A raft of changes to the rod licensing system in Wales will come into force in March of 2017. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) listened to a wide range of anglers, partners and interested organisations to ensure the new prices and products meet customer needs.
Junior anglers are set to benefit from a free rod licence, and carp and specimen anglers will only need one licence for three rods used, rather than two as currently required.
A new rolling rod licence will last for 365 days rather than for a fixed period between April-March and occasional anglers can upgrade from a one- or eight-day licence to a full licence with the price of the aforementioned days deducted.
As part of the changes, there will be some small increases to standard charges – for example, a coarse fishing licence will rise to £30 (€34) from £27 (€30). This is the first time a rod licence has increased since 2010.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Leslie Griffiths said: "This shake-up is great news for anglers across Wales. With 100 per cent of the licence fee going back into managing the fisheries, the changes announced today will help secure a sustainable future of the sport in Wales.
“We were keen to see a free junior licence introduced in order to remove a significant barrier to participation for young people considering taking up the sport.”
Fishing memoir
Rocky Mountain Books have announced the release of
Casting Back: Sixty Years of Fishing and Writing
by Peter McMullan. Covering a span of more than 60 years, these fishing essays are brought together to celebrate the adventures of an angler and storyteller as he fishes some of the streams of
Ireland
,
New Zealand
and
British Columbia
in
Canada
.
Through the pages, McMullan takes the reader from his Irish beginnings in the 1940s to his time as a journalist in Northern Ireland, through the 1960s and into today's western Canada and a different sport-fishing environment.
Pike, bream, roach, tench and perch were his original targets. Then, with the passage of time, came brown trout and Atlantic salmon. Moving from Northern Ireland to British Columbia brought a new dimension to his fishing life, as there were now Pacific salmon and steelhead to be caught in rivers too numerous to name.
Casting Back: Sixty Years of Fishing and Writing by Peter McMullan. Release date: October 2016. Paperback $25 (€22.67).
Spey-casting techniques
For those who wish to learn or improve their double- and single-hand spey-casting techniques, then
Annamoe
Trout Fishery in Co
Wicklow
is the place to be on Saturday, November 19th.
Well known APGAI and FFF casting instructor Paddy McDonnell will host a workshop on salmon fishing at the highest level. As spaces are limited, it is advisable to book without delay to Brian Nally, 086-259 8563.
Note: The third heat in the winter league at Annamoe will take place next Saturday.
Company fined €10,000
At a recent sitting of
Clonakilty
District Court, Keohane
Readymix
Limited pleaded guilty in respect of a discharge to waters of the Argideen River at
Fourcuil
, Clonakilty Co. Cork. The company was ordered to pay more than €10,000 by Judge McNulty.
The court heard how a breach in a settlement pond at a sand and gravel washing site caused a significant overflow of waste water carrying suspended solids into the Argideen River.
IFI director Sean Long, said: "We urge landowners and businesses to remain vigilant and to employ robust management systems to prevent incidents which can have a serious impact on our wild fish and their natural habitat."
Schools’ competition
The Waterways Ireland-Shakespeare NI Schools’ Coarse Angling Competition took place last weekend in
Portglenone
on the
Lower River
Bann. Organised by
Ulster
Coarse Fishing Federation
, the event was sponsored by
Waterways Ireland
, Irish Bait and Tackle, and Mid-Ulster District Council.
Conditions were excellent with mild weather and the river at summer level. Tactics were determined by experience, those new to the sport fished the pole while the more experienced chose feeder tactics. Best weight on the day was 8.580kg by Paul Cunningham from Coleraine Grammar School using pole to hand method.
A panel of coaches were available throughout the day to ensure competitors had a fair opportunity to catch fish. Weights were up on last year with almost all anglers catching roach, gudgeon, perch and small hybrids.
The 2017 competition will be held on Saturday, October 21st, with registration available from May. Contact ulstersecretary@ncffi.ie.
Feeder method
The popularity of the feeder method led to a junior championship in 2015 for this fast growing discipline. This year two new categories were introduced for the U-25 and U-15’s in accordance with FIPS-ed rules.
Seventeen juniors attended the second event on Lough Sillan and each competitor caught nets of small roach at the caravan park close to Shercock, Co Cavan.
In sympathy
The Garda Trout and Salmon Anglers are deeply saddened to learn of the death of
Joe Sharry
. As a stalwart member of the club, he will be remembered by all that knew him for the enjoyment he brought to conversations and gatherings.
Deepest sympathy is extended to his wife Bernie, family and friends.
angling@irishtimes.com
