ANGLING NOTES:BRIAN Whelan from Bray Outcasts Sea Angling Club landed the coveted gold medal at last weekend's master boat championships at Mullaghmore in Co Sligo. "Winning the master angler title is a dream come true," he said.
The two-day competition was hosted by the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers. It attracted 75 anglers from clubs throughout the 32 counties and included past champions.
Brian achieved straight wins over the four sessions and will captain the Irish team at next year’s world championships in Italy. The four remaining members of the team will be selected at an “international fish-off” next month.
In addition to Brian’s achievement, four Leinster anglers finished in the top 10 positions at the Mullaghmore competition and will form part of the 30 finalists in the “fish-off”. The master angler championship rotates annually and next year Ulster will host the event.
Mullaghmore proved a worthy venue, with 20 species boated including a good sprinkling of pollack, pouting, coalfish and wrasse. Each fish caught was carefully handled, recorded and returned.
Meanwhile, earlier this season Brian qualified for the Irish team to participate in the home international championships in England in 2011. “It’s been a great year for me,” he said.
Results: 1, B Whelan (Bray Outcasts); 2, H Dreier (Post Irish); 3, L O’Connor (Culdaff); 4, G Clarke (Howth); 5, A Santry (Bishopstown).
- Following the recentFlextec fly-fishing competition on Lough Lene in Co Westmeath, I received a complaint from a local farmer.
“As a farmer on the shore of that lovely lake, I am appalled by the treatment of my shore by those fishermen that weekend. Litter and abuse of property – vandalism is the only word to describe their aftermath.
“If a farmer treated his shore in such a manner he would be prosecuted. Local anglers have enjoyed the benefits of my shore for centuries with respect. Why would these visitors not do the same?”
- Inland Fisheries Ireland, Ballina, is pleased to announce that the reported catch for the 2010 season on the River Moy is now in excess of 10,000 salmon, with the Moy Fishery accounting for 1,933. This year's total to date exceeds the five-year average catch by over 20 per cent and firmly establishes the Moy as Europe's premier wild Atlantic Salmon Fishery.
- Staff of InlandFisheries Ireland, Galway, recently presented David O'Donnell of Cancer Care West with a cheque for €9,150, the proceeds of a charity rowing event. The relay marathon started at the northern end of Lough Carra and proceeded through Mask and Corrib, to finish at Woodquay in Galway City, a distance of almost 70km.
Teams of two rowed for several miles at a time before being replaced. The course took in Carra, a kayak paddle down the Keel River to Mask, another row to the outflow at the Cong Canal, then a cycle overland to Lisloughrey because the canal was dry, and the final leg to Corrib in Galway. The row was completed in eight hours 15 minutes.
Amanda Mooney of IFI (Galway), said: “It was a great achievement for the fisheries service to raise such a significant amount of sponsorship considering the times we are in. We have proudly set the bar for the next fundraiser.”
- The recent inter-provincialcompetition on Lough Corrib was a great success. Hosted by Oughterard Anglers' and Boatmen's Association and organised by Connacht Angling Council, the event attracted 63 anglers from the four provinces.
Fishing out from Oughterard Pier in 33 boats provided by the local angling club, competitors boated, recorded and released 61 trout, the longest fish reaching 57cm by Shane Callen. Results: 1, Leinster; 2, Ulster; 3, Connacht; 4, Munster.
- angling@irishtimes.com