The mayfly is up and it's all systems go. Certainly on the great western lakes anglers are beginning to take trout to the dap and wet fly. All things being equal, the mayfly season will be in full swing from this weekend.
Over the past week on Corrib, there are reports of massive hatches of chironomid fly and big rises of trout feeding on them. Those that ventured out were rewarded with some good fish on dry chironomid tyings.
Western Fisheries Board angling inspector Mr Danny Goldrick set the pace with an excellent catch of six fish averaging 4 lbs each. A group of UK anglers fishing from the Camillaun Angling Centre, Oughterard averaged six to eight per day, best 3-1/2 lbs, 2-1/2 lbs and 2 lbs. Seven-year-old Christopher Forde, one of the youngest anglers on Corrib this season, landed a 2 lb 10 oz trout to a dry fly. On the Greenfields/Cong/ Cornamona side of the lake, mayfly hatches were even more evident. Here, 86 anglers accounted for 243 trout mainly to wet fly. Again, chironomid hatches were a key factor, allowing anglers to take trout to nymph patterns.
Mr Pat Day from Headford took three trout for 6 lbs in 20 minutes on mayfly patterns on Monday evening. All were packed with chironomid fly when spooned.
On Mask, dry fly, wet fly and trolling accounted for 64 trout. Although there was little sign of mayfly as yet, the hatches of olives were excellent, which attracted some big rises in sheltered bays in late evening.
A group of Belfast anglers had 27 trout over two days, all of which were sportingly returned to the lake, while Mr Harold O'Toole, Galway, took two specimen fish of 11-1/2 lbs and 10-1/2 lbs to the troll.
Good hatches of mayfly were reported from Carra but easily outnumbered by olives and chironomid. While angling was good in general the feeding fish were hard to catch. With better mayfly around the corner, catches should improve greatly.
An easing of formalities in relation to tagging of wild salmon and sea trout will come into effect and continue until the end of this year, according to a statement from the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey.
Working closely with the National Salmon Commission, the Minister has decided to alter the stringent regulations introduced in January in relation to By-law S.I. 256. Instead, it will only be necessary to make an entry in the logbook when a fish is caught.
In effect, the logbook will now require: angler's name and address; date of capture; river/ lake where captured; species (salmon or sea trout); tag details (number) and disposal. Fisheries boards are requested to implement the changes until proposed amendments to the regulations are introduced for the year 2002.
Lawyers and solicitors from both North and South held their annual competition on Corrib last weekend. Unfortunately, conditions were not kind, with blistering sunlight and little wind on both days. The best of the fishing occurred on Saturday morning when nearly all fish were caught.
Pride of place went to Mr Paddy Daly of Galway with a 2-1/2 lbs trout on a cock robin pattern. Among the "also rans" were Mr Michael Flanigan of Belfast and Mr Garnet Orange.
Correspondence and fishy photographs to The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Fax: 679 1881. Email: angling@irishtimes.ie