Celebrating salmon

Angling Notes / Derek Evans: The  North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) is producing a new book, A Celebration of Salmon Rivers, …

Angling Notes / Derek Evans:The  North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) is producing a new book, A Celebration of Salmon Rivers, which will depict in beautiful photographs and short articles more than 50 of the world's finest salmon rivers. All profits from the sale of the book will be used towards conservation activities on behalf of the Atlantic salmon.

The book will be ready in the autumn for distribution on a broad retail basis by distributors in the US, UK, Iceland and Denmark. But there is no commission payable on books sold directly to friends and supporters on a "private direct sale" basis.

To receive an order form, visit

nasf@vortex.is

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. NASF is also taking orders for a special "bibliophile" edition and orders for multiple copies (50 or more) that can be customised with logo and/or text as gifts for clients and friends. To purchase these editions contact the book's co-editors, John Ashton (

) in New York or Adrian Latimer (

latimer@paris. sl.slb.com)

in Paris.

NASF's Orri Vigfusson said, "Please buy A Celebration of Salmon Rivers. You will be getting a lovely book . . . and the good feeling of having helped to save one of nature's noblest creatures."

• Again, the River Moy came out "head and shoulders" above all rivers in the country with a reported catch of 861 salmon, extending the total so far to 3,482. Because of continuous rain, the lower beats remained poor, while the upper reaches saw the best of the fishing.

Mt Falcon Fishery had its best week, yielding a total of 52 fish. Jim Wiltshire and party of three from the UK did particularly well, catching 20 for three days. On the Rinanney Water, French angler, John Claude Cousquer caught a beauty of 6.5kg on worm.

Water levels at the Galway Weir remained high, with three gates open. In spite of this, fishing was very good, with lots of grilse in the river and 65 salmon landed, mostly to fly. Catches should continue to impress, according to angling inspector Kevin Crowley.

Prospects look excellent for the next month or so on Lough Furnace in Newport, Co Mayo, with plenty of water and fish in the system. Last week the fishery produced 39 salmon with the best, a fine 4.5kg fish, caught and released by Sean Smith from the UK. Most successful flies included Ally's Cascade and Green Peter. Some boats are still available for July and August. Contact Pat Hughes at 098-42300 or see www.burrishoole.ie.

The grilse have arrived in significant numbers in recent days on Lough Inagh. All the river beats have salmon and a good number are already in Inagh. "Our catch is up by 51 fish on last season to date," said Inagh angling manager, Colin Folan. Note: A boat is available for hire on Derryclare Lake, a lake that has not been fished in 40 years! Contact inagh@iol.ie or 095-34706.

Heavy rain meant rising water levels on the Owenmore River during the latter half of the week. Eight salmon were reported from the Bangor Erris Club Water. Local anglers John Reynolds, Liam Keenaghan, Ivor Curtis, Eamon Dean and Desmond O'Rourke each took small grilse, and Stephen Parker, Roscommon, landed a fish of 2.3kg.

While anglers on the Owenmore River benefited from the wet and windy weather, fishing conditions on Carrowmore Lake were difficult. However, reasonable numbers of sea trout and five salmon were caught.

A group from the Dargle Anglers, Co Wicklow, had two salmon, both of which were released.

Tony Gorman caught two fish of 4.1kg and 4.5kg from the Drumcliffe River, both on a "Flying C", while Ollie Dillon landed one of 3.6kg on Glencar Lake.

• Applicants are invited to take the Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors-Irl (APGAI-IRL) examinations in single-handed trout fly, and two-handed salmon fly and fly tying, at the Blackwater Lodge Hotel, Cork, on October 20th/21st.

Contact www.apgai-ireland.ie or Liam Duffy at 086-3647914 and liamjduffy@hotmail.com.

• An online insurance product has been developed for small boats/pleasure craft which covers boats up to the value of €20,000 with cover starting from €100 for boats valued up €3,500. For further information visit www.insureme.ie/marine-insurance. html

• Results of Dunbrody Two-Day Coarse Angling Festival at Oaklands Lake, New Ross, Co Wexford. 1, B Smithers (61kg); 2, F Brennan (52kg); 3, N Harrison (45kg), 4, W Wheeler (39kg).

• Results of International Fly-Fishing Association (ITFFA) Competition on the River Liffey at Athgarvan and Patrickswell, Co Kildare: 1, Scotland (72 fish); 2, Ireland (71f); 3, England (51f); 4, Wales (48f).