Duckfly are still hatching on Corrib, with no sign of olives in any numbers yet, which means that spring is at least a month behind schedule this year. Normally the olives would be in full swing, with the first hatches of mayfly appearing this week!
In the Greenfields area Frank Reilly reports that 13 anglers recorded 18 trout for 22 rod-days over the week, with Friday the best day. Frank Guilfoyle and his son Frank Jr., from Ennis, fished 3 days landing 6 trout to wet fly, including 2 cracking trout of 5.5lbs and 5.2lbs. Peter and David McGuinness from Milltown landed 7 trout for approx. 13lbs for one day’s fishing wetfly and buzzer, all fish returned alive. Most other anglers had one fish each, with several more undersized fish recorded.
Angling guide Tomasz Kurman reported on a fine trout for a younger angler last week. “The week wasn’t too good for fishing with high winds making some days really difficult. We got one chance for comfortable fishing on Friday, with nicer weather and quieter winds. I fished with my regular guest Nicholas Ward and his son Conor. Luckily we had a good take just before lunch time and Conor was soon playing his first Corrib Ferox. From the very start we didn’t have to touch the rod, this 8 year old angler did it all himself. I just netted the trout for him. It was a beautiful 8lbs trout in top condition. After a few pictures the fish was released, leaving a big smile on Conor’s face.
To book fishing with Tomasz, contact him on 085 7318541 or check his FB profile at https://www.facebook.com/tomi.guidedfishing
Joseph Keena sent in a great report on the Connacht Cup, which was fished last weekend from Collinamuck. Although angling conditions were very difficult with a cold and blustery wind, Lough Corrib lived up to its reputation and produced some of the finest brown trout in the world. 50 anglers weighed in 30 trout over the limit, with many more smaller fish returned.
Congratulations go to Declan O’Grady of Tuam Anglers on winning the Connacht Cup with two fabulous trout for 6.25lb. This was Declan’s second time to compete in this competition and on both occasions he has qualified for the Connacht Team. Second place went to Seamus Kelly (Ballina and Cloghans), with 2 trout for 6lbs while third was Patrick Kelly (Ballina and Cloghans), who had 2 trout for 5.5lbs.
The trophy for the heaviest fish went to Mike Coyne of Culfin Anglers with a fantastic trout of 4.25lbs, whilst other successful anglers Mark Deavin (Kinlough Anglers), Sean Crean (Ballina and Cloghans), Eddie Harte (Collooney/Ballisodare), Mark Regan (Moycullen Anglers), Dorrie Gibbons (Ballina and Cloghans), Stephen Browne (Ballina and Cloghans), Michael Monaghan (Conn and Cullin), Joe Creane (Culfin Anglers), Gareth Foley (Rossinver/Melvin), Padraic Fahy (Collinamuck) and Mary Harkin (Ballina and Cloghans). These anglers will join Peter Byrne (Ballina and Cloghans), Francie White (Lough Arrow) and Francis McSharry (Rossinver/Melvin), who retained their places from the 2012 Connacht Team, in representing Connacht at the 2013 ITFFA Interprovincial Championship which will be held at Lough Mask on 6th September 2013. We congratulate those who have qualified to represent Connacht and we wish them the very best in their efforts to regain the Interprovincial Championship trophy.
The Bartley McGauley Cup was fished from Oughterard on Sunday last, with 25 anglers recording 15 trout over the limit for approx. 20lbs. The overall winner was Eamon Molloy, with 2 trout for 3lbs 13oz. Second was Kevin Molloy, with 2 trout for 3lbs 10z, and third was Philip O’Connell, with 2 trout for 3lbs 5oz.
The current unsettled conditions and milder weather would normally be expected to bring on olive hatches, which should get going shortly, and anglers will be getting out more now that the colder weather is (hopefully) behind us. I would expect fishing to pick up once the olives start coming off, with the mayfly season not that far away either.
