Steve Schreck reports from the River Moy…
Angling Report week ending 01/10/23
As the days are getting shorter and the salmon fishing season has now come to an end, let us reflect on and reminisce about the bygone season for a moment.
It can’t be denied that 2023 was a bit of a peculiar year.
As always, anglers being eternal optimists, every single one of us rejoiced in the beginning of a new season and the opportunity to partake in one of the most beautiful and fulfilling pastimes. Cold days in blistering wind become insignificant with a single purpose, one lingering thought in the back of your mind: ‘This could be the day when I hook one of those majestic silver spring salmon, a fish of a lifetime. Any second now’, as you patiently cast, wait and anticipate.
As the season progresses and nature around us has become fully alive and everything seems to be plentiful, on a mild summer evening, you’re eagerly awaiting the grilse run to begin. ‘Ah, c’mon, just for a couple of hours’, one might think. ‘I’m certainly going to meet a fish or maybe even two’.
This season, as so many others before it, had its glorious, almost magical moments for many an angler, but it also had a dark side of unmet expectations and frustration for many others.
I’d like to encourage all you anglers out there, young and old, not to lose hope or let go of our shared passion. The sun will shine again. It sometimes just takes a bit of tenacity to steer through the stormy weather ahead.
Tight lines for 2024 from the Moy Fishery Team. We’ll hopefully see you out there.
Ballina Salmon Anglers reported 30 salmon for the week.
Mount Falcon recorded 7 fish, 2 of which were released. The best fish weighed 5lbs.
Knockmore Salmon Anglers reported 8 salmon on spinner and worm, 4 of which were released.
Byrne’s Fishery recorded 2 salmon for the week.
Gannon’s Fishery reported 6 salmon, of which two were fresh fish. The biggest salmon weighed 8lbs.
The Foxford Fishery recorded 25 fish mainly caught on spinner, 21 of which were released. The best fish weighed 12lbs.
Foxford Salmon Anglers reported 34 salmon for the week, of which 27 were caught at Rinnaney and 7 at Baker’s.
Cloongee Fishery recorded 5 salmon, 1 of which was released. All of those fish were caught spinning. The best fish weighed 9lbs.
East Mayo Anglers reported 8 salmon for the week, 2 of which were released. All fish were caught on the spinner. Two fish were double figure salmon, weighing 10lbs and 12lbs respectively.
A total of 125 salmon were reported caught throughout the Moy catchment during the week.
