ANOTHER fantastic week on the River Moy with 630 salmon reported, bringing the season total to 6,500, up 1,900 on this time last year. While the grilse run may have peaked the previous week with 1,000 fish, nevertheless, the season will probably end on a high of 8,000 rod-caught salmon.
Given that for each salmon retained an estimated eight to 10 will complete their journey to the spawning beds, this all bodes well for the future of the Moy.
Unfortunately, the season is proving to be a washout at the Galway Weir, with heavy rain again resulting in a rise in water levels. There were 10 gates open for several days last week, with levels dropping briefly before heavy rain again reversed this, according to fisheries inspector Kevin Crowley.
With unsuitable fishing conditions, just eight salmon were reported, mostly caught when levels dropped with two gates open. Fishing is curtailed at present because of high water levels and the best of the fishing is to be found on the lake and upstream tributaries.
On the Erriff Fishery, manager Jim Stafford reported a catch of 15 sea trout (all released) and 37 salmon. Fish of the week fell to Will Masterson, with a fine salmon of 5.4kg (12lb) on a Cascade in the Falls Pool on Beat Nine.
To book fishing and accommodation in Aasleagh Lodge, visit aasleaghlodge.ieor facebook.com/AasleaghLodgeor call 095-42252.
At Delphi, David McEvoy described fishing as “not bad” with 23 salmon landed, bringing the season total to 215. David said that sea-trout fishing is excellent at the moment and all are in fantastic condition. Two boats on Doolough concentrated solely on sea trout for one day and landed 24 up to 1.1kg (2.5lb).
Check delphilodge.ieor call 095-42222 for booking details.
With the weather on the downward slide into brilliant sunshine and low water levels by the end of the week, Kylemore manager Nigel Rush reported seven salmon. The catch included three for Seamus O'Neil for one morning. To book fishing, call 087-9580702 and for latest news, see kylemorefishery.ie
On Lough Inagh in Connemara, the sea trout kept coming, with 177 and seven salmon reported.
Nearly all the fish were taken from the lake because of medium-to-low water in the river beats. Weather prospects look good for the coming days with large quantities of rain forecast.
Notable catches included 29 sea trout and two char for Michael Heery and William Hamilton, while John Roche (Galway) and partner boated 16 sea trout on Green Peters.
Lough Inagh has announced that Peter O’Reilly (APGAI-Irl, FFF MI, THCI) will hold a fly-fishing course on August 23rd-26th.
Places are limited to six persons. Details on inagh@iol.ie or call 095-34706.
In response to a request from Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Minister for Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, has granted an extension to the commercial salmon fishing season for draft net fishermen on a number of rivers.
The extension was sought following poor fishing conditions since the start of the commercial fishing season and where, in certain areas, commercial fishermen had not had a reasonable opportunity to catch salmon within their allocated quota.
The Salmon and Trout (extension to draft nets season) bylaw, No. 900, 2012, came into operation last Wednesday, extending the closed season until tomorrow week on the Blackwater (Munster) including Glenshelane and Finnisk; specified waters of Castlemaine Harbour; Owenea, Owentocker and Gweebarra.
The Loughs Agency will host an Introduction to Angling course this weekend (August 11th/12th) at Bessbrook Pond, Co Armagh.
The event will offer tuition for coarse anglers, some fly-tying and casting, and advice for sea anglers. See loughs-agency.org
Tight lines to the finalists in today’s world cup trout fly-fishing championship on Lough Mask!
angling@irishtimes.com
