Angling report – w/e 7th March, 2010

With the days finally lengthening and warming and the Spring Equinox just around the corner, anglers all over the country are preparing for the spring season to begin in earnest.

River Moy : Water levels on the Moy system are perfect at present for angling. The first spring salmon of the 2010 season was caught on the 25^th February by local angler Martin Conroy. The fish which weighed in at an impressive 14.6lbs was taken with the worm and was caught upstream of the Moy Weir. Despite some technical difficulties with the reel, experience paid off and Martin landed this perfect example of a fine spring salmon. Thursday 27th saw the second fish come off the same waters, a 7lbs salmon also caught on the worm by Albert Bradley. Another 7lbs fish was caught by Kevin Langdon on Tuesday the 2^nd March with and a fine 12lbs salmon was caught by Declan Gannon on Sunday 7^th. Both salmon were caught with the worm on Ballina Salmon Anglers water.   

Lough Gill : Lough Gill has produced three salmon to date. The Garavogue/Lough Gill system which had previously been operated on a strict catch and release basis is now open with a small quota of spring salmon allowed to be taken this season. The first fish within the North Western Region was caught by Brendan Gordon on the 24^th January. The fish weighed 6lbs 6oz and was caught off Castle Point on a trolled Silver Dace lure. Keith Trotter also had luck on Lough Gill with a fine 11lbs salmon caught on the 20^th of February as did Barry Lyons who caught his 7lb fish trolling off Innishfree with a Toby Salmo lure on the 6^th March.

NWRFB Fisheries : Just a reminder to anglers that all Board managed fisheries will all be open soon for angling. Lough Doon opened for angling on the 1^st March, with Lough Bo opening on the 15^th and Ballin Lough opening on the 1^st April. Day and evening tickets are available for all Board managed fisheries. Free fishing continues on the famed Ridge Pool, in Ballina, until the first fish of the season is caught on the beat and water conditions at present are ideal. For more information on booking contact the Moy Fishery Office on 09621323 or email info@moyfishery.ie.

Pike Fishing : Water levels in all our local lakes are relatively low at the moment, due to the absence of any significant rain since the start of the year. Increasing daytime temperatures are helping to warm local waters enticing pike to move and feed. There have been reports of some good pike fishing in local waters, in particular Derryhick Lake where numerous pike have been taken recently both on dead-baits and on the fly.

                                                Bryan Ward

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