Rob Malcolm about to release a salmon weighing approximately 4 lbs on the Ridge Pool
Steve Schreck reports from the River Moy…
ANGLING REPORTWeek ending 21/05/2023
Despite low water conditions and sunny days for most of last week, catch numbers on the Moy system continue to increase. In total, 77 salmon were reported caught. Again, a good number of double-figure fish were recorded, alongside a few early grilse. Water levels at Ballylahan Bridge were around 0.5m on Monday, dropping quickly to low water levels of about 0.25m during the week.
The Moy Fishery benefited from the conditions and started to come into swing, with 10 salmon caught of which 2 were released. All fish were caught on the Ridge Pool.
Paul Kelly with a very deep fish of 9.25 lbs on the Ridge Pool
Ballina Salmon Anglers reported 2 salmon caught both weighing around 11lbs caught on the worm.
Knockmore Salmon Anglers reported 2 salmon caught, 11lbs on a prawn and 4lbs on a spinner.
Armstrong Fishery recorded 6 salmon for the week, caught on shrimp and worm. (9lbs, 8lbs, 7lbs, 7lbs, 7lbs and 4lbs)
Gannon’s Fishery reported 6 fish, with the best one weighing in at 12 lbs, mostly caught on the shrimp.
The Foxford Fishery recorded 9 fish, one of them being a stunning 14 lbs springer.
Joe Gleeson with a stunning 14 lbs springer from the Foxford Fishery
Foxford Salmon Anglers reported 16 fish caught for the week.
Reports of eight salmon caught were received for the Foxford town area.
CloongeeFishery recorded 4 salmon caught on the fly (11.5lbs, 9.5lbs, 8lbs and 7lbs).
East Mayo Anglers recorded 11 salmon for the week (5 released). Eight fish on the fly, 1 on the spinner and 2 on the worm. The best fish weighed in at 10.5 lbs.
It has been mostly about spent for the past week. The wets seem to be working again, but it was the green dries and spent that caught most of the trout. With ideal spent fishing conditions both during the day and evening, there was an excellent chance of catching a few fish. Saying that, a lot of anglers remarked that they were getting plenty of takes and rises but finding it difficult to hook the trout.
Lovely bronze Lough Arrow trout
Fishing out of Dodd’s Boats, Kildare angler Declan Conlon and his mate Paul Molloy had a number of nice fish. Richard Melrose and Kevin Coyle out for 3 days reported good fishing on wets and caught well into double figures.
Declan Conlon with a nice Arrow brownie
Fishing out of John Hargadon’s Annacloy Boat Hire, James Nolan from Carlow had 6 fish one day, heaviest about 3lb. Northern Ireland anglers Fergus Auld, Norman Nichol, Sam McGowan and Edward Millican had 21 fish over 2 days, with the biggest 6lb caught by Norman Nichol. Most of these were caught on dries and spent. David O’Brien, Cork had 3 fish. Kieran O’Donnell, Derry had 1 fish. David Flynn, Sligo and friend had 7 to the boat on spent, all returned.
Drumshanbo fishing buddies having a rest on Flynn’s pier after a good day out on the lake
Aidan Walsh and Ray Burns, guests of Arrow View Farmhouse had 2 fish on Saturday.
Ken Murray, Drogheda and Philip Brown, Derry, fishing out of Lough Arrow Caravan Park, had a very successful week, releasing most of their catch.
With the lake still fishing well we hope to have good spent fishing up until the weekend at least. This has probably been one of the best mayfly hatches in recent years. As well as that, the favourable weather allowed the spent on to the lake each day, which should promise good hatches for the future.
Elsewhere, regular visitor to Lough Arrow, Ewan MacGregor from Scotland, also enjoyed great fishing while guided by Jackie Mahon. Jackie reports that Lough Arrow has been fishing very well to spent over the last week, with an average rod average of 5 fish per day, including a fantastic trout of 7.10lb for Ewan, which was one of his 4 fish for the day. Ewan’s trout took one of Jackie’s signature spent collection patterns.
Sligo Anglers Association held their “Annual Festival Cup Trout Fly Fishing Competition” on Sunday 21 May on Lough Gill. This year, the event was run as a Catch/Photo/Release competition for the first time and it was a great success.
Longest trout of the competition
Despite hard fishing conditions, calm in the morning and only a cool breeze in the afternoon, 11 trout were measured (min size 28cm) and a good number of smaller fish were caught for 27 anglers.
1st- Charlie and Paul McLoughlin2nd- Ricky Fabozzi and Declan O Donnell3rd- Keith Trotter and George ConwayLongest Fish- Tony McLoughlin
A huge thanks to club member Ken Quin who kindly sponsored the measuring mats. Congratulations to the prize winners and thanks to all who participated!
It’s been another quiet week on the Munster Blackwater. Conditions are near perfect with the water gin clear.
Carrigane Fishery finally got its season off to a good, if a little late, start on the 20th of May. One lucky anglers had two salmon, estimated to weigh 10lbs and 11lbs respectively. Both were released.
Pete David with his salmon at Fortwilliam on the Blackwater
Fishing on the 24th of May, Pete Davis had a nice fish of 7 or 8lbs on a Willie Gun at Fortwilliam. Conditions were described as absolutely perfect and gin clear with .10m on the gauge.
Go fishing…
This large and broad river has a lot of fine salmon fishing spread among many private and club fisheries. They are all easily accessible and most welcome visiting anglers. Spring run improving in recent years. The best grilse fishing is towards the end of the season. For more information see:
Guided fishing, clubs, private fisheries etc
Carrigane Fishery
A pleasant low cost Day Ticket, Salmon & Trout Fishery on the North bank of the Munster Blackwater, at Mollcop, Ballyduff.
Blackwater Salmon and Trout Fishery control a number of beats of the Munster Blackwater. The Ballyduff Bridge beat is almost a mile long offering a huge variety of water and is particularly suited to fly fishing. Upstream near the village of Ballyhooley (a few miles outside the town of Fermoy, Cork) we have two beats. The Ballincurrig Beat is one of the most beautiful locations along the river and has an excellent piece of fly water flowing into a deep pool. Just downstream on the opposite bank we have a short but productive beat, called Magners. This beat fishes also well in high water.
Blackwater Salmon Fishery has 3 beats downstream of the weir and 2 upstream of the weir. Blackwater Salmon Fishery offers fishing on approximately 5 miles of the river Blackwater. The fishing is spread throughout the middle section of the river to offer good sport throughout the fishing season. Due to the location of the beats, fishing can still usually be offered in low or high water. Contact Glenda Powell: Lismore, Co Waterford, Email:[email protected] Mobile: +353 (0) 872351260 Telephone: +353 (0) 5853929 Web: www.blackwatersalmonfishery.com
Fortwilliam Fishery & Self-Catering Cottages
Fortwilliam Fishery offers two miles of double bank salmon and trout fishing over five beats on the river Blackwater.
Our salmon include – Springers, May Salmon, Grilse, Back End Salmon, and in Summer sea trout.
Our beats provide a wide variety of water, suitable for both beginners and the more experienced fishermen.
Fortwilliam Fishery, Glencairn, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland Web: www.fortwilliamfishing.ieEmail: [email protected] Tel: (00353) 87 8292077 or 058 75299
Careysville Fishery
Careysville Fishery offers some of the best salmon fly fishing in Ireland and includes 26 named pools. It is considered by many to be one of premier beats for salmon fishing in Ireland. Wading is excellent and among the numerous streams, pools and glides there is a great variety of fly fishing to suit both complete novice and challenge the most competent of fly casters.
At Lismore Castle & Golf Course Fishery, we offer nearly two miles of two inter-linked beats, the Castle Beat & the Golf Course Beat.
The legendary Castle Beat consistently ranks as one of the top Salmon beats on the River Blackwater, for the number of Atlantic Salmon caught per rod. The Golf Course Beat offers about 1.5 miles of fishable water through meandering majestic countryside. The Golf Course beat offers a number of bewildering pools suitable for unmatched spinning and bait fishing.
For bookings contact Joe Willoughby on Mobile no. 00353 87 8295449 or Email: [email protected]
We provide Day Tickets for some prime Salmon fishing in Mallow Co. Cork. We have excellent fly water, shrimping worming and spinning also. We also have very competitive Day rates and we have very recently upgraded our fishing.
Tickets available from “The Bridge House” and “Vincent Downes Menswear” Mallow.
Located on the Munster Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Situated mid river between the towns of Fermoy and Mallow. A productive left bank beat in stunning surroundings.
For bookings contact Conor Arnold: +353 87 755 4682
For details on availability and conditions of fishing for salmon and trout on the Longueville House waters please contact them at Contact : Longueville House Hotel, William O’Callaghan Address : Mallow, Co. Cork. Telephone : 00 353 22 47156 Email:[email protected] Website:
A super day out on the famous Streedagh Beach for the Mariners and Howth Sea Angling Club inter-club competition on the Spanish Armada historical site in Grange, Sligo.
Conditions were tough with the big surf venue with the road to the beach lined with surfer vans as we all chased the same thing, the lifestyle of the west coast beaches to enjoy nature at its best.
Peter McQuillan with a 38cm flounder on the way to the overall win
Some great fish were caught with quite a few turbot breaking the 30cm mark which is always nice to see and the longest being a 34cm turbot for Noel o O’Shea of Howth. Cara Boyle of Mariners had some lovely hauls including a treble shot of turbot. Also some big flounders on the go and the longest was a 38cm for Peter McQuillan of Howth.
Cara Boyle with a fine turbot
In the end up the Howth anglers took the bragging rights this year with some great fishing as they become more accustomed to the west coast fishing and fished very well on the day.
Treble turbot for Cara on the way to 3rd overall
Results were overall winner Peter McQuillan Howth in 1st
2nd Siert Schuls Howth
3rd Cara Boyle Mariners
4th Tom McAdam Howth
5th Norman Dunlop Howth
6th John Burke Mariners.
Best Pair Tom McAdam and Norman Dunlop
Longest Flat Pater McQuillan 38cm flounder
Longest round Tom McAdam 46cm seatrout.
An enjoyable day out well done to everyone that traveled to enjoy the fishing and thanks to the organisers Noel and Derek, John Cunningham for pegging and the lads for donating prizes for the lucky peg draws.
Beach lined
The two clubs will be fishing together again in July in Killybegs but this time its out on the boats deep sea fishing.
Bandon Angling Association have set up a guiding service in conjunction with Jason Nash, Peter Aspinwall and Phil Dewey. Details of the guiding service are provided on the website and they are looking forward to making memories and enhancing people’s fishing experiences on the river Bandon. Day tickets and club membership are also available. Web: https://bandonangling.com/
Dunmanway Salmon & Trout Anglers Association have 10 miles of fishing between Togher Castle and Manch Bridge (Fly Only). Day / Season tickets from Dunmanway Salmon & Trout Anglers Association +353 (0)23-8855196
Ballineen and Enniskeane Anglers have 4 miles of fishing and day tickets are available for visiting anglers. Day tickets available from Tom Fehily grocers in Bridge Street, Ballineen. Tel:+353 23 47173
Daire and Tom of the Ireland on the Fly podcast talk to Garret Ruigrok to find how the Moy has fished this year and what in store for the rest of the season…
Getting ready for the Moy
It really feels as if the season is now kicking into gear – from the mayfly season on the Irish loughs to the coming grilse run – and for this week’s Ireland on the Fly podcast, they focus on the salmon on the River Moy.
It’s Ireland’s iconic salmon river, as well as being its most prolific, with the Ridge Pool in Ballina standing out as a special and unique place to land a salmon on the fly.
To find out more about fishing the river, how the spring run went and what to expect for the coming grilse fishing, they speak to Garrett Ruigrok who is a casting instructor and guide who guides in Ireland, Scotland and around the world and is also a committee member of the East Mayo Anglers Association.
Listen in…
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Killybegs Fishing Trips report on some fabulous days out on Donegal Bay. Anglers aboard the “Fiona Tee” enjoyed some great fishing during the week with nice catches of cod, pollack and some fine wrasse. The key, however, was to get down through all the coalies. Mackerel were also plentiful and in good size.
Dan O’Neill angling guide and casting instructor at South East Casting reports from the Nore…
Some great weather over the weekend saw hatches stay strong. With my youngest apprentice (Daniel, age 3) beginning to recognise the signs of me trying to sneak to the river for a cast it was time I took him with me so he could start where I did at that age. The inquisitive stage of his little life is well under way making it a great time to show Daniel what comes before the cast.
Grabbing a net that may have been slight over kill for the required job, we made our way to the river for our adventure. I plan on building a knowledge for this little man and also an appreciation for nature. It’s much easier at this stage to do such without a fishing rod nearby.
Ready with the net
As we walked along the river bank the colours of nature could not but catch our eye. Stopping on the bank to take a look at exactly what’s happening mesmerises me each time I am lucky enough to be able to do it. Entering this realm at such a busy time of year for nature is spectacular. I have never known Daniel to be so quiet and he too at his young age could understand that this was something special. It wasn’t something that was viewed through a screen, this was real life and he was certainly stuck in the moment.
Suddenly our concentration was interrupted by an “in range” insect that to Daniel I’m sure looked prehistoric. Chasing down the fly and swooping at it carefully we had our first insect of interest. Looking at the fly and all its stunning features,Daniel very slowly and cautiously moved his hand towards the fly. The fly, as if it knew Daniel was no harm, slowly walked onto his hand and crept up his arm slowly before fluttering away towards the rushes. A very quick interaction but one that I’m very sure will stay in this little boy’s mind for some time to come and perhaps when the time comes will share with his own children this small but exciting insight into nature.
Prehistoric damsel fly crawling up Daniel’s arm
Heading further down the bank we found some water snails on the underneath of some vegetation. A beautiful mayfly came up from the waters surface and almost made its way towards us. Daniel immediately saw this fantastic insect and we followed until it eventually landed for us to take a closer look. Placing his hand out I carefully left the fly on Daniel’s hand where he examined it closely and carefully before the fly took flight on its journey.
Inspecting the troops
A wonderful way to spend an evening and also to give this young angler something more to appreciate and an understanding of why Dad fishes.Not only do I get to see people hook their first trout, witness their first cast with a fly rod but I get to show them and give them an insight into what a wonderful sport we have that has many many hidden beauties. Daniel, I feel, has now begun his angling journey which he will continue to build as he moves along through life. I am very sure one day he will teach me many things about angling that I don’t know. I will never stop learning about fishing because there is no end when it comes to the knowledge of fishing.
Go Fishing…
Go fishing…
I am now taking bookings for fly fishing classes and guided trips on the River Nore. The classes are a great way to gather more information on your chosen discipline, tackle information and casting, no matter where you are on your fly fishing journey. One thing I did learn and it was most valuble to me was gather all the information you can. In fly fishing you can never know too much.
For a full list of classes contact me on the below details,
Growing up in the countryside of Gowran, Co.Kilkenny, I started my fishing journey on the River Barrow with my dad, which is where I caught my first fish, a lovely brown trout. The Gowran River was also a short walk from my homeplace, and on the days my dad couldn’t fish, I would walk through the fields and fish the Gowran River. My love for fishing grew and took me to Mount Juliet Estate, where I began guiding at 13. I went on to become fisheries manager at Mount Juliet Estate and, to this day, enjoy taking out hundreds of clients every year fishing on the River Nore. I enjoy all types of fishing and guide all over Ireland. I am an Apgai Ireland-qualified casting instructor and have Ambassador roles with Cadence and Yeti. I joined Fulling Mill as an endorsed pro guide and am part of the Patagonia pro team. My angling journey has been an exciting one and hopefully will continue to be.
I take out all levels of anglers, from beginner to experienced. I enjoy what I do and count myself very lucky to be able to meet and guide new people to what might be their first Irish fish.
