Declan Gibbons rounds off the 2019 season with his final report from Lough Corrib. Firstly, and most importantly, Declan and I would like to offer our thanks and appreciation to all the contributors who sent reports and photographs from their exploits on Corrib throughout the year – without you these reports would make for paltry reading!
Starting off in the Cornamona area Tom Doc Sullivan http://www.tomdoc.com reports of good sport had in the final week of the season on Corrib particularly if conditions were right. Darragh Musgrave from Cork picked up 2 trout in tough conditions on Sunday the 22nd – both came to wets with the best fish around 2.75lbs on a yellow daddy on the point and a fish of 1.75lbs on a red ribbed sooty dabbler.
Tommy Keoghan and Dermot Leonard from Trim fished with Tom for two days midweek: the first day saw excellent wet fly conditions consequently having good sport landing 8 trout in the Inchagoill and Dooras areas with the better fish 3.5lbs and 4.4lbs; the following day was tougher due to conditions but still landing 7 trout with one decent fish amongst them. Tom himself got to fish on Friday afternoon and picked up two beauties in the 4lbs class – 21.5 inches and 22.5 inches both caught on a wet silver daddy.
On Sunday last Cornamona Anglers hosted their end of season C&R Competition. Top Pair on the were Gerry Dixon and Martin Kinneavy with 4 fish. First Individual was Gerry Dixon, winning the Egan Cup, 2nd Mike Shanks, 3rd Mike Keady. 18 anglers participated and 10 trout were recorded and released on the day. The 2019 Cornamona Angler of the Year went to Eamon Gavin (best results over 4 competitions) winning the Phil & Paul O’Sullivan Cup.
On Sunday last Cong Angling Club hosted their Last Cast competition which was a C&R event: 34 anglers had 6 fish on the day with conditions proving difficult, 1st Place went to Jonathan O’Grady with a 60cm fish, 2nd Damien Martin 56cms, 3rd Hubert Halligan with 2 trout, 4th place Ted Wherry with a 52cm fish and in 5th place was Robbie Conneely.
Phillip Comber of www.connemaragetaways.com reports a quiet close to the season – friend Damien Martin was with him on Saturday and landed a fish of 2.25;bs. Galway father and son duo Harold and Harry O’Toole had an excellent finish to their 2019 trout fishing landing 5 fish on Sunday last in the Inchagoill area.
Ballinrobe duo Ronan Cusack and Gerard Moran enjoyed a last cast on Corrib on Sunday last and landed 4 fish for their day with the best fish a bit over 4lbs, all sportingly returned. On Wednesday last Mallow angler Billy Kavanagh had a nice fish of 3lbs (sporting released) for his day on Corrib.
In the Oughterard area Basil Shields of Ardnasillagh lodge (091-552550) reported tough fishing with temperatures dropping and smaller hatches of olives and sedges. Those at the Lodge that met fish are as follows – Alan Trior from France 1 fish 3.25lbs on dry fly, Tony & Kenneth Juke had 3 fish on Saturday, best fish 1.5lbs; Larry Kelly, Dublin had 2 fish – best fish 3lbs; brothers Jerome and Pat Mullane had good fishing for 3 days with 8 fish between them – best fish 4lbs and most averaging 2.25lbs. Kevin Molloy also reported a quiet closing week to 2019 – Kevin guided a visiting US angler on Friday last and landed 2 trout on wets, best fish being 1.5lbs.
That’s it for 2019 on Corrib, with anglers thoughts turning to the vice and new patterns for next season. Once again, many thanks to our regular contributors, and especially to Declan who brought all these reports together.
