ANGLING NOTES:SALMON fishing over the past few weeks has been fantastic at Ballynahinch with above-average numbers of fish taken throughout the Castle Stretch, according to fishery manager Simon Ashe. "If we have a good September, there is no reason why we will not have our best season in over 20 years," he says.
Consistent high water has dispersed fish throughout the river and the seal barriers, attached to the old eel traps on Beat Seven, have insured there is no seal predation on the lower beats this season.
Sna Beg is fishing fabulously, particularly above the footbridge, as well as Beats One, Four and Six. The catch of the period went to local guide Jonathan Broderick, who took a fresh salmon of 5kg (11lb) from the neck of Beat Six on a Holo Cascade.
“Along with Lough Inagh fishery, due to have its best season for salmon ever, there is no question that the drift-net ban some four years ago is having a positive impact on stocks. This bodes very well for future years,” he says.
With unsettled weather due to return, the great year at Ballynahinch looks set to continue throughout September. For bookings, contact 095-31006 or info@ballynahinch-castle.com.
The LoughsAgency in Northern Ireland reports a total of 32 salmon from the Upper Mourne River in the Abercorn Estate with the majority falling in the Snaa Pool.
Anglingon the Moy slowed down slightly, with 385 salmon reported for the week. The continuing unsettled weather and fluctuating water levels favoured the fisheries upstream of the weir in Ballina.
Followingscientific advice supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Minister for Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, has introduced a new bylaw to reopen the sea-trout season on Lough Currane, Waterville, Co Kerry, until October 12th of each year.
The bylaw is due to an application made earlier this year by Waterville Fisheries Development Group and came into effect from August 30th. “We lobbied hard to have the season extended,” a spokesman says.
The bylaw will see the annual close season for angling for sea trout reduced from the period October 13th to January 16th in the following year.
The season had in the past been open until the 12th. However, because of stock-level problems, a decision was made more than 20 years ago to close the fishery 12 days earlier.
Happily, today, marine scientists are satisfied that stocks have recovered and the extension will not be detrimental to the fish.
While the bylaw does not state catch-and-release, the Waterford fishery will be advocating that all fish are returned. Fly fishing will, of course, apply.
Fancybecoming a freshwater detective? Read on . . . Prof Ken Whelan is organising a series of courses on Ireland's freshwater resources during October and November at UCD Adult Education Centre, Belfield, Dublin.
Over a series of six talks and three field visits, the course will examine Ireland’s rich abundance of rivers and lakes and explore its sources, origin and contribution to biological diversity.
Students will also learn the basics of becoming a freshwater detective by identifying insects and fish; the ability to read a river or lake shore and the importance of the resource for the landscape and humans.
Details of courses: Six Mondays at Belfield starting October 17th (7.30-9.30pm). Grand Canal, Portobello, Saturday, November 5th, 10am-noon; Dodder, Rathfarnham, Saturday November 19th, 10am-1pm; Bray Aquarium (€7 entry), Saturday, November 26th, 10am-1pm.
Entry fee is €175. Contact 01-7167123.
LucanResource and Outreach Centre in association with the Irish Wheelchair Association and Waterways Ireland is holding a Lucan Roc Fishing Competition this Thursday from 11am to 2pm on the Grand Canal 12th Lock, Lucan, Co Dublin.