Angling Notes:Mayfly hatches were only fair on Corrib throughout the week, although good hatches were seen in some locations, writes Derek Evans
In the Cornamona-Greenfields area 89 anglers landed 386 trout, with wet and dry mayfly patterns taking most fish. Lots of small fish showed to all methods, which bodes well for future angling if this year's class survives, according to fisheries inspector, Kevin Crowley.
Tom Ormonde from Meath fished for five days and had 25 trout to wetfly and dap, with all the fish returned. Colin Wilson's party of four from London landed 20 fish over two days to the dap, with 17 returned. Fish of the week, meanwhile, fell to French visitor Daniel Paris, with a cracking fish of 6.6kg.
Donal Connolly of Nonaim Lodge reports on some good fishing from the Glann area. Robert Streatfield and Andrew Mackeen, Hampshire, had three days of excellent wet-fly fishing, finishing with a total of 27 trout for just under 18.3kg. Connolly can be contacted for accommodation and fishing at 091-552138 or info@fishingcorrib.com
• "Spawning during the winter months was spectacular, with one stretch of the Upper River providing the fishery with 33 redds. Normally this area accounted for only a half dozen, at most. This augurs well for 2010," said an upbeat Nigel Rush, fishery manager at Kylemore Abbey Fishery in Connemara, Co Galway.
Following a slow start to the season, the fishery came to life last week with a run of fish into the system. John Irwin, head fishery guide and instructor, landed a 3kg salmon on the Upper River at Strawson's Pool on a famous Kylemore Killer fly-pattern.
"This is the first fish for the Dawros River and Kylemore Lakes and hopefully the start of a bountiful season," he said.
With the advent of catch and release, Rush has switched to a single hook instead of the traditional double and has high expectations for his Fast Eddie and Galway Black and Yellow patterns tied on single "circle hooks". "They are awkward to tie, so adaptations and variants are required," he said. For booking details, call 095-41178.
• April will be remembered for sunshine, lack of rain, high temperatures, lack of wind and last but not least a new record sea trout of 5.3kg which fell to Dennis Bennett, according to John Murphy, fishery manager at Lough Currane in Waterville, Co Kerry.
"We had an excellent run of trout with many more observed at the Butler Pool. Here, the water was so low we constructed a channel to allow fish to ascend from the sea and enter the lake," he said.
Towards the end of the month conditions improved as heavy rain brought the lake up 30cm and this, in turn, enticed fish to run the system. The best salmon so far fell to Jim Sayers at just under 6.3kg.
"Sea trout numbers are up and provided we get rain and wind, the grilse-run should be excellent with no drift-netting," Murphy said. For further information, visit www.loughcurrane.com
• A one-day fishing course will take place on the River Blackwater in conjunction with Ballyhass Lakes and fly-casting instructor Mike Drinan on Saturday June 8th 2007. On a one-to-one basis participants will learn the most effective method of up-stream nymphing and how to read a river for fly life.
The group will assemble at Ballyhass Lakes at 9am for tuition at the Horse Shoe Inch Beat on Upper Blackwater (20 mins. from Ballyhass). The cost is €100, payable on reservation. For booking details, call Ann Marie at 022-27773.
• At Annamoe Trout Fisheries in Co Wicklow, the fly-only lake was busy last week with quality rainbows of 1.5kg opting for CDCs and small dry flies. Other patterns such as Muddlers, Damsels and Hawthorns found obliging fish. The bait pond, where any type of fishing method is permitted, was particularly busy. Fly-casting tuition continued in much demand with newcomers of all ages interested in learning the craft (tel: 0404-45470).
• An open match at Oaklands Coarse Lake in New Ross, Co Wexford, recently attracted 31 anglers from Dublin, Cork, Carlow, Laois, Wexford and the UK. Together, the group landed a total of 372kg carp, bream and tench. Results: 1, J Nolan (Dublin); 2, S Howson; 3, B Smithers (Dublin).
The heaviest fish caught to date is a common carp of 6.9kg by T Evans from Wicklow.
The Dunbrody Open Match is scheduled for July 14th and 15th, 2007. Contact oaklandslake@hotmail.com for details.