Declan Gibbons reports that the week gone by saw an improvement in angling due to a rise in temperatures and hatches of mayfly becoming more consistent.
In the Oughterard area Basil Shields of Ardnasillagh Lodge 091 552550 reports excellent buzzer fishing on Corrib at present with anglers not being disappointed for their angling efforts. On Thursday last Ballinrobe duo Declan Murphy and Sean McEvoy had excellent sport on buzzer, landing 12 fish to the boat with 5 fish over 4lbs. John Gallagher had a great day on Corrib landing 7 trout with one noble trout over 7lbs. Northern Ireland anglers Gary McGuire and Davy Wilson had 8 fish on buzzer for their day. Mark Kinnane from Shannon had 12 fish for his day last week on Corrib, with his best fish being 3.5lbs. Visiting anglers from Wales Mark Thomas & friends had 25 fish for their trip to Corrib. Local rods Cyril Conlon and Toby Bradshaw had a great day on Monday, landing 14 fish to over 7lbs, all released.
In the Cornamona area Richard Molloy of Ballard Shore Boat Hire & self Catering (tel. 087 2879339) reports an improvement in angling in the Carrick and Dooras areas of the lake, with hatches of olives slowing down and hatches of mayfly increasing especially in the late afternoons. On Sunday last Limerick friends Aidan Spooner and Una Heffernan enjoyed a day’s dapping in the Carrick area, landing a trout each, while also on Sunday Dublin angler Tom Ormond had a fish of 3lbs on the dap which he sportingly released.
Visiting anglers from Scotland fishing from Molloys Ronnie & Graham had 1 fish for 2lbs on a dry mayfly, sportingly released. Staying in the Cornamona area Roy Pierce of Grasshopper Cottage (http://www.troutfishingireland.com tel. 094-9548165) reports 8 regular visiting English anglers from Tunbridge Wells for 6 days had 62 fish over twelve inches, all C&R with a rod average of 1.5 fish per angler per day and the best fish ~2.9lbs.
David Connors of DC Angling 087-3946989 reports of fishing in the Cornamona area on Friday last with a group of 22 anglers – they had 12 fish for their efforts with the best fish being 2.5lbs, and on Saturday last David guided visiting English anglers Chris Johns & Peter Matthison in the Ballindiff area landing 8 fish with the best fish being 5.75lbs. Paddy Gargan had 3 fish in the Birchall area on Saturday last.
On Monday last Father & Son duo Robert and Ciaran Reilly from Loughrea had 7 fish to the boat with Robert landing a beautiful Corrib trout of 9lbs 2oz in the Greenfields area.
Larry McCarthy of ( Corrib View Lodge tel. 087-9135222) reports of super fishing in many areas of the lake with Greenfields, Birchall and Saddle Island areas producing excellent buzzer fishing with one boat landing 23 fish on Thursday last.
The Oughterard International Mayfly Festival was also held over the weekend, with a large entry enjoying good fishing. The top rod on the day was Kevin Molloy from Oughterard, while the winning team of Barry Dixon, Stephen Barry, Michael Dillon & Mícheál Ó’Fátharta managed to hold off a strong challenge from the team representing Wales. The happy anglers retired to the Lake Hotel for the prizegiving ceremony and a delicious “Taste of the Corrib” food buffet showcasing the local food producers and products from the area. Another well-run festival from the Oughterard committee.
