Guide to Irish rivers

ANGLING NOTES: AT THE recent launch of Tinnahinch Trout Fishery in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, proprietor Hugh Duff pointed out …

ANGLING NOTES:AT THE recent launch of Tinnahinch Trout Fishery in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, proprietor Hugh Duff pointed out that his main guest, author and fly-casting instructor Peter O'Reilly, has sold more than 100,000 copies of his books on fishing.

This is a fantastic achievement for a man who is widely regarded as the leading authority on trout and salmon fishing in Ireland. Throughout the day, O’Reilly gave talks on fishing tackle, from the importance of eye protection to the insignificance of the fishing reel.

Single-handed casting demonstration followed on the green area in front of the fishing lodge, and at the lakeside guests were treated to a variety of casts including “single spey”, the “snap T” and “snake roll”.

Peter O’Reilly is a man for all seasons. In November of 2004, along with three colleagues, he achieved the most coveted game angling qualification in the world – the United States Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Master Casting Instructors’ Certificate. He is also a member of APGAI-Irl, the Irish instructors’ association.

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He operates a very popular flycasting school in Navan and his flyfishing courses at Ireland’s premier fisheries are much in demand.

His most recent book is the seventh edition of his Rivers of Ireland: A Flyfisher's Guide, which ticks all the right boxes by which an angling guide should be judged. The book provides a comprehensive description of each of the 800-plus rivers listed and is completely revised and updated with new information.

In his introduction, he says: “We have seen more changes to the natural environment in the last 60 years than in the 1,000 years that preceded them. Man has an insatiable appetite and today has the technology to satisfy it. But we must remember that when the last tree is cut down and the last river is poisoned and the last river is dead, we cannot eat money.”

Rivers of Irelandwill make an ideal Christmas present for the experienced or novice angler and is available in all good bookshops at £20. The book is published by Merlin Unwin Books – see www.merlinunwin.co.uk for details.

Danny Goldrick, retired fisheries inspector with the Western Regional Fisheries Board, e-mails details of an incident that took place in Co Galway as a result of recent floods. For a period of two weeks, the village of Claregalway was impassable because the local Clare River had overflowed its banks.

A member of the Corofin Fishing Association informed him that a farmer, whose farm adjoins the river in Claregalway, found a number of adult trout dead beside his yard, some 80m from the main river, all of which were swept on to his property by the massive floods.

“In all my years dealing with fish life, I have never seen trout swept from their main river in such a disastrous way,” he said. “These fish were moving to spawning grounds in the upper reaches of the River Clare. One must ask: could more trout have died in the same way in flooded rivers around the country.”

The EasternRegional Fisheries Board has successfully won two court cases for coarse fishing offences on Lough Muckno in Co Monaghan, in which one defendant was given a four-year jail sentence.

Four people were convicted at Carrickmacross District Court on December 2nd with fines totalling €3,050. The board was awarded €4,739 in expenses. In a stark warning, Judge Sean McBride said he intended to deal with all offenders very severely and in both cases ordered forfeiture of equipment used in the commission of the offences.

The board has been instrumental in the introduction of the 2006 Coarse and Pike Byelaws and last year initiated 33 prosecutions.

Donal andConnie Connolly of Nonaim Lodge Accommodation and Angling, Glann, Oughterard, Co Galway, which specialises in providing angling holidays on Lough Corrib, would like to point out their new telephone number is 085-7364830.

All other phone numbers are no longer in service. Their e-mail address, however, remains info@fishingcorrib.com