Two very successful angling workshops took place during Fisheries Awareness Week at the Aughrim Angling for All facility in Co. Wicklow. A total of 106 teenagers participated in two days of events organized by the Dublin Angling Initiative. They consisted of talks in their school and a hands-on fishing day. Workshops were given on tackle, bait, environmental awareness and safety while fishing. The participants were given tuition by IFI Blackrock staff and Dublin Angling Initiative tutors. The boys, age 16 years, were divided into groups and a tutor was assigned to each group to instruct them on casting and hopefully catching and releasing a fish. They all headed off very enthusiastically to the lake to try and catch some of the hard fighting rainbow trout in the Angling for All facility in Aughrim.

Chris O'Neill had a great time catching trout at the Game angling casting workshops, Angling for All, Wicklow
Chris O’Neill had a great time catching trout at the Game angling casting workshops, Angling for All, Wicklow

More than two thirds of these youngsters experienced fishing for the first time. They learned how to tie fishing knots, to cast, to play and land a fish safely and release their catch. Over the two days more than 55 hard fighting rainbow trout were caught and released. A competition between the youngsters took place over 2 days and the prizes of fishing rods and reels were presented to the winners at a graduation ceremony in Templeogue College on the 16th of May.

Colm Gardner, Ciaran Brady & Sean Lowney
Colm Gardner, Ciaran Brady & Sean Lowney

The prizes were sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the crowd of over 250 youngsters and their parents were thrilled with the fishing trips,  culminating in a very successful Fisheries Awareness Week of events in the Greater Dublin area.

Angling for All, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow

This angling facility is a 4-acre lake located in Aughrim. Co Wicklow. It is fully stocked with trout and surrounded by an attractive wildlife area. Car parking and toilet facilities are wheelchair accessible. The National Disabled Angling Facility is licensed for all year round trout fishing and is open daily to visitors: WINTER 10–4, SUMMER        9–5 (31ST March to 27TH October inc), PEAK-TIME 9–8 (10th June to 1st Sept inc).  Families, Groups and corporate bookings welcome.  Look out for our fishing competitions and promotions on www.visitwicklow.ie

Angling For All (N.D.A.F.), Aughrim.
Tel: 0402-36552
E-mail: [email protected]