ANGLING NOTES:WITH THE growth in the number of put-and-take fisheries in this country, it is now possible to continue the art of fly-fishing all year round. Almost all counties have at least one fishery up and running – indeed, in Co Wicklow there are four facilities, each providing excellent rainbow fishing.
While the Fisheries Act of 1959 calls for a close season on brown trout to allow for spawning fish – usually from October to February each year – it is assumed rainbows do not breed and therefore a close season is not required.
Orders are placed with fish farms for stocking purposes and fish are delivered to the various fisheries. Here, they quickly become acquainted with their new environment and provide excellent sport for the discerning angler.
The entire enterprise is run on a commercial basis and a fee is required for the use of the facility plus a nominal charge to catch and take fish. Fishing lodges, for light refreshments and toilet facilities, are readily available and advice on fishing is always at hand.
While put-and-take fisheries may not appeal to all “brown trout” anglers, it is heartening to see many using the facilities, particularly in the close season. Indeed, angling clubs regularly block-book these venues for outings and Christmas get-togethers.
One such facility is at Killeen Castle in Dunsany, Co Meath. Renowned for its magnificent Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, which will be the venue for the 2011 Solheim Cup, the 600-acre estate is soon to be complemented by a luxury hotel and spa.
It was here last Wednesday, along with angling colleague Denis Coghlan, that I spent a pleasant day with estate manager Seán McManmon. As a former Irish international coach and fly-fishing champion, he brings a wealth of experience to this top-class angling facility.
Killeen has seven lakes, four of which are stocked with browns and rainbows, and McManmon intends to include land-locked salmon and pike in the remainder, with fly-fishing to the fore.
Each lake is set on a limestone base and fed from wells with aerated pumps. “This makes the fish extremely productive and trout introduced at one-year-old have thrived in their new surroundings and now weigh up to 3.6kg [8lb],” he says.
In near zero temperatures, our morning session on the North Lake produced four cracking rainbows to about 2.7kg (5lb) on Montana lures. After lunch, our curtailed session on Lake Seven yielded a further six, with several lost on the barbless hook.
Fishing at Killeen is a joy. Apart from spectacular surroundings and facilities, the lakes offer one of the finest angling facilities in the country.
For reservations, contact Jackie at 01-6893000 or email: info@killeencastle.com.
- A high-levelProject Advisory Group (PAG), chaired by Dr Ciaran O'Keefe of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, met recently at the Central Fisheries Board headquarters in Dublin.
Those attending received a progress report on the €1.5m EU Life+ project, which aims to prevent the further loss of native Irish aquatic plants and habitat caused by the introduction of invasive non-native plants, animals and fish.
The group is made up of experts from a wide range of organisations and is expected to provide advice on technical issues that might arise during the implementation of the project.
Support will be forthcoming on issues relating to legislation and policies and will include a series of meetings with stakeholders. An education and awareness programme is also planned.
The fisheries board will manage the project with assistance from the PAG and the three areas to be targeted initially are Lough Corrib, Grand Canal and the Barrow Navigation. The project will run until April 2013.