AN EU Commission proposal for a comprehensive prohibition on commercial fishing for bass in the Irish and Celtic Seas has been welcomed by the Minister for the Marine, Simon Coveney.
Scientific advice for bass is very worrying and we must do our utmost to protect this stock. Ireland has been to the forefront in being the only EU state to afford maximum protection and this proposal will enhance that protection by making the Irish model obligatory, the Minister says.
Once the measures are approved by the Council of Ministers, all commercial fishing for bass will be prohibited in Irish waters.
The Minister says: “Ireland has had stringent measures in place for the protection of bass for a long number of years. However, those measures only applied to Irish vessels. I am delighted that the EU finally recognises the lead taken by Ireland by extending our ban on commercial fishing to all EU vessels operating in the waters around Ireland.”
Late Lough Sheelin
The mayfly and whitethorn are now in full bloom and the annual surge of anglers to their favourite lakes and rivers is well and truly under way. Although Sheelin, as expected, is still a little behind. Certainly last Wednesday hatches were sporadic, hopefully it’s the calm before the storm.
Lough Conn promising
On Conn, it was a week of squalls and cold winds but anglers braved the elements for the promise of serious trout angling. There appears to have been a “return to form” witnessed of late and trout fishing has exceeded all expectations.
The Garda AC two-day competition returned some encouraging results. The winner was Mick Bradley from Galway with six fish for 8.5lbs. Best fish of 3.5lb was caught by Gerry Feeney. Excellent hatches of mayfly were reported from Flannery’s south to Massbrook Point.
Thomas Flanagan and Brian Thompson from Enniskillen had six trout each on dry mayfly around Annagh Island. Paddy Murphy and Gerard Tiernan, of Co Cavan, boated seven averaging 1.25 lbs. in Cloghans Bay.
River by night
Following their successful Match the Hatch courses, Ken Whelan and Jason O’Riordan are planning a river and night fishing sea trout course for July 11th. This event will be held on a premier, east coast fishery and include both classroom and river bank components.
The course will run from 2pm into darkness. An evening meal will be provided and accommodation is available for those wishing to fish throughout the hours of darkness! Participants will receive a boxed selection of six recommended sea trout flies.
A range of Denis O'Toole's sea trout flies, as displayed in Ken's recent book Nomads of the Tides, will be available for purchase. The cost of the course is €200pp (excl. accommodation). See also: ken@kenwhelan.info or joriordan0@gmail.com.
World Masters Fly Fishing
The Trout Anglers’ Federation of Ireland (Tafi) has announced that Connaught council will host the Fips- Mouche World Masters Fly Fishing Championships from June 13th to 19th. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the unrivalled wild brown trout fishing and beauty that Ireland has on offer and in particular the west of Ireland,” a Tafi spokesman says.
Waterways Classic
The 40th Waterways Ireland Classic reached its grand finale last weekend with Stuart Northrop from St Neots victorious with a catch over the three days of 44kgs 60gms. His 27kgs 960gms catch from the Portora section on finals day clinched him the title along with £5,000 (€4.5k) and the coveted crystal chalice.
Some very good weights were recorded from Boa Island on Lower Lough Erne to Corradillar on the upper lake.
The Classic is sponsored by Waterways Ireland with support from Daiwa, and organised by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
angling@irishtimes.com
