ANGLING NOTES:VICTORIA Bay proved the winning location at this year's end-of-season fly-fishing competition on Lough Conn. Most of the 30 trout and two salmon recorded derived from this sheltered sandy bay.
Hosted by Pontoon Bridge Hotel, the event attracted 54 anglers from Ireland, England, Scotland and the US, and produced the best fishing since the competition was revived four years ago.
From early morning the harbour area at Pontoon became a hive of activity with anglers and boatmen all in upbeat mood. Conditions were ideal with plenty of cloud cover and a soft north-easterly breeze.
Local boatman, Ian Wyse made a wise decision to steer for Victoria Bay. It was here his angler, Nick Crispin, from Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, managed four good trout and a grilse for a total length of 167cm.
“I have been coming to Pontoon Bridge Hotel for 25 years and this is my first big win. For a change, I tried an unorthodox cast of a Marabou red and black lure. The fish certainly liked it,” he said.
For his efforts, Nick won both the Pontoon Bridge Hotel heaviest catch and heaviest fish cups. In addition, he collected a fabulous crystal cut decanter and glass set and weekend away for two at the Select Hotels of Ireland.
Monaghan solicitor Dan Gormley also found success in the bay with four fish for 106cm that secured him a Scierra rod from Tiernan Brothers of Foxford and a day on the Ridge Pool by Inland Fisheries Ireland-Ballina. “The fish came on in two 20-minute bursts and I missed about 10,” he said.
I teamed with Denis Coghlan and together we were fortunate to draw perhaps the best ghillie on Conn and possibly the best in Ireland, Padraic Kelly. The word was out that one boat caught nine fish the previous day at Massbrook Point.
“Put a Daddy on the top dropper to create a splash, a Green Peter and Claret Dabbler on the point,” Padraic said confidently.
Unfortunately, the wind had changed direction and this feature made all the difference between success and failure. Nevertheless, we missed nine fish – easily enough chances to win. Perhaps next year.
More than 130 people attended the fishing banquet that evening to mark the celebrations and an end to another fishing season. I met “Tommy the Hat” (Tom Ketterick), now 97 years of age and still a regular out on the lakes.
There, too, was Brendan O’Kelly, aged 89, from New York. “I have been coming to Pontoon for about 40 years. I love it here,” he said.
Pontoon Bridge is a family-run hotel with fabulous lakeside views and where the emphasis is on relaxing. Details 094-925 6120 or relax@pontoonbridge.com
- Concerns over thevalidity of the new British rudd record of 2.3kg (5lbs 2ozs) have been expressed due to the poor quality of the photograph provided which obscures key identifying features.
The Irish Specimen Fish Committee (ISFC), together with Dr Stefano Mariani’s team at UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, has forged ahead with genetic identification of specimen cyprinids, shad and smoothound, using a scale or small piece of tissue to provide identification and supported by pictorial evidence.
To ensure all specimen claims for these fish are processed in time for inclusion in the 2010 specimen report, the ISFC requests that all claims and biological samples are forwarded to ISFC, Swords Business Campus, Balheary Road, Swords, Co Dublin, by this coming Friday.
angling@irishtimes.com