All roads lead to Garrison for trout championships on Lough Melvin

The 35th Lough Melvin Trout Championships was an outstanding success as the sleepy village of Garrison in Co Fermanagh welcomed the influx of 266 anglers from all corners of Ireland and beyond to four days of top-class angling for sonaghan trout on nearby Lough Melvin.

Those wily little fellows, synonymous with Melvin, displayed fantastic fighting prowess as they foraged in areas of open, deep water in search of mid-water planktonic (daphnia) organisms. From an angling perspective, it became a lottery to locate them.

And locate them they did. While conditions were somewhat patchy during the three qualifying days, the teams of two still returned with respectable bags. When anglers came across a pod, most flies in the box seemed to work.

Finals day was a different kettle of fish and the lake showed its real mettle. Conditions were ideal and the fish responded accordingly. Those that ventured north to Kinlough across to Roosky Point and along the Schoolhouse shore worked hard for success.

However, the winning duo of Jimmy Cahill (Killucan) and John Moroney (Ennis) adapted a different approach and stayed in Garrison Bay, fishing close to the Gap, almost within sight of home.

“We hugged the shoreline and met fish all day, finishing with four fish apiece. The Gorgeous George, Muddler and Green Peter were our winning combination,” John said. They each receiving a 19ft Burke boat and Galway Crystal.

A céad míle fáilte was extended to Joe and Jean Ferguson and Andrew McGhee from Scotland, and Mike Parkyn from Cornwall, all of whom look forward each year to the fishing and the wonderful welcome afforded by the local community.

In keeping with the ice- bucket challenge, four committee members volunteered to take a drenching in aid of Fermanagh Autism Society. Within 10 minutes €300 was raised from the anglers and, with a further €200 donation from the club, €500 was presented to former chairman Michael Gilroy.

My thanks to Mark Deavin (Kinlough) and Pat Smith (Trim) for looking after me on the water. Although we didn’t quite make the cut line, the experience was brilliant. And thanks to Melvin Country House for accommodation.

Team results: 1, J Cahill/J Moroney, 8 fish, 2.455kg; 2, A Lutton//S Carney, 8f, 2.370kg; 3, E Harte/D Kelleher, 6f, 1.980kg.

National policies

A suite of national policies for management of bass, pike and trout were announced last week by

Inland Fisheries Ireland

(Ifi). Three documents were formulated by fisheries scientists, angling federations and industry representatives.

The recommendations for bass include a reduction in the daily bag limit from two to one fish in any 24 hour period, an increase in the minimum landing size and a review of the closed season.

In managed wild brown trout fisheries, the existing bylaw to be amended prohibits the killing of pike greater than 85cm. In all other waters it will be permitted to take one pike of less than 50cm. The policy also calls for further research into transfer programmes.

A national minimum size limit for trout is called for along with a national bag limit and the designation of a number of lakes and river sections as wild brown trout fisheries.

Brendan O’Mahony, Ifi chairman, said: “These are the first species policies from Ifi and represent a new era for fisheries management. They also allow for improved angling economic impacts and help to sustain the many jobs supported by recreational angling in Ireland.”

See fisheriesireland.ie.

Foxford festival

At the recent

River Festival

weekend in Foxford, Co

Mayo

, Mount Falcon Hotel resident ghillie Michael O’Kane won the Irish Open Spey Casting Competition with an enormous cast of 151ft. The event was held to international standard for 15ft rods with wading and 40 per cent angle change on the cast.

Results: 1, M O’Kane, 151ft; 2, M Kiely, 145ft; 3, D Doyle, 136ft.

Oughterard event

More than 20 children turned out for the popular fishing event organised by Oughterard Angling Club at Mike Faherty’s Angling Centre last weekend. “There was plenty of tight lines and trout caught and released,” according to Kevin Prunty.

angling@irishtimes.com