THE Mount Juliet Resort in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny provided the ideal venue last weekend for a gathering of angling media hacks to this magnificent 1,500-acre estate.
Mount Juliet is steeped in history. Built by the Earl of Carrick in 1745 and named after his wife, Lady Juliet, the family remained until 1914, before selling to the McCalmonts. Tim Mahony (of Toyota) acquired the estate in 1985.
Today, Mount Juliet is considered among the top 100 hotels in the world and Ballylinch Stud and equestrian centre are regarded as the finest in the country. And, of course, the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course is world class with three Irish Opens and two world championships under its belt.
The fishing is pretty good too. Just ask Denis Goulding of Irish Angler’s Digest.
Arriving at the Fisherman’s Quarters, our group of 10 is greeted by estate host Eamon Holohan and treated to hot scones and coffee. It’s now time to put theory into practice.
The rules are simple. One barbless fly, catch and release, five anglers per lake and an interchange for the morning and afternoon sessions. Beaded pheasant-tail nymphs, boobies, cats whiskers and blobs are much in evidence as the fish come fast and furious.
The two four-acre lakes are stuffed with rainbow trout. Having personally assisted in the stocking of 1,000 fish three weeks earlier, I can vouch for this.
At the end of a most enjoyable day’s fishing I’m chuffed with my 14 fish and pleased all the group have caught fish. However, I am bowled over to learn Denis has amassed 43 trout. Mathematically, this relates to one fish every five minutes!
His secret to success: “Change the fly every 15 minutes and be prepared for a long cast of 30m with a steady retrieve”. (Way out of my range, I’m afraid.)
The setting for our barbecue on the veranda outside Mr Jinks Bar of Mount Juliet House is spectacular, with the River Nore in the foreground and lovely views of the Kilkenny countryside. The barbecued trout gets five-stars.
The prizegiving follows. There’s something for everyone and the winner scoops a weekend for two at Mount Juliet, with salmon fishing thrown in. The craic agus ceol continues late into the night.
Sunday is eagerly awaited. Brian Sheeran, chief executive of the Southern Regional Fisheries Board, kindly sponsors a brown tag to those with a salmon licence, which means that anyone who catches a salmon has the option of taking it home.
David Gray (The Star); Betty Hayes (Waterlog magazine); Paddy O’Flaherty (BBC NI) and myself test most of the 12 named pools, all within a short walk of Mount Juliet House, without success. Last year the stretch produced more than 200 salmon, peaking in September.
Soon it is time to say our farewells and to reflect on a truly magnificent weekend. Thanks to Eoghan Sadlier, marketing manager, and Eamon Holohan, estate manager for the hospitality and meticulous preparation.
The Loughs Agency is organising an angling coaching qualification within the Foyle and Carlingford catchments over the next few months. Those over 18 and with three years angling experience should contact lionel.knobbs@loughs-agency.org or tel. +4402871342100.
Meanwhile, the agency, in association with Pike Anglers’ Club of Great Britain, will host a pike competition on Saturday, November 14th, at Camlough Lake, Co Armagh.
Fishmaniak, a Polish angling organisation, held an inaugural coarse competition at Lough Muckno in Castleblaney recently. The event was a great success with over 500 fish caught and released over two days. Fishmaniak is a recently established club with 35 members from the Polish community in the Monaghan area.
Fisheries inspector Paddy Greene, said: “The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board is delighted with this initiative and in particular their adoption of its catch and release conservation policy”.