Crossmolina.ie

Murroughs and other sedges appear in July and Augest and and the best areas are Castle Island and Roe Island south to Errew peninsula. Dapping the Daddy Long Legs and Grasshopper can be good during September.

The best patterns of wet flies are:

March to Mid-May: Conemara Black, Black Pennell, March Brown, Fiery Brown, Claret and Mallard, Watson’s Fancy, Greenwells Glory, Golden Olive, March Brown Spider.

Mid May to July: Black Pennell, Golden Olive, Green Olive, Green Peter, Sotty Olive, Invicta, Doubled winged Mayfly, Hackle Mayfly, Blue Bottle, Hare’s Ear, Teal and yellow, Dabbler Extractor.

August to October: Hackle Mayfly, Daddy Long Legs, Murrough, Green Peter ‘small’, Invicta, Golden Olive, Black Pennell, Connemara Black, Sooty Olive, Watson’s Fancy, Claret and Mallard.

Trout can be caught on other flies during the May Fly season and certain new patterns have begun to make their mark, for example, Grey Wulff, Muddler Minnow or the various Dabblers (especially Golden Olive or Green Dabbler). Size 10 hooks are normally used but smaller sizez may be used in calm weather or low water.

Source: Padraig Langan (Crossmolina Community Council)

TROUT FISHING

The vast majority of trout caught on Lough Conn are taken on wet flies when trout are moving near the surface during the seasonal fly hatches but, even in the valley periods, between hatches, it is nearly always possible to attract the attention of a trout to a learn of well presented wet flies. The chief fly hatches of interest to the trout are Chironomids. Lake Olives, Mayflies and Sedges. Other forms of food are Freshwater Shrimp. Freshwater Louse, Snails and various land based insects that gel blown onto the water such as Daddys, Sedges etc. As with all wet fly Fishing for brown trout, the greatest success on Conn has traditionally been achieved in the shallower areas but in recent years successful fishing has been experienced in deeper waters where trout tend to feed on number of locations around the lough. The northern half of the lough, in particular, is very well endowed with shallow areas. The big shallow bays e.g. Cloghans Bay, Bog Bay and Castlehill Bay can be fished all over and fishing in these areas is possible in almost all wind directions. See separate section for information on flies.

SALMON FISHING

The main run of spring fish enters Lough Conn from the end of March and continues right through April. The grilse mn begins in May and continues into July. Some fish are taken on fly, generally by anglers fishing for trout, but the majority are taken by trolling baits. The most popular types of bait are Copper and Silver Spoons, Tobys and Devon Minnows. Even tube flies can be successful on occasions. The salmon tend to confine themselves to well defined areas which are known to the local boatmen. The best known and most frequently fished locations are (a) the northern end of the lough particularly the area around the mouth of the Deel River and (b) Victoria Bay. CuiIkillew (Comakillew), Massbrook and Castlehill Bay in the south- western and western areas of the lake. The strait at Pontoon Bridge between Loughs Conn and Cullin is a favourite haunt for salmon anglers fishing from the shore with most salmon taken here on worms and baits. Angling Returns Accurate and detailed angling returns are difficult to compile on a water the size of Lough Conn with so many piers, jetties and prince access points located around the shore. Each season, Fisheries Board staff record 100-200 salmon and 3,000-5,000 trout by carrying out random checks of anglers' catches. It is estimated, however, that the lough produces 400-500 salmon and up lo 8,000 trout per season. The co -operation of all anglers in the collection of angling returns is requested as this information is vital for the proper management of the fishery. Anglers' Shelters Anglers shelters have been provided in a number of locations around the shore and on islands on Lough Conn. Angling Competitions Several trout fishing competitions are held on Loughs Conn and Cullin each year and many of these are open to visitors. Details are available from local angling clubs or from the Fisheries Board.

SPECIMEN FISHING

If you are lucky enough to catch a specimen salmon (20 lbs./9.072 kgs.) or brown trout (1 lbs./4.536 kgs.), make sure it is properly weighed and that the relevant details are accurately recorded on a specimen fish claim form. Further details are available from the Fisheries Board. Further Information Further information on angling in the Lough Conn area may be obtained from the North Western Regional Fisheries Board at Ardnaree House, Abbey St., Ballina, Co. Mayo Telephone +353 (0) 96-22788 Fax +353 (0) 96 70543

ANGLING REGULATIONS

Open season:
Salmon: 1st February 30th September
Trout: 15th February - 10th October

Minimum size Limit: 10 inches (25.4 cms)

Permission

A permit is not required to fish these lakes but anglers are encouraged to purchase share certificates from the North Western Fisheries Co Operative Society whose function is to raise funds for fisheries development in the region. A State licence is required by law for salmon fishing. Licences are widely available from tackle shops hotels etc. as well as from the Fisharies Board.

Safety

Both lakes contain a large number of dangerous rocks just below the water surface. Lough Cullin is particularly rocky. In general individual and small groups of rock are Indicated by distinctive rock markers. A single marker may signify the presence of number of rocks in its general vicinity. However, anglers should not assume that every rock, or every group of rocks, in the lake is marked. Visiting anglers in particular, are strongly advised to exercise caution Those unfamiliar with the lake should avail of the services of Local boatmen. As with boat fishing anywhere, anglers are advised wear lifejackets.

Boat Hire

A list of boatmen and persons from whom boat may be hired is available from the fisheries Board. Access to Loughs Conn and Cullin is available; seven principal locations Gortnorabbey Pier, Phuilawakhouse Bay, Gilaroo (Browns) Bay, Schoolhouse Bay, Brackwansha, Cloghans and Pontoon.

Trout Stocks

The most recent fish stock surveys (1994) revealed that Lough Conn holds approximately 280,001 catchable size trout (10"/25.4cm) while Lough Cullin holds 85,000 trout of catchable size. On Conn, trout up to 2.3 kgs (5lb) were encountered but the largest numbers were in the range of 0.45kgs to 0.9kgs (1 to 21bs). The biggest fish are more difficult to catch, however, and the average weight of trout caught on Lough Conn in 1994, was 0.6 kgs (1.3 Ibs ). The 1994 survey found that Cullin held trout up to 1.1 kgs (2.5 Ibs) but the average weight of trout caught in 1994 was only 0.3 kgs (0.751bs).

RODS AND METHODS

For traditional methods of lough style fishing rods between 3.2m (10'6') and 3.4m (ll'3") are used with a floating line. Intermediate lines have however, become quite popular in recent years especially in the early and late months of the season. The usual method is short casting in from of a drifting boat and bobbing a bushy fly, e.g. Bumbles, on the top dropper through (and across) the wave. Alternatively, a shorter more powerful rod can be used to cast heavy sinking lines long distances in order to get down to the fish feeding on or near the bottom.

RIVER FISHING

The River Deel

The river Deel rises high in the Nephin Beg mountains and flows for twenty eight miles through moorland and pastures, and through the town of Crossmolina, before entering the northern end of Lough Conn. It is the largest of the Moy tributaries and offers a wide variety of angling experiences ranging from dry fly fishing for trout together with spring salmon fishing, in the lower reaches, to lively brown trout and grilse fishing in the remote upper reaches.

The majority of spring salmon are caught downstream of Deel castle on spinner and worm. Fishing can be good through March and into April but later in the spring it can extend further upriver. The grilse fishing begins in late May or early June and peaks around the first week in July. Any floods which occur later, into September, can also bring good fishing. The river Deel also offers good trout angling with dry fly, wet fly and nymphs. Generally, the trout are of small average size but a one or two pound fish is a real possibility.

The Deel Lakes

At the headwaters of the Deel river lie a series of small mountain loughs. They are wonderfully scenic and present a challenge for those with a taste for fishing in wild places. The most interesting of these are Lough Keeran, Lough Brack and Lough Gall where the average size of fish is unusually large and where trout up to three pounds have been recorded. The shoreline is fishable and access can be had via a small gravel road which runs from Corcullin to the foot of the Nephin Beg mountains.