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Anglers enjoy excellent sport on the Moy where over 800 salmon were reported for the week

Another extraordinary week for an Irish river, with the reported catch in excess of 800 salmon, reaffirming the River Moy as Ireland’s premier salmon fishery. Water levels did continue to fluctuate slightly throughout the week, and fish were taken on worm, spinner and fly, with some notable captures on the fly in particular. The Ridge Pool produced just three salmon, including two grilse for Trevor Simpson, U.K., although angling effort has been very low on the lower fisheries.

The Ballina Salmon Anglers’ water yielded 26 salmon, including two for N.Ireland angler John Mc Callan on a spinner. At Mount Falcon, over 40 salmon were caught, including 16 for the Brown party, U.K.

Knockmore, Attymass and Coolcronan each enjoyed very good angling during the week. At Coolcronan Linda and David Frost, U.K. had three while spinning.

Byrne’s, Gannon’s and Armstrong’s fisheries also experienced a very fruitful week, and at the Foxford Fishery, 32 salmon were caught. Rinanney continued to fish very well, among those to catch salmon there was Henri Muire, France, who had one of 10.5lbs on a spinner.

At the Cloongee Fishery, many visiting anglers had great sport, with Ludovic Coulon, France recording three weighing 4lbs, 5lbs and 7lbs, two of which were caught on bubble and fly, the third on a spinner. Alain Schnell, France, had two grilse while spinning, Patrick Herve, France, had one of 7lbs, Thomas Smith, N.Ireland, landed a grilse while spinning with Beatrice Valaize, France capturing three of 5lbs, 6lbs and 8lbs.

Once again, the best sport on the Moy was had on the East Mayo Anglers’ water, which reported a staggering 179 salmon for the week, 91 of which were released. Pascal Nicholas, France enjoyed an excellent week at East Mayo, landing several salmon, ranging in weight form 4lbs to 9lbs. U.K anglers Andrew Pearse and Ian Mountford, both captured fish of 8lbs on the fly while N.Ireland anglers Michael O’Kane and John McGinn also had success on the fly, with fish of 11lbs and 10lbs respectively.

 

Both the old and young capture their first fly caught salmon no Carrowmore Lake

Carrowmore continued to produce good fishing during the week, and among those to have success were two anglers who captured their first ever salmon on the fly. Visiting German angler, 79 year old Tony Mann, had his first ever salmon on the fly, as did teenager J. Plumber, who boated one of 5lbs. Andy Latimer, John Thornton, Sean O’Malley, P. Byrne, Peter McGuire, Frank Dooley and J McElvoy all reported one grilse each off the lake. Eddie Harris, Tom Keane, Toby Gibbons and Sean Reynolds all captured two each on the lake.

 

Another great week for Ballisodare with over 200 salmon caught

Fishery Manager at Ballisodare, Dermot Glennon with his fine fly caught 15lbs salmon.

The Ballisodare Fishery enjoyed an extremely productive week, with 225 salmon caught, 116 of these were released, with fish taken on worm, prawn, fly and spinner. Fishery Manager Dermot Glennon caught a good 15lbs salmon, taken on a size 10 Ally’s Shrimp, and also released a 6lbs grilse. Paul Kilreavey and Vincent Henry both released fly caught grilse of 5lbs, while John Connolly also released two of 5lbs, both taken on the fly. Dennis Barrett released three small grilse caught on the fly, Ken Henry also had success with two grilse on the fly, while James Douglas had two of 5lbs and 6lbs on the prawn. Dennis Crawley caught a nice 12lbs salmon on a Willie Gunn, with visiting anglers George McLaughlin and Peter Callaghan each having success, also with the fly.

Fishery Manager at Ballisodare, Dermot Glennon with his fine fly caught 15lbs salmon.

 

Good sport on Lough Beltra for salmon and sea trout

The Glenisland Anglers Co-op reported six grilse over the past week on Lough Beltra, as well as numerous sea trout. Davy and Alan Patten recorded two grilse, their best weighing 5lbs. Conor Deffley boated four grilse and several sea trout over two evenings fishing, his best weighed 5lbs.

 

Good sea trout angling on the Moy Estuary

Jürgan Heigo, Germany, with two fine sea trout from the Moy Estuary.

Estuary angling guide Judd Ruane reported some good angling of late for sea trout, recording 51 for the week. Martin Kiernan, Tommy Dougherty and Des McDonagh had 19 over three days, their best weighing 2.5lbs. Jürgan Heigo and three friends, members of the Landshut Angling Club, Bavaria, Germany had a total of 23 trout over three days while Howard Farrand and Roy Templeman, U.K. landed nine.

Jürgan Heigo, Germany, with two fine sea trout from the Moy Estuary.

 

Killala Bay update from the 'Leah'

Skipper of the Leah, Donal Kennedy reported how a group of French anglers departed Killala Harbour on the 5th of July for a day’s fishing. Mackerel were scarce at first but later in the day, fishing deeper water the party encountered many. A good variety of fish were boated, with some good dabs and plaice up to 2lbs. Red gurnard were also caught, along with some nice tub gurnard with whiting also in good supply as were pouting. A move to a deeper mark produced some nice ling, the best weighing close to 7lbs, along with cuckoo wrasse, pouting, and a few pollack. The highlight of the day was a good fight from one of the first spurdogs that were caught this season in Killala Bay, which was close to specimen weight.
 

Hybrids and Bream being caught at Twomilegate area of Lough Derg

Ken O’Neill reports:

Rivers and lakes have been in flood all week and the angling is limited. Lough Derg coarse angling is poor enough at the moment due to flood conditions, with hybrids and Bream being caught at Twomilegate area. Dromore, as well as all East Clare Lakes, are in flood conditions still.

Pike fishing tough with rivers and lakes in flood around Clare

Ken O’Neill reports:

Fergus River
The Fergus river is in flood at the moment. Small pike are being caught at Dromore Lake and Ballyalia Lake.

East Clare Rivers and lakes

Lough Derg
Pike angling is returning better results with smaller pike being caught generally.  However in the lower Lough Derg there was a 28 lb, 15 ½ lb, and a 13 ½ lb Pike caught with a lame minnow

Dromore Lake
Dromore Lake, near Feakle, produced 1 small pike on a day’s angling for an angling group during the week.  However, Dromore, as well as all East Clare Lakes, are in flood conditions at the moment.

Trout fishing slow with the floods around Clare but Ennis throws up some nice fish

Ken O’Neill reports:

West Clare Rivers and Lakes                                                                                              

Rivers and lakes have been in flood all week and the angling is limited.

Fergus River

The Fergus is in flood at the moment.   Some nice trout were caught during the rising flood in Ennis.  All trout anglers on the Fergus are requested to pay heed to their hook sizes in order to reduce the risk of accidently catching and killing Salmon at this time when there is a run on. 

East Clare Rivers and lakes

Lough Derg

The trout angling is better with returns of 7 – 8 trout being caught through trolling using also the lame minnow.

Upper Lough Derg

Upper Lough Derg is fishing well for trout with some good returns trolling.  However, there are few anglers fishing the lake at the moment.  This may be due to the brown flood waters as well as the persistent unsettled weather.

Fanore, Doonbeg and Shannon Estuary providing some nice returns

A delighted Kaylah Kelly with another noble Flounder
A delighted Kaylah Kelly with another noble Flounder

Clare Area Report by Ken O’Neill

Summary.

Persistent weather conditions and flooding in Rivers are still limiting angling in Clare.  However, Sea Angling is providing some nice returns.

Clare Areas

Sea Area – Fanore – Doonbeg – Shannon Estuary

Very good catches of Wrasse are being caught at the moment on the Shannon Estuary.  For off shore angling, the Shannon Estuary is ideal for the northerly winds that were persisting last week.  Good sized Conger Eels are also being caught.  A 34lb Tope was caught on the Shannon.  Small Pollack are being caught but not in great numbers – however, there is an abundance of large Mackerel off shore at the moment.

The Shore angling is not as good at the moment.  The persistent rainfall is flooding the shorelines with fresh water and the brown water is suspected as keeping the Mackerel and Bass etc away around the Doonbeg area.  However, in other areas, large pods (~30) of porpoises that are resident near the shoreline are suspected of hunting the Mackerel away from the shorelines and limiting the angling returns there.

The upcoming Doonbeg Seafood Festival is one to watch.  It will be held on the 20th – 22nd July and it will have a number of events including boat trips / fishing trips from Doonbeg Pier.  For more information on this checkout the website [http://www.doonbegseafoodfestival.com/]

Owen Kelly with fine Flounder
Owen Kelly with fine Flounder

 

A delighted Kaylah Kelly with another noble Flounder
A delighted Kaylah Kelly with another noble Flounder

 

Mathew O'Looney with a whopping great 4lb Mullett caught at the Fanore SAC Juvenile Competition last Sunday (8th July 2012)
Mathew O'Looney with a whopping great 4lb Mullett caught at the Fanore SAC Juvenile Competition last Sunday (8th July 2012)

The Fanore sea angling area is fishing a little better with a 4Kg Conger, as well as a 4Kg Busshuss being caught at Arkeen, near Black Head.  At a recent Juvenile Beach Casting Competition (8th July), ten juveniles accompanied by their parents, participated in spite of the unsettled weather conditions.  Six Flounder were caught and a 4lb Mullett was also caught.