ANGLING NOTES:THE Government has approved a plan to restructure inland fisheries, the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Seán Power has announced.
The decision relates to the rationalisation of State agencies and will lead to savings of €300,000 annually, the Minister said.
The changes will mean the creation of a single national authority to be known as Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), with a strong regional presence aligned on the boundaries of the River Basin Districts.
Existing trout and coarse fisheries co-operative societies are to be dissolved and replaced by an advisory group linked to a national inland fisheries forum.
The new forum will provide stakeholder input into policy-making and sectoral development at both local and national level.
As the legislation evolves, the retention of offices in Galway and Ballina is to be considered.
Power said: “The decision to give priority to the drafting of the necessary legislation is welcome and I am confident the restructuring implementation group and IFI ceo-designate will ensure a smooth changeover to the new authority.”
On the Moy, the spring salmon run has started in earnest with water levels ideal for fly fishing.
The Ballina Salmon Anglers’ Fishery was the first to produce results and Pappy Marshal – as well as catching the first salmon of the season – also caught a second fish.
This was followed by a further six by four anglers.
Up-river, on the East Mayo Anglers’ Association fishery, local angler Jimmy Kilcoyne landed the first salmon from this stretch on a spinner.
With just two gates open, anglers enjoyed a terrific week on the Galway Weir. Last year the first salmon wasn’t caught until April, but this year 14 have been already been landed.
Fly-fishing has been very good over the last few days, with fresh springers for local anglers Stephen Cullinane and Seán O’Toole, for Dubliner Lorcan Buckley and Eddie Corry from Limerick.
“Hopefully another good spring run is in store,” fisheries inspector Kevin Crowley says.
Duck-fly patterns were most successful in the shallows on Lough Mask last week although the noted buzzer nymph locations are not fishing as well this year. Maurice Devane from Cavan, staying in Ballinrobe, caught and released six fish over two days fly-fishing using various size 12 duck-fly patterns.
As the lake is quite low now, anglers are requested to take extra care.
Fishing was relatively quiet on the Corrib with duck-fly hatches just beginning and fish starting to move to flies on the surface.
Good catches of hard-fighting wild brown trout to 0.5kg are reported from Callow Lakes located east of Foxford town. Boats can be hired from Tom Deasy at 094-9256266.
In association with Robert Gillespie, the Pontoon Bridge Hotel on the shores of Lough Conn, Co Mayo, is holding a special one-day angling course hosted by Michael Drinan on April 11th.
Drinan is a qualified casting instructor for both salmon and trout and won the highly coveted America Cup 2008 in Colorado. In addition, Gillespie will be on hand to assist and provide advice to participants.
The course will include entomology and fish behaviour, reading the water and leader make-up. Casting techniques will be demonstrated and the effective Czech-nymphing explained in detail.
Drinan will also provide instruction on dry fly, wet fly, streamer and his own unique style of downstream nymphing which he uses extensively on Irish rivers.
The course costs €100 per person and the hotel is offering a special BB rate of €55 per night on April 10th and 11th.
For booking details, contact John Geary at 087-821 7368 or email: jvgeary@gmail.com
angling@irishtimes.com