Toddy lands record brown trout from mystery Fergus pool

Over time, anglers develop a liking for particular beats but Corofin fisherman Toddy O’Loughlin is determined to keep one of his favourite fishing pools on the River Fergus a mystery.
Three years ago Toddy netted the River Fergus trout record when he nabbed a 9lb 8oz brownie on one of his own Mayfly patterns. The fish, which he had mounted by Headford taxidermist John Thomas, is on display at his home in Newtown.
A couple of weeks ago, at the tail end of the Mayfly season, Toddy returned to his favourite stomping ground.  They say lightening doesn’t strike twice but it did for the avid angler when, this time, he landed another beauty. This one tipped the scales at 7lbs 4ozs.
“It was remarkable because I caught the fish in the same pool, in exactly the same place as the other one,” explained Toddy. Yet again he was fishing a spent gnat, one of his own ties.
“There weren’t many fly on the water but this trout was feeding away nicely. I covered him a couple of times but he wasn’t interested,” Toddy recalled.
However, when the fish moved down river a short distance, Toddy stalked him, watching for the feeding pattern to start all over again. “He went around the corner and was feeding regularly at the end of the pool,” he added.
Eventually, the trout was enticed and Toddy knew he was into a good one when the fish stripped line. After a battle lasting almost an hour, he finally succeeded in getting the fish to the net.
“The last one cost me €700 to get stuffed. I’ll do the same with this one but I’ll have to wait until a get a few bob together,” he laughed.
In fact, over the last number of years, Toddy has landed four fish all over the river specimen weight of 5lbs.