Press Releases

8 May 2006

                     Huge Brown Trout caught on Lough Conn

A magnificent 14.88 lb. brown trout was caught on Lough Conn on Sunday, 8   May. Local angler, Jim Mc Donnell, Lakelands, Manulla Co. Mayo was trolling for salmon in Six Arch Bay , near Pontoon, when he hooked into the huge brownie. The fish played hard and Jim assumed it was a good spring salmon that he had hooked. He was surprised and delighted when he realised that this was a specimen brown trout and one of the biggest ever officially recorded from Lough Conn.

John Walkin, Chairman of the North Western Regional Fisheries Board, said that this magnificent trout would help publicise trout angling on L. Conn and attract additional visitors to the area to enjoy this fantastic amenity.

Picture shows Jim McDonnell with his 14.88 lbs. trout from Lough Conn.

30 January, 2006

                       Close Season for all Angling at Pontoon Bridge extended to 31 May

The Marine Minister, Pat the Cope Gallagher, T.D., has signed a new bye-law which extends the annual close season for all angling , at three locations in the River Moy system, from 1 February to 31 May in order to conserve spring salmon.   

The new bye-law extends the close season for angling at Pontoon Bridge, on the part of the River Deel downstream of Knockadangan Bridge , and on the Cross River upstream of the Railway Bridge until 31 May in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 fishingseasons following which the bye-law will be reviewed.

The North Western Regional Fisheries Board had originally considered the complete closure of the Pontoon Bridge fishery due to problems there in recent years.   These included excessive numbers of anglers killing large numbers of spring salmon, persistent breaches of the Fisheries Laws and intimidation of local and visiting anglers.  

Angling representatives, however, were reluctant to agree to a complete closure of the fishery and a compromise arrangement was reached whereby the close season would be extended to 31 May as conservation of spring salmon was considered to be the main priority.

In order not to transfer the Pontoon problem to other locations, the Board also decided to seek an extension of the close season on the lower part of the River Deel and at the outflow of the Cross River from Lough Cullin to the Moy.   At the Board’s request, the Marine Minister has now signed a bye-law which extends the close season at all three locations to 31 May.   The new season opens elsewhere on the Moy, as usual, on 1 February.

                             Another Successful Juvenile Angling Day at the Moy Fishery

The North Western Regional Fisheries Board held another Juvenile anglers event last Monday, 15 August, the second such event to be held in Ballina by the Board this season. The day which was kindly sponsored and publicised nationally by Recreational Angling Ireland took place on the Moy Fishery’s Cathedral beat and proved very popular with both local and visiting youngsters. This event is one of many which are held throughout the region as part of the Board’s policy to promote angling for young people.

The day proved very successful with 50 youngsters from 6 to 17 years of age, including a number of young lady anglers, fishing with great enthusiasm throughout the day. The Board’s staff and Recreational Angling Ireland volunteers provided coaching, advice and some fishing tackle for the aspiring anglers.

Fishing commenced at 8 am and within a few minutes local angler Mark O’Malley hooked a salmon which subsequently cameoff after a brief struggle. Ten minutes later, however, the same angler hooked another, a fish of 2.58 lbs, which he landed. This success was quickly followed by another salmon (2.85 lbs) for Mark which looked likely to set him up as top rod for the day, as no more salmon were landed during the first session.

However, 15 year old Geaeme Quinn from Ballyclare, Co. Armagh , who displayed considerable skill with a fly rod, soon raised the bar by catching a 3.26 lbs salmon on a size 14 Ally’s Cascade. This was quickly followed by another salmon of 3.23 lbs, putting him ahead of the local hero.

Eager youngsters fished on throughout the morning with local 10 year old Michael Dempsey capturing a 2.47 lb salmon on a worm, ably coached by his father.

A ¾ lbs seatrout and 2 brownies which were subsequently released put Eric Gavin, Aiden Thorpe and Andrew Creane in contention for the serious prizes but the standard set by Graeme Quinn was not to be surpassed for the rest of the day.

A prize giving ceremony with refreshments and food was sponsored by Recreational Angling Ireland after the event and a fantastic array of prizes was again donated by two Ballina based fishing tackle dealers, Gary Piggott from the Ridge Pool Tackle Shop and Michael Swartz from the Ballina Angling Centre. Both were extremely generous in donating an array of quality fishing gear and each participant went home with a substantial prize.

             Successful Juvenile Angling Day at the Moy Fishery

For the third year in succession, The North Western Regional Fisheries Board held its hugely popular Juvenile Angling Day on the Cathedral Beat of the Moy Fishery in Ballina.   The event is one of many held throughout the region by the Board to promote angling for young people. Fifty-five boys and girls, aged six to sixteen, took part and Board staff provided advice, supervision and some fishing tackle for the aspiring anglers.

Fishing commenced at 9.00 am and, after a quite first hour, 14 year old Garreth Carolan, Northern Ireland, landed his first ever fly caught salmon, a grilse of 3 ¾ lbs, putting him firmly in contention for the prizes. Local angler Adrian Murray then caught another small grilse (1.87 lbs) on a worm which placed him an eventual 4 th in the overall competition.

Angling was quite slow for the remainder of the morning, but as the early afternoon session got underway, another Northern Ireland contestant, Garett Quinn, hooked a really good salmon on his single handed fly rod. The fish fought hard and deep for a full ten minutes before coming loose much to the disappointment of young Garrett. He carried on undaunted and, within 5 minutes, he hooked another, smaller salmon, (2.28 lbs) which was successfully landed to the applause of on-looking friends and family. He finished up in third place for the day. Later in the afternoon, 11 year old local lad, Patrick Hennigan, caught another salmon of 2 ¾ lbs using a worm, which put him into second place.

The Ridge Pool Hotel provided the venue for the day’s prize giving with refreshments and food provided by the Fisheries Board. A fantastic array of prizes was donated by two Ballina based fishing tackle dealers. Garry Piggott, Ridge Pool Tackle Shop, and Michael Swartz, Ballina Angling Centre, were both extremely generous in sponsoring an array of quality fishing gear. Every participant went home with a substantial prize.

Another Juvenile Angling Day will be held on the Cathedral beat on 15 August, sponsored by the Fisheries Board and Recreational Angling Ireland. Places can be reserved by contacting the Moy Fishery Office at 096-21332, during office hours, from 8 to12 August.