Terry Gallagher reports from Costello & Fermoyle:
Sea trout fishing continues to improve at Costello in recent weeks and the salmon are still appearing on the tides. To date, the fishery has recorded 70 salmon and 208 sea trout (101 of which were caught since July 25th). No great size to the sea trout but all were fresh and plump scrappers. Considering the scarcity of sea trout up until recently, we are very pleased to see this late run which appears to be ongoing. Water certainly is not in scarce supply as another huge flood is making its way through the system following heavy rainfall over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Highlights over the last week include: Eamon O’Brien and Myles Costello, who fished Glenicmurrin and Fermoyle loughs over a few days and recorded 92 sea trout and 2 salmon. David McCloud was all smiles after landing a 5lb salmon on River Beat 1 as was Kevin Coleman who caught 11 sea trout on Glenicmurrin Lough. Finally, Geoffrey Fitzjohn was back on River Beats 2 & 3 and landed fish of 12lbs & 8lbs.
For information and bookings, please contact Terry Gallagher at 091 572 196 or email [email protected].
Ronan Cusack reports that for the first time in 65 years, the final day of this year’s World Cup had to be postponed on safety grounds. Southerly gales up to force 10 pounded the shore lines in Cushlough from early morning on Monday. This storm had been forecast all weekend and a decision was made by the committee on Sunday evening to postpone the final. This year’s final has been rescheduled for next Saturday week, August 15th.
Just over 500 anglers participated in this year’s competition from all across Ireland and the UK. Weather conditions over the heat days were perfect, with plenty of wind and cloud cover each day. Angling this year was pretty much divided 50/50, shallows – depth and anglers had success on both sides. As usual, the majority of good fish came from the shallows, with a number of trout tipping the scales at over 4lbs. The deep also accounted for a good number of fish, but the main problem was to get them over the 13 inch mark. There seems to be plenty of trout across the black water but the average size is small. Roughly 50% of the anglers who caught fish this year qualified for the final with an average cut off weight of 1.5lbs.
Tight lines to all the qualifiers for Saturday week and hopefully the weather will have improved by then.
The poor weather and low temperatures deterred anglers venturing on the water for most of the week. However, most of the anglers that were brave enough reported fairly good fishing.
Jimmy Donnegan, Tipperary, had 2 trout for 3 lbs. on the Bibio off Massbrook shore. Gary Anderson and Jim Atkinson, Belfast, reported 7 trout between them for 10 lbs. on Green Peter and wet fly patterns off Brackwansha shore. Paul and Sean Brennan from Cork had 7 fish for two days in Cloghan’s, best at 1.5 lbs. on dry Wullfs.
Claire Maloney, Offaly, and partner Damian Morrisey, Tipperary, boated 3 trout at Pontoon on Lough Cullin on Watson’s Fancy and Connemara Black, best at 1.5 lbs.
Pat O’Donnell and party from Limerick fished out of Cloonamoyne in pouring rain but despite the weather experienced a good hatch of mayfly off Castle Island. They enjoyed good sport with a total of 12 fish to 1.25 lbs. Best flies for them on the day included Bibio, Gosling, Cock Robin and Watson’s. Charlie, Michael and Lorrie Alison from the US fished with Ian Wise for a half day and managed 9 fish with the best falling to Charlie fishing a Grey Gosling. Ritchie Scott from Killala fished with Ian Wise also for a half day
for a tally of 8 fish to 1.25 lbs. all on the wet Mayfly.
Sea trout are still running Glencar Lake in good numbers. Sligo Anglers Association club member, Ken Kinsella, enjoyed a great day’s sea trout fishing on the lake last week. Ken caught good numbers of sea trout keeping two nice fish of 2 lbs. each.
Ken Kinsella with two fine Glencar sea trout
Fishing on Glencar Lake is managed by the Sligo Anglers Association, for details contact [email protected].
There was more rain in the catchment overnight. I had 8mm on my gauge at the lodge by morning. Heavy showers continued all day in the upper catchment. The forecast is now dry right through until Sunday.
The upper river at Millstreet started to rise at 07.30 this morning & is up 70cm by 22.00 tonight & still rising. The clarity is getting very poor up at Millstreet this evening.
At Killavullen it was falling until midday but has since risen over 30cm by 22.00 to 1.70m. Clarity was ~ 1 foot & peaty through the day.
Ballyduff gauge is up to 0.62m by 22.00 this evening & still rising. Clarity is about 1-1½ feet – very peaty with a slight sediment colour.
Water temperature at Ballyduff: 12.8ºC / 55.0ºF.
Catches.
Even with very coloured water & only 8 rods for the day, three fish were caught today including a First Ever Salmon for Arthur Goonan – a 4lb. grilse he released on Woodstream on the upper river. A lot of fish were moving through the upper beats during the day.
Prospects.
With very dirty water coming down from above Millstreet, the river will be out of fly order tomorrow, but may barely be fishable with spinner or worms. The rise is bringing the large numbers of fish that were waiting in the tidal reaches into the main river. Plenty of fish are moving especially on our upper beats.
Fishing should be superb in the coming days once this latest flood drops and the river fines off. Arthur Goonan with his First Ever Salmon. A tide-bright grilse of 4lb. – He caught & released it with worms on Woodstream on the upper river Fort William’s Paul Whelan tells us they had a good month in July and reports on a cracking fish caught this week by 15 year Jack Hughes from the U.K. A super salmon weighing 18.5lbs. Jack also caught and released another fish of 4lbs all off the Castle beat.
Paul says July was a great month on the fishery with plenty of action being had. Glenmore is fishing very well after the work carried out last season. Bishops and Ellis beat also doing well. Castle beat is top beat at the moment.
August is off and running with 6 fish in the book so far!
River levels are dropping back nicely after our recent rise in water levels. Clarity is at 2.5ft+ and improving. This is just what is needed plenty of fresh water to keep fish on the move.
Jack Hughes from the U.K with his 18.5lb salmon
On Friday, also at Fort William, 13 year old Tommy Bell landed a 4lb grilse and lost another and Derek McGiveran landed a nice grilse of 6lbs off the Glenmore beat on the Monastery stream.
Derek McGiveran Fortwilliam Fishing would like to invite you to “Fortwilliam Making a Song and Dance for Barnados” on Thursday the 20th August at 7pm at Fortwillam, Glencairn. For more info call 058-54251.
At Ballyduff Bridge Salmon FisheryBrendan Peppard had a fine fish on the fly at Ballyduff Bridge on Friday morning. A dirty flood in the river during the early week but it should fish well when it clears off. Brendan Peppard’s fish
The unsettled weather and rising water levels affected angling on Ballisodare for most of the week. A total of 91 salmon were caught, 39 of which were released. Fish averaged 4.5 lbs. and were mostly taken on worm and fly.
Visiting anglers from England, George and Tom Birthwell, had three fish each during their visit, all between 3 lbs. and 5 lbs. Michael Griffin was successful on the Falls where he caught a nice sea-liced fish of 5.5 lbs. on the prawn. However, the best fish of the week, a fine seven pounder, was taken by Gerard Kelly also at the Falls.
With a lot of fish still coming in on the tides and falling water levels, the fishing at Ballisodare is far from over. For information and bookings please check www.ballisodarefishingclub.ie.
Water levels on the River Moy fluctuated all week impacting mainly on the tidal section of the river. However, mid-river fisheries all enjoyed good angling with Rinanny reporting the highest catch.
On the Ridge Pool , 7-year old Brodie Birthwell from the UK caught his first salmon ever. Brodie’s 3.75 lbs. fish took a spinner. The Mount Falcon Fishery reported a total of 70 fish, 32 of which were released. The Roger Morris party of four was particularly successful landing 17 salmon over 4 days. On Coolcronan, Tommy Henderson, Northern Ireland, had a 6 lbs. fish on worm, while his countryman, John Chambers, landed a fine ten pounder on the Foxford Fishery, also on worm.
Further up-river on the Cloongee Fishery, German couple Rita and Ullrich Mohaupt, had three fish together on worm and spinner. Also on Cloongee, Dublin man, Bill O’Regan caught 2 grilse on worm, best at 6 lbs. Chloe Ghelfa from Switzerland did particularly well on the East Mayo water catching 4 fish ranging from 3 lbs. to 5 lbs. on spinner and worm. Other successful anglers on East Mayo included Yannik Kessel, Germany, with a 5 lbs. fish on fly and Kevin Appleton, UK, who had two at 4 lbs. and 5 lbs. also on fly.
Alice MurtaghIFI from the Corlesmore office reports on coarse fishing in the Cavan/Leitrim area…
The Annual Belturbet Festival took place recently with a four day angling event. Four venues were fished, two on Killykeen, one on Rockfield and one on Glasshouse.
Weather conditions were difficult and weights were not as good as previous years. The following is a list of the winners:
1st. Wayne Fuller, Ballinagh 34.710kg
2nd. Dave Brettle, England 33.500kg
3rd. John Potters, Enniskillen 33.320kg
4th. James O’Doherty, Enniskillen (Junior angler) 33.130kg
5th. Tony Kersley 28.330kg
6th. Fergal Smith, Ballinagh 28.030kg
The Annual Ballinagh Three Day event also took place on Killykeen with 24 anglers taking part.
1st. Nicky Harrison 36.400kg
2nd. John Potters 33.300kg
3rd. Mike Brough 32.800kg
4th. Wayne Fuller 32.700kg
Alice Murtagh Inland Fisheries Ireland – Corlesmore Office, Arva, Co. Cavan [email protected]
Tel: +353 (0)49 4337174
Eileen Carroll Murphy IFI reports from the River Bandon for the week ended 2nd August 2015:
River Bandon
The river fished ok for the week with fish being reported most days both salmon and grilse. The most successful methods were shrimp and worm. There is more heavy rain forecast for early next week and this should keep the fish coming.
Jack Hughes from the U.K with his 18.5lb salmon
