Sir, – There are many issues raised by John McManus in his article which deals, inter alia, with the proposed Galway Bay salmon (Business, March 25th) with which I could contend but I will confine myself to one: the role of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. McManus holds that it is wrong that “Coveney is meant to be an honest broker” in the case…
Irish Times, 26/03/12. Read the full letter ‘Controversy over fish farms‘.
Oaklands fishery held their Open match yesterday Sunday 24th March. Fishing was from 11am to 4pm.
Results from the open match
Section1
Section 2
Oaklands Lake,
Marshmeadows,
New Ross, Co. Wexford.
Telephone: +353 (0)51 445348
Mobile: +353 (0)87 6988979
Email: oaklandslake@gmail.com
Jim Hendrick reports from a cold Cork on Sunday March 24th:
Walking today, along a drab cold Cork coast, I couldn’t help but remember what I was doing this time last year. Back then it was a sunny bright dry and warm week, in fact on one afternoon around the 27th I think I remember reading a local air temperature of 16 degrees. Water temps still remained relatively cool though and a sharp easterly put a bite on it at times. This was from my Kestrel hand held weather station an invaluable piece of equipment really.
But we took fish William and I, and Richie tried his usual ‘non standard’ variations on a theme.
I made a post about it here I-Shad Sunset and I still remember it as one of those magic times that jump out every now and again.
Looking out over Cork harbour now from the warmth of the kitchen, it hardly seems like the same country – but such are the challenges and opportunities of the bass fishing environment – every year poses something different !
Jim Hendrick
Bass Angling Guide
SEAi, 8 St Johns Road, Wexford, Ireland.
Telephone: +353 53 23351
E-mail: sportfishing@eircom.net Web: www.bassfishing.ie
Two west Galway TDs have clashed publicly about issues surrounding the proposed controversial salmon farm development close to Inisheer in Galway Bay.
Fianna Fáil’s Eámon Ó Cuív says Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Simon Coveney is supporting the project which is inappropriate for the Minister.
However, Fine Gael Deputy Seán Kyne says Minister Coveney pointed out in the Dáil that he could not take sides in relation to the salmon farming project…
Galway News.ie 25/03/2013. Read the article ‘TDs clash over proposed Galway Bay fish farm’
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) marked the completion of an angling development project under the Interreg IVA Cross Border Harnessing Natural Resources Programme in Co Leitrim today (Friday 22 March).
The IFI project incorporated the development of angling facilities at two locations – Acres Lake in Drumshanbo and Herons Shore on Lough Allen – with the aim of harnessing the nature-based tourism potential of the region and fostering cross-border economic development.
IFI upgraded existing car parks and added additional car parking spaces, angler access points, information signage and floating fishing stands…..
Afloat.ie 23/03/2013. Read the article ‘IFI completes new Cross-Border Angling Project in Leitrim’
LIMERICK County Council are carrying out an investigation after a dead cow was reportedly dumped in the River Deel last week.
The animal carcass was discovered in the river near Belville Bridge, near Kilmeedy, last Thursday. The carcass was removed from the water for disposal by county council officials the following day.
A spokesperson for the council confirmed that the animal was removed promptly in a bid to remove the possibility of water contamination.
The Deel forms part of the county’s drinking water supply network, and flows from Dromina in North Cork to Newcastle West and Rathkeale, before entering the Shannon Estuary at Askeaton….
Limerick Leader 25/03/2013. Read the article ‘Council investigating after animal carcass found in County Limerick river’
THE LEGACY of the disastrous West Limerick flooding of 2008 is still being tackled by Limerick County Council, as rural bridges damaged by subsidence undergo long-awaited repair works.
The destructive flooding of August 2008, which saw the River Arra burst its banks in Newcastle West, flooding a number of homes and business premises, also had a wider impact on a tributary network that stretches for miles in every direction.
At a recent local area meeting of Limerick County Council in Newcastle West, Cllr Jerome Scanlan raised the issue of ongoing repair works to minor rural bridges which were damaged in the flooding.
The meeting heard that while the vast majority of damaged bridges have been repaired, there are still a small number due for completion in the Newcastle West, Dromcollogher and surrounding areas….
Limerick Leader. 23/03/2013. Read the article ‘Work still ongoing to repair damaged caused to West Limerick floods’
A DECISION to ban fishing on the River Feale from the end of July this year has been heralded as a vital step towards restoring depleted fish stocks on the embattled river.
The move to ban net fishing in the month of August, which leads into the start of the spawning season, has been welcomed by local anglers who have blamed net fishermen of accelerating a collapse in salmon stocks on the Feale, which have fallen by over 10,000 in six years.
The decision to end licensed fishing on the Feale on July 31 has been made by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources following consultation with fishing groups and other local stakeholders, such as Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), in a bid to tackle the collapse in salmon stocks, which have reached a record low…
Limerick Leader. 24/03/2013. Read the article ‘Fishing ban on West Limerick river welcomed by anglers’
Jason O’Riordan of South East Game Angling spent a tough 2½ days in Cornamona which lies north of Lough Corrib in the middle of the Joyce Country Mountain and Lake Districts. With bitter east wind to keep him company, Jason still managed to catch some beautiful fish.
Compliments of:
Jason O’Riordan, South East Game Angling
Lough Sheelin Angling Report By Brenda Montgomery, IFI March 18th to March 24th, 2013
For the man sound in body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather;
every sky has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously. ~George Gissing
‘Before the snow’ – Early morning at Lough Sheelin March 19th
Last Wednesday March 20th heralded the Spring Equinox (equal hours of day and night)– the first day of Spring and it was actually the only day of calm on the lake. All through the week temperatures never rose beyond 5 degrees and rain and winds swept relentlessly across the lake making things dangerous and near impossible for our anglers. We were even ‘treated’ to some unseasonable snow on Tuesday. The statistics office announced that it is the coldest March for 50 years which doesn’t make life easy for the fishermen.
It is certainly not the kind of weather that would attract any hatch of fly and so this month continues on, coming in and seemingly going out’ like a lion’.
The lures are still ruling with the Minkie being in top position either in black or a pale peach colour. All anglers are still fishing ‘the wets’ with flies like the Silver Invicta, Hare’s ear, the March Brown, the Dabbler Claret, the Dabbler Golden Olive, the Black Snatcher and also a weighted olive and Spot-on-Tan Shrimps achieving certain degrees of successes. Because of the wild conditions at the end of the week anglers confined themselves to the bays and sheltered shorelines. There is no so called ‘bad or lean’ areas all places on this lake are achieving results and fishing well and any trout being caught are always in excellent condition, thick from top to tail with clear well defined spots.
Despite a North East wind blowing straight from Russia tearing across the lake Michael Farrell,
Finea was not deterred and was rewarded for his effort with this beautiful 4lb trout caught on a dabbler and returned
Kenneth O’Keefe (winner with a 5.14 lb trout) being presented
with The Kilroy Cup by chairman of the Lough Sheelin Protection Association Mr Frank Kelly
The Kilroy Cup was the first competition of the season on Lough Sheelin held on March 18th but sometimes in our enthusiasm to fish it’s easy to forget as to whom we are remembering so as a gentle reminder to us all – this cup was named after a Mr Tony Kilroy who lived close to Lough Sheelin all his life and was somewhat of an icon in that he was secretary of the Lough Sheelin Protection Association from the 1920’s to late 1960’s , he was a fanatical trout fisherman and a devotee of this lake.
This year was the most successful for this competition (see last week’s angling report).
The Gathering is the people’s party and throughout 2013, Ireland is opening its arms to hundreds of thousands of friends and family from all over the world, calling them home to gatherings in villages, towns and cities and for Sheelin June 7th to June 9th is when it’s all happening with the highlight of that weekend being The Sheelin Classic Competition hosted on the lake by the Kells Anglers and supported by the local angling club – The L.S.T.P.A.
The Sheelin Classic now in its 9th year is an extremely popular trout fishing competition (heaviest fish with a bag limit of 2) which attracts anglers locally and from all over Ireland as well this year because of The Gathering, from abroad.
The first prize is the coveted Davy O’Connor perpetual cup, a boat & engine and a piece of crystal, there will a 2nd, 3rd and 4th as well as numerous other prizes.
This is a competition well worth marking in your diary and it is advisable to secure your entry sooner rather than later by contacting Noel McLoughlin at 087 2179460 for further information.
A catch & release policy is actively encouraged on the lake at all times
Please remember anglers that the size limit on this lake is 30 cm (11.8 inches) – we need our small fish alive…….
Heaviest Catch of the Week:
Michael Farrell his 2 trout at 4lb each caught on March 20th using Dabblers and Invicatas.
Total number of catches recorded: 12
Selection of Catches
Michael Farrell, Finea – on Wednesday March 20th 3 trout, 1 trout at 2lbs and 2 at 4 lbs each caught on dabblers and a silver invicta.
John Gaffney, Dublin – on Wednesday March 20th, 2 trout at 1 ¾ lbs and 2 lbs both caught using a March Brown.
The Spring Equinox on Sheelin – cold and calm, March 20th
With cold weather forecasted to last through to the Easter weekend all we can do is wrap up and dream of what’s to come on this lake!
Brenda Montgomery, IFI
Lough Sheelin
