Donal Kennedy with his fine Grey Gurnard caught in Killala Bay
Donal Kennedy, skipper of the Leah, Killala, Co. Mayo reported on some good fishing during the week. On Thursday 24th a party of anglers from Sligo ventured out for a day’s fishing. Conditions were ideal with little or no wind. However, the fishing was slow but steady and plenty of Mackerel were caught. The group also had some fine Pollack up to 8lbs. and Ling up to 7lbs. Cod were scarce this time with just two caught up to 4lbs. Other varieties caught included Pouting, Cuckoo Wrasse, Grey Gurnard and Poor Cod.
Donal Kennedy with his fine Grey Gurnard caught in Killala Bay
On Friday 25th Donal skippered a party of anglers from Co. Mayo. Winds were from the South East and conditions were fine. Mackerel were scarce but the group caught quite a few over the day. Some nice Pollack (up to 6 lbs.) were also boated along with a couple of Ling up to 5lbs. Other varieties included Pouting, Cuckoo Wrasse, Poor Cod, Coalfish and Grey Gurnard. Even the skipper himself was successful, catching a fine Grey Gurnard weighing in at 600 grams just short of the specimen weight.
John Brittain, skipper of the Bluewater charter boat based in Cleggan, has been finding very good fishing for his clients recently. There are plenty of mackerel and launce around for bait, and the pollack as always are in abundance. Cod don’t seem to be as plentiful as they were last year but they are of a reasonably good average size. John has had a couple of very good ray sessions with thornbacks and Spotted Ray in large numbers.
To book fishing or accommodation, contact John and Sue Brittain on 095 21073 or visit www.seafishingireland.net
Ceri Jones with his record-breaking Corrib ferox trout, a magnificent fish of 23lbs 12oz, taken while trolling on Lough Corrib, May 2012
Welsh angler and photo-journalist Ceri Jones will not forget his visit to Corrib this year. On his annual pilgrimages in search of the elusive big ferox trout, he had never broken the 20 lb. mark until now, with his best fish being a 19 lbs cracker which appeared on the front cover of Trout Fisherman magazine last year. He has now smashed his personal best, landing a trout of 23 lbs 12 oz on Sunday last in baking sunshine. The fish took a large rudd deadbait trolled slowly near Inchagoill Island.
The fish was officially weighed on certified scales, and once ratified, will be the largest officially verified trout from Lough Corrib – although several fish in and around 25 lb. have been caught and released in recent years, they were not weighed on certified scales and cannot count for record purposes. With such massive fish coming off the lake, it is surely only a matter of time before the Irish trout record of 26 lb. 2 oz, set in 1884, is broken on Corrib.
Ceri Jones with his record-breaking Corrib ferox trout, a magnificent fish of 23 lbs 12 oz, taken while trolling on Lough Corrib, May 2012
Bright warm conditions combined with a lack of fly life made angling difficult on Carra this week. Jim Stafford, Brownstown, fished for a day midweek and he had 3 nice fish (best fish 2.5lbs). Jim also reported returning 10 undersize trout the same day. Three anglers from Northern Ireland fished out of Brownstown on Wednesday last, and they had 3 fish over 13 inches. They also returned numerous undersize fish throughout the day.
Patrick Thomson from Armagh stayed at Keel River Lodge this week and he had 9 trout on wet flies for his stay (best fish 2lbs). Patrick said the Green Peter and Claret Bumble accounted for most of his fish.
For all your self-catering needs, boat hire and angling information contact Joe and Lucy Flannelly at 094 9541706 or 087 6387701, or email [email protected]
Ronan Cusack reports that fishing on Mask was tough this week, with a warm breeze and blazing sunshine making angling very difficult. BBQ’s, steaks and cold beers seemed to take the place of tackle boxes in many cases!
Reasonable mayfly hatches were reported in the Bay of Islands and the Saints Island areas of the lake towards the middle of the week.
Ronan Cusack fished with Padraig Kerrigan, Cornamona, for a half day on Thursday last and they finished with 13 fish on buzzer (best fish 3lbs all released).
John Webb, Scotland, and Phil McGinnity from Westport fished with Ronan Cusack on Friday and Sunday last. Friday was very windy with blue skies all day, and resulted in only a few undersize fish to wet flies. Sunday saw a drop in wind strength and the lads finished with 7 decent fish on buzzer (best fish 2lbs, all released). Trevor Stafford, Ballinrobe, fished with Jimmy Keogh, Dublin, for a day this week and they returned 17 fish for the day with just 2 exceeding the size limit. Kevin Sheridan had a quiet week this week with only 8 trout (best fish 2.5lbs, all released). Stephan Boyd and Alex Hill, UK, fished on the Tourmakeady side of the lake for 4 days this week and they returned 11 fish for their trip (best fish 3lbs).
IFI staff members Gearoid Kirwan and Pat McDonnell had a day on Mask on Friday and they returned 11 fish on a combination of wets and dries (best fish 1.5lbs). Billy Graham and his 3 fishing buddies Laurence Gibb, Stephen Ellis and Dennis Hall from Northern Ireland spent the week at Hall’s Angling Centre and enjoyed some excellent sport. Laurence Gibb took the top prize that week with a cracking trout of 7lbs. Christy Crotty and John Ronayne, Waterford, had an excellent day on buzzers and nymphs in bright conditions on Sunday last. They returned 6 fish (best fish 2lbs)
To book accommodation or boat hire at Hall’s, contact David Hall at 094 9541389 or visit www.lakeshoreholidays.com
Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at [email protected] or on 087 2869487.
Despite low water, the Erriff Fishery produced 2 fish over the last week, the first fish of 6lbs 6oz was caught on the 4th by Deirdre Herbert from Dublin, and was taken on a shrimp fly from the high bank on Doyle’s Pool on Beat 6. It was Deirdre’s first ever salmon, and one she won’t forget! Paul Micheals from the USA also fished Beat 6 on Wednesday the 6th, and landed the first grilse of the season, a fresh fish about 3.5lbs, taken on a Cascade fly from Doyle’s again.
Rain since the weekend has brought levels up, and with very heavy rain forecast for the next couple of days the Erriff should get a nice flood that will hopefully bring a few more fish into the river. There is good availability in the lodge and on the river over the next few weeks.
A casting and flyfishing course for ladies 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
There remains one sluice gate open on the weir, meaning perfect conditions for flyfishing at the moment. The hot sunny conditions made things more difficult, however, but there were still 14 salmon recorded for the week. Spring salmon are continuing to run the river in good numbers, with some grilse starting to appear as well.
Local angler Cathal Diviney landed a 5.5lbs grilse on fly, and Moycullen angler John Anderson had an 8lbs fish, also on fly. Michael Browne from Clare had fish of 4lbs and 7.5lbs on shrimp, while Limerick man Brian King had 2 grilse on shrimp and fly. Ian Keating from Dublin landed a nice 8lbs fish on fly, and fellow Dublin angler Gareth Byrne had a 6lbs fish on fly. Martin Kiely from Limerick had fish of 6 and 7lbs on shrimp. Gerry Kelly from Limerick had a fish of 6.5lbs on shrimp and another of 8.5lbs on fly. German visitor Michael Pfetzing landed a 4.5lbs grilse on shrimp, while his compatriot Lars Friebertshauser took the fish of the week, a fine 11lbs salmon on fly.
Water levels are perfect for flyfishing at the moment, and with plenty of fish running the river and such good conditions, angling prospects in Galway are very good for the coming week.
Lough Arrow
Fishing on Lough Arrow was good during the week with large falls of spent gnat. David Frazer had 2 fine brown trout of 4.5 lbs. and 5 lbs. for an evening’s fishing. Spent dry mayfly patterns proved most successful. Lough Doon
Over the past few weeks Lough Doon provided some fine trout fishing. Gary Rafferty and Michael Ward, Donegal had 6 trout (4 released), heaviest fish 1.5 lbs., Kyle McCallion, Sligo boated 12 fish (10 released) and David Gerrity, also Sligo landed three up to 1.75 lbs. Best flies for Lough Doon included Olive Bumble, Bibio, and BWO patterns. For fishing on Lough Doon please contact the Blue Devon Pub, Dromahair, Co. Sligo, Tel: +353 (0)71 9164134. Markus Müller reporting.
IFI Fisheries Information Manager
Tom Sweeney, winner of the ITFFA championship with his bag of trout
Loughs Conn & Cullin
The extremely sunny and warm weather impacted on the fishing for some time during the week. However, anglers again reported some great fishing despite the difficult conditions.
All anglers fishing out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel enjoyed good fishing, with lots of small fish released. Annual visitor Stuart Lyon, Scotland had 17 keepers for his trip, best at 1.75 lbs., while Chris Wathen, UK caught 8 trout best at 2.75 lbs. Other successful anglers included Harry Rechfeld, Switzerland with 7 trout (best 2 lbs.) and Jack Mellet, Castlebar who had 4 trout for 4lbs.
Good numbers of trout were also reported by anglers fishing out of Gerry Murphy’s Boat Hire, Massbrook. Kevin Quinn and party of three, Galway, averaged 4 trout each over 3 days, best at 2 lbs., while Chris and Eddie Cooney, Tipperary, had 7 trout each over two days.
Fishing out of Brackwansha, Gary Binley, Foxford boated four good trout, while Peter Byrne, Castlebar, had 3, best at 2 lbs.
Elsewhere, Stephen Brown, Cloghans, had four trout, best at 1.75 lbs. in Castlehill Bay, while Joe Cosgrove, also Cloghans, enjoyed some good fishing during the week with fish up to 2.5 lbs.
Most successful flies during the week included Gray Wulff, Octopus, Bibio and various mayfly patterns (dry and wet).
A number of competitions were also fished during the week:
Foxford Anglers held an evening’s competition during the week which was won by John Burke, Foxford. Crossmolina Angling Club hosted the annual Aidan Connor Cup fished out of Gortnorabby. The first prize was scooped by Michael Monaghan, Knockmore with 2 trout for 4 lbs.
On Saturday, 26 May the I.T.F.F.A. National Championship was fished on Lough Conn in conjunction with Lough Conn & Cullin Anglers Association. The event was badly affected by strong and gusty Easterly winds. However, a total of 120 anglers accounted for 56 trout over the 13 inch limit. First place went to Tom Sweeney, Macroom with 3 trout totaling 2.25 kg. Other successful competitors who will represent Ireland in 2013 are John Dixon (Coleraine), John Deacy (Culfin), John Willis (Mallow), Gerry Heaslip (Dublin), Terry Walshe (Clane), Danny O’Keeffe (Wicklow), Con Malone (Macroom), Stevie Ellis (Bangor) and Kenneth O’Keeffe (Sheelin). We wish these anglers the very best of luck at the 2013 International Championships. Tom Sweeney, winner of the ITFFA championship with his bag of trout
Foxford Anglers held a second competition on Sunday, 27 May. The President’s Cup was sponsored by Murphy’s Boat Hire and results were as follows: 1st: Gary Binley, Foxford, 2nd Billy McGee, Ballyvary, 3rd Paul Heaney, Galway.
Finally, Castlebar Anglers held a competition from Healy’s Hotel which was won by Peter Byrne, Castlebar. Markus Müller reporting.
IFI Fisheries Information Manager
Fishing on Carrowmore Lake was hampered by the sunny conditions and squally Easterly winds at times during the week. However, some anglers that fished well into darkness were rewarded with nice catches. Local angler, Mervin Corway had two salmon at 10 lbs. & 6 lbs., Granville Nesbitt had one at 6 lbs. so had Bangor Erris angler John Cosgrove. Most successful flies included Claret Bumble, Clan Chief, Black Dabbler and Green Peter patterns.
Lough Beltra
There was little angling activity on Lough Beltra during the week. However, Anthony McGuinness, Dublin “scored” with a fine 11.5 lbs. salmon on May 22nd. It will be a memorable day for Anthony as this was his first ever salmon!
Ballisodare River
Despite very low water levels angling remained excellent during the week on the Ballisodare River, with 93 fish landed and 45 of these being returned safely to the water. The majority of fish being taken during the week were over 5 lbs. with a number of fish in the 8 to 10 lbs. size range. Kieran Kernon, Longford, had the biggest fish for the week, a fine 10 pounder to the worm. Other successful anglers included Bryan McDonnagh (8 lbs. on fly), John Doherty (8 lbs. on fly) and visiting UK angler Graham Tuck (7 lbs. & 3 lbs. worm).
