AFTER MY RECENT visit to the west - to primarily assess the effects of the commercial drift-netting ban on salmon stocks - I can report that there has been a significant improvement in the quality and quantity of salmon returning to their rivers.
We are now almost two years into the ban and already fisheries managers are experiencing greater runs, an absence of net marks and a typically more plump, rounded salmon.
Also of interest are the very large salmon arriving in our rivers this year. Earlier this month, a salmon of 11kg was caught on Lough Melvin, and two weeks ago the River Bandon in Cork produced a fish of 12.5kg, the biggest salmon caught in Ireland since 1991. Anglers, too, are beginning to regain confidence, returning to their favourite rivers with reasonable expectations of catching a fish. Some hoteliers and guesthouses report an upsurge in bookings this season - a welcomed rejuvenation after the ominous predictions of two years ago.
Of course, it will take perhaps another two years before we can safely say our rivers are back to sustainable levels and that salmon angling has returned to pre-driftnetting days. However, our hosts, Fáilte Ireland, can confidently begin to redevelop the domestic and overseas market in salmon angling with the assurance that a remarkable revival is indeed under way.
My first port of call was the Galway Weir. Fisheries manager Seamus Hartigan was in jubilant mood, as the Weir is enjoying one of its best run of salmon for years. Last week alone, 143 fish were landed, mostly grilse up to 3kg. Fly accounted for 82. "We are fully booked up to end of August," he said.
The magnificent new Fisheries Board offices overlooking the weir are due to open next month. The underwater camera on display shows the salmon prior to ascending the fish pass. This spectacular feat of technology is available live on the internet at www.wrfb.ie/fishcam.php. The advice is not to stay all day watching, as there is a bandwidth limit of 10 simultaneous users. PS: It is my intention over the next two weeks to profile the fishing houses and salmon fisheries I visited on my tour of the west.
• It is World Cup time again as anglers gear up for the biggest event of the year. Ballinrobe, in Co Mayo, will come alive as the town welcomes hundreds of anglers from around the world, all eager to lift the coveted title of World Cup Trout Fly-fishing Champion.
Cushlough Bay, on the shores of Lough Mask, will take centre-stage as anglers take to the waters of this great lake in an attempt to entice the wild brown trout to the fly. Now in its 51st year, the five-day festival continues to grow in stature with its glittering array of prizes including an Anglers' Fancy lake boat presented by Burke Boats.
Last year, Brendan Moran from Kells, Co Meath, became the third angler to lift the title for the second time - the other two being local man Robbie O'Grady and Derry Ryan from Carlow. The first heat gets under way on July 31st, with the final on August 4th.
Competitors should note that a limit on the numbers participating will apply this year and prizegiving will take place at Cushlough immediately after weigh-in on Monday evening, thus enabling prizewinners to depart earlier than heretofore. The Railway Inn Carvery in Ballinrobe will take care of catering throughout the festival.
The committee wishes the World Cup Patron, Msgr T Shannon, PP Ballinrobe, a long and happy life in his forthcoming retirement. The Monsignor has welcomed thousands of anglers to Lough Mask in his opening addresses of the competition.
• Castlebar Anglers Association is holding a Millennium Cup Competition on Lough Mask on July 27th. Registration will be at Harringtons, Partry, from 9.30am, in time for fishing at 11am. Fly-fishing only is permitted and anglers are required to make their own boating arrangements. Entry fee is €20.
• The winner of The Irish Times/Jimmy Tyrrell's Flycraft lough and river flies is Tim Sheridan, Hermitage, Crossdoney, Co Cavan, who cited haddock as the odd one out.