ANGLING NOTES:LOUGH CORRIB is in deep trouble, according to the latest newsletter from the Carra Mask Corrib Water Protection Group. Infestation of Lagarosiphon major, a deadly weed with origins in Africa, has now been identified at 64 locations in Corrib and has the potential to wipe out the salmonid population unless immediate action is taken, the group says.
The spread of this invader is difficult to control, as the smallest piece is capable of taking root and forming a new plant. It is vital that boat users avoid passage through the weed and cleanse boats and engines prior to moving to other lakes, the newsletter said.
At a meeting of Lough Corrib Angling Federation in April, a presentation on the spread of Lagarosiphon major was made by Dr Joe Caffrey, senior research officer with the Central Fisheries Board.
"If left unchecked, this weed will advance through the lough and colonise the waters up to a depth of six meters," he said. In such a scenario he envisaged that biodiversity would be altered and most of the fish would die.
Group chairman Eoghan O'Sullivan said eradication has not been given the priority it merits since first identified in 2005. He said the same fate awaits other loughs in the country as there are no regulations to prevent its spread. The weed is on sale in garden centres and recommended for use in garden ponds.
The Action Group consists of staff from the Central Fisheries Board, Western Regional Fisheries Board, Galway County Council and National Parks and Wildlife.
A full-time task force is needed to stem the advance of the virulent plant, O'Sullivan says. To prevent catastrophic loss, State resources are immediately required.
Meanwhile, there is further bad news for Corrib, as the presence of zebra mussel has been confirmed in the upper end of the lough. The newsletter said infected boats and/or equipment were brought into the lough "by careless people".
While there is no easy remedy to the problem, boat owners are advised to take precautions to avoid spreading the mussel to other lakes.
To ensure boats are mussel free, they should be left upturned out of water for four weeks or steam-cleaned at a temperature of not less than 45 degrees.
For further information, contact cmc7@eircom.net, www.cmcwpg.ieor 093-36692.
• The following is the edited text of a letter received by Angling Notesand is published with the permission of the Rahill family.
"Last May, my father, Martin, entered a competition and won a box of beautiful flies from Jimmy Tyrrell. He was delighted about winning. Sad to say he had a brain haemorrhage and was admitted to hospital. I read out theAngling Notes from the 12th May to him.
"He and my brother, Kevin, were to join me in Co Clare for a week's fishing on Lough Inchquin. The box of flies arrived in the post on the morning of May 16th. We brought them into the hospital that day. Martin Rahill died that evening.
"As he was being waked, Kevin and I took a Mayfly from the collection and hooked it to his lapel. My son carried his fly-reel during the funeral Mass.
"Martin began his fishing career as a small boy in the 1930s at Brittas on the River Suir, just outside Thurles. There are many stories to treasure about eel, perch and trout.
"The family moved to Co Wicklow in the mid-1970s and Martin joined the Wicklow Anglers' Association. Roundwoods' reservoirs and in recent years, Lough Dan, provided many hours of enjoyment.
"In 2007, we fished Corrib. 2008 was earmarked for Corofin. Alas this was not to be. However, the evening prior to getting ill, he and Kevin were casting flies on the Upper Lake at Roundwood, less than seven weeks before his 84th birthday - a fisherman to the end!
"The flies are really nice and Martin would have loved to have tried them out. Now it is up to his sons and grandsons. Red Butchers, Kingfishers and Cock Robins often work well on the River Fergus system. I am sure that Jimmy Tyrrell's flies will work equally as well, if not better."
Martin will be also be missed by all his friends in the angling community.