ANGLING NOTES:THE Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST) has adopted a new three-year strategy to take on the life of the salmon, ie from egg to kelt, according to its newsletter review of 2012. The decision follows on from the Ocean Silver Conference in December which identified "The Three Pillar" approach consisting of ocean zoning, coastal waters and the freshwater environment.
Under Pillar 1 – The Ocean Zone – AST will identify the salmon’s migration routes, work with governments to include salmon in their pelagic monitoring and negotiate a safe passage along migration corridors.
A database will be built of genetic salmon samples from Greenland’s commercial fisheries which relate to rivers of origin in the UK and Ireland. This knowledge will reveal where salmon from rivers with fragile populations feed and through negotiation, enabling Greenland to reduce its fishing intensity in those specific areas.
Under Pillar 2 – Coastal Waters – Under scrutiny will be potential threats to the safe passage of outgoing migration of smolts and inward migration of returning adults.
In this regard, AST will strive to keep to a minimum such threats as those posed by renewable energy generation, coastal pollution, climate change, salmon farming and mixed stock exploitation of salmon and sea trout.
Under Pillar 3 – The Freshwater Environment – While recognising the catchment-based work done by fisheries trusts is key to natural smolt production, AST feels it has a vital role to play in raising awareness of issues such as flows, the role of small streams, efficacy of stocking, welfare of sea trout populations and stock assessment.
The Trust’s overview of the whole lives of salmon and sea trout means it is better placed than ever to support our partners in their work, to initiate new research and communicate results to fisheries managers on the riverbank.
Open season
The Lackagh River in Co Donegal reopened on January 1st for salmon fishing on a catch and release basis following a seven-year closure, and the season gets under way this Thursday on the Killarney Lakes and Waterville Fisheries in Co Kerry.
On the fly
Once again the season is upon us and although conditions can be tough rewards can be good. The wet duck fly (below) is a good pattern to have for those who like to start early.
This is a version fished under the surface of the water. The soft partridge hackle at the head gives it a pulse-like movement when retrieved slowly to give the fly a lifelike appearance.
“It is a pattern I favour for the western loughs and is a good representation of the natural insect,” according to fly-tyer Jimmy Tyrrell. Duck fly hatches start from mid-March into April and great sport can be had particularly if you get local knowledge as to where hatches might occur, he says. See irishflycraft@gmail.com or call 086-845 1257.
Lake festival
Lough Ree Pike Angling Competition and Pike World Cup three-day festival is scheduled between April 17th and 19th. With a guaranteed first prize of €3,000, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland and supported by Lakelands and Inland Waterways Ireland, this is an event not to be missed. The festival is open to all anglers and if 160 take part the prize fund will total €19,000. The lough was chosen on the quality of its pike angling. All lawful methods will be allowed and for conservation reasons fish must be photographed, measured and released immediately.
Entry fee is €40 per angler per day or €100 for three days. All monies will be returned in cash prizes – plus the €3,000 first prize. There is a strict limit of 80 boats and a closing date of April 10th when all entry fees must be paid. For bookings, see contact@pikefishinginireland.com or call 071-9642743 (Irl) or 0151-3244744 (UK).