ANGLING NOTES:LOUGH CONN burst into action on Tuesday last week. "The fishing over the last few days has been terrific. It is really some of the best fishing I have seen in years," says John Geary of Pontoon Bridge Hotel.
Boatman Kieran Connolly had two guests out all week and they averaged over 10 good trout every day. A salmon was taken on the fly on Monday and next day they had more than 20 in one day. All caught in front of the hotel at Bog Bay and Glass Island.
“I was out on Wednesday for a couple of hours and had two whoppers over 1.3kg (2.5lbs) each. Both to a dry Grey Wulff fished on the tail. Again, just in front of the hotel. Never seen as many mayfly hatching off in 10 years. With rain now due, I predict the lough will explode into further action over the next 10 days,” he said. (relax@ pontoonbridgehotel.com).
-Mayfly hatches picked up again on Lough Corrib after the previous weekend's heatwave, according to fisheries inspector, Kevin Crowley.
Many boats enjoyed great fishing with 12-16 trout a day in the Oughterard area to wet and dry mayfly patterns, and also on the dap. In the Cornamona-Greenfields area, very good hatches of mayfly were reported from Greenfields, with fewer hatching in the Cornamona-Doorus area.
A charity catch-and-release competition for Tanzania at Greenfields recorded 26 trout over the size limit by 30 anglers. Results: 1, P Curran, 5 fish; 2, E Shanahan, 5f; 3, J Murray, 4f. Longest fish: 60cm caught by R Reilly.
On Mask, hatches of olives are still appearing but fishing is slow. The majority of fish were taken early and late. Mayfly hatches are very sparse.
-Lough Inagh in Recess, Co Galway experienced little angling activity for May due to the dry weather. However, some notable catches included a 3.9kg (8.5lb) springer from Derryclare Butts for UK angler Derek Woods on a Silver Rat, and Dublin angler Charlie Clifton caught a 4.8kg (10.5lb) specimen brown trout from Inagh on a Green Peter.
Special offers are available for anglers at Inagh Lodge Hotel for June to September. Contact Colin at 095-34706; 086-8679459, inagh@iol.ie
-On the salmon front, the River Moy fished well with the Moy Fishery yielding nine salmon, four on the Ridge Pool including two for French angler Gerard Groult.
The Cathedral Beat produced a first ever salmon for 12-year-old Fergus McDermott-Quinn, who was taking part in the Juvenile National Fisheries Awareness Week.
At Gannon’s an increased angling effort paid off, with 30 salmon while Rinanney produced more than 20 including a nice fish of 5.4kg (12lb) for Horst Weber, Germany.
The Cloongee fishery reported 22 salmon and East Mayo Anglers’ water also fished very well with visiting anglers enjoying success on the fly.
On the Galway Weir 35 salmon were landed over the past two weeks. The river is in perfect condition for the fly with one gate open, and with grilse starting to arrive in the river, fishing is picking up by the day. Prospects for the coming week look very good.
-Blackrock Education Centre (BEC) will present St Clare's Primary School, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6 with a digital microscope for their entry in the recent Something Fishy Project. The presentation will be held in the school hall this Wednesday at 11am.
The Something Fishy class will also present their work to the school gathering, and BEC director, Dr Séamus Ó Canainn will make the presentation.
-Soaring temperatures and mirror-like waters didn't deter 13 of the 50 competitors from catching fish at the recent Connaught Cup catch-and-release competition on Lough Mask from the shores of Gortmore, Tourmakeady, Co Mayo.
Results:1, P Feerick, 4 fish; 2, B Shields, 2f; 3, P Byrne, 3f. Team event: 1, Partry Anglers; 2, Galway Corrib; 3, Corr na Móna.
angling@irish-times.ie