Angling Notes: Wild brown trout season ends well with charity fish

What better way to end the wild brown trout season than a day's fly fishing on Lough Lein in Killarney, Co Kerry? Apart from the fishing, the surrounding mountainous scenery of this striking 4,700-acre lake is sufficient for most and certainly worthy of its worldwide status.

The occasion was the annual Mike Hegarty Charity Competition which saw 40 anglers (20 boats) heading out from Ross Castle with the customary barbecue on Brown's Island. Chefs Cyril Boggins and Tom Dennehy served up delicious steaks, potatoes, mushrooms and onions cooked over a log fire.

Proceeds from this year's event went to the Killarney branch of Irish Pilgrimage Trust. Accepting a cheque for €600, spokesman Tim O'Brien said: "This generous donation will go towards sending children with special needs to Lourdes. "

Fishing could best be described as a “mixed bag” with the morning session yielding only two counters, due in the main, to slack winds. However, conditions picked up in the afternoon and fish began to move more freely, resulting in 29 presented for weigh-in.

Top honours again went to Oughterard angler Basil Shields with three fish.

“I can put the rods away now for 18 weeks and concentrate on selling my flies around the country,” he said. Watch out for him, his flies certainly work.

I enjoyed my day with Francie Kiely from Macroom on the East Lake as we fished close to the "chicken and hens rock" and "elephant rock" (both rock formations from the Ice Age), with good success. I boated at least seven fish with two counters.

Our day was rounded off with a delicious four-course meal in the Dromhall Hotel and a prize for the 20 anglers who caught fish. Results: 1, B Shields, 3 fish; 2, JJ Hannon, 3f; 3, E O'Leary, 3f.

Middle bank

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of

Ireland

has worked with Newry, Mourne and

Down District Council

and

Loughs Agency

to open this middle bank complementing the facilities in the canal.

A new format will see the less experienced angler take part and also allow under-25s fish alongside international players.

Further details available at: ncffi.ie/home-international-newry-2015.

Garda Open

The 15th Garda Open Competition held on Lough Sheelin last weekend attracted 120 anglers with

Niall Burns

from

Kingscourt

, Co

Cavan

, a runaway winner with a trout of 2.94kg (6.5lb), caught on a Green Peter.

Some 25 fish were weighed in, with a number exceeding the 1.5kg mark. Results: 1, N Burns (Cavan), 2.94kg; 2, J Fagan (Wicklow), 1.95kg; 3, R Law (Northern Ireland), 1.72kg.

Galway show

The Sixth Irish Fly Fair and Angling Show will be held in the Galway

Bay Hotel

,

Salthill

on November 7th/8th ,2015. The fair will feature fly-casting celebrities

Charles Jardine

,

Hywel Morgan

,

Glenda Powell

and Peter O’Reilly, and spey-casting legends Scott McKenzie,

Gary Scott

, Bas de Bruin and

Sepp Fuchs

will also be in attendance.

Experts from Inland Fisheries Ireland, Tom "Doc" Sullivan, Prof Ken Whelan and Fissta will host talks on angling topics, and the tackle trade will be represented with a huge range of trade stands. For more details, see irishflyfair.com.

Fish supper

A fish supper in aid of Howth RNLI took place recently in

Malahide Yacht Club

. Almost 40 guests were treated to a delicious three-course fish dinner sponsored by

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

.

The supper is the latest national fundraising initiative to raise money towards crew training, crew kit and running costs of the lifeboat stations.

[ angling@irishtimes.com ]