Breaking of the ice was required at Annamoe Trout Fisherery for a masterclass in canoeing

Ice delayed the start of the final winter league competition last weekend at Annamoe Trout Fishery in Co Wicklow. As competitors arrived they were treated to a canoeing exercise by Brian Nally, as he tried to break the ice that covered more than half the lake.

Oars and a life-ring eventually broke up the thin layer to allow fishing get under way, albeit with a late start. By noon, air and water temperatures had risen to just four degrees. Definitely a day for thermals!

The trout at Annamoe are not familiar with this early wake-up call of thrashing water and this contributed in no small way to a spooking handicap, with anglers finding it difficult to entice those wily animals.

In fact, just half of the 20 competitors caught and returned 27 fish.

That aside, Roger Fowler found the magic formula and went on to win the competition with nine fish, head and shoulders above his nearest rivals, with four anglers on three each. Roger's winning tactics included a DI5 line with black and green boobie (hand-tied the night before) and a slow retrieve.

Throughout the four hours, anglers were required to move three pegs every 40 minutes and were restricted to a maximum of four fish on each peg.

The final whistle could not come quick enough for some and it was back to the fishing lodge for recuperation, with plenty of soup, bangers and sandwiches, ably presented by Rose.

Proprietor Brian Nally thanked Southside Angling for sponsoring the prizes and those who participated in the qualifiers and final. He also presented, for the first time, a gross prize for most fish caught over the four events. This beautifully engraved plaque went to Roger Fowler with a grand total of 31 fish.

Results: 1, R Fowler, 9 fish, 353pts; 2, M McShane, 3f, 147pts; 3, R Bujak, 3f, 130pts; 4, H Smith, 3f, 129pts.

Lifeboat

men remembered The crew of the lifeboat station at Dú

n Laoghaire will hold their annual ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers who died on service on Christmas Eve in 1895 and for those who lost their lives in 2014 around our coasts. Families are especially welcome to attend this long-standing tradition of remembrance.

The short ceremony will take place at midday on Christmas Eve at the lighthouse end of Dún Laoghaire’s East Pier and will include music, an ecumenical blessing, and contemporary newspaper account of the 1895 tragedy and a piped lament.

Both lifeboats stationed at Dún Laoghaire will launch and the crews will lay wreaths at sea close to the pier.

The ceremony remembers the lives of the 15 crew who died when their lifeboat capsized in gale-force winds while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme, which had run aground off Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Relatives of the original lifeboat crew are expected to be among those who will walk the pier for the 20-minute ceremony. Musician William Byrne and journalist Fergal Keane will be joined by a lone piper on the East Pier lighthouse battery during the short ceremony facilitated by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company.

In case of inclement weather, an alternative ceremony will be held closer to the lifeboat station.

Master angler awards

At the recent presentation of awards in Howth Sea Angling Club (HSAC),

Jason Perry

and

Tom McAdam

received their master angler shore and boat awards respectively and will go forward to represent the club in next year’s

All-Ireland Championship

.

Jason also completed a masterful year with a second-place finish in the boat event and duly received the overall angler of the year award from Hsac president, Terry Doyle.

Club chairman Gerry Clarke took the opportunity to invite new members, novice or experienced, to take part in club activities. Application details are available at howthsac.com. angling@irishtimes.com