Declan Gibbons reports that fishing has really picked up since last week. Duckfly hatches are still going in many bays, with more fish feeding on them, as well as a few early olives.

In the Oughterard area the Oughterard Regatta Development 50 Competition was held on Saturday and Sunday last; 42 rods participated in the annual event. 1st place went to Oughterard men Mike Faherty and Kevin Molloy with 11 trout for 23.74lbs. 2nd place went to Tom Doc Sullivan, Cornamona and Mike Keady, Moycullen with 10 trout for 16.22lbs. 3rd place went to Moycullen duo Toby Bradshaw and Eugene McCarthy with 9 trout for 14.96lbs. The heaviest fish prize went to Darren Maguire from Garrison, Co. Fermanagh with a fish of 4.5lbs.

Mike Faherty and Kevin Molloy, winenrs of the Oughterard Development 50 Competition held on 1/2 April, 2017
Mike Faherty and Kevin Molloy, winenrs of the Oughterard Development 50 Competition held on 1/2 April, 2017

Also in the Oughterard area Basil Shields of Ardnasillagh Lodge (091-552550) reports average fishing with Simon Hollifence from England catching a fish of 3lbs on buzzer. David Kidd from Belfast had 2 fish on buzzer, best fish 3lbs, John Malcolm from Bangor had 3 fish for 6lbs, and former World Cup winner Robbie Crichton From Cork had 6 fish for 15lbs. John Fitzgerald from Shannon had 3 fish on Sunday averaging 1.5lbs. Fellow Shannon angler Eddie Shanagher had 2 fish on Sunday. Gary Maguire from Omagh had 2 fish for his visit to Lough Corrib, and Cork anglers Stephen O’Reilly and Henry Jeffers had 2 fish to the boat for their day.

 

In the Cornamona area Richard Molloy of Ballard Shore Boat Hire & Accommodation (087-2879399) says Tipperary anglers Neville Atkinson and Fergus Hogan had excellent fishing on duck fly and olives, with a good number of fish to the boat. John Finn, also from Tipperary had 2 fish for his days fishing on Corrib.

Staying in the Cornamona area Tom Doc Sullivan (087-6113933) was guiding Roger O’Neill from Dublin and Roger had 2 fish for his day on duckfly, with the best fish being 2lbs.

 

David Ryan (086-3170081) from Ryans River Lodge Fishing & Shooting in Cong recently guided a visiting USA angler who had 4 trout for his day, and also guided visiting French visiting angler Guy Choisel, who landed a fine pike of 25lbs. Martin McCoy from Derry caught a fish of 3lbs on Monday last in Salthouse Bay which he sportingly released. Luke O’Connell from Sligo stayed at Corrib View Lodge, Glencorrib (087-9135222) and had a cracking trout of 4.14lbs on Saturday last.

Luke O'Connell from Sligo with a fine 4lbs+ trout off Corrib, 1 April 2017
Luke O’Connell from Sligo with a fine 4lbs+ trout off Corrib, 1 April 2017

Phillip Comber (086-2786301) was on to us telling us of recent good fishing in the Rabbit Island area and had 2 fish for 5lbs, Phillip can be contacted for rental of Rabbit Island Lodge, or check it out on Facebook for a unique place to stay and enjoy a visit to Corrib.

 

A group of anglers from Northern Ireland consisting of Greg White, Brian Stanfield, Stevie Ellis, Tony Hogg, Stan McCart and Gary Stewart fished out of Annaghkeen for their week’s stay and fished the Rabbit Island, Lees and Birchall areas, finding fishing difficult at times, however they had a few fish every day and caught some good quality trout on buzzers, like Greg’s fish pictured here.

Greg White, Northern Ireland with a nice Corrib trout taken on buzzer on a recent trip with friends.
Greg White, Northern Ireland with a nice Corrib trout taken on buzzer on a recent trip with friends.

On Wednesday and Sunday last in the Greenfields area Loughrea Brothers Robert & Richie Reilly enjoyed excellent fishing landing 16 fish for the two days – best fish 5lbs.

Ennis and District Anglers hosted a competition out of Greenfields on Sunday last, run on a 14 inch limit basis. 9 fish were weighed in for 14 rods. 1st place went to Damien Culliney with 1 fish for 3lbs 9oz, 2nd was Paul Dignam with 2 fish for 3lbs 8oz, and 3rd was Michael Killeen with 1 fish for 3lbs 5oz.

Loughrea angler Robert Reilly with a fine Corrib trout caught recently
Loughrea angler Robert Reilly with a fine Corrib trout caught recently