal for the qualifying round where distances of up 199 feet were recorded. There was a slight breeze building for the final round but conditions were still very good. In the end, Ruairi Costello, Co. Clare, finished with a great cast of 164 feet and won the Title Foxford Riverfest Irish Open Spey Casting Champion. Ruairi was followed in 2nd place by last year’s winner, Michael O’Kane from Derry with a cast of 157.5 feet, and third place went to Thomas Armstrong, Co. Down, with a cast of 145 feet.
Foxford Riverfest also hosted the first Irish Open Single Hand Casting Competition. Once again, Ruairi Costello proved worthy of his reputation casting 34.3m to take his second title of the day, 2nd place went to Thomas Armstrong with 32.35m, 3rd to Sean Armstrong with 31.18m and 4th to Robert Gillespie with 30.3m.
Foxford Riverfest would like to thank all competitors and everyone who helped in organising this event, including IFI Ballina, Gary Binley, P.J Tiernan (Tiernan Bros. Tackle Shop) & Dominic McGowan (Foxford Angling Club).
