Written By: Kerin Crowley
On Date: 10/8/2005
GALWAY WEIR 2005 has been a good year for salmon in Galway, with a longer than usual grilse run maintaining fishing right through July and into August. Although fishing has slowed down a bit now, there are still a few fresh fish coming in, as witnessed by 4 fresh fish being caught on Tuesday the 9th after the tide. There was a total of 16 salmon for the week, including 2 grilse for Michael Brown, and 2 for David Hoey. Sean Oakes, Hugh Clarke and Michael Fitzpatrick all caught grilse, as did James Quinn, who took a fine 8.5lbs fish on fly. Michael Canning and Michael Bell both had 2 each to the shrimp on the 9th as a number of fresh fish came in off the tide. With fresh grilse still arriving, fishing is better than usual for this time of year and hopefully will continue to produce fish.
BUNOWEN AND CARROWNISKEY RIVERS
There was one salmon caught last week following a drop of rain, a nice fish of 6lbs from the Carrowniskey taken by a Swiss angler on spinner. The river dropped again after this and could do with a decent flood to bring in fresh salmon.
To book a rod, contact Bruce Lennie or John Connor at the Fisheries office in Louisburgh, telephone 098 66404.
LOUGH MASK
Mask fished fairly well over the last week, and 17 rods caught 32 trout in 23 rod-days, with the best fish reported 4lbs. There were small hatches of sedge, mayfly and olives, and sedge and olive patterns worked best, with fish coming to wet and dry fly. A Dr. Waldron from Mullingar had 2 trout for 6lbs in one day to wetfly. Richie Cameron from Ballinrobe had 2 trout for 6lbs to dry fly, and Kieran Biggins had a fine 4lbs trout on dry fly. Jim Buchanan and 2 friends from Scotland had 3 trout for 3lbs to wetfly, and Steven Greaney from Galway had 5 trout for 6lbs in one day. Jimmy Acton from Tuam had 3 trout for 4.5lbs to wetfly.
LOUGH CARRA
Small hatches of sedges and olives were seen on Carra, but the fishing was reported as poor, with 5 rods landing 4 trout in 7 rod-days to wet and dry fly. A lot of trout were seen at the surface but proved difficult to catch.
MOHER LOUGH
Moher fished fairly well for visiting anglers over the last week, and John O’Malley from Ballina enjoyed his visit, with 6 good fish. Alan Healy from Galway had 2 good fish plus a few small brownies, and Joe McIlduff and Barry Walsh from Armagh both had some good fish. The lake is being stocked again on Wednesday the 10th of August, and fishing should be very good for the rest of the season.
Boats are available for day or evening fishing from McDonnell’s in Liscarney, telephone 098 21638.
AILLE LOUGH
Aille is being restocked with brown trout on Wednesday the 10th of August, and fishing should really pick up from now on. There is already a good stock of fish in the lake, and anglers should enjoy good sport here right through the remainder of the season.
For boats and fishing permits contact Mr. Edward Mannion at 098 35366.
KINLOOEY LOUGH
Kinlooey Lough is a small scenic lough set in rolling countryside at Aughagower, Westport. This lake was recently restocked with brown trout, and should provide good fishing. Boat hire and permits from Scott’s Shop, Aughagower, telephone 098 25119.
LOUGH INAGH
Colin Folan reports from Lough Inagh. Rain on August 4th brought the lake level up by a foot or so. Fresh sea trout have entered the Lough and there are large numbers of salmon in the lower part of the system awaiting water. Angling is concentrated on the lake at present as the river is still quite low.
Notable catches: Mervyn Bell from N. Ireland caught and released the fish of his lifetime - a brown trout of 6+lbs. The fish took a Claret Dabbler fished on a floating line. Jan Van Der Heiden ; 8 browns and 1 sea trout, all between 1 and 1.5lbs, best fly was a Bibio.
Sean McClosky (N. Ireland) 6 sea trout for 2 days on lake and river. Klinkhamer was best. Sean Hayle ; 7 browns and 1 sea trout to 1.5lbs to Bibio and Kingsmill.
John Shaughnessy; 4 sea trout and 4 browns on a Bibio. Tom and Margaret Yorke (UK); 3 sea trout and 7 browns to 1.5lbs.
There are 4 boats for hire on Lough Inagh, and boatmen available upon request from; Colin Folan, Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel, Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway.
095-34706, 0868679459
inagh@iol.ie
Kevin Crowley
WRFB
WESTERN ANGLING REPORT Ireland