The last 2 weeks have been like a game of Munster hurling – a game of two halves for sure! The weather up to last Friday was a spring heatwave – sweltering heat, high water temperatures, flat calm conditions. On Friday the weather finally broke, and we have had breezy, showery weather since, with heavy rain on a couple of days to really freshen up the lake. Water temperatures have fallen to 15 degrees, much more conducive to daytime fishing. The Factor 50 has given way to jumpers and jackets again.
The warm weather made for difficult mayfly fishing, despite the great hatch this year, although a breeze got up on a few afternoons and evenings and produced fish to wet and dry fly. Greg Forde from Camillaun Lodge reported great hatches in the Oughterard area, with flies all up Main Street in the town, and even on the golf course. Some of his guests had lovely fish, including this beautifully marked fish for John Ant, and a nice fish for Greg himself.
With the warm weather came a very early Caenis hatch, with early morning fishing from the 12th producing some spectacular dry fly action. Larry McCarthy from Corrib View Lodge and Angling Services reported 15 trout to his own rod on a rare morning out to himself, while he had 11-12 fish in the boat with a client on the next two mornings. Two US anglers had 13 fish over 2 mornings, and two UK rods landed 15 on another 2 outings.
The weather changed significantly on the 23rd, with fresher conditions and rain, and by the end of May the water temperature was back down to 15 degrees, improving daytime sport hugely. Saturday saw a lot of fish caught in breezy conditions, most on wet mayfly patterns, with a mix of wet and dry mayfly producing a lot of fish over the next few days. Most fish were averaging 1.5-2lbs, with plenty more fish to 2.5lbs. John McCarthy guided 2 US anglers on Wednesday 28th and they had 5 trout to 5.2lbs on wet fly.
Caenis anglers are awaiting another spell of calm weather to target trout on the tiny dries, but in the meantime the fishing is described as excellent.
Go fishing…
