Ronan Cusack reports the changeable weather on Mask over the last week resulted in mixed angling reports. The early part of last week brought bright sunshine and soft winds, which was closely followed by a drop in temperatures and strong westerly winds on Saturday. The heat and light winds returned again on Sunday and Monday making angling a bit of a challenge.
John Webb and Mike Donaghy made their annual pilgrimage from Scotland to Mask last week and had some excellent sport on wets and dries with Ronan Cusack. The most memorable day of the trip was midweek in a light breeze and bright sun. The lads managed 9 good fish on dries, 2 of which were taken off the shore during lunch (best fish on the day 3lbs; all returned).
John Webb stalks a feeding fish during lunchSuccess!
The same could be said for the windier days with catches reaching double figures each day on wets. UK visitor John Young fished wets with Ronan Cusack on Saturday in stormy conditions and they had 10 trout for the day (best fish 3lbs; all returned).
John Young with a nice 3lbs Mask trout, May 2017
Local Ballinrobe anglers Tommy Foley and Tim Hannon had a red letter day last week by boating 19 trout on a combination of wets and dries (best fish 2.5lbs; all returned). Local guide Declan Gibbons fished wets with John McCarthy for a day this week and they had 4 good fish plus numerous undersized for their day (best fish 4lbs; all returned).
Tim Rowley and his daughter Anna, who enjoyed some excellent Caenis and mayfly fishing on their recent visit, with an early morning catch.
Declan Gibbons reports that mayfly hatches have slowed dramatically, and the first mayfly hatch appears to be over for the year. It was a disappointing mayfly for the most part, with some days providing good sport, but hatches and fishing were considered very patchy. The last couple of years have provided excellent fishing during the second mayfly hatch in July-August, so perhaps we may see some good fishing to mayfly yet this year. On the plus side, early risers are now being rewarded with good Caenis hatches. There simply is nothing to beat being on the water as the dawn chorus swells and the sun comes up, waiting for the Caenis to start hatching and the lake to come alive with feeding trout.
In the Oughterard area Colin Wright from Belfast stayed with Basil Shields of Ardnasillagh Lodge (091-552550) for 5 days and had 22 fish on mayfly patterns, best fish just shy of 4lbs. Tony Newman, a visiting angler from England had 7 fish, all weighed and released for a total of 26.5lbs , including his best – a cracking fish of 7lbs 2oz. Simon Chapman, also from England had excellent sport buzzer fishing for a day and landed 5 trout – best fish 5lbs 2oz, all sportingly released.
A Dublin group of anglers enjoyed good sport at Ardnasillagh Lodge for a day’s fishing, including Robert Lalor with 3 fish (33cm,33cm & 34cm) Michael Gallagher with 3 fish, all measuring 33cms, Declan Keogh with 2 fish both measuring 33cm, Eamon O’Nuallain with one fish of 48cm and Les Nicholson with one fish measuring 42cm. Kevin Molloy (087-9604170) reports a quieter week gone by, during which he guided French father and son Antoine & Simon and they landed a 5lbs trout trolling on Friday.
In the Ballynalty area Ted Wherry of Mayfly Lodge (087-4305957) reports Peadar McAvinney from Clones, Co Monaghan enjoyed good sport on Saturday last, landing 3 trout to 2.5lbs.
Peadar McAvinney with a fine 2.5lbs Corrib trout
Cornamona Anglers hosted their Mayfly Competition on Sunday last with 50 anglers participating and just 9 fish weighed in for a total of 20.76lbs. in 1st place was Fr Michael Reilly with 2 fish for 8.00lbs, 2nd place went to Peter Walsh with 1 fish for 3.04lbs, and in 3rd place was Keith Curtis with 1 fish for 2.25lbs. Best Lady Angler on the Day went to Noreen Gavin, and the Heaviest Fish prize went to Fr Michael Reilly with a fish of 6.00lbs.
On Saturday last the Cornamona club also hosted their Annual Youths Competition with 23 rods weighing in 5 fish with an average weight of 1.12lbs. in 1st place was Conor Curran with 2 fish for 2.26lbs, in 2nd place was Brendan Curran with 1 fish for 1.22lbs (also heaviest fish), and Calvin Kinneavy took 3rd place with 1 fish for 1.19lbs.
On Sunday last Collinamuck Angling Club hosted the O’Halloran Cup in difficult conditions – 10 boats were on the water for the day with Moycullen man Mike Keady the winner on the day with a fish of 2.5lbs.
Mike Keady being presented with the O’Halloran Cup
Larry Mc carthy from Corrib View Lodge (www.corribangling.com) reports that fishing has been early and hectic over the last two weeks. Visiting UK anglers Tim Rowley and his daughter Anna had a mixture of early morning Caenis fishing with some day time mayfly fishing too, and they had 17 trout to 3lbs for the week.
Tim Rowley and his daughter Anna, who enjoyed some excellent Caenis and mayfly fishing on their recent visit, with an early morning catch.
Ronald Ray and Garry Campbell, also from the UK had 13 trout between 1.5lbs and 3lbs on mayfly in the Greenfields area. Most anglers staying at the lodge caught an average bag of 2 to 3 fish per outing but it is very noticeable that the mayfly is at an end. Larry himself has been busy early mornings doing what he does best – chasing Caenis feeders which are in full swing. Boating regular client Jeremy over 3 days last week they caught 27 trout between 1.5lbs and 4.5lbs with 4 of these fish weighing over 4lbs. The early starts are producing some magnificent fishing according to Larry.
Golden perfection – a beautiful Corrib trout just under 4lbs. Photo: Larry McCarthy
Junior fishing clubs and youth groups invited to get in front of the camera and reel in the votes
Inland Fisheries Ireland launches Fish & Film Competition
Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched a Fish & Film competition to encourage young people to spread the word about fishing. Junior fishing clubs, youth clubs, projects and centres are invited to apply to the competition by taking film footage of their fishing adventures and promoting it online.
The Fish & Film competition will see entrants film a fishing trip and include fun interviews on what angling means to them. The films will be youth led in content and production with all junior anglers up to and including the age of 18 eligible to apply. All films submitted to Inland Fisheries Ireland will be uploaded onto the organisation’s YouTube channel and the public’s views on each film will count as votes!
The top three groups with the most views on their film entry will go forward to a junior fishing competition which includes a free day’s fishing for all. The overall winner of the Fish & Film Competition will receive a €1,000 fishing tackle voucher for their club with the two runners up winning a €250 voucher.
Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “We want to hear from the next generation of anglers to find out what fishing really means to them – why they enjoy it and why they think other young people should get involved.
If we are to increase domestic participation and secure the long term future of angling, then we need to engage with the next generation of anglers and learn more about their experience of angling in Ireland. We also hope they will help us encourage other young people to discover angling as a hobby and help them realise that it is a pursuit that can be enjoyed at any age or ability.”
The Fish & Film competition supports the objectives of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s National Strategy for Angling Development which aims to make angling accessible and attractive to all while establishing it as a key leisure pursuit. There are currently 273,000 domestic anglers in Ireland and Inland Fisheries Ireland aims to grow participation rates by 0.5% annually.
Adrian Browne reports that it was a great day on Sunday for the Open at Oakland’s. Mark Allcock made his long trip down from Belfast worthwhile, winning with a great bag of 63kg from peg 9. Mark was catching shallow on long pole.
There are some great events coming to Oaklands soon – The NCFFI Commercial Pairs Championships is coming up on Sunday 11 June and The Oaklands Dunbrody Festival will be fished on July 8 and 9.
If you are interested in taking part contact Adrian at : 0877811042
Go fishing…
Oaklands Lake in New Ross Co. Wexford is a fishing paradise for coarse angling. It offers a wide selection of fish. The lake can be fished by people of every level of experience from beginners to professionals.
Adrian Browne
Oaklands Lake,
Marshmeadows,
New Ross, Co. Wexford.
Two giant sharks, which together weigh more than the entire Munster pack which started last weekend’s Pro12 final, have been caught off the Clare coast. Amazingly, these massive six-gill sharks were caught on the same day by the same angler using just a line and reel. The sharks, which together weighed 2,600lbs or 185 stone, would both have broken the Irish record if they were killed, brought ashore and officially weighed on scales – but both sharks were released after their capture… Irish Examiner, 31/05/17. Read the full article ‘Angler catches two giant sharks off Clare coast‘.
The mayfly season is well underway as I write. The beginning of the month began with near perfect conditions that led many, myself included to believe that 2017 could turn out to be a bumper year. Mother nature then threw a curveball and temperatures and wind direction both changed to such a degree that all existing hatches ceased and things were looking doubtful. I am glad to say that reports from all the large lakes are now very positive but still quite challenging due to the changeable nature of the weather conditions… Leitrim Observer, 29/05/17. Read the full article ‘Changing weather challenges anglers‘.
Ireland adds another fish counter after salmon stock recovery
Ireland’s fisheries industry is worth an estimated €800m annually, so it’s high time officials started to accurately count salmon, trout and grilse. A new fish counter facility opened today (29 May) in Co Donegal, with several key species now monitored at the designated spring salmon fishery on the River Lackagh… Silicon Republic, 30/05/17. Read the full article ‘Ireland adds another fish counter after salmon stock recovery‘.
Ireland adds another fish counter after salmon stock recovery
Brand new Donegal spring salmon fishery facility opened today
A new fish counter facility in the designated spring salmon fishery on the River Lackagh was officially opened today. The project, which was devised and delivered by Inland Fisheries Ireland, was completed in recent months and will provide important data for the future management of spring salmon, grilse and sea trout stocks for the River Lackagh catchment, which incorporates Lough Beagh, situated in Glenveagh National Park… Donegal Now, 29/05/17. Read the full article ‘Brand new Donegal spring salmon fishery facility opened today‘.
Brand new Donegal spring salmon fishery facility opened today
Ireland’s premier organisation of trout and salmon fishing lodges has launched an all-new website (www.irelandflyfishing.com). With detailed descriptions and photographs of 10 of the finest fisheries and fishing establishments in the Republic of Ireland, the Great Fishing Houses’ collection includes an array of accommodations, from comfortable guest houses, historic lodges and hotels to luxurious country mansions – while offering the very best in fly fishing for brown trout, sea trout and Atlantic salmon… Irish Times, 29/05/17. Read the full article ‘Angling Notes: New website a boon for all anglers‘.
Kelly eyes top weight as anglers make a splash at Lough Sheelin
We are just on the cusp of the season on Lough Sheelin and the jewel in Ireland’s angling crown is about to sparkle. Last week the total number of trout reported was 89, a big leap forward from the previous week. The heaviest fish was a trout of over 6lbs caught by Dublin angler Mick Kelly using one of his own dry Mayfly patterns… Belfast Telegraph, 27/05/17. Read the full article ‘Kelly eyes top weight as anglers make a splash at Lough Sheelin‘.
Kelly eyes top weight as anglers make a splash at Lough Sheelin
