ANGLING NOTES:IN RECENT YEARS I have regularly fished Ireland's brown trout lake fisheries. I find it fascinating, and enjoy the anticipation of a good day's fishing, even if I only achieve moderate success.
Of course, it's not all about catching a bag of fish. The satisfaction of choosing suitable flies, the hum of the outboard engine, relaxing over lunch on a nearby island and taking in the surrounding countryside are more important to me than catching fish. In my book, the brown trout is a beautiful animal and one we should be proud of in Ireland.
I would be first to admit I know little about the biology and ecology of the brown trout. I am aware that recent intense agriculture practices and the spread of non-native aquatic plants, invertebrates and fish have exerted undue pressure on our native brown trout stocks.
I was delighted to receive a copy of Brown Trout in Ireland by Dr Martin O'Grady, with contributions from Myles Kelly and Shane O'Reilly. This book is not about angling per se but goes behind the scenes to explain the situation on wild brown lake trout as seen by one of Ireland's most eminent senior research officers and his team with the Central Fisheries Board (CFB).
Brilliant images depict variation in pigmentation patterns from 30 rivers/lakes across 13 catchments. We learn that many Irish lake trout, once they mature at four years, spawn only every second year and can produce 1,200 eggs per kilo of body weight.
At fry stage most trout die before their first birthday and provide a valuable food source for perch, eels and small pike. The adult trout, particularly at spawning time, is vulnerable in small streams to otters, herons and mink.
Chapter 8 describes Loughs Ennell and Owel as different as chalk and cheese. Many trout-spawning streams and nursery areas discharge into Ennell, ensuring self-sufficient stock recruitment. In contrast, Owel, unless stocked annually, would cease as a trout fishery because it has so few feeder streams.
Hatchery brown trout released into lakes that support wild trout failed to survive. In Lough Inchiquin, Co Clare, over 30,000 hatchery fish were released over a period of three years. Apart from some larger fish, all disappeared. Evidence shows they were not caught by anglers, and predation by pike and cormorants were limited. Daily counts on cormorant numbers were recorded on three lakes for a three-week period. It was observed that, on average, they consumed 10 stocked trout per bird per day in the week after stocking.
Brown Trout in Ireland is a splendid publication packed with in-depth knowledge, magnificent photography and diagrams. It is published by the CFB and funded by CFB and Regional Fisheries Boards' National Research Programme. The book may be obtained from CFB headquarters and costs €25 plus P&P. Tel: 01-8842600 or www.cfb.ie
Salmon and trout anglers wishing to improve their casting techniques are in for a treat. On Sunday February 1st, Southside Angling in conjunction with Dublin Angling Initiative (DAI) are holding a casting clinic at UCD Rowing Club on the River Liffey at Islandbridge, Dublin.
Paddy McDonnell of ZPEY a qualified APGAI and FFF instructor, will be demonstrating spey casting with modern shooting head lines and single-handed casting. The event is free of charge; however, spaces will be limited to a first-come first-served basis. A number of junior places will also be available for those who attended DAI courses.
Proceedings get underway at 10.45 am in the car park of the rowing club and participants are asked to bring their fly rods, reels and lines, and a packed lunch. Leaders and wool will be provided. To register, contact Des Chew on 087-6740214 by Tuesday January 20th.
In biting cold conditions last Sunday week, over 40 anglers turned out for a fundraising competition on Courtown's North Beach, Co Wexford. The event was hosted by Sea Angling Ireland and Courtown Angling and raised over €1,100 for the RNLI.
Results: 1, Simon Anglim; 2, Martin Howlin; 3, Dennis Brock.
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