Ronan Cusack reports that angling on Mask at the moment can only be described as top class, with some fantastic catches being reported. Mayfly hatches are well above average on other years and trout are taking full advantage of the bonanza.
Well-known Cork angler Tom (Swanky) Sweeney turned a few heads around Clonbur last week when he walked into Burkes Bar after a day’s wet-fly fishing in Tourmakeady. Tom landed a fish of a life time along the Lusteen Islands which weighed 11.993lbs.
The Tourmakeady Angling Club organised another successful European Cup over the past weekend. The competition was run on a heaviest single fish rule with a 15” size limit. 75 anglers took part with 38 fish weighed in. Fermanagh angler Patsy Treacy took top prize with a fine trout of 5.01lbs. In second place was John Faherty (Renvyle) with a trout of 4.06lbs. Castlebar angler Damien Walsh took third place with a trout of 3.14lbs. Ballinrobe angler Denis Kelleher was fourth over all and said that last Saturday’s competition was the best day’s wet-fly fishing he has had on Mask for years.
UK anglers Howard and Mike had a memorable 5 day fishing trip to Mask this week with trout up to 2.5lbs every day (all returned). Sunday last had to be the best day of the holiday, when the lads boated 20 trout over the legal limit and numerous under size. Scottish anglers Mike Donaghy and John Webb fished with Ronan Cusack on Monday last and they had in excess of 20 trout for the day (best fish 2lbs, all returned). John Bourke from Tourmakeady had 5 fish on wets up to 2lbs in a few hours on Monday evening (all returned).
Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at [email protected] or at 087 2869487.
Margaret Gorman from Isham Self-Catering and Angling Centre was also in touch to report guests staying at Isham have been having very good fishing to artificial mayfly and olive patterns. Winds turned southwest over the weekend and outstanding fishing resulted particularly on Saturday evening when heavy rainfall was experienced. Adrian and Pat Gorman had 12 fish for the evening – most of which were returned. They were meeting lots of fish on every drift. Dr. Michael Redmond, Northern Ireland and his friend Harry also fished on Saturday and they too had a fantastic day’s fishing, also returning most of their fish.
Dr. Ian and Rosie Gordon (Northern Ireland) and their friend Patrick from Kenya had 3 fish, all over 2lbs, on Sunday including 2 gillaroo trout from Dringeen Bay on dry fly. Lighter winds during the day proved more difficult. However, most anglers managed to get 1 or 2 fish with large numbers of small fish being reported by all anglers.
For further information on accommodation and angling advice, contact Margaret Gorman at 094 9546582 or email [email protected] .
David Hall of Hall’s Angling Centre reported on fishing for their guests. Brian Cooper’s party of 6 anglers landed 28 fish over the limit for 6 days, best 3.25lbs. Mr. Falshaw’s party of 6 anglers recorded 120 fish for 7 days, best 3.75lbs (their best trip ever on Lough Mask).
Neil Howe from Northern Ireland and 2 friends reported 14 fish for 6 days, best fish 2.7lbs, as well as numerous undersize fish. Jean Hammond’s 2 anglers from France fished for 7 days, taking 11 fish, best fish 4.25lbs.
Kenny Halliday from Northern Ireland fished for 3 days, landing 9 fish to 2.5lbs, while fellow NI angler Ivan Mc Gaw had 11 fish over 3 days to 3.5lbs. Kerry angler John O Sullivan’s party of 4 rods landed 20 fish over 2 days to 2.25lbs. All anglers said they had many small fish as well as the ones reported above. According to David Lough Mask is alive and in a very healthy state! David reported his guests were having a lot of success with dry mayflies fishing very well in the past week , also different olive and emerger olive patterns and the red arsed Green Peter were doing well. To book fishing or self-catering accommodation at Hall’s, contact David or Helen at 094 9541389 or check www.lakeshoreholidays.com .
Inland Fisheries Ireland staff are very much aware of the number of small trout anglers are encountering on the lakes over the past number of weeks and officers are out on a daily basis carrying out routine checks on both size and bag limits. Anglers are asked to please respect the minimum statutory size (13 inches) and bag limits (4 trout per day) and return any undersize fish to the water as quickly and carefully as possible.
