Salmon and trout angling | Coarse angling
Monday 21st to Sunday 27th April 2008.
The weather was cold toward the start of the week but warmed up as the week progressed and rainfall was fairly light. Despite the fair conditions the river was quiet and even the weekend saw few anglers with only 6 visiting rods fishing on Sunday. There were however a number of salmon recorded despite the low angling attendance. On Wednesday, Fran Regan recorded a 10½lb salmon caught on shrimp from the Old Sea Pool. George McAteer accounted for an 8lb fish caught on shrimp which he released. Joe Baker landed a fine 11lb salmon caught from Tinker’s Hole on a Cascade fly. On Saturday, Vincent Bourten recorded a 9lb salmon caught and released from the Mill Pool on a fly of his own tying.
The river is reading 5 on the gauge at Four Masters Bridge at present and rain is forecast for the coming week which should freshen the river somewhat.
Weather conditions at the start of the week were not favourable but as the week progressed the weather warmed somewhat with winds veering to an easterly direction. The fishery was fairly quiet with very few anglers fishing for trout. There were a number of boats out fishing for salmon.
On Friday, Darren Maguire lost a huge salmon estimated to be in excess of 25lb. He hooked the fish trolling and proceeded to play the salmon for an hour before realising the fish would not fit into his landing net. He decided to head for shore and beach the fish. Before this was achieved the fish came lose and was gone! He landed a 10½lb salmon later on which was some consolation and boat partner, Michael Flanagan also boated a 7½lb salmon caught on the troll.
In the Rossinver Bay Fishery, there were numerous reports of good quantities of salmon showing though they were difficult to entice. A number of fish were hooked and lost. On Friday, Michael Short was guiding a client who hooked and landed a 7lb salmon on the fly.
The Erne estuary was quiet this week with only a few anglers fishing. They accounted for some 10 sea trout caught mainly on sandeel.
The Owenea River ran at very low levels all week with the gauge only reaching 0.14 metres at its highest. The gauge average for the week read a very low 0.12 metres. Only 2 visiting rods fished for the week.
North Longford Anglers held a pike angling competition on Sunday 20 April on Lough Gowna. Pat Healy, Camlin Anglers came first with 11lb 12ozs, Thomas Briody, Lough Gowna Anglers came second with 10lb 9ozs.
Some French Pike anglers on Lough Oughter report good catches averaging 6 to 14lb and some German lads fishing Town Lake and Green Lake Killeshandra report good Pike fishing in the past week.
Good bags of Roach, Perch and Skimmer Bream have been reported on Church Lake, Gowna.