Colin Folan reports that Lough Inagh received plenty of rain last week, which brought levels well up and brought a run of salmon and sea trout into the fishery. Inagh ghillies Dara O Connor (aged 18) and Colin Folan ( aged 18 and a bit!) fished Lough Inagh on Saturday morning, and caught two 5lbs grilse on a Cascade and a Green Peter. The grilse seem to be running to the top of the lake and not stopping in the river beats. When it comes to salmon, they can be a bit like buses. Roundstone angler, Noel King has fished Connemara for 10 years without success. But Monday was Noel’s day. He landed his first salmon on the fly rod at 11a.m. and the fish was estimated at 12lbs, but was released as it was a coloured hen fish. Minutes later he landed a fresh grilse of 5.5lbs. Both fish took a Green Peter.
To book fishing or accommodation at Lough Inagh Lodge, call the lodge on 095 34706, or check www.loughinaghlodgehotel.ie
Lough Inagh ghillie Daragh O'Connor and fishery manager Colin Folan with two 5lbs grilse caught on Inagh on Saturday, June 16th, 2012
Fishery manager Jim Stafford reports on good conditions and good fishing for the first couple of weeks in June. Several spates resulted in good fishing conditions for much of the period, and also encourage fish to run the river in good numbers. Among those to land fish were Deirdre Herbert, Dublin, who landed her first ever salmon. Deirdre was also the first lady angler to catch a salmon on the river this season – the fish weighed 6lbs 6oz and was taken on a shrimp fly in Doyle’s Pool on Beat 6. William Sullivan, Boston U.S.A., also fishing the river for the first time, released a sea-liced grilse taken in the Upper Garden Pool on Beat 9.
Prolonged heavy rain resulted in a massive spate of 2.7 meters on the 8th, which rendered the river unfishable, but brought a run of both springers and grilse into the river. The following morning levels had dropped to 1.6 meters and angling conditions were good. A Yabbie was the successful fly for Dr. Eoin Bresnihan, Oughterard who caught a sparkling fresh fish of 9.25lbs in the Garden Pool on Beat 9. Mr. Robert Devriese, the Belgian ambassador to Ireland, released a grilse taken on a Hairy Mary in the Glenacally Pool at the top of Beat 5. Michael Parry, UK, on his annual visit to the lodge and fishery, had a red letter day on the Erriff catching 3 salmon in the one day – one each from the Top Square Pool and the Garden Pool on Beat 9, and another estimated at 9.5 lbs which was released in Doyle’s Pool on Beat 6. A Red Shrimp Pattern produced 6 fish for the week for Selby Knox, also a regular visitor from the UK. Selby also caught 3 fish in the one day with water levels at 0.8 meters on the gauge on the 13th of the month.
Selby Knox, UK, with 2 nice Erriff salmon, June 2012
Donal Chambers, Athy, Co Kildare, took a 6.75lbs fish from the Black Banks on a Cascade on the 14th. With heavy rain, water levels reached 1.8 meters on the 15th. Terence Miley, Cong, had 2 grilse from Nee’s run on a Vambeck. James Keogh, Dublin, caught one of 8.75lbs on a Cascade in the Twin Rocks. Urgan Mantle, Clonbur, caught a fish of 8lbs on a Shrimp Fly in the Broken Bridge Pool on Beat 5. John Lyons, also from Clonbur, released a fish of 7lbs taken on a Cascade in the Glenacally Pool on Beat 5. John Dardis, Kildare, had a sea-liced grilse of 5lbs taken from the Bridge Pool and lost another estimated at 10lbs in the Sea Pool. A Black Shrimp fly produced a fresh run fish of 9lbs from the Garden Pool for Peter Hunt, Clonbur. The last fish of the week, a 10lbs springer, was caught in the Falls Pool on an Erriff Green & Gold.
Peter Hunt with a 9lbs salmon from the Erriff, June 2012
On Monday, at the time of writing this report, another run of spring salmon and grilse could be seen coming in on the tide and showing in the Garden Pool and Falls Pool before passing up through the fish counter. The first of the sea trout run were also observed in excellent condition passing through the fish counter. With good water levels these fish will be able to reach the higher beats.
The total catch for the period was 22 salmon and 10 sea trout
There are still places available for a casting and flyfishing course for ladies, which will take place from Thursday the 5th to Sunday the 8th of July, led by qualified casting instructor mark Corps. All accommodation and meals are included, as well as tuition in all aspects of flyfishing and salmon fishing, and plenty of time on the river to practise the skills acquired. The cost for 3 nights B&B, lunch and dinner, and fishing tuition is €500 per participant. Partners can stay for €300, and may fish the river on the other beats for free. Contact Aasleagh Lodge for information and booking.
To book fishing on the Erriff or accommodation in Aasleagh Lodge, contact fishery manager Jim Stafford on 095 42252, or visit www.aasleaghlodge.ie for details. The lodge and fishery also have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AasleaghLodge.
Some drier weather last week resulted in a drop in water levels, with 2 gates open since last Friday. Grilse are starting to enter the fishery in greater numbers, and fishing has picked up considerably. There were 49 fish landed this week, which is the best week so far this season. Flyfishing and shrimp are the most successful methods at the moment, with spinning also taking a few fish.
Local angler Enda Scahill landed a 7lbs fish while spinning, while Dublin man Colm Adams had a nice grilse on shrimp. William Miller from Northern Ireland landed 2 grilse on spinner and shrimp, while Brian Howard fished over 2 days and landed 4 fish, including 3 grilse to 7lbs and a fine salmon of 10.5lbs, all on fly. Athenry angler Declan Tuffy landed 2 grilse on fly, as did Des Hackett and Pappy Cotter, while Donegal angler George Houston took 2 fish on shrimp. Moycullen angler John Anderson landed 3 fish on fly, including 2 sportingly released, while Northern Ireland angler Davy Hoy landed 2 grilse on fly. Gary Kilroy from Westmeath had 2 grilse to 7lbs on spinner, and Galway man Tom Power had 2 grilse on shrimp. Dave O’Reilly from Dublin landed 2 grilse on fly, while brother Declan had a fish on shrimp, and Jimmy Scotson from Monaghan landed 2 grilse on fly.
Water levels are currently ok for flyfishing at 2 gates, with grilse starting to run in better numbers all the time, and as long as we avoid a prolonged wet spell then fishing prospects in Galway are very good for the coming few weeks.
Rock Hunter reports from the South Coast : – The strorm that hammered the south coast last Thursday and Friday certainly had a detrimental effect on the fishing, producing highly coloured water, weed choked bays and estuaries full of dark brown flood water. As last Saturday was the first day after the month long bass closed season, I had to give it a go so I went bait fishing to a beach that can fish well in daylight on a rising tide. But the surf was still very big and I guess the bait scent was just lost amongst the sediment charged breakers. I packed up just before high tide without a hint of a fish.
The next day the weather was calm and sunny. After doing some gardening I headed down to the shore to try some lure fishing for a few hours over high tide. But again the water was highly coloured. I perservered, trying a range of hard and soft plastic lures, but it was to no avail.
Monday 18th was another nice fairly calm day. I still had some lug left over from Saturday and picked up some crab on the way home from work. I planned to try a small beach that I have not fished for about two years. I took both the bait and lure fishing gear as there is good lure fishing ground either side of the beach. However, when I got there a couple of hours before low tide I found the bay was full of seaweed, with masses of kelp floating for about 30 m out from the shore. The water was still highly coloured. So it was pointless fishing there. I back-tracked to another beach which I thought might be cleaner.
By the time I got set up it was 11.30 pm, much later than I had intended to start. The water was weed free but the surf was quite weak. It was a lovely clear night and although there was no moon it never got totally dark. Due to the clear skys there was a glow of daylight to the north as it was only a few days before the longest day of the year. Even at 2.00 am there was still a glow in the north, after that it started to get brighter again.
I set up two rods, one baited with lug, the other with crab, both on 4/0 pennel pulleys. Shortly after setting up I noticed some subtle nibbles on the rod with the lug, picked it up, then felt a strong tug, lifted into the fish but after having it on for a few seconds it was gone!!!
There then follows a succession of missed bites, about six on the lug and two on the crab, some were fairly subtle knocks, others were stronger tugs. I felt a sense of frustration, it was like watching Ireland play football in the Euro 2012. A change of tactics were required. Over the last few months I have not been striking when a fish bites due to a post on Sea Angling Ireland where a far better angler than myself said he never struck and let the fish hook itself. Obviously that was not working for me despite using brand new rigs with new hooks!!!
So next bite I struck hard – this time there was no mistake, the fish was well hooked. It fought strongly and at first I thought I had a bass, but when I hauled it out of the surf I could see it was a large dogfish. Two more dogfish followed, one on lug the other on crab.
At about 12.30 am I had a much stronger bite on the rod with the lug and again struck to set the hook. This fish was putting up a better fight so I has hoping that it was not another dogfish. Fortunately this time it was a bass, a well fed stocky fish of 55 cm and approximately 4 lbs.
Bass no 1 for Rockhunter
...and two
A little later I spotted a slight knock on the rod with the crab but then it went quite. At first I thought the fish was gone but then there was another small tap. I retrieved and found a small codling on the end. That was a bit of a surprise for mid-June!!!
At about 1.30 am I noticed some subtle taps on the rod with the lug so picked it up, waited until I felt a stronger tug and then struck strongly. I was into a bigger fish, it was fighting very strongly, stripped some line as it tried to escape, pulling the line to the right. It felt a powerful fish, especially as I got it in close and I could see a good size bass splashing about in the shallow surf. It was a chunky 61 cm fish with a weight of 5.75 lbs.
Bass on measuring tape
I fished on until about 3.00 am, no more bass but I did have two coalfish and another dogfish. Interestingly from the moment I changed tactics and reverted to striking on a bite I did not miss a single fish.
Despite water levels still being slightly high, it was another excellent week for anglers on the Moy, where over 500 salmon were reported! The lower fisheries are suffering due to the water level, however, this is having a positive effect on the upper fisheries.
The Moy Fishery produced just seven for the week, with five from the Ridge Pool and two from the Freshwater Beat. On the Ridge Pool, Dublin angler Eamon Fitzsimons had two of 3.5lbs and 6.5lbs on the worm, as did Jim Keeley, N.Ireland. Both John McKinley and Padraig Hastings had success while spinning on the Freshwater Beat.
The Ballina Salmon Anglers’ water yielded fifty salmon, while Mount Falcon, Knockmore, Attymass and Coolcronan also produced their share. Byrne’s Fishery produced twenty-six and Armstrong’s thirty-five including one of 8lbs for Michael Braun, Germany.
Gannon’s Fishery reported thirty-nine for the week, where Simon Stokoe, U.K. had one of 11lbs. The Foxford Fishery also enjoyed a very good week, where their total was fifty-one salmon. At the Foxford Fishery, Peter Feeney, N.Ireland, had two of 9lbs, each to the worm, while Sean O’Brien, Co. Wexford had one of 11.5lbs, also on the worm. Rinanney and the Foxford town fisheries all reported very good numbers of fish. At Rinanney Horst Zettle, Germany, caught one of 13lbs spinning while Guy Herve, France had one of 12.5lbs.
IFI’s Cloongee Fishery produced almost ninety salmon, including a great fish of 15lbs for Tom Cogan, Co. Monaghan to a spinner and one of 13.5lbs for Alain Soisson, France, also spinning. East Mayo Anglers’ water yielded almost one hundred for the week, where John Noad, U.K. had two of 5lbs and 7lbs on fly, Lothar Deeg, Germany had one of 7lbs also on the fly while Dennis O’Manoney, Dublin had one of 10lbs.
The Ballisodare Fishery also experienced a great week, where over two hundred salmon were caught and over one hundred of these released. Among those to have success were local angler Christy O’Gara, who had one of 8lbs, John Murray, 9lbs to the fly, Ronan Waters, 8lbs on fly and Peter Henry who also had one of 8lbs, on the worm.
Shane Maye and Jimmy Cuffe, released fish of 6lbs and 5lbs respectively, taken on the fly, with Eddie Harte capturing a fine fish of 10.5lbs also to the fly. Visiting angler Peter Cunningham released one of 7lbs to the fly, John Connolly had a nice salmon of 11lbs on fly with Eamon Ruddy, taking one of 8lbs to the worm.
Although the high wind did hamper efforts on Carrowmore Lake at times during the week, many anglers had good sport on the lake. Michael Naughton and Vincent Rigney had one each to the boat, while J.J. Sullivan and boat partner had two each. Ronnie Maye boated one as did Gary Copney, Vincent Roche and Paddy Byrne. David Donnell had two, Alan Boyd and Jim Ruane, one each as did Larry McElendon. Flies which proved successful over the past week on Carrowmore were the Black Dabbler, Green Peter and Cascade varieties.
The weather did hamper angling on Conn and Cullin once again, despite this, some anglers did enjoy success. Fishing out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Rodger Sanders, Paul Dixon and Ben Dixon, U.K. had five trout to the boat for a day, all taken on the Grey Wulff. Sean Almandras, U.K. also had five for a day, his best was 2lbs. Steven Forehead, also from the U.K. reported seven, his best 1.5lbs, all taken on the Royal Wulff.
Angling out of Murphy’s of Massbrook, Barry Graham and Ned Tyrell, Co. Offaly had six for a day, their best was 2lbs. Boat partners Liam McHugh and Mick Sweeney, Co. Galway had six for a day, including two trout each weighing over 4lbs, taken on mayflies off Coleman’s Shallows. Dominic Concannon, Co.Derry released four trout, while Bob Allis, U.K./Terrybaun had three for a day on Cullin, his best 1.5lbs.
In the Cloghans area Stephen Brown and Sean Creane, both Cloghans, had two each on dry Olives, their best 1.5lbs while John Burke, Foxford and Adrian Murphy, Cloghans also had two each all taken on dry flies.
John O'Neill with three nice salmon taken on fly on the River Drowes.
Lindsey Clarke reports:
RIVER DROWES – Monday 11th to Sunday 17th June 2012.
There were good water levels all week on the Drowes and allied to the great run of salmon, this was a very good week on the river with around 100 salmon caught over the week. The fishery was well attended with good numbers of rods fishing throughout the week and fish were reported being caught every day from all sections of the river. Catch reports were too numerous to list all them so given here are a selection of catches taken from the register. On Monday, John O’Conner recorded a 5lb grilse caught on a fly from the Trout Pool. On Tuesday, Walter Huldi logged an 8lb salmon caught on a fly the Mill Pool & Andy Lattimer registered a 5lb grilse caught on a fly from the Upper Mill Pool. On Wednesday, John O’Neill had a good day recording 3 grilse caught on the fly.
John O'Neill with three nice salmon taken on fly on the River Drowes.
The fish weighed 4, 5 & 6 lb and were caught from Briney’s & Lennox’s. Darren Haire had a good day landing a 17lb salmon on prawn from the Sea Pools.
Darren. Haire with a 17 lb. salmon from the sea pool on the River Drowes.
On Friday, Declan McNerny accounted for an 8lb salmon caught on a spinner from Lennox’s Bridge Pool. On Saturday, Tony Parker had a good day recording 4 grilse caught with 3 of these released again. The fish weighed from 4 to 5 lb and were caught on a Rapala from the Mill Pool. William Rainy also had a great day recording 6 grilse caught with 5 of these released. The fish weighed from 4 to 5lb and were caught on worm from the Mill Pool & Upper Mill Pool.
All in all a very good week! Prospects remain good for the coming week with good water levels and a continuing good run of salmon.
Paul and Peter Martin from Belfast Show their Muckno Catch
Resulting from all of the heavy rain over the last while, Lough Muckno is at and above winter levels. Despite this fish can still be caught but the fishing is difficult to say the least. Paul and Peter Martin from Belfast visited Muckno recently and were unable to access White Island so instead settled for a few hours at South Lodge. Fishing was patchy and difficult with the fish in the swims switching off for long periods. However, the lads had some nice roach, skimmers and hybrids fishing feeder at 35yds. Red maggot on a 4ft hook length over darkened crumb produced the results in very high water.
Paul and Peter Martin from Belfast Show their Recent Muckno Catch
