I was called out yesterday by an angler who shall remain nameless (ahem, Colm) for being overly optimistic in recent reports about the prospects for angling in Galway. Well this week I am happy to have been proved right, as a good run of excellent quality spring fish provided some great sport for anglers. 17 salmon were landed for the week, including plenty on fly, and a good deal more fish were lost after good sport. Declan Tuffy was top rod this week, with a cracking fish of 13.5lbs taken on fly.
Sunday was the best day of the season so far, with 5 landed, including fish for Paul O’Malley (6lbs, taken on shrimp), a 12lbs fish for John McCarthy on shrimp, Paul Stewart’s 12lbs fish on fly, a 10lbs fish for Christian Berger, also on fly, and a 5.5lbs grilse for Declan McInerney taken on shrimp. The fishery averaged 1-2 fish a day for the rest of the week, including fish of 10lbs for Jon Menzies and Paul Wymes, fish of 9.5lbs and 8.5lbs for Padraic Corrigan and Seamus Nee (both on fly), and an 11.5lbs fish for Ber Gilsenan on spinner.
Louis Mathews landed an 11lbs fish on fly, while former fishery manager kicked off today with a lovely 12-pounder on the fly. Louis Brennan followed that up with a 12.5lbs fish on spinner, while Sean O’Toole has kept things going with a 8.5lbs fish on shrimp.
Water conditions are good at the moment, with 2 gates open on the weir, and with the forecast set to pick up slightly, fresh fish of a great size running the river, I’m going to put my neck on the line again and predict good fishing prospects for anglers again over the next week. You heard it here first Colm!
