ANGLING NOTES:WHILE the wild salmon resource continues to improve in terms of numbers returning to their respective rivers, perhaps this outgoing season will best be remembered for the revival in sea-trout stocks.
It's nearly 20 years since the sea-trout collapse in the west of Ireland. Fears of the resource ever returning to pre-1988 levels were well-founded, mainly due to drift-netting and fish-farming practices.
At that time, reports from the big fisheries dealt the hardest blow in Connemara, however this season the region has experienced its best sea-trout fishing in 20 years.
Simon Ashe, fishery and estate manager at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Recess, Connemara, Co Galway, says: "The removal of drift-nets and continued closure of the salmon farm in the estuary are undoubtedly major contributors to getting Ballynahinch back to the great fishing days of old.
"There have been more than 400 sea trout landed and released in July alone, with the average just under a pound, while there have been many over the pound and a handful over the two-pound mark," he reveals.
Colin Folan, fishery manager at Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel, Recess, Co Galway, also predicts Inagh is heading for its best season since the sea-trout collapse. Up to end of August more than 500 sea-trout had been taken and released.
In 2005 the salmon farm in Bertraghboy Bay switched to cod-farming, and catches of sea- trout at the two river systems mentioned above, increased sharply. It is important to note that cod are not vulnerable to sea lice.
There is now general acceptance in scientific circles that sea-lice from salmon farms have a ruinous impact on wild sea-trout, according to the Save Our Sea Trout campaign (Sos).
David Dobbs, co-proprietor of the famous "Joan Kennedy Kisch" stretch on the River Slaney at Clohamon, below Bunclody, Co Wexford, is tremendously encouraged with the upsurge in sea-trout numbers on the Slaney. "I can confidently report at least 300 sea-trout averaging 0.4kg have been caught and released so far this season," he says.
Of course, Lough Currane in Waterville, Co Kerry, continues to dominate in terms of quality sea-trout. Again, from reports to hand, Currane enjoyed a bumper year, with fish up to 4kg "par for the course".
David Dobbs, while fishing Currane for the first time last Saturday week, caught a "fish of a lifetime" that measured 29 inches and had an estimated weight of 4.5kg.
He goes on: "I rented a boat from Michael O'Sullivan and headed towards Black Point (near Church Island). On my second drift, fishing a sink tip and cast of four, including a Bibio, Claret Bumble, Red "Ass" Green Peter and Black Pennell, I struck into a serious fish.
"The fish tore off like a train before jumping out of the water. I played it for about 20 minutes, during which time it jumped at least five times and gone on surging runs. Soon after I got my net under the fish and had a beautiful sparkling sea-trout in the boat. I unhooked the Black Pennell with ease and returned the fish to allow it continue its journey to the spawning streams, which at this stage it had visited for many years. Lough Currane provided me with a really amazing fishing experience and is now a place I can't wait to return to," he says.
• On Lough Conn, high water-levels meant few anglers ventured out last week. However, Alfie Cunnane and boat-partner had three trout for 1.8kg. The best fish of 0.9kg took a Green Peter.
Fishing out from Cloghans recently, two Sligo trout anglers, Brian Gallagher and Dr Brian McDonagh, caught and released a pike of 8.2kg. "After a spell of fly-fishing in flat, calm conditions, we decided to troll a Toby lure and caught the big fish close to the Comeragh Rocks," Gallagher says.
• The Central Fisheries Board has appointed Dr Cathal Gallagher as its new director of Research and Development (RD). Dr Gallagher has a wide range of RD experience in the private sector and moves from his current position as director of field services with the CFB.
Also, the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board has appointed Ashley Hayden as marketing co-ordinator for the region. His website is: www.ashley-hayden.com
• As a follow-up to last week's article on salmon fishing in Norway, Project Travel is offering angling holidays in Norway in 2009. Further details available at www.project-travel.ie
• John McLaughlin, of Lough Swilly Flies Angling Centre, has announced the opening of his new on-line store at www.donegalanglingcentre.com. "It will be updated daily with genuine weekly bargains," he says.