FOLLOWING ON FROM my recent assessment of the post-driftnetting ban on Irish rivers, I travel North to the River Mourne at Baronscourt Estate, near Newtownstewart, Omagh, Co Tyrone.
Baronscourt is situated at the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains and home to the Abercorn family since 1612. The estate prides itself on outstanding natural beauty and spectacular walks, and its rare Japanese Sika deer received the Laurent Perrier Award for wild game conservation.
Over coffee in Baronscourt, I meet James Hamilton, the Fifth Duke of Abercorn and his son Lord "Jamie" Hamilton to discuss the salmon situation on the Mourne and surrounding Foyle catchment area. The Mourne is under the jurisdiction of the Loughs Agency.
While the prospect of an increased run of salmon as a spill-over from the driftnetting ban in the South are good, on my visit I find there is little evidence of it yet.
In fact, concern is expressed to me as to the actions of the 28 draft (drift) licensed netsmen operating in the Foyle Estuary. The extension to the commercial season this year is also a cause of concern to the angling fraternity and the impact on salmon returning to spawn.
The log book shows 50 fish landed so far this season on Baronscourt water, however, for the same period last year, the figure was similar. A late run of grilse, an unexplained feature throughout Irish rivers, could be an explanation for the downturn in numbers in mid-July.
The estate has private access to two miles of river and four beats with 20 named pools, including the Snaa, Half Water and Blackstone. Fishing is divided into two rods per beat, rotating on a half-day basis, and let on a weekly permit that includes accommodation at Baronscourt.
"Put up a Jock Scott Waddington Shrimp fly," resident ghillie Ian Caldwell says, as I begin my descent along the famous Snaa Pool, where just last Thursday saw the landing of a magnificent 5.5k salmon. Casting into the known holding bays along the beat, I see numerous salmon jump close by and get one "nip" but no "gripper". Later, at the Blackstone Beat, I switch to my favourite fly, the Cascade, and again, meet several salmon without full contact. This beat is one of outstanding fly-water and an oasis of peace and tranquillity.
For further information on the fishery and accommodation, tel, 0044 (0) 2881661683 or e-mail info@barons-court.com
• Lough Inagh angling manager Colin Folan is delighted to report that the rain he so desperately prayed for has come in great quantity. "We have a full flood at present and hordes of fish are entering Inagh. The lake is high at the moment and as soon as it falls there will be fantastic sport," he says.
There are five boats for hire and four river beats (ghillies available on request). Bookings: Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel, tel, 095-34706 or inagh@iol.ie
Ireland's Youth Fly-Fishing team made full use of home territory to record a memorable victory in this year's international competition on Lough Conn. The event was hosted by the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association and included teams from Wales, Scotland, England and Ireland.
• Lough Conn fished very well preceding the competition with the Irish team releasing 37 fish on practice day. However, on competition day blustery conditions made fishing difficult resulting in a catch of 20 fish for the 56 anglers.
Shane Bird was top Irish rod and, with Ben Moore, Luke O'Connell and Dylan Olin, retain their place for next year's competition in Wales. Paul Rush had already qualified.
More than 200 people attended the official dinner and presentation in Pontoon Bridge Hotel. Results: 1, Ireland, 6 fish, 3.399kg; 2, Wales, 5f, 2.185kg; 3, Scotland, 5f, 2.175kg; 4, England, 4f, 1.78kg.
• Some 20 fisheries board staff recently took part in a retirement course in Athlone. The three-day seminar was organised by Dympna Jennings and Tracy Woods on behalf of the central and regional fisheries boards.
"These people were the backbone of fisheries since the 1960s and 1970s and became the nucleus of the regional boards and central fisheries board. I worked with every one of them at some time or other," says retired western fisheries inspector, Danny Goldrick.