Angling Notes: The Irish Ladies' Flyfishing Association (ILFA) should have plenty of support for its double appearance in the Home International Competitions for salmon and brown trout on Lough Mask and the River Moy in Co Mayo over the coming weeks.
The competition begins at Cushlough Bay, Ballinrobe, on June 2nd with teams of 14 from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland on the ever-demanding Lough Mask for the coveted brown trout gold medal title. (Last year the Irish ladies finished a close second in Scotland.)
Four days later (Monday, June 6th) the contest moves to Ballina on the River Moy for the first salmon international between the home countries. Here, the North Western Fisheries Board has donated the Cathedral Beat for the entire day.
Statistically, women are better anglers than men. The heaviest salmon ever caught in Ireland is accredited to M Maher, the salmon was a beauty of 57lb from the River Suir, albeit in 1874. And Julie Gerry from Co Kildare last year lifted the world cup brown trout fly championships on Mask against a field of almost 500 male competitors.
While women represent only 3 per cent of Irish anglers, the Irish Ladies' Flyfishing Association is to the forefront in encouraging women to become involved in the sport. Membership now stands at 50.
Preparations for the two events are well under way. Last Monday, a brace of press receptions to announce details took place at the Ridge Pool Centre in Ballina and later at Ballinrobe District Anglers' premises at Cushlough Bay, on the shores of Lough Mask.
Both teams for trout and salmon competitions were announced and the safety elements of fishing from boats and rivers and pools were much in evidence with each team member wearing a life jacket recommended by the Water Safety Council and Department of Marine. To coincide with their upcoming international, the ILFA recently joined Roy Tye, official flytyer to the Irish team, at his new angling premises in Cushlough for a talk on ecology and on flies that he found successful during May time on Mask to coincide with their international.
The group watched Ruth Mettler from Kinlough, Co Leitrim tie the "Gorgeous George" fly, which had brought her success at a recent competition on Lough Melvin. Julie Gerry also had "George" on her cast during the world cup event. (Men, take note, could be the fly again this season!)
The "Gorgeous George" is an octopus with pheasant tail legs and jungle-cock eyes. "A very sexy-looking fly," was the view of one of the women present on the evening.
The Irish trout team is: Anne McWilliams; Julie Gerry, Madeleine Kelly, Ann Kerrin (capt), Julie McGeever, Ruth Mettler, Mary Gunning, Moira Cosgrove, Edel Decies, Mary Harkin, Margaret Rooney, Betty Hayes, Sorcha Weld and Muriel Scorer.
The salmon team is: Glenda Powell (capt), Aisling Power, Julie Gerry, Ruth Mettler, Edel Decies and Jill Kenny.
For further details, contact Julie McGeever at 087-9322138,
• Oaks Rainbow Trout Fishery at Campsie, near the city of Derry, has recorded yet another monster pike. In March, Ballymoney angler Alan Stewart caught a 20.8 kg (46lb) pike on a roach deadbait. However, because his weighing scales was not certified, the fish did not qualify as a new Irish record.
Last week, Gerard Moreland from Antrim, came within .2kg of the official record with a mighty fish of 18.4 kg (40.5lb). On this occasion, Moreland weighed the fish on a fisheries-certified scales, tagged it and returned it to the water.
The fishery is now closed to pike angling until October 1st.
• The Central Fisheries Board is to establish a coarse fish review to develop a national policy for the management and protection of Ireland's coarse fishery resource. The review will include all freshwater species of angling importance with exception of salmon, trout, eel, carp and pike.
Membership of the group has yet to be confirmed. However, further information, including terms and reference, will be announced shortly.
Existing freshwater laws are: a) A person is not allowed more than two rods at any time, b) it is illegal to use live fish as bait, c) the only legal method to catch fish is by rod and line, d) it is illegal to transfer live roach from one water to other waters.
• Lough Conn and Cullin Anglers' Association is holding a two-day fly-fishing competition on Saturday and Sunday, June 4th/5th. The assembly point on both days is Gortnorabbey Pier, Crossmolina, and fishing times 11am until 6pm.
First prize includes a 19ft Sheelin Boat, a perpetual cup and framed set of flies.
Competitors must fish both days and numbers are limited. Entries to Padraic Traynor (086-6052687) or Michael Monaghan (087-2253433), by close of play Monday, May 30th. Entry fee, including dinner each night, is €100.
• EFSA, the European Federation of Sea Anglers, held a three-day competition at Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, recently at which 62 anglers participated from eight boats. Fishing was described as "very good" and 10 main species recorded.
Results: Light line class: 1, Terry Carolan (Dublin). League, Day 1: 1, Heiko Dreier (Kerry). League, Day 2: 1, Des O'Connell (Cork).
• The winner of the fourth Reel Hunting/Irish Times readers' competition and €600 worth of tackle is Roy Connery, Grattan Road, Galway, who correctly stated that porbeagle is a type of shark.