Declan Cook reports
It has been a busy couple of weeks for trout anglers on Loughs Conn & Cullin. Following the sensational hatches of olives last season, many local and visiting anglers expected to find the same frantic feeding that produced so many memorable fishing days in the first half of 2015. However, olive hatches have been somewhat sporadic so far but trout catches remain surprisingly good.
For the early part of May, anglers enjoyed good sport to wet flies with the Peter Ross, Claret Dabbler and Fiery Brown all taking a share of fish. In the last 5 days, the Mayfly hatches have started to gather in scale and fish are now to be seen all over the lakes feeding on green drakes and even on spent gnat in the evenings.
There were two competitions held over last weekend and both produced superb results. The first of these was the Albert Berry Cup which was held on Lough Cullin over two days. Despite the bright warm weather, 46 anglers recorded 90 trout over 13” (35cms). Large numbers of smaller trout were also reported. Winners were Pat Foley & Gerry Hughes from Cavan with 9 trout for 11.10 lbs. Second place went to Tom Flynn & Jerry Martin with 8 trout for 9.01 lbs. and third went to Jack Spratt & Stanley McCart with 7 trout for 8 lbs. Most successful flies were Green Fanwing Mayfly, Green Peter and Golden Olive Bumble.
On Sunday, the Connaught Cup, held on Lough Conn, produced 58 trout over 14” (37.5cm) for 59 anglers. The winner was Jackie Mahon with 3 superb trout for 2.65 kg. Peter Greene was a close second with 3 trout for 2.565 kg and third was Pauric Fahy with 5 trout for 2.225 kg.
Elsewhere, Mick Murphy and Brian Creighton from Dublin had 6 trout each averaging 1.5 lbs. in Victoria Bay. Mark Duncan and nephew Danny Davro from the UK had 4 & 5 trout respectively, averaging 1.25 lbs. and Liam McHugh with boat partner Tom Cooney from Edenderry had 6 trout for 8 lbs. on all on dry mayfly patterns in Massbrook Bay. Mick Sweeney and Martin Flanagan from Loughrea had 6 trout in the 1.25 lbs. to 1.5 lbs. class. Their best fish (of 2.5 lbs.) fell to a Green Peter.
In Cloghans Bay, Sean Dively from Mullingar had 8 trout for 10 lbs. on small dry mayfly patterns and Paul Langan from Sligo had 4 good trout to 2 lbs. on a Golden Olive Bumble. Harry McCafferty, Ballina, had an average of 2 good trout a day over 5 days as well as a plethora of smaller fish. All were on dry olives. Mick McNeely from Mullingar also had 3 trout for 5 lbs. at Poteen Island. Eamonn Cooke and Michael Quigley from Co. Wicklow also had 5 good fish in the Gortnor Abbey area. Padraig Traynor and Orla Walsh had an excellent evening in Pratts Bay, accounting for five trout to 2 lbs. all on spent gnat.
With such quality fishing currently available on Conn and Cullin, the angling prospects for coming weeks, as Mayfly hatches peak, are excellent.
