Angling Notes: The much-awaited rain over the past week finally allowed the grilse-run to begin in earnest as thousands of summer salmon entered the home strait on west-coast rivers towards their ultimate goal.
Anglers, too, were out in force snapping up every available beat to join the bonanza of top-class angling.
True to form, the River Moy in Co Mayo accounted for a whopping 1,252 salmon while the Ballisodore in Co Sligo and Galway Weir Fishery returned a reputable 318, all within a five-day spell. Fly-fishing came out tops with some anglers returning part, or indeed all, of their three-fish bag limit.
The Corrib River in Galway city is proving quite a tourist attraction these days with huge numbers of salmon to be seen. The Weir Bridge is often packed with tourists amazed at the number of fish swimming below them and the salmon leaping the weir, as hundreds of fish move upstream.
Fishing was again superb last week with 99 salmon landed. This year the grilse run in Galway is exceptional, and the fish are also of a higher than average size, averaging 5lb. Anglers are having fine sport, especially on the fly, which accounted for 83 last week, according to Western fisheries inspector Kevin Crowley.
In contrast to the west, salmon are in danger of being eradicated altogether in the north-east, according to a report in this newspaper last Thursday. Fishermen and anglers blame drift-net fishing and problems with sewage for the steep decline in stock levels.
The development officer for the River Fane, near Blackrock, Co Louth, said that for every 100,000 fingerlings put into the river they were lucky to get back 10. Only 500 salmon were caught in Dundalk Bay last year compared with 10,000 40 years ago, according to Bernard Devenney, chairman of Dundalk Salmon Anglers' Association.
Salmon clubs in the north east have an opportunity tonight to voice their opinion in the Conyngham Arms Hotel, Slane, Co Meath. at 8 p.m. The meeting will focus on the "deplorable state of salmon stocks on the east coast and the indiscriminate mixed stock drift netting along their migratory route home".
Anglers from the area, including the Rivers Boyne, Fane and Liffey, are especially requested to attend. Further details available at 087-9188689.
The most exuberant trout-angling competition in Europe is back on track. The 47th World Cup Trout Fly Fishing Championships takes to the waters of Lough Mask in Co Mayo for a five-day festival of top-class brown trout fishing commencing on Thursday, July 29th.
This competition is, without doubt, the premier event of the year. World renowned, it has withstood the test of time from small beginnings in 1953 when a meagre 164 home-based anglers attended to 673 in 2002 with a strong contingent of tourist anglers. Commencing on Thursday, the competition will comprise four heat days with finals' day on the August bank holiday Monday.
First prize consists of a 19ft Anglers' Fancy Lake boat, sponsored by Burke Boats, Ballinrobe; a 10hp Honda outboard engine, by Duffy & Sons, Headford; engraved crystal cut glass trophy by Murphy's Newsagents, Ballinrobe; Hardy Swift 11ft 7inch fly rod by Handy Alnwick and the World Cup Silver Perpetual Cup.
The 2004 brochure, posted to 1,000 anglers last week, emphasises the need for entries to be returned to Esther Sweeney, 30 Lakelawns, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, by closing date of July 14th. A press conference to launch the event will take place in Luke Kearneys, Abbey Street, Ballinrobe, on Tuesday, July 13th at 8.30 p.m.
Further information from Denis Kelleher at 094-9541268 or 091-845842.
Coarse anglers are invited to attend an open competition at Oaklands Lake in New Ross, Co Wexford, on Saturday July 24th and Sunday 25th of this month. This two-day competition, held in conjunction with the Dunbrody Festival and now in its third year, is fast becoming a premier event on the angling calendar.
Oaklands has developed into a first-class fishery and boasts an excellent stock of bream, tench and carp (heaviest carp to date is 11lb 3oz). Set in tranquil surroundings alongside the river Barrow, the fishery has 60 angling stands and wheelchair accessible.
The competition is strictly pre-entry and forms must be returned before July 17th with entry fee of €60. Based on 60 pegs filled, this year's prize fund will amount to €3,100. Entries to New Ross Coarse Angling Ltd, 9 Chapel Lane, New Ross, Co Wexford. Tel: 087-6988979; 051-425196.
On a blustery day with rain and sunshine, Galway Coarse Angling Association held its sixth competition of 2004 at Castlereagh Lakes, near Irishtown, Co Mayo, yesterday week. Catches included small roach and bream to 5lb 14oz.
Results: 1, J. Hunt (Cloonfad); 2, A. Marrable (Tuam); 3, M. Daniels (Tuam). Next match is scheduled for Addragoole, Ballyquirke Lake, Moycullen, Co Galway, on Sunday, July 18th.