Declan Gibbons reports on a quiet enough week on Corrib, with the duckfly finished and the olives yet to hatch in significant numbers. Cold temperatures and north-easterly winds haven’t helped matters.
On Sunday last Ballindiff Bay Angling Club hosted a competition in which 28 anglers participated, with 6 fish weighed in over the size limit. The winner on the day was Paul Mott with one trout for 2.12lbs.
Also on Sunday last Cong Angling Club hosted their Easter Annual Wet Fly Competition, which was postponed from Easter due to weather conditions. 23 anglers took part in a competition which saw 13 fish being weighed in. First place went to David Ryan, Cong with 3 fish for 4.9lbs; in second place was David Healy from Hollymount with 2 fish for 3.12lbs and in third was John Lydon, Cong also with 2 fish for 2.7lbs. The heaviest fish prize also went to David Ryan with a trout of 2.8lbs. Cong Angling Club are hosting their Annual Mayfly Competition on the Sunday of Whit weekend (5th June) – for further information contact club Secretary Stephen Lydon on 0876355876.

In the Oughterard area Basil Shiels of Ardnasillagh Lodge (086 0869758) reported slightly quieter fishing in the week gone by. Visiting Dutch angler Marten Staal had one fish for 2.8lbs.Balbriggan man Derek Rooney had 2 fish for his visit to Lough Corrib – best fish 3lbs.Belfast angler Colin Wright had 3 fish for his visit – best fish being 2lbs. Basil himself had 5 fish (all released) for one day with the best fish being 2.8lbs.
Also in the Oughterard area Kevin Molloy of Baurisheen Bay Bay Boat hire (tel. 087 9604170) hosted visiting French anglers who enjoyed two days of good fishing on a mixture of wet fly and trolling.