Salmon and trout angling | Coarse angling
Monday 28th April to Sunday 4th May 2008.
With the onset of warm settled weather and little rain, the river slowly dropped over the week to fairly low levels by Sunday. As such the fishery was not particularly busy during the week. There were a number of anglers fishing at the weekend however and some nice salmon caught. On Saturday there were 7 salmon caught. Among the captors was Colm Gardiner who recorded a 13 salmon caught and released from the Sea Pools. Alfred Vandelvae accounted for a 5lb grilse from the Mill Pool caught on a Green Highlander fly. There were fish of 4 & 7lb caught downstream of Four Masters Bridge on the fly and I am awaiting the name of the captor of the same and there was also a 9lb salmon caught on shrimp from the Money Pool.
At present the river is a little low reading 4.5 on the gauge and the weather is forecast to be dry and sunny into next weekend which should see the river continue to drop. A little rain would be welcome to lift the river. The fishery is still receiving good runs of salmon however.
This was the first week that brought nice warm winds and good sunshine which should hopefully improve fly hatches and hence the trout fishing. Few anglers have been fishing for trout in earnest over the past number of weeks due to cold weather and poor shows of trout. The Lough was not particularly busy with salmon fisherman over the week probably due in great part to the bright conditions. There were however a number of salmon recorded. On Wednesday, John Flanagan recorded an 8lb salmon caught trolling from Flanagan’s Bay and on Thursday, Rodney Benson accounted for a 6lb grilse.
The Rossinver Bay Fishery was fairly quiet due to the very bright conditions and easterly breezes with only a couple of anglers venturing out onto the water.
The Erne estuary was very quiet again this week with only a few anglers fishing at the weekend when conditions were very bright.
The weather warmed up considerably this week though rainfall was intermittent. The river ran at fairly low levels except for a nice flood of 0.30 metres on Saturday which gave fair water for Sunday. The gauge average for the week read 0.19 metres. There were 5 visiting rods fishing for the week and I am awaiting news of the first salmon of the season.
Some anglers report good catches of Trout on the Annalee and Dromore Rivers
08 May 2008
Pike fishing remains good in most areas with especially good fishing reported in the Butlersbridge area. The Cootehill area is also good for Pike fishing.
The Arva/Gowna area is producing average mixed bags of 40/50lb of fish.
Loch Gowna and Erne Anglers Association held a junior competition on Lisney Lake on Saturday 19th. April. 33 juniors fished from 14 boats catching 44 fish. Michael and Andrew Dalton, Kenagh came first with 25lbs 11ozs, Chloe Madden and Aoife and Natalie O'Reilly, Gowna came second with 16lbs 7ozs.
Loch Gowna Upper Erne Anglers Association held a senior competition on Sunday 27th. April at Cloone Lake with 16 boats participating. Andrew Dalton, Kenagh came first with 21lbs 3ozs and Joe McDermott, Camlin came second with 12lbs 14ozs.
The river at Belturbet is producing fine bags of Roach, one angler bagged 50lb last Monday. Castle River Killeshandra, Killykeen and Carrickmakeegan bridge on way to Ballinamore are also giving good bags of fish. Tullyguide lake is giving the odd nice Bream and Hybrids if you are prepared to sit and wait.