PETER Mantle is publishing a newsletter celebrating 25 years at Delphi Fishery in Leenane, Co Galway. The 19-page bulletin is full of pictures, fish catches and weather statistics plus lists of top fish, top anglers and the 500 people who caught their first salmon at Delphi since it opened.
It was another year when the weather went awry in the west, according to Peter Mantle. With very little rain in February or March and hardly a drop from April 6th to June 30th, the spring salmon fishing was hampered by cold, bright sunshine and low water levels.
Many of the early-running salmon were held up in the estuary and fell victim to seals, dolphins and draft nets. But catches were nevertheless well down on expectations. The early season excitements were largely confined to the capture of a few big three-sea-winter fish.
The one-sea-winter grilse run, which started in late June, was considerably better than the dreadful run of 2009. However, many of the grilse were very small. “Clearly there are some serious feeding issues in the north Atlantic,” he says.
On one early August day, three fresh fish brought in by anglers collectively weighed less than 2.3kg (5lb). Still, there were lots of fish about this summer, even if they didn’t always take well.
Sea trout catches were disappointing in August, but better in September. The highlight was Paul Sims’s 10-pounder from Doolough while dapping his own tying of a daddy long-legs and was the biggest trout caught at Delphi in 25 years. Although there were some lovely trout taken, sea trout numbers were down on 2009, he said.
It was hoped the closure of the local salmon farm in 2008 would lead to an upward trend in both numbers and size of sea trout, but this was not the case. Maybe it was a smaller than usual smolt exodus or maybe the revived salmon farm in Ballinakill Bay had an impact?
“Whatever, the dreaded Killary salmon farm has now reopened, so it’s very hard to be optimistic about prospects for our lovely white trout,” Mantle says.
The newsletter and booking details for 2011 are available at 00353-954-2222 and delphilodge.ie.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has won two court cases for coarse fishing offences on Lough Ramor in Virginia, Co Cavan. One angler received a six-month jail sentence, the other a fine of €600. IFI was awarded €1,145 in expenses.
Raimondas Kiliskas and Remigijus Klimas were caught by fisheries officers using set lines for taking coarse fish from the lake on an inflatable boat. Live roach were also found on the boat. All equipment was seized.
The Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group and Biodiversity Forum for Ireland are holding a conference/workshop, Halting Biodiversity Loss in Marine and Transitional Waters, in the Everglades Hotel, Derry on November 11th.
The conference will include presentations on the state of biodiversity in marine and industry issues, and best practice in halting biodiversity loss. Workshops will consider case studies on integrated and ecosystem management.
The event is scheduled to start at 9.30am and end around 4.30pm. A detailed programme will be available for those interested in attending. As numbers are limited it is advisable to register before this Friday. Contact Sean Kelly at 028-90455770.
Annamoe Trout Fisheries in Co Wicklow is running a series of four fly-fishing competitions starting this Saturday and continuing over the coming months. Fishing times are from 10.30am until 2.30pm. Entry fee is €20.
Prizes will be awarded at each event and the final prizes will include tickets for sea trout fishing at the Clohamon Beat on the River Slaney. Entries to Brian Nally at 086-2598563.
angling@irishtimes.com