A recent reference in Angling Notes to salmon fishing on the river Boyne has prompted a reader to e-mail to say he recognised Dr Moore who, with his friend Dr Mahon, would take the upper fishing from his grandfather in the 1960s and from his father in 1963.
Fishing may well have been free at that time but the fisherman kept every third fish, he says. Use of the boat was provided at Minalpie and the Lock Cottage at Morgan's Rossnaree Lock with, perhaps, a small financial gain. For several years now, however, this particular water has been let to the Rossin Slane and District Anglers.
The reader goes on to say he is preparing to let the home waters further downstream at Rossnaree for this season and wonders if readers might be interested in joining a small syndicate with both banks, vehicle access and use of a shelter hut. The access will be upgraded in the spring to accommodate non4WD and a stove fitted to the hut along with basic furniture.
If you are interested in joining the syndicate please e-mail: angling@irish-times.ie and I will pass on correspondence to the forwarding e-mail address.
A round-up of those salmon fisheries open for business up to yesterday shows the river Drowes in Co Donegal with 19 salmon including a further two for Mr John Fahy, captor of the first tagged wild salmon of the year. The Lennon at Letterkenny has recorded four, and Lough Gill in Co Sligo still the one from opening day. The river Liffey in Dublin has yet to produce a fish.
Dublin Pike Anglers held their eighth pike championships qualifier on Sunday at Assaroe Lake on the River Erne system, outside Ballyshannon. Strong cold winds and rain lashed the lake all day and, as a result, only 17 pike were recorded for the 60 anglers brave enough to venture out.
The top five anglers to go forward to the final were: 1, W. Heasley (Duleek); R. Leonard (Keady); J. Hensey (Letterkenny); B. O'Donnell (Limerick) and D. Boyle (Longford). There are two remaining qualifiers, the first of which will be held on the Grand Canal at Monasterevin on Sunday, January 21st, the second is scheduled for Lough Ramor at Virginia, Co Cavan, on February 4th. For further details, contact Jimmy Thompson at 087-296 6175.
Well-known Dublin pike angler John Rooney and some friends from Northern Ireland recently recorded some bumper catches from a group of small lakes near Nobber, Co Meath. Gary Cromie from Crossgar caught two specimens of 22lb 10oz and 20lb 4oz respectively, and Sean Hogan also landed a specimen of 23lb 9oz and two other fish over 17lb. John himself, took the best fish of the day, a beauty of 27lb 11oz. Most were taken on mackerel heads in about 15ft of water.
Correspondence and fishy photographs to The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Fax: 679 1881. E-mail: angling@irish-times.ie