The weir is my favourite place to fish BUT only in very low water. Once its very low you can wade across by the boxes and get access to the full width of the river. You can then rest a pool while fishing another. In normal water you will only get to fish one run.
I've seen people catching on the weir pool a couple of times before when I've been down in ballina. Always wondered what the deal was with fishing it. I'm actually down in ballina for a few days early next week but typically for me it gives a severe heatwave better beach weather than fishing. Was the same last year when I went down to galway heatwave too and the galway weir wasn't worth fishing with the heat.
Do you think its getting low enough now for the weir pool or does it need to be lower? Its going to be my luck that heatwave is hitting the same days as I'm down in ballina for a few days
The water should be in great order for the Weir and the Ridge early next week. The Weir has plenty of fast, streamy water which should be less affected by the sun than the Ridge. I remember a couple of days last year fishing the Ridge in very low water and struggling while anglers on the Weir were hitting fish for fun. There is a nice drop of rain forecast for Tuesday so East Mayo could be on fire on Wednesday and Thursday. If the rain comes the Easkey and Owenmore could be worth a visit also. Tuesday could be good in Ballina generally as the water will be low and the overhead conditions look promising.
I've not fished Springwells or the Ash Tree but I'm told they can be good on their day. I've fished the Cathedral once this year before the last flood. I was cleaning algae off my flies after every cast. The flood should have cleared it out well. It hasn't been fishing great up until last week but plenty of fish are showing now and catches should be picking up. If you call the IFI office in Ballina they will be able to tell you the latest catch figures.
Thanks for all the info as they say local knowledge is always the best. I'm down on Monday morning and staying till Thursday evening so might get a morning fishing in some way hopefully. Don't know what my chances
I can assure you that is wrong. There were fish caught on the flood a few weeks ago. But, there is next to nothing coming in. Ridge Pool webcam off - funny that! Numerous blanks last week in perfect water. Spoke to my cousin in Ballina this evening and the pool is still very quiet. It's not normal. By now, the Ridge should be bouncing, with fish backed up all the way down to the tide. I was in Mayo last week and have been fishing a small coastal fishery there for nearly 50 years. I've seen the good days. The last fortnight is the worst I've seen in my lifetime. The fish are simply not there. The fishery manager was frankly, embarrassed. English visitors talking about not coming next year. Who can blame them? Nature is delivering a warning. Fail to heed it and Irish salmon fishing will be thing of the past.
I can assure you fist hand with my own eyes there are plenty of fish in the ridge. I was fishing it Thursday and there was about a dozen hooked in the morning, 5 landed I think. The water had been high until then making it easy for fish to slip over the falls. Look at rahans level and not ballylahan for ballina height
When I fished the Ridge that would have been a reasonable morning for 1 rod.
Yeah but it's only coming into condition now I mean.I've had mornings connecting (not landing 😂) with 15+ fish in recent years but only at times of very low water. The water has been quite high for the peak of the grilse run.When I fished the Ridge that would have been a reasonable morning for 1 rod.
6 rods????
Too much money now for a handful of wee grilse.
It is getting low but worth parking at Ballylahan Bridge and walking up river to fish down through Ryan's and try into the groynes below the Bridge. You could also park at Mrs. Ryan's House, walk up to Howley's and fish your way back down. This would allow you to cover a good mix of water.
That's exactly what I have planned for the morning althought the other way. I was going to park at the gub and head to howleys and then work my way up to Ryan's. Is there access to go this way or am I better off parking at the house ?
You could fish down and cross the river above Howley's then fish down to Ryan's from there but you'd end up a long way from your car. Thinking about optimising your time fishing v walking you may be as well to move about in the car. Park at Howley's - Cross over and fish down to the Barrells. Back to the car to move to Ballylahan - Fish the Groynes below the bridge and walk up river to Ryan's pool, bend and flats. You have the option to cross the river above the bend and walk up to fish the head of the pool and streamy water above.
I'm in luck, banada has just had another rise so that should sustain the levels nicely for a few days. Time to buy some diesel and sausages 😀
The water is at a perfect level for upriver following the rise. There was a slight colour in it around Oldcastle/ Ballintemple this evening but that should have cleared by the morning. It should hold at a fishable level for the rest of the week. Good reports of fish from East Mayo today and numbers of fish have been seen moving through the lower river.
