Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-law Comes into Operation

By

-

October 26, 2018

Ministers Highlight Importance of Measure to Distinctive Habitat

25 October 2018

The Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-law was today signed by Richard Bruton, TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The overall intention behind the Bye-Law is to afford additional protection to wild brown trout in seven distinctive State–owned waters where established stock control measures are already in place as a matter of existing policy.

The seven waters are Lough Sheelin in the Limerick Fishery District, Loughs Conn and Cullin the Ballina Fishery District, Loughs Corrib, Mask and Carra in the Galway Fishery District and Lough Arrow in the Sligo Fishery District.

Sean Canney TD, Minister of State who is to have responsibility for the Inland Fisheries sector welcomed the Bye-law as an important initiative for Brown Trout fisheries particularly in the West of Ireland.

Minister Canney said, “my predecessor Seán Kyne TD gave notice of his proposals to make the Bye-law and also instigated a public consultation during which observations and views expressed across the full range of stakeholders. I am happy as incoming Minister to support Minister Kyne’s long standing initiative and his hard work over all of 2018 in bringing the Bye-law to fruition.

Minister Seán Kyne said, “as Minister with responsibility for inland fisheries, I had carefully considered the submissions made in the public consultation. The Bye-law relates to seven limestone lakes which are quite unique in terms of topography and trout habitat and have long been managed as wild brown trout fisheries via established stock management programmes. From that perspective, I considered that these waters are especially important”. “The Bye-law was just about complete when I was taking on my new role and I am grateful for the support of Ministers Bruton and Canney for bringing it over the line”, he added.

The Bye-Law gives statutory status to the policy designation of this small number of distinctive waters and means that the waters concerned will continue to be managed primarily as brown trout waters. Minister Kyne had indicated his view that the importance of these waters should be reflected by way of statutory designation and commenced that process in the Department.

The Bye-Law also includes the prohibition on the Introduction of fish to the designated waters which is consistent with the overall policy thrust of Inland Fisheries Ireland to manage these waters primarily as brown trout waters. The advantages of this measure include addressing biosecurity and genetic concerns, control and management of the potential transfer of pathogens, and safeguarding against the introduction of alien invasive fish species.

ends.

Press Office

——

Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide & Comhshaoil

Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment

29-31 Bóthar Adelaide, Baile Átha Cliath, D02 X285

29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin, D02 X285

——

M +353 87 693 7580 T +353 (0)1 678 2441

[email protected] www.dccae.gov.ie

Designated Salmonid Waters Bye law No 964 2018 (131 KB)

Irish Angling Update 26 October 2018

By

myleskelly

-

October 26, 2018

It’s nearly all pike fishing news this week. Some good fishing was reported from the midlands and Lough Corrib and there’s also a big competition coming up next month. Also in pike news is the new regulation which was signed on 25 October…
Super pike for IPS on western lakes, plans to oppose new regulations

More midlands pike action from Mick the Fish

King Of the Corrib Pike Competition 18 November

Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-law Comes into Operation

Dutch anglers enjoy the pike fishing on offer in Longford

Pallas Lake still low and pike fishing slow

Italian anglers enjoy excellent piking in the midlands

German pike anglers do well at Melview Fishing Lodge

Great pike to be caught about Longford, deadbaits best

Patchy pike fishing on Inny for IFPAC qualifier

Inland Fisheries Ireland is reminding all salmon and sea trout anglers of the importance of returning their 2018 angling logbook and unused gill tags on time (by law angling logbook returns must be made by 19^th October annually even if there is no catch recorded). These returns will provide vital information regarding the status and management of our wild Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout stocks for 2019, which is International Year of the Salmon.

Anglers are asked to make the return via the business return envelope which was supplied at the time of license purchase. In the absence of the prepaid logbook return envelope, anglers can return their completed logbook and unused tags to the Inland Fisheries Ireland office address on their licence/logbook.

Any queries in relation to the scheme can be sent to [email protected]. For more information, click here

And now the weather…

Met Eireann tells us to expect a cold Bank Holiday weekend. There’s going to be some sunshine at times but it won’t bring up the temperatures much and you can also bank on overnight frosts and some icy patches.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

Myles Kelly
Catch, Photo, Release
#CPRsavesfish

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update please send it to [email protected].

Super pike for IPS on western lakes, plans to oppose new regulations

By

myleskelly

-

October 26, 2018

The Irish Pike Society had a very enjoyable fish-in on the wild western loughs this weekend past. IPS reports..

Tough conditions with strong winds and incessant rain didn’t deter the hardy bucks… Or late nights and pints! A few fish caught, no numbers but some quality. Best, and winner of the IPS “Golden balls eggcup” and a voucher from “Southside angling” was the redoubtable Al Rawlings with a nice fish of 29.04lb. Couple of other notable fish were a 25.15lb (118cm) and a 22.00lb. Fantastic hospitality from Eddie Lynch the owner of Fairhill House hotel in Clonbur, which was our base. Probably the guts of €5K pumped into a small rural economy on a wet winter weekend.

New pike regulations

The Irish Pike Society (IPS) condemn in the strongest terms new regulations that allow the killing of four specimen pike (our native Irish predator) per day, per angler, in our premier limestone loughs.

Previous to this new bye-law, specimen pike were legislatively protected by existing laws that stated that all pike over 50cm should be released unharmed, with an allowed catch of only 1 pike of this size per day. This bye-law recognised both their economic contribution to angling tourism (€102 million in 2016) but also their beneficial effect on the relevant ecosystem. It also recognised the fact that over 70% of the angling community will not even visit waters that pike are killed in (ESRI angling report 2016). This new law will mean pike of any size may be killed, including specimens previously highly regarded by our UK and European neighbours.

The Irish Pike Society will be taking a high court challenge to this new regulation.

Paul Byrne
Irish Pike Society

Dutch anglers enjoy the pike fishing on offer in Longford

By

myleskelly

-

October 24, 2018

Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge in Longford reports on the catches of some Dutch anglers staying at Melview Lodge…

Peter and Wim from the Netherlands returned once again to Melview Fishing lodge for their annual fishing trip. This time they had to cope with a couple very windy days which restricted their fishing a little. Some days were better than others but still they managed Pike to 90 + cm along with a lot of smaller fish. It was a good holiday with a few laughs along the way.

Thanks guys and hope to see you again soon.

ALL FISH RETURNED UNHARMED.

#CPRsavesfish

Kevin Lyons
Melview Lodge

Make a booking

Kevin Lyons
Melview Lodge
Drumlish Road,Clonrollagh, Longford, Co. Longford
Tel:+353(0)43-33-45061 Mobile:+353(0)87-268-7441
E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.melviewlodge.com

Kevin has over 30 years experience of fishing in Ireland and is happy to offer a guided tour on your arrival, and to advise where the on-form waters in the area are. We can arrange your bait order so it’s here when you arrive. Melview offers free use of 17ft lake boats with engines to our guests (pay fuel only) and Kevin is happy to assist with any pre-baiting requests. Maps and other information regarding fishing are also available.

A history of salmon management in the British Isles

By

myleskelly

-

October 24, 2018

Dr Ronald Campbell

Frank Buckland

The 2018 Buckland Lecture, University College Dublin
20^th November 2018

and also at UCC –

Room CEC 7/8, Ground Floor Enterprise Centre, Distillery Fields, Cork

23 November

This Buckland Lecture offers a unique opportunity to hear one of Europe’s top salmon managers speak on how both scientific and “direct from the river bank” knowledge has informed and misinformed (quite a bit of that!) management of our unique salmon resource over the years. Spanning the period from the early 16^th century to today, Ronald’s far ranging and highly entertaining talk will cover:

The period when parr were seen as separate species of fish!
The revolution that took place once parr were discovered to be the young of salmon
Early efforts to artificially breed salmon
How the fallacy grew that fertilisation of salmon eggs in the wild was inefficient
The view that eggs, fry and parr of salmon were far better off in the cosseted and safe environment of a well run salmon hatchery
The talk will describe the last great collapse of grilse stocks in the 1850’s
The slow realisation that wild salmon ova and fry belong in the river and not in artificial hatchery tanks

About Ronald:

Ronald C & Tagged Salmon Tweed — Ronald & Tagged Salmon on the Teed

It is no exaggeration to say that fish and fishing is in Ronald’s blood! His schooling started in highlands of Perthshire in the 1960’s. His father had the salmon fishing of the Pass of Killiecrankie and so would take Ronald and his sister an hour early to school, so he could fish while they played on the river bank – at times taking as many as five fresh salmon in that one hour!!! His first degree was in Zoology, at the University of Aberdeen. He then headed to the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, where he completed a thesis on the effect of water abstraction on a river population of brown trout. His next research post was as a Post-doctoral Fellow in UCC. Following several other placements in Turkey and Scotland he joined the staff of the Tweed Foundation as their first fisheries biologist in 1990. Ronald advised the Commission on fisheries management policy and formulated the Fisheries Management Plans (FMP) for the Tweed & Eye Fisheries District.

The lecture is free but to be sure we can fit you in you must book your place on eventbrite.ie:

https://history-of-salmon-management-buckland-2018.eventbrite.ie

This talk will also be given in UCC on 23 November

World Championships Carnivorous Artificial Bait Boat Angling report

By

myleskelly

-

October 24, 2018

L-R Back Andrew Powell, Simon Gibson, David Dennis, Jacek Gorny Front Colin Rutherford, Tomek Kurman, Steven Powell

Team Ireland attend the Fips-ed 11^th World Championships Carnivorous Artificial Bait Boat Angling

Team Ireland Predator squad recently returned from the 2018 championships held on Rutland Water in the Midlands, England.

The week-long trip aw the seven mad squad take advantage of some good fishing on Grafham Water whilst the Championship venue was closed. An enjoyable two days was spent in search of Zander (a new species for many of the team) and large perch and pike. The venue didn’t disappoint and produced some large bonus bream and a PB for Jacek Gorny. The team welcomed the warm hospitality from the rangers, staff and fellow anglers at this managed water.

Onto Rutland and the warm sunny weather was rapidly deteriorating as the team explored the water on Thursday and Friday with variables catches. Apprehension about anchorage were overcome with the tool box to customise the boats and attach the spot lock. The boats predominantly used by game anglers on these trout waters were all uniform in size and thus the same for everyone with 5hp engines. Fair play to the South African and the USA teams who had to purchase/hire equipment on arrival to compete.

Day one of the championships saw the championships team, selected through a series of qualifiers earlier this year, Tomek Kurman & Jacek Gorny and brothers Steven & Andrew Powell take to the water. Squad members David Dennis, Colin Rutherford and Simon Gibson assumed shore support and volunteered as stewards with one angler stepping in each day. The Ireland team got off to a good start; against 40mph winds and tough fishing they produced 22 fish and 27,087 points for 6^th position. With the two pairs together ranked 13^th & 14^th they headed into competition day two in high spirits. Concerns about manoeuvring around the catamaran racers were quickly overcome with persistent and very cold rain making conditions much harder than Saturday. This combined with a change in fishing area for one of the boats left the team unable to capitalise on the good position and whilst many fish including a good number of zander were caught, the total number caught of qualifying size was lower leaving the team to finish 10^th.

International Predator Team Manager, Tomek Kurman, reports: –

“I am very proud to once again present Team Ireland on the world stage, a team who work well together on and off the water and for their support of the entire squad before and during the championships. Angling at International level is tough but rewarding. Each year we visit different countries fishing a variety of venues and constantly learn from these trips. Of course, we want to win but the knowledge acquired, and the camaraderie of the participating teams all contributes to a great experience. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the NCFFI who cover the entry fee and contribute to travel costs, to our friends & families who helped by taking part in our prize draw and to our invaluable sponsors who keep us kitted out on the water Duo Hook, Baltic Lifejackets, Dennetts Outdoor Ltd, Strike-Pro, Vass Waders & Rainwear and Costa Sunglasses.

Also, to FIPS-ed and the Angling Trust competition organisers who showed us two fine facilities for anglers with jetty-side rest rooms, parking, tackle sales and cafeteria. Roll on South Africa in 2018!”

Whilst the 2018 boat team has also been selected to fish the next World Championships in February 2019 at the World Games in South Africa, preparations are already underway to provide a series of qualifiers to select the 2019 Bank and 2020 Boat teams throughout 2019. Artificial bait lure angling is huge in Europe but still growing in Ireland. The NCFFI are keen to encourage more into this sport and international competition.

Ahead of the announcement of the qualifiers expressions of interest are invited from those who may be interested in both boat or bank disciplines, visit https://www.ncffi.ie/expressions-of-interest-lure-angling-qualifiers.

A full gallery of images from the championships is available at www.ncffi.ie/gallery

Dutch anglers enjoy the pike fishing on offer in Longford

By

myleskelly

-

October 24, 2018

Kevin Lyons of Melview Lodge in Longford reports on the catches of some Dutch anglers staying at Melview Lodge…

Peter and Wim from the Netherlands returned once again to Melview Fishing lodge for their annual fishing trip. This time they had to cope with a couple very windy days which restricted their fishing a little. Some days were better than others but still they managed Pike to 90 + cm along with a lot of smaller fish. It was a good holiday with a few laughs along the way.

Thanks guys and hope to see you again soon.

ALL FISH RETURNED UNHARMED.

#CPRsavesfish

Kevin Lyons
Melview Lodge

Make a booking

Kevin Lyons
Melview Lodge
Drumlish Road,Clonrollagh, Longford, Co. Longford
Tel:+353(0)43-33-45061 Mobile:+353(0)87-268-7441
E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.melviewlodge.com

Kevin has over 30 years experience of fishing in Ireland and is happy to offer a guided tour on your arrival, and to advise where the on-form waters in the area are. We can arrange your bait order so it’s here when you arrive. Melview offers free use of 17ft lake boats with engines to our guests (pay fuel only) and Kevin is happy to assist with any pre-baiting requests. Maps and other information regarding fishing are also available.

A history of salmon management in the British Isles

By

myleskelly

-

October 24, 2018

Dr Ronald Campbell

Frank Buckland

The 2018 Buckland Lecture, University College Dublin
20^th November 2018

and also at UCC –

Room CEC 7/8, Ground Floor Enterprise Centre, Distillery Fields, Cork

23 November

This Buckland Lecture offers a unique opportunity to hear one of Europe’s top salmon managers speak on how both scientific and “direct from the river bank” knowledge has informed and misinformed (quite a bit of that!) management of our unique salmon resource over the years. Spanning the period from the early 16^th century to today, Ronald’s far ranging and highly entertaining talk will cover:

The period when parr were seen as separate species of fish!
The revolution that took place once parr were discovered to be the young of salmon
Early efforts to artificially breed salmon
How the fallacy grew that fertilisation of salmon eggs in the wild was inefficient
The view that eggs, fry and parr of salmon were far better off in the cosseted and safe environment of a well run salmon hatchery
The talk will describe the last great collapse of grilse stocks in the 1850’s
The slow realisation that wild salmon ova and fry belong in the river and not in artificial hatchery tanks