ANGLING NOTES:THE Kerry Care Foundation is the main recipient of last Sunday's charity fly-fishing competition on Lough Lein in Killarney, Co Kerry. Accepting a cheque for €7,500, Louis Collier, representing the foundation, said he is overwhelmed with the generosity that arises from the competition.
Now in its 20th year, with a different charity each year, more than €160,000 has been raised for charities in Kerry. “We are a voluntary organisation and run a clinic each Wednesday for people with serious ailments. This money will go a long way to continue our care for the sick,” Collier says.
The boat moorings at Ross Castle are a hive of activity as Tim O’Sullivan and Corry O’Flaherty check-in 114 fired-up competitors. Outboard engines, petrol tanks, fishing gear and Kelly kettles are loaded onto the 60 boats, while the jarvies are busy with tourists in the nearby car park.
I am paired with John O’Sullivan, a much respected angler and tackle dealer in Kanturk, Co Cork. “There are reports of good fishing in the Sandy Bay and Lake Hotel area, so we’ll give that a try,” he says. Since he has fished Lein for 30 years, who am I to disagree?
Wind makes it far from ideal, yet I feel confident with my cast of four – Black and Peacock Spider, Connemara Black, Watson’s Fancy and Soldier Palmer. Soon we are both into trout – two, three, four, all under the 11-inch minimum requirement, alas. We lose count of salmon smolts eager to sample our flies.
At the weigh-in, Thomas O’Connor presents eight fish, sufficient to win the competition comprehensively. As a member of Upper Blackwater Anglers’ Association, he hails from Knocknagree in Co Cork. “I fished buzzers all day in Bog Bay,” he says.
Lough Lein is a magnificent lake with an excellent stock of wild brown trout (and salmon) and is equally famous worldwide for its spellbinding mountain scenery. Thanks to Mel McKenna for tying a selection of flies for the occasion. Mel runs a fly-tying class in Whitechurch each Monday.
-Newport House opened at Easter. Fishing has been light with eight salmon taken to date. Jonathan Murray had two, one of 5.9kg (13lb), on his own Yellow and Gold Beltra fly. Both were returned. Water levels on Beltra and Newport River are currently good. Free fishing is available on river to resident guests until end of April. Contact 098-41222 and Info@newporthouse.ie
-The Drowes in Co Leitrim fished very well last week with the arrival of early grilse that produced 18 salmon. With continued high pressure and a little rain, prospects look good for the week. Contact 071-984 1055.
-An information meeting on curly water weed ( Lagarosiphon major) will be held tomorrow evening in Menlo Park Hotel, Galway at 6.30pm. Hear from experts how you can stop the problem spreading. Also, on Wednesday evening a meeting will take place in Tullamore Court Hotel, Co Offaly, at 6.30pm on how invasive species are causing damage in the Grand Canal and Barrow. Experts from the central fisheries board will be present.
-The Central Fisheries Board, in Swords, Co Dublin, is shortlisted for an O2 award in accessibility. The award recognises organisations that treat disability and diversity as assets. Winners will be announced next month.
-The Irish Ladies' Flyfishing Association held its second trial on Lough Melvin last Saturday week to represent Ireland at the home international championships on Bewel Water, Kent in England next year.
Susan Brown and Julie Gerry opted for Maguire’s Island at Dolan’s Bay and soon found fish, albeit small ones while Madeleine Kelly and Mary McKee ventured to the shallower water of Kinlough Bay. By mid afternoon they decided on a drift off Roosky. Here Madeleine caught a nice sonaghan that was swiftly measured and returned.
Results: 1, Julie Gerry (two gillaroo, 69cm); 2, Madeleine Kelly, (one sonaghan, 29cm). See irishladiesflyfishing.com or Julie at 087-2055 094.
angling@irishtimes.com