Declan Gibbons reports on a week that saw hectic sport at the start, but the heatwave has slowed mayfly fishing right down since the weekend. Anglers out late have been rewarded with good balling buzzer fishing, while the early morning Caenis hatches have started in some areas, mainly from Saddle south. Fishing during the main part of the day has been in Mediterranean conditions, with temperatures up to 25 or 26C and bright sunshine, so fishing early and late may be the solution.
On Saturday last the Jimmy Dunne Memorial Cup was hosted in Collinamuck with 10 rods participating and the Cup went to Sean Madden with 2fish for 4.25lbs, caught dapping. In the Birchall area on Saturday Terry Callinan had 8 fish dapping with his best fish being 3.5lbs. Barry O’Sullivan had 2 fish on Saturday in the Birchall area for 4.75lbs, and also had excellent sport on Friday and Monday, landing 4 fish on both occasions. Padraig Fahy in the same area had 3 fish on dry mayfly. Joe Creane had good fishing on wets on Wednesday last in Birchall with the best fish being 4.5lbs.
In the Oughterard area Basil Shields (091-552550) reported moderate hatches in the area but excellent fishing to be had none the less. Podge Dwyer & friend Foxy had 7 fish for their trip to Corrib with the best fish being 4.25lbs. Colin Wright from Belfast for 3 days had 22 trout on dry mays and buzzer (best fish 4.75lbs). Visiting English Angler Simon Oliphant had 5 fish for his day on Corrib with the best fish being 4.25lbs. Victor & Tony from the UK had 11 trout for 4 days from 1lb up to 2.5lbs on wet fly and dapping. Sam Crawford, Antrim had 16 fish for one day’s fishing on buzzer with the best fish being 5lbs 6oz. Balbriggan man John Gallagher & friend Peter McCann had 7 fish to the boat with the best fish being 8lbs 3oz and for another day’s fishing John & his friend Stuart Killeen had 6 fish to the boat with John landing a fish over 7lbs. Basil himself landed a noble trout of 11lbs 3oz on buzzer which he sportingly returned.
Gerry Molloy http://www.loughcorriboughterard.com reports of regular visiting Swiss angler Bruno catching numerous trout in the area dapping and trolling and all sportingly released. Gerry guided three novice tourist anglers on Saturday last dapping for their first time and had 4 fish dapping (best fish 6lbs).
Staying in the Oughterard area Kevin Molloy of Baurisheen Boat Hire Guiding & Self catering (tel. 087-9604170) reports of Dave Gordon and friend from England landing 25 trout for 8 days varying in size from 1.5-3lbs on the fly.
In the Cornamona area on Saturday last Padraig Walsh and Noel Fahy enjoyed great sport dapping landing 9trout to the boat with the fish varying in size from 1.5-3lbs. Also in the Cornamona area Bernie Feerick of Lakeshore House B&B reports of Dublin angler Jonathan Ryan catching 12 trout for two and a half days fishing on wets and dapping, all released and the best fish being 2.5lbs.
In the Cornamona area tom Doc Sullivan http://www.tomdoc.com guided Martin Mannion formerly of Rosmuc, Galway now residing in Donegal for a day and had 7 fish on dries – best fish 2.5lbs. John Smith from Birr had a day on Corrib with Tom and had 2 fish for over 4lbs. Steve Carew & Ray Hickey of Fulling Mill Tackle had 5 fish with the best fish being 2.5lbs on buzzer and wets.
Richard Molloy of Ballard Shore Boat Hire & Self Catering (087-2879339) reports reasonably good fishing in the area with Father & Son Duo Matt and Paul Geraghty from Meath landing 12 fish on Saturday dapping – best fish 2.5lbs – and on Sunday had 4 fish averaging 1.5lbs dapping. Tom Ormond had 5 fish on Saturday with the fish averaging 2lbs in weight..
Cong Angling Club hosted their Annual mayfly competition with 1st place going to John Somerville with 2 fish for 2lbs 14oz. 2nd place went to Eugene Groeger with 2trout just over 2lbs, and 3rd place went to Vincent Hughes with one fish for 2lbsm which also won the Heaviest Fish.
On Sunday last Ronan Cusack and Adrian Gorman had good sport on buzzer in the Kilbeg area, landing 3 fish of 4, 5 and 6lbs with Adrian getting a PB and all 3 fish sportingly returned.
On another note, the wearing of lifejackets or personal flotation devices while in a boat is a legal requirement. We receive some fantastic photos of anglers holding unbelievable fish, often the catch of a lifetime, but we often cannot use these photos because the angler is not wearing any kind of PFD. There have been a number of tragic accidents around the country in the last few years where a PFD may have saved a life. It’s not just frustrating for me that I can’t show a photo, but it’s worrying that so many don’t take basic safety precautions that are the law. Please, please, if you’re going afloat, don’t do so without it.
