ANGLING NOTES:THE MAYFLY is up and in full flight on Lough Corrib. Light winds and better fishing conditions have brought on excellent hatches with trout responding in good numbers.
“It’s the best mayfly hatch seen for several years,” according to some anglers, with wet and dry patterns accounting for most fish.
In the Cornamona area, Kevin and Padraic Kerrigan landed 10 fish in one day, while Keith Nicholson and John Lewis, both from England, accounted for seven, all released. Local angler Peter Curran landed 12 for a day, including one of 1.5kg (3lb 5oz).
On the Oughterard side, mayfly hatches improved each day last week, supplemented by olive hatches and leading to trout rising at will. Two Northern Ireland anglers had seven over two days on olives, while Noel Fitzgerald from Cork reported four for a day on wetfly.
The forecast for broken weather should bring the mayfly on further, although easterly winds may hamper fishing. Any change to the prevailing south-westerlies could see things pick up and prospects look good for next week, according to fisheries inspector Kevin Crowley.
Mayfly fishing was top of my agenda last week. Staying at the magnificent Pontoon Bridge Hotel, I enjoyed two days fly-fishing on Lough Conn and Cullin in the company of John Geary and top boatman Kieran Connolly.
“Fishing will be difficult today, gentlemen. That easterly wind and clear blue sky will keep the fish down,” warned Kieran. Our day started at Schoolhouse Bay and then Glass Island where we rose a few fish and landed one undersize.
On to Brackwansha and Knockmore Bays and several drifts across Wilson’s Rock, where again we attracted several small fish and one or two “thunderous” takes (without result) to our mayfly patterns.
In the afternoon we ventured under Pontoon Bridge and into Lough Cullin (a first for me). Traditionally, the mayfly hatch begins early on this shallow lake and on Tuesday this experience was a sight to behold. However, considering the amount of mayfly and “shuks” on the water, we failed to see or rise a fish.
Conditions on Wednesday improved marginally, with overcast cover, but the prevailing east wind continued to hamper fishing. In and out of Bog Bay, Abbey Bay and hugging the western shores of Glass Island we covered fantastic trout habitat with reasonable success.
Again, we met several good trout (without success) and landed and returned a few undersized fish. Close by, we watched an angler play out a fresh salmon of about 4.5kg (10lb), caught while trolling outside Pontoon Bay.
Facilities for anglers at Pontoon Bridge Hotel are second to none with a superb private harbour, changing and drying room, tackle shop and freezing facilities; the hotel is adorned with photographs of memorable catches and events.
Pontoon Bridge Hotel is a member of the Great Fishing Houses of Ireland and its slogan “The only thing we overlook is the lake” is true in every sense.
Contact 094-9256120/9256699 or relax@pontoonbridge.com
Great news. Sea trout have arrived in good numbers to Lough Currane in Waterville, Co Kerry. Specimen sea trout catches are already in the book and spring salmon are being taken daily. The lake is at a moderate height and fly fishing will be good when weather improves.
“We are experiencing a superb run of salmon and sea trout smolts, a run that started in mid-March and is continuing into May,” says fishery manager John Murphy. “This bodes well for a good run of trout in late June.”
The expectation of more water should bring good fishing on the Upper Lakes with salmon and sea-trout already in residence in Namona, Cloonaughlin and Derriana.
Boats and ghillies are available at www.loughcurrane.com.
High water levels will ensure a good spring run on Lough Inagh, according to fishery manager Colin Folin. Three salmon are recorded so far, with John Casey catching two on a Green Highlander and, for Ulrich Treusch, one of 5.6kg (12.5lb) on a Morrum special tube. All three were caught at the Derryclare Butts.
The newly completed stone path to Corloo Beat is now completed and, for the first time, the trek to Corloo is a walk in the park.
Contact Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel at 095-34706, inagh@iol.ie
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board has won a court case against a person from Co Louth for illegally fishing. The individual was fined €50 and ordered to pay costs of €750 in Drogheda District Court on April 28th last.
The former salmon fisherman was found to be illegally fishing when fisheries officers apprehended him with a fixed net at Dunany, close to the mouth of the Dee and Glyde rivers. Judge Flann Brennan convicted the man under Section 97 of the 1959 Fisheries Act for using a fixed engine capable of taking salmon or sea-trout.
angling@irishtimes.com