ANGLING NOTES:STUART LYON has a long-standing affection with the Emerald Isle. Each year he travels from Scotland with his wife Wendy to the west of Ireland and, in particular, to Pontoon Bridge Hotel and Lough Conn in Co Mayo to enjoy the magnificent scenery and attempts to capture the elusive wild trout.
They are a shining example of tourists who have made Pontoon their second home and simply love the place. Stuart, attired in kilt and sporran, revels in tales of monster trout and fresh silver flanked salmon that abounds at the “bar”.
In the hotel magazine, he writes: “I envy those who live their lives by the shores of Lough Conn; those whose waking eyes are filled each morning by its ever changing splendour – they have all that man should ever desire.”
Last weekend Stuart formed part of a large gathering for the annual end-of-season competition. Revived after a lapse of 20 years and now in its third year, the spirit of the event is friendly, more a time to renew old acquaintances and forge new friends.
Conditions were ideal with good cloud cover as 59 anglers, paired in 30 boats, set out with hopes of a good day’s fishing. After all, word had it two Welsh anglers had caught and released over 35 trout during the week!
While most boats headed for Victoria Bay and Colman’s Shallows with reasonable success the real action focused on Brackwansha where boatman Ronnie Maycock brought in the winning duo of Michael Shanks and Peter Byrne, each with three fish.
In total, 17 fish were caught, recorded and released by 10 anglers with some missing out on big fish and one lady angler losing a double-figure salmon after an epic struggle.
The banquet dinner in the Connaught Room was eagerly awaited with over 130 in attendance to mark the celebrations and bring to a conclusion yet another fishing season. Stuart Lyon opened proceedings with grace.
Award winning Newport black pudding served with organic apple compote and followed by escalope of Clare Island Atlantic organic salmon complemented with classic hollandaise sauce formed the basis of a mouth-watering dinner.
Our host, John Geary, paid tribute to all who had supported the event, especially those who had travelled from England, Scotland, Holland and Spain and one competitor from Kuala Lumpur.
The competition was instituted in the 1960s by Derek Wills and down through the years had seen some great characters, such as local boatmen Dessie and Eugene Burke. “There are even 20-30 ashes of anglers scattered on Conn over the years,” he said.
Results: 1, M Shanks (Irish Angler), 3 trout, 103cm; 2, P Byrne (Castlebar), 3f, 102cm; 3, J Makin (London), 2f, 63cm; 4, S O’Dea (Donegal Fly Company), 2f, 55cm; 5, M Flanagan (Sunday World), 2f, 54cm. Best boatman: R Maycock (Monaghan/Foxford).
Meanwhile, a short journey from Pontoon I revisited Cloongee Fishery on the Moy and to meet angling guide John Ruane. Last month, the river was in flood and unsuitable for fishing. However, this time round it was ideal for fly fishing.
“We’ll try the Bridge Pool at the head of the Cullen River,” he said. We saw several salmon rising and soon I got that magical pull and my double-handed rod bent double. It was a good salmon of 4.1kg (9lb) and slightly coloured. The fish was released.
The afternoon sessions on Beat 1 Upper at Madden’s Pool and McGowan’s Pool produced some “hefty chucks” but without full contact. Interestingly, the freshwater mussel that abound in the river were covered in Zebra mussel. Not a good sign!
To find out more about Cloongee Fishery check out Hooked on the Moymagazine. To receive a free copy, send an A4 self-addressed envelope with pre-paid postage of €1.35 to John Geary, 17 Northbrook Walk, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. A higher postage rate of €3 is required for readers in the UK and Europe.
** Find out why the salmon is so crucial to our understanding of climate change at the Academy's Threats to our physical and cultural environmentlectures.
Dr Ken Whelan of the Marine Institute will give a talk entitled Salmon: The climate change forecastersat 6pm this Thursday (October 8th) in the Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (beside Mansion House).
Admission is free but places must be booked at www.ria.ie
The lecture is sponsored by the Marine Institute.