Angling Notes: Last week was something of an anti-climax as the high pressure brought soaring temperatures, bright sunshine and light winds - not at all conducive to good trout angling.
In addition, mayfly hatches were not as prolific as expected. Consequently, buzzer and olive patterns predominated. That said, the break in the weather and mild weather set to continue should result in improved midday fishing in more overcast conditions.
On Mask, most of the 346 fish caught by 134 anglers fell to wet and dry fly patterns. Greg O'Donohue (Dublin) had 20 trout for the week, best 4½lb, and four Northern Ireland anglers, staying at Hall's Angling Centre, took 48 trout for 50lb, over five days.
Good mayfly sightings early in the week on Conn resulted in 177 trout, with many undersized fish returned. Most fish came to dry mayfly patterns with little success to wet fly. Philomena Reynolds, Longford, was credited with the heaviest trout of 8½lb while trolling for salmon.
The good weather paid dividends for sea trout enthusiasts at the Moy estuary. Over the past two weeks, 40 rods recorded 152 sea trout. Golfer Nick Faldo, Ian Forsyth and Judd Ruane had 13, six taken on fly. A party of eight French anglers recorded 45 in one day, all on bait.
Fisherman's Village will take centre stage at the Fifth National Country Fair at Emo Court, Emo, Co Laois, over next weekend's June bank holiday. Angling enthusiasts will encounter Ireland's leading game exhibition with demonstrations, displays and events certain to appeal to all.
Returning favourites, world fly-casting champion Peter Anderson and wildlife artist and angling journalist Charles Jardine along with the acclaimed Irish duo of Trotter and Bell, will demonstrate casting skills along with a cast of angling personalities.
The 25-acre lake at Emo Court will host numerous casting competitions over the two days with an impressive 15,000 prize fund, ranging from quality fishing tackle to weekend breaks on Ireland's premier fisheries. In particular, the International Open Spey Casting Championship, with a purse of €3,000, is sure to be keenly contested.
In addition to all this, angling instructor Brendan Begley will coordinate his customary "have a go" daily trout and salmon accuracy and distance competitions. Betty Hayes will host the hugely successful Fisherman's Forum and the Irish Casting Association will administer the National Fly Casting Championships.
"The Fair is not just for the specialist, it is also a family day out with a variety of entertainment and exciting events taking place over the two days," says director Margaret Edgill.
Emo Court is six miles north of Portlaoise on the N6 (Kildare to Portlaoise road) and 4½ miles from Portarlington train station. For more information, visit www.countryfair.ie
The recent South East Salmon Federation (SESF) meeting in Kilkenny was a great success with over 90 attending including EU Green Party candidate Mary White, and Emmett Stagg of the Labour Party.
The meeting backed the SESF to focus on the removal of drift nets from around the coastline and to canvass the cause in the elections. In addition, the SESF will have a presence at the National Country Fair in Emo Court this weekend.
"We are exploring the possibility of a complaint to the EU because we cannot protect our salmon under the Special Areas of Conservation legislation due to pressure on stocks from drift nets," says SESF member Bob Wemyss.
East coast angling clubs and anglers supportive of the SESF initiative are asked to contact Wemyss at 087-251 2562.
Blackwater Lodge Salmon Fisheries at Upper Ballyduff, Co Waterford, seek live-in job opportunities for a commis chef, bar person and accommodation/restaurant assistant. Free salmon fishing on the river Blackwater is included with the positions. Contact Glenda Powell at the Lodge on 058-60235 or e-mail: info@ireland-salmon-fishing.net
Galway Coarse Angling Association held its fourth competition of 2004 at the joinery stretch of Ballyquirke Lake, near Moycullen, Co Galway, recently. While conditions were good, fishing was poor due to preoccupation with spawning. Keepnets consisted mainly of small bream and roach and one perch of 700gr.
Results: 1, C. Hughes (Cloonboo), 3kg 400gr; 2, M. Flannery (Galway City), 1kg 230gr; 3, S. Dunne (Roscommon), 1kg. Next competition is scheduled for Sunday, June 6th, at the same venue.
Results of recent coarse angling competition held at Oaklands Fishery, New Ross, Co Wexford: 1, M. Holmes (Carlow), 48lb 9oz; 2, G. Waite (Bristol), 25lb 13oz; 3, D. Murphy (Carlow), 18lb 12oz. Heaviest carp from fishery to date, weighed in at 11lb 3oz.
E-mail: angling@irish-times.ie