Angling Notes/Derek Evans: Sean O'Dea will probably remember last Sunday for many a long day. After all, it's not every day of the week a junior angler is privy to a one-to-one meeting with the president of Ireland. This was a very special day for the 16-year-old.
The occasion was the Howth Festival at which President McAleese did the honours at the blessing of the boats and later at Scoil Mhuire to meet local community groups. It was here the President took time to speak to Sean about his exploits and formally present him with his Irish green blazer.
As a member of Howth Sea Angling Club, Sean is rather special having recently represented Ireland at the Home Nations Junior International Shore Championships in Samphire Hoe, Dover, England, at which the Irish team, under the auspices of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers, achieved a respectable silver medal position.
As for the championships, the Dover venue proved a very "snaggy" challenge resulting in considerable loss of tackle and fish. The high winds blowing along the beach throughout the two-day competition made conditions even worse, according to team manager Peter Flahive.
Nevertheless, all teams got off to a good start with plenty of wrasse and pouting. Best fish on day one fell to Stephen O'Sullivan from Tralee Bay SAC with a 39cm Dover Sole. Five lobsters, inadvertently caught by competitors, were quickly grabbed by stewards for the pot. Similar conditions prevailed on day two with catches evenly spread among the teams. As each fish was caught, zone results changed and, in turn, team positions. At the end of the session, overall positions panned out with England taking pole position, followed by Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Ireland's team was: Simon Noonan (Rinnashark), Adam Crowe (Abbeyside), Sean O'Dea (Howth), Wesley Loughlin (Carrick) and Stephen O'Sullivan (Tralee Bay). Team manager was Peter Flahive (Wicklow) and coach Eamonn Fogarty (Dublin).
If the mathematics applied by fishery manager Nigel Rush is remotely correct, then Kylemore Abbey Fishery in Co Galway could have the entire Connemara sea trout population. "My estimation of present stock levels would edge close to the 12,000 mark," he said.
During the last three weeks of May and the first week of June, large numbers of fish entered the system. This is one month earlier than normal, according to Rush, and many of the fish were smolts returning to fresh water hammered with upwards of 40 and 50 juvenile sea lice.
At this time, he counted sea trout as the tide met the last waterfall. For 10 consecutive days an average of 100 fish per daylight tide entered the river and these numbers were consistent over five weeks. Given that sea trout are still entering the system in reasonable numbers, then a run of 10,000 would not be an exaggeration, he said.
On the angling side, Larry McAlinden (Newry) landed 17 sea trout to 2lb for one afternoon on the Middle Lake. Next day Ken Furey and Peter Killally ( Edenderry, Co Offaly), together, landed and returned 47 fish from the Castle and Middle Lake.
"Our problem is a distinct lack of anglers. However, if we get a good September turnout and the right conditions, Kylemore Abbey could be a sea trout paradise," Rush said.
While the grilse run may have slowed down, there are still good numbers of fish in the river including some larger "harvest" fish at the Galway Salmon Weir, according to fisheries inspector, Kevin Crowley. Up to Monday last, 37 fish were caught for the week, with 23 of those taken on the fly.
Local angler William Cullinane had a fight of a lifetime when he hooked a very large fish, estimated at over 20lb weight. The fish put up a tremendous fight, which lasted well into darkness, and after a long struggle, came unhooked and regained its freedom. Better luck next time, William.
Almost 70 anglers took part in the annual Garda all-Ireland trout fly-fishing competition on Lough Conn recently. The Galway West team, comprising B. Lynch, B. Bradley, C. McCole and B. Carolan, emerged as winners on the day. Individual placings went to: 1, P. Higgins (Rathcoole); 2, P. Frain (Castlebar) and 3, D. Conlon (Rathcoole).