THE MINISTER for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan has announced that his department and agencies wll make significant savings in administrative overheads.
Overall, the 2009 allocation will be down €35 million on the 2008 Revised Estimates, from €536 million to €501 million.
"These savings are largely influenced by the winding down of some schemes such as the Salmon Compensation Scheme," he said. Reflecting agency rationalisation across Government, the Minister announced that the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards will be amalgamated into a National Inland Fisheries Board.
• The midland trout lakes were the place to be last Sunday, as anglers converged on Loughs Owel and Ennel in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, to participate in end-of-season competitions at one of Ireland's most scenic locations. On Lough Owel, the Trout Preservation Association (Lotpa) hosted a fly-fishing competition that attracted 70 anglers, with proceeds going to the lake stocking fund.
Lotpa secretary Stanley McKeon explains: 'The association was founded in 1889 and during the war years we harvested trout ova, half of which were reared in box hatcheries and the other half sold to hatcheries in Scotland, England and Wales. It's likely the Owel strain still exists in lakes throughout the British Isles".
Great credit is due to Lotpa in boosting the angling potential of the lake by purchasing yearling brown trout that progress to good quality fish after 18 months. Also, with assistance from the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, an additional 300,000 ova are harvested from the small streams, hatched in the local hatchery and returned to the streams as un-fed fry. The board also stocks 9,000 two-year-old fish each year.
Setting out from Tullaghan boat quay with fishing partners Michael Flanagan from the Sunday Worldand Martyn Smith from Cheshire, I enjoyed the splendid camaraderie associated with this annual event. While some anglers launched at nearby Mullaly's, Tullaghan proved more than adequate, with its modern slipway and car-park facilities. A new angling centre opened here last year.
Light south-westerly winds and bright sunshine does little to encourage trout to the surface, however, but as the day progresses we find plenty of action close to Scudarra Island resulting in four fish to the boat with one making the cut at 32cm.
The Green Pearl Dabbler proved the in-form fly pattern.
At the end of a long and most enjoyable day, anglers fortunate to catch fish were required to return just one for weigh-in at Caffrey's Pub in Mullingar Town. From the 70 competitors, 39 fish made the scales. Results: 1, J Meehan, 1.3kg; 2, F Millar, 1.1kg; 3, S Maloney, 1kg.
The competition also brought to an end the game-angling season for another year. Anglers can now turn their attention to the many rainbow trout fisheries that remain open all-year round. Indeed, some may choose to fish for pike or bass on the fly during the winter months. Whatever your quarry, remember, the new game-angling season is only four months away.
• John Enright was born in Castleconnell, Co Limerick, in 1865, into a great fishing tradition. At a time when most fishermen made their own rods, Enright's grandfather gained a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship. As his reputation grew, so too did the demand for his rods and by 1840 he employed 10 people.
The craft eventually made its way into the hands of his grandson, young John Enright, who continued to excel with outstanding achievements. In 1896, at Wimbledon in London, he swept to victory in five events at an international fly, float and bait competition when he beat his own world record by casting a distance of 147ft with the famous Castleconnell product.
In 1906, he showcased his talent in Paris. Inevitably, the Castleconnell Rod would become world famous. Consignments were exported to the US, Russia, Japan, Jamaica, Australia and New Zealand. Six years later, Enright again drew the attention of the world with a record cast of 152 feet. Sadly, in 1908 he died at the age of 43. But he left in his wake a thriving business.
Despite the closure of the factory in the 1930s and the glory days of the rod-making craft now long gone, it is a credit to this man that fishing will forever be part of the identity of Castleconnell. (My thanks to Stephen Ryan for information.)
• The Irish Federation of Sea Anglers held its Master Angler Shore and Boat Competitions earlier this month. The boat-masters took place in Cobh, Co Cork, and the winner, with a 100 per cent score, was Heiko Dreier. This completed a fantastic year for the Killarney man who, in August, won the European championships for a record third time in succession.
The masters' was held over four sessions, with 82 competitors catching 3,777 fish across 25 different species. Results: 1, H Dreier (Post Irish); 2, P Condon (Ballycotton); 3, M Kennedy (Post Irish); 4, D O'Brien (East Ferry); 5, M Howell (Kilmore).
The beautiful surf beaches of Portstewart, Portrush and Benone Strand in Co Antrim were ideal venues for the shore- masters', with some cracking flounder, turbot, bass, coalfish and mullet taken. Kieran Begadon from Waterford Crystal SAC took top honours and will go on to captain Ireland's team in next year's world championships.