Angling Notes: Successful sea trout fly fishing championships on Lough Currane

AMID huge tourist attractions in south Kerry – among them Puck Fair, Rose of Tralee and the upcoming Charlie Chaplin Film Festival – Lough Currane took centre stage last weekend for the annual sea trout fly fishing championship, hosted by Waterville Fisheries Development Group (WFDG).

The two-day competition, now in its 10th year, was again a resounding success with 76 fish, some to 2kg, recorded and released from the sea trout capital of Ireland.

Conditions on opening day were good with overcast skies and blustery conditions which led to a return of 45 fish including two in the 50cm bracket. Day two brought a different challenge with slack winds reducing somewhat the size and number of fish. Nevertheless, a further 31 over 25cm succumbed to the imitations.

Following a keenly fought contest, Eugene McCarthy (no relation to recent world cup winner) from Macroom, Co Cork emerged a clear winner with 179 points to win the coveted Perpetual Cup and €1,000 tackle voucher from Emerger Tackle.

Eugene, a former Bus Éireann employee, who found success with a cast of Fiery Brown, Green Peter and a Silver Invicta, said: “I fish this competition most years, except last year because my daughter got married that weekend.”

I enjoyed my day with top boatman and ghillie, Neil O’Shea. We tried the well- known lies at Morgan’s Rock and the mouth of Coppel and Cummeragh rivers. It was the latter lie, close to the reed beds, where I raised a grilse and landed a nice sea trout of .75kg on a Stoat’s Tail.

At the presentation dinner in the Waterville Inn, proprietor Damien Duff laid on a splendid meal. Chairman Michael Roden thanked those for supporting the event and was high in praise for the hard-working committee.

Salmon parr release
Meanwhile, Tom O'Shea expects to release 20,000 salmon parr in October as part of the WFDG hatchery project. "Next season we hope to see the first return of our adipose fin-clipped salmon," he said.

Results
First – Eugene McCarthy (Cork), 179 points, €1,000 Emerger Tackle voucher.
Second – J Meagher
(Tipperary), 172 points, Sage Rod (WFDG).
Third – J Curnow (Cork), 170 points, electric outboard (Angling Media).
Longest fish – K Synott, 52cm.

Ballynahinch Castle fishery experienced its best fishing week in 25 years earlier this month with 35 salmon landed including a massive 7.7kg (17lb) fish for Stephen
Cullinane from Frank's Rock on beat six. Stephen's fish was the largest taken from Bally- nahinch in more than 15 years.

This tally is on the back of a healthy run of salmon over the counter, coupled with large numbers of resident fish in the Castle stretch. The ideal fishing conditions brought smiles to many anglers’ faces. For fishing and accommodation packages, call 095-31006.

Fishing has really picked up on Corrib with the return of more broken weather and anglers are returning to the lake after the summer recess to be greeted by hatches of mayfly. Some good angling has been had, particularly in the Oughterard area on dry mayfly patterns. Dappers are also having success with grass-
hoppers, an offering that tempts trout at this time of the season.

The Green Peter with olive CDC plume (pictured) has an under- and over-wing from a covert feather taken from a
hen pheasant wing. The CDC under the wing adds a little colour and provides great buoyancy. "I show this pattern before the Peter season comes to an end as the sedge is the
last of any good dry fly fishing. It is also the time when bigger trout come to the surface as they are more comfortable taking the fly in late evening," Jimmy Tyrrell said. Email irishflycraft@gmail.com
or phone 086-8451257 for details.

Fishing clubs looking for a superb winter venue should contact Southern County Fishery in Co Carlow who intend leasing the fishery that includes three lakes fully stocked with home hatchery reared rainbow and brown trout. A large fully equipped clubhouse is also available
with the lease for club activities if required. This is a great opportunity for a trout club or combined clubs to avail of quality fishing from October 2013 to March 2014.

For more details, contact Pat (087-9655544) or Ken (086-2575088).

angling@irishtimes.com