Ronan Cusack reports from Lough Mask: Now that the World Cup is behind us and the days are getting shorter, anglers are trying to get out on the lake as much as possible before the season ends. Mask was busy over the weekend with plenty of activity in both the deep and shallows. On Saturday last, Ronan Cusack fished with regular visitor to Mask, Pete Deighton from the UK. The lads fished a combination of wets and dries and finished with 5 fish over 13 inches, and returned several undersize (best fish 2lbs, all returned). The deep fished extremely well, with a lot more of the better fish up for a look. Ronan and Adrian Gorman fished again on Sunday and they had another 4 over the limit, and again many undersize fish returned.
Peter Byrne of Lough Carra Anglers organized the annual fund raising competition for the Carra Mask Water Protection Group on Sunday. This was supported by 56 anglers from all around and run on a catch and release basis. The overall winner was Oisin Reilly, son of the well-known Frank Reilly from Glencorrib. Oisin had a fine total of 239cm. Eddie Harte and Paul Colreavy from Sligo fished the deep on Sunday and they had 9 fish over the limit (best fish 1.5lbs, all returned). Tom Sweeney from Macroom had 2 good fish on Wednesday in the shallows (best fish 4lbs). Johnny Moroney and Peter Byrne had 5 on Sunday, again in the deep (best fish 1.5lbs, all returned).
Inland Fisheries Ireland would like to take this opportunity once again to remind anglers that fisheries officers are continually carrying out checks and patrols around Corrib, Mask and Carra lakes to ensure that local bye-laws and regulations are being adhered to. Anglers should be mindful that since 2008 it is illegal to be in possession of any trout under 33cm (13 inches) and that there is a daily bag limit of 4 brown trout per angler per day. Also a 4 trout limit is what it says – “a limit and not a target”. So please keep conservation in mind and practice catch and release. All undersized trout must be handled with great care using a wet hand and returned to the water as quickly as possible. Also bear in mind, at this time of year, the majority of female trout have developed spawn and should be given the opportunity to do what nature intended.
The forecast for the coming days is for more unsettled weather so good times ahead for anglers.
Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at [email protected]
