The whitethorn (hawthorn) is not even in flower yet (any day now) but the cuckoo arrived here on May Day, and even earlier, the mayfly was up! Anglers around the lake are reporting good hatches of mayfly, with trout in some areas switching on to them sooner than elsewhere. As usual, fishing in the Cornamona area has picked up quickly, with good fishing reported to wet and dry mayfly patterns. Elsewhere, trout were still being caught on buzzer and olives, and only slowly starting to switch on to mayfly.
A timely blast from the (recent) past popped up on our timeline this week, a great radio piece from 2016 for the BBC World Service from Diarmuid Fleming, then of the BBC and a great proponent of Irish angling. Diarmuid talks about the appearance of the mayfly in the Great Western Lakes, and its importance to local anglers and communities. Have a listen here: The Essential – From Our Own Correspondent: Time of the Mayfly – BBC Sounds
Guide Kevin Molloy also reports good fishing on wet mayflies last week in the Oughterard area. Before that his clients had good fishing to trolled baits. One client Keith had 3 trout on the troll. Tony Connolly and Gerry Conneely had 5 trout, also on the troll. A group of 3 American and Irish anglers had 5 trout on olives to 2.5lbs. Uwe and another German angler went trolling with Kevin and landed 5 trout. Kevin himself had a few nice trout on buzzer one day.
Before the arrival of the mayfly there was good fishing to olives, and buzzer fishing has been producing some fine fish too. Last week saw some fairly calm days which favoured buzzer fishing. Paul Heaney from Corrib Anglers guiding service shared a great photo of a fantastic catch for an angler under the guidance of top guide David Donnelly from Corrib View Lodge and Angling Services. This beauty was caught on a buzzer. As you can see from the photo the weather conditions were spot on for buzzer fishing and this trout was this anglers third trout of the day having had a 3lb and 4lb trout earlier.

Danielle Gingell also had a nice trout on dry fly on Sunday.

Trolling has also produced some lovely fish of late. Jasper Mathews of Wild Atlantic Angling Experiences got in some trolling with clients before the mayfly took off, and this fish for Steph was the best of 3 for her day out. As Jasper described it “an absolute rugbyball of an 8lber”!

Before that he had a day out with Joe and Adam, a bitter north wind made for uncomfortable conditions, and only one fish obliged, but it was a lovely fish just shy of 10lbs for Adam.

Ferox expert Tomi Kurman was lamenting the good weather, with bright sunshine and calm conditions, but then th wind and rain returned as he wished for. Yeah, thanks Tomi! With the wind came some better fishing, and his clients have boated some nice ferox too.
Galway Hospice Competition
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Kevin Molloy Guiding and Boat Hire
Baurusheen, Oughterard, Co.Galway.
Tel: +353 (0)91 866954 Mob: +353 (0)87 9604170
Wild Atlantic Angling Experiences
Jasper runs Wild Atlantic Angling Experiences, providing bespoke guided fishing for salmon, trout or saltwater species. To book a guiding trip with Jasper you can give him a call on 087 6031975, or check out the new website: wildatlanticangling.com
Corrib View Lodge and Angling Services
Corrib View Lodge is waiting for you! To book accommodation or fishing, check the website at www.corribangling.com, call Michelle or Larry at 093 31718, or email [email protected]
Tomi Guided Fishing