Salmon fishing has been superb in Galway over the last week, with 161 fish landed and many more hooked and lost. I can certainly vouch for the latter, having lost 6 fish in a row on Saturday before finally landing one! Some anglers were rather less benevolent, and managed to convert their chances more efficiently. The Matthews clan from Clifden certainly had a productive day on the 8th, with dad Ashley landing 2 grilse and a fine salmon of 11.5lbs, Louis landing 4 grilse to 6lbs, and Jasper landing 2 grilse to 5lbs. All were taken on fly, and all but 2 fish released. Neil Spellacy also had a good day, landing 5 fish to 5.5lbs on the fly, while Dublin man Colm Adams had 3 fish to 4.5lbs on shrimp and fly. Well-known singer Paul Brady also visited the fishery this week and landed a nice grilse on shrimp, while Dublin angler Andy Smith had a 4.5lbs fish on fly.

 

Father and son John and Simon White from the UK had good fishing for their visit, both recording 2 grilse each on the 9th, and Simon landing a further 5 on fly on the 11th. Local angler Simon Lenihan had 3 grilse to 7lbs on the fly, while John Moloney had 2 to 7lbs, also on fly, and Tuam man Brian O’Rourke had 3 fish to 9lbs on fly and shrimp.

 

John McCarthy had an early start on Sunday, and was home for breakfast with 3 fish caught in quick succession on the fly. Fintan Murphy also had 3 fish to 7lbs on fly, while Clare man Pappy Cotter took 2 fish to 5.5lbs on shrimp.

 

Expert salmon anglers Mossy Browne and James Barry paid another visit to Galway from their native Waterford, where both were rewarded with a grilse each on fly. Father and son Mick and Barry Brown from Dublin had a productive visit, with Mick landing 5 fish to 5.5lbs on fly, and Barry taking 2 fish to 6lbs, also on fly. Loughrea’s Kevin Dolan also fished the fly and 4 grilse to 5lbs. Liam Dunne and Tosh Kellett both had 2 grilse on shrimp.

 

Cian Gargan fished with dad Paddy and had a 5lbs grilse on shrimp, while Cork man Jim Moloney had 2 grilse between 6 and 6.5lbs on fly, and fellow Corkman Tom Beecher had a similar brace, also on fly. Ricky Fabrozzi had 2 grilse to 5lbs on fly, Ashford Castle fishery manager Willie Cullinane showed his prowess landing 4 grilse to 5.5lbs on fly, and Athlone man Seamus Nee landed 5 fish to 8lbs on fly. Offaly man Ray Drennan landed 3 grilse to 5.5lbs on the fly.

 

Local angler Des Bluett had 3 fish to 3lbs on fly and shrimp, Monaghan man Gordon Sweetnam landed 3 to 5lbs on fly, while proud Clare man Eddie Corry caught and released a nice 4lbs grilse. I hope he will forgive me for attributing Limerick ancestry to him in previous reports!  Simon Lenihan landed 2 to 5.5lbs on fly and shrimp, Monaghan man Brendan Doyle had 2 grilse to 6lbs on shrimp, and finally Dublin angler Garry Rogers had a brace of fish at 4.5lbs each on the fly.

 

The river is stuffed with grilse at the moment, with more arriving on every tide. Rain over the weekend has risen water levels slightly, with one gate open and some spilling over the other gates, but conditions are perfect for fly angling and prospects are excellent for the coming week.