South East Angling Ireland’s Jim Hendrick ran an introductory workshop to bass fishing with fly and lure down in Wexford last Saturday. He had a good crowd and captured the attention of all with his excellent tuition and guidance.
Well done to all who attended and to Jim, of course.
Jim Hendrick
00353(0)53 9123351
00353(0)86 3444557
[email protected]
www.bassfishing.ie/
www.probassfisher.com/
On Saturday May 12th the Balsam Himalayan Bashing was held in Bushy Park. Among those who attended were Fergus O Dowd, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO Inland Fisheries Ireland, Dr Joe Caffrey, Senior Research Officer Inland Fisheries Ireland, Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague and Maryann Harris, Senior Executive Parks Superintendent. Great work was done by all.
The Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association hosted the International Fly Fishing Competition at Lough Sheelin on 18th May 2012. The excellent work carried out by Lough Sheelin Trout Preservation Association in conjunction with the statutory bodies has resulted in the wild brown trout population within Lough Sheelin being sufficient to attract this type of prestigious event for the first time since 1976. Teams from Ireland, England Scotland and Wales arrived at the Crover House Hotel and the Island View House on Saturday 11th May to commence practice for the match.
The 2012 Irish Team was captained by Mayo man, Seamus Kelly, and coached by Galway man Robert Reilly. This was one of the strongest teams to represent Ireland for many years with the majority of the team having previous international experience. It was evident during the practice sessions and team meetings that the unity and determination within the Irish team would result in success.
On the morning of the match the four teams, which were comprised of fourteen rods per team assembled, and a piper lead the way as they proudly marched into Kilnahard pier. The day was cool and overcast with a moderate wind blowing from the north-east. This competition was fished on a catch and release basis with fish being measured and a points system being used to calculate individual and team scores. Competitors fished from 10AM until 6PM and when the scores were tallied it was Team Ireland who came out on top winning them the Graham Munroe Hall Memorial Cup for the first time since 2004. Second place went to Team Wales; third place went to Team Scotland and in fourth place were Team England. The Brown Bowl for the best basket was taken by Welch angler Kieron Thomas who accumulated the highest number of points with seven trout for 470 points. Arden Pollock achieved the best Irish basket with six trout for 355 points winning him the Harry Lafferty Cup. The presentation of prizes took place following a post event dinner at the Crover House Hotel and celebrations continued on into the night.
The Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association would like to thanks Inland Fisheries Ireland, Lough Sheelin Trout Preservation Association, the visiting competitors and their officials, our sponsors and all others who supported this event.
The hosting of this competition is great news not only for Irish Angling but for Ireland as a nation. The quality of our brown trout angling is such that it attracts huge numbers of tourist anglers annually. Lough Sheelin was reputed to be the finest wild brown trout lake in Europe until the mid 1970’s when it became the victim of eutrophication and invasive species. Lough Sheelin is now recovering and the wild brown trout population is at its highest level since 1996. At this time the work required to restore this reputation continues!
If you would like more information about this topic, or you would like to arrange an interview, please contact Joseph Keena at 086 8722449 or e-mail [email protected]
The weather held up very well on Saturday 19th for the Rossmore Park Coarse Angling Club’s, Fisheries Awareness Week event at Peters Lake in Monaghan Town, Co. Monaghan. There was a good response to the clubs efforts in promoting the day and over twenty five youngsters attended the event. Eighteen of these budding young anglers caught fish under the watchful eyes of the instructors. There were also a good number of interested passers by who spent some time watching the proceedings and checking out the fish in the display tank. The fish tank again proved very popular indeed with the younger children.
Instructors demonstrated pole, float and feeder techniques and then the youngsters present were given an opportunity to have a go. Many caught their very first coarse fish and catches consisted mainly of roach, skimmers and perch. Club members also demonstrated pike fishing techniques but unfortunately no pike were taken on the day. A draw was held at the end of the event and some great prizes of tackle, rods reels and whips were awarded to the winners. A rod and reel went to the youngster who guessed the correct weight of all the fish in the display tank. David Byrne attended the event on behalf of Inland Fisheries Ireland.
At a Fisheries Awareness Week(www.FAW.ie) event held in Mount Juliet on Monday May 14th, 1st year students from St Pauls Community School, Waterford received their awards for participation and successful completion in the ‘Angling for Youth Development- Ireland’ pilot programme. Minister Fergus O Dowd, Minster of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources made the presentations having seen first- hand the young anglers casting and fishing at the beautiful Mount Juliet lakes,
Angling For Youth Development- Ireland is a new education initiative being rolled out by Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI). This initial pilot programme was run through the Angling Council of Ireland(ACI) in Waterford and aims to introduce students to angling.
Minister O Dowd was extremely impressed by the students and congratulated them on their achievement. ‘Angling is a lifelong pastime and what you have learned over this programme will stand to you as you become adults and go out into the world’, commented Minister O Dowd, ‘the skill of angling can be enjoyed all over Ireland and the world, and you now have a head start. I encourage you to practice sustainable angling, catching and releasing fish, being aware of habitat conservation and biosecurity, but most of all to have fun.’
Also on the day in Mount Juliet, members from L’Arche Community in Callan were introduced to angling by coaches from ACI and IFI. A great day was had by all with anglers catching and releasing up to 5 brown and rainbow trout.
Ends…
Media enquiries: Suzanne Campion ,Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland,
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971; Email [email protected] Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie
Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie
Founded nine years ago, the ACI is affiliated to the Irish Sports Council and has become the recognised umbrella organization for the five disciplines of angling at national level. The ACI is the forum for debate and discussion of the issues that are of most concern to anglers and provides the platform for anglers to address and find resolution for these issues. It is the powerhouse where anglers can develop strategies to meet the demands on angling in the present and for the future.
Ghillie Vincent Appleby reports on the latest fishing trends on Lough Currane.
8/5/12 There was a couple of good rod benders in the salmon department and I will start with fish of the day and that goes to Mr. Michael Fish, who caught his first ever 9 lb. salmon on the fly fishing in Copal Lough with his ghillie Mr. Mike O’Dwyer and staying in the fly Department Mr. Liam Ellis of Waterville caught a fine 6 lb. salmon on the fly while drifting. Wind N light and overcast.
9/5/12 Straight to the C & R sea trout Department, Mr. Michael O’Sullivan of [email protected] reported that his client Mr. Dessie Menice of Belfast, fishing in a hired out boat from Michael, caught a fine specimen 7 1/2 lb. on the fly, which he sportingly put back to fight another day, and staying in the sea trout department Mr. John Louis fishing in a hired out boat from www.lakelandshouse.com caught a fine 3 lb. sea trout on the fly, wind NE light and overcast.
10/5/12 There was some good action on Lough Currane today, I will leave the best to last, in the salmon department, local angler Mr. Tham Hitmiangsong, caught a fine 7 ¼ lb. salmon on the troll, and he was also telling me that hat he also lost a salmon at the net, and just for the record that is Tham’s first ever salmon he has caught on his own so congratulations to him.
now to the grilse department Mr. John Louis fishing in a hired out boat from www.lakelandhouse.com caught a 5 lb. salmon on the fly, now to catch of the day and that goes to Mr. Michael Schultz of Berlin Germany, who caught a cracker of a salmon, weighing at 15 ¼ lb. on the troll, fishing with his ghillie Mr. Tom O’Shea at [email protected]
11/5/12 There were no salmon reported on the day shift, but it was different story on the evening shift, where local ghillie Mr. Vincent Appleby of www.salmonandseatrout.com caught a 7.65 lb. salmon on the troll on the south side of the Lake in Copal.
There was also a fine grilse caught on the fly by renowned Angling writer Mr. Brian Harris of the UK fishing with his good friend Mr. John Allen. Wind N light with bright sunshine all day.
12/5/12 There was a fine fresh 6 lb. salmon caught on the troll by Mr. Michael Schultz of Berlin Germany, fishing with his gillie Mr. Neil O’Shea and of www.oshealoughcurrane.com and for the rest of we anglers we failed miserably in our duties be it on the fly or troll so on that not I will head for the backdate department, on the 8/5/12 Mr. Guy Bowden of the UK caught his first ever sea trout on the fly in Ireland and Guy was also telling me that its his first ever trip to Ireland and said it wont be his last, and just for the record his sea trout weighed in at 2 lb. and may it be the first of many, staying with the backdate department Mr. Neil O’Shea of www.oshealoughcurrane.com reported to me that Dr. Jim Comerford caught a salmon earlier on in the week.
13/5/12 it was a wild day on Lough Currane, with a strong WSW wind blowing down the lake, but this did deter my Noble Anglers from venturing out and they did see some action, on the early shift Mr. James Hinchey and his good friend, both from the UK, caught a fine 14 lb. salmon on the troll at 8.30 this morning with their ghillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy and of www.fishingwithdom.com
Now we go to the sea trout department There was a fine 3.5 lb. sea trout caught on the troll By the Rocket fishing with his ghillie Mr. Frank Donnelly of www.lakelandshouse.com I asked Frankie why they call him the Rocket, Frankie replied for me to know and you to find out, and as you can see I didn’t, and talking of rockets, Frankie has just bought a new fibreglass boat with wings on, and Frankie has named it the Rocket, and on a day like today you could say two rockets is better than one. On that note its good night from me, and hello from you.
14/5/12 It was a blustery day on Lough Currane today, but this didn’t stop regular Anglers Mr. Tom Nugent fishing with his ghillie Mr. Dominic McGillicuddy and of www.fishingwithdom.com catching two fine salmon on the troll, while Tom’s Grandfather Mr. Tom Duggan, watched proudly as his grandson played his two salmon one after another. Wind NW fresh with showers.
That is your ration for this week, from your ghillie/guide and the Waterville fishery. No Spin No Fly’s just facts.
New anglers from L’Arche Community, Callan enjoyed a fishing expedition to Mount Juliet as part of Fisheries Awareness Week on Monday May 14th. The event, organised by the Angling Council of Ireland (ACI) and Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI), was a great success with all participants catching rainbow and brown trout at the wonderful lakes at Mount Juliet. Indeed some anglers caught as many as five fish all of which were returned alive.
Minister Fergus O Dowd, Minister for State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources visited the event and was delighted by the enthusiasm and enjoyment which was evident from the participants, their carers and coaches. Minster O Dowd commended the initiative and stated ‘ Fisheries Awareness Week can be the beginning of a lifelong pastime, angling is being made more and more accessible. I congratulate the Angling Council of Ireland, their coaches ,Inland Fisheries Ireland and Mount Juliet for the success of this event’.
Students from St Pauls Community School in Waterford, the first participants in Angling for Youth Development Ireland pilot, also fished in Mount Juliet on Monday last. They enjoyed fly fishing guided by their teachers and coaches from ACI and IFI. Each student was awarded with a certificate of participation by the Minister.
Ends…
Media enquiries: Suzanne Campion ,Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland,
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971; Email [email protected] Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie
Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie
Founded nine years ago, the ACI is affiliated to the Irish Sports Council and has become the recognised umbrella organization for the five disciplines of angling at national level. The ACI is the forum for debate and discussion of the issues that are of most concern to anglers and provides the platform for anglers to address and find resolution for these issues. It is the powerhouse where anglers can develop strategies to meet the demands on angling in the present and for the future.
Andrew Ryan, Clonanav Fly Fishing gives us his thoughts on the river Suir:
The hawthorns have arrived. Better late then never some sunshine has brought out a fall of hawthorne fly. They usually arrive late April or early March, but due to cold north easterly winds they are much later this year. We have had some good dry fly action over the past few days both on Iron Blues, Medium Olives and Hawthornes
Lets hope the weather picks up and we can get plenty of evening dry fly fishing
Over the last week I had the pleasure of Guiding some great clients- David Lambroughton and John Randolph. Both of these men are fly fishing legends. John has been editor of Fly Fisherman Magazine – the worlds more read fly fishing magazine! Some of his ground breaking stories have changed the course of modern fly fishing. He is a great angler and a wealth of information.
David is one of the most accomplished fly fishing photographers on the planet – his calendar “Fly Fishing Dreams” is a hit all over the world and his iconic images are used by many top brands including Orvis, Rio, and lots more.
We had an amazing few days on the river Suir and tributaries. The fishing was good, but tough – the cold weather made dry fly fishing difficult as there were few hatches. However we did get some very nice fish using NZ style with a klinkhammer and PTN flashback. We hooked and landed fish over 18 inches and lost one fish that was most definitely over 20 inches.
We were very fortunate to have a lot of sunshine – but temperatures were low. David took some amazing images of the river – have a look below. More to follow on this story later….
Andrew Ryan
Clonanav Fly Fishing
Tel (052) 6136765
THE WAY has been cleared for removal of an old weir on the River Urrin upstream from the old Davis’s Mill site. The planning department of Wexford Council formally granted permission for the move, in response to an application from Inland Fisheries Ireland.
The weir, 200 metres upstream from the bridge over the Urrin on the N30 Enniscorthy to Clonroche road is well known to local anglers….The Enniscorthy Guardian….08/05/12….read full article…
http://www.enniscorthyguardian.ie/old-weir-on-river-urrin-to-be-removed
Kevin Lyons reports on the fishing for his clients in the Longford area.
Fishing in and around Longford has been improving over the last couple of weeks with Bream, Hybrids, Roach and Tench all featuring in the catches. Rain, hail along with the cold north east winds affected the catches on most of the venues. Anglers from Oxfordshire worked hard prebaiting two places and it all paid off for them in the end, the Pike fishing was also effected by the weather producing fish to only 14 lb. The weather is improving so we are sure to see the fishing Improve, reports coming in at the time of writing already suggest their have been some good catches so log on next week to see what the guys have been catching.
Geoff and Colin for Oxfordshire were over for their fishing holiday and this time decided to stay with Kevin and Jane at Melview Lodge in Longford, Kevin said the guys had to work hard due to the cold weather but to be fair to them they stuck to the plan and after a while the fish began to feed. Bream, Hybrids, Roach and Tench all featured in the catches, the prebaiting took time to work and we did try a few very early morning sessions to try and find a time the fish preferred to feed. It paid off in the end for them producing some cracking big Tench and mixed nets to 110 lb, well done lads.
Kevin Lyons
Melview Lodge
Drumlish Road
Clonrollagh
Longford, Co. Longford
Republic of Ireland
Tel : +353(0)43-33-45061
Mobile : +353(0)87-268-7441
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.melviewlodge.com
