The Cong River in Co Mayo has claimed "the catch of a lifetime" - the largest brown trout ever recorded on fly in Ireland. Stephen Walkden, originally from England and now living in Cong, captured the mighty fish of 7.8kg last Thursday week at 5am on a single-handed 11'6" fly rod using a small salmon tube-fly. Two anglers witnessed the catch.
John Fahy of Cong Angling Centre, declared: "This is the catch of a lifetime. There is no other record of a brown trout of this size captured on fly in a river in Ireland since records began."
Dr Willie Roche, of the Irish Specimen Fish Committee, expressed his amazement. "This fish seems to smash the river-caught record nationally."
The magnificent specimen is to be mounted and later displayed in Cong Angling Centre.
Walkden and his family moved to Cong from Lancashire seven years ago after many happy holidays in the area.
Despite all the recent rain,salmon and sea trout angling proved rewarding in the main western rivers for those who braved the elements.
On the River Moy, 689 salmon caught last week brought the total to 2,621 this season. While high water levels impacted on the lower beats, conditions were perfect in the middle and upper reaches of the river, according to North Western Regional Fisheries Board (NWRFB) angling officer Markus Müller.
The Moy Fishery at Ballina accounted for 37, most of which were taken on the Ridge Pool. Jack Charlton got a nice fish on the worm and his friend Ray Bailey also landed a salmon. The Ballina Salmon Anglers held a juvenile competition as part of the "Ballina Salmon Festival" last Saturday week. Luke Lackey was the best of 47 competitors.
A new Cathedral Angling Centre, built by the NWRFB, has won a national architectural award. Designed by local architect Vincent Coleman, of Doherty Coleman Architects, Ballina, the award was conferred by the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland.
At Foxford fishery, Michael Rapter and his party of six from the UK caught a spectacular 46 salmon and released 12. And Justin Penford and his 13-year-old daughter Rina took nine fish between them on their first time salmon-fishing together.
There was an increase in the catch on the Drumcliffe River and "fish of the week" went to Padraig McKenna for a salmon of 6.4kg on worm. McKenna fished a stretch directly downstream of Glencar Lake, known as the "Lurgan".
Twenty-one sea trout, averaging 0.5kg, and one grilse, were caught on the Newport River. On Lough Beltra, Denis Coghlan, Newport, had a small grilse, while John Dardis and Dave Tucker accounted for 14 sea trout. All fish were safely returned to the water.
Fishing improved again at the Galway Weir with 83 salmon recorded. In addition, another 59 were tagged and released as part of a study to assess the efficiency of a fish-counter situated in the fish pass. The proportion of tagged fish using the pass will allow a count to be estimated at the end of the year.
Water levels remained high, with three gates open, and this looks set to continue over the coming week. Wading was difficult, but the high water meant fish were holding, and plenty were caught on the fly. On Tuesday last, John Anderson from Moycullen caught and released eight fish on fly.
Lough Inagh angling guide Colin Folan reports of "magnificent" activity on the fish-counter, with plenty of fresh grilse and sea trout entering Inagh. The sea trout, while on the small side, are completely lice free, and the salmon net-mark free.
There are five boats for hire on Inagh and four river beats are available. Contact Colin at inagh@iol.ie or 086-8679459.
The Slaney River Trust, in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, is offering a women-only, one-day introductory course on fly-fishing in aid of Action Breast Cancer. The course will be conducted by APGAI instructor Glenda Powell at Annamoe Trout Fishery, Co Wicklow, on Saturday, July 21st, from 10am until 4pm. A light lunch will be provided and the entire day is free. Instead, a donation to Action Breast Cancer is requested. Contact Hazel Dobbyn at 01-2787022 or
hazel.dobbyn@erfb.ie.