Declan Gibbons reports that fishing has picked up on Corrib, with good mayfly and sedge hatches providing good sport on wet and dry fly.
Starting off in the Cornamona area Tom Doc Sullivan (tel. 087-6113933) was guiding Steve Carew and Ray Hickey of Fulling Mill Flies for two days and had excellent fishing, landing 12 fish for the two days with the best fish at 2.5lbs caught on fry and mayfly patterns. Tom also guided Tony and Elaine Stone from Yorkshire, England who are regular visitors to the Cornamona area and Lough Corrib, and had 3 trout on mayfly patterns with the best fish 2.5lbs. Richard Molloy of Ballard Shore Boat Hire & Self Catering (tel. 087-2879339) reports an improvement in fishing in the area and has a Swiss angler currently with him who is enjoying some excellent fishing both on wet fly and trolling.
On Wednesday last Cornamona angler John Somerville had an excellent day’s fishing at Inchagoill, landing 4 trout on wet mayflies, including a personal best with an excellent fish of 6.48lbs which he sportingly released. Watch this space on TG4 as John was assisting Cloughbreac man and TG4 camera man Trevor Laffey on an upcoming production in relation to angling.

In the Oughterard area Basil shields (tel. 086-0869758) of Ardnasillagh Lodge reports an improvement in fishing the last week with fish to be got on Daphnia, olives , mayfly and sedges. Belfast angler Colin Wright had 7 fish for 2 days on olives with the best fish being 3.25lbs. Jim Buchanan from Northern Ireland had 12 fish for 3 days on wet and dry olives. Jim Bickerstaff also from Northern Ireland had 3 fish for a day’s fishing on mayflies, with his best fish being 4.5lbs, and Shannon angler Donie O’Loughlin had excellent sport in the deeps on Daphnia – landing 9 trout for his day!
In the Greenfields area on Saturday last father and son duo Frank and Oisin Reilly from Glencorrib enjoyed an excellent day’s dry fly fishing with Oisin (16), landing and releasing 3 trout for 7.5lbs – his best fish was just over 3lbs. Oisin also landed 4 other trout around the 1lbs mark. Frank also had two nice fish on dry fly. A case of the student surpassing the teacher, although I’m sure Frank is proud of his student!

Frank Costello of Ashford Bay Boat Hire & Guiding (tel. 087-2524253) reports an improvement in angling in the Cong area with better hatches of mayfly and the trout responding to the hatches, mainly on dry mayfly and dry sedge patterns.

Frank Butler also submitted a great report on the recent Galwat Windpark Cup competition, which is belatedly included here due to email server problems at my end.
The second Galway Windpark Cup was run out of Collinamuck on Sunday 12th June. There was a great buzz of activity on the pier and lake shore as boatmen readied their crafts and their flies of choice to offer up to the trout on Corrib. As a mark of respect to the recently deceased John Crowley RIP a minute’s silence was held on the pier in advance of the off. At 11:00am 18 boats took to the water with 45 anglers on board – many of these boats hosted Galway Windpark guests for what was, for some, their first Lough Corrib experience. Conditions seemed very favourable with a good westerly wind providing the perfect dapping conditions.

At 1pm all the boats landed on Rabbit Island for the lunch. BBQs and Kelly Kettles of all sizes were lit and within no time ‘fine feeds’ were being dished up to the hungry anglers – ‘if only the fish were so hungry’ was overheard more than once as unfortunately the fishing in the morning had been tough with only the odd fish encountered and landed. The party of anglers were treated to a few tunes by Pat Connors on the mouth organ with the odd line of a song being added for good measure by some
of the willing guests. After a very enjoyable lunch, some liquid refreshments and the hearty music, all boats took to the water again with a revived sense of hope for a good afternoon’s fishing. At 6pm all boats landed back to Collinamuck Pier for the weigh in. For a total of 45 anglers fishing a return of 10 measurable trout were weighed in.

In first place was the team of Michael Murray, Jim Doran and Galway Windpark Guest Carmel McDonagh with a catch of 3 trout for 8.1lbs. In second place was the team of Noel Carter, Paddy O’Farrell and Galway Windpark guest John Howley with a catch of 2 trout for 3.97lbs. In third place was the team of Mike Regan, Alan Conneely and Eugene McMahon with a catch of 1 trout for 2.22lb. The heaviest fish was caught by Bernard O’Halloran with a trout weighing 3.44lbs. The heaviest fish caught by a Galway Windpark Guest was caught by Carmel McDonagh. The ladies prize went to Carole O ‘Brien.

The prize giving took place in O’Hallorans bar where hot food and cold beverages were served up while the entertainment was provided by local DJ Peter O’ Halloran until the early hours.  The committee of Collinamuck & District Angling club would again like to extend their gratitude to the personnel of Galway Windpark in sponsoring this event and also for bringing along several guests to take part in what was a great day on Lough Corrib.