National Development Plan released by Inland Fisheries Ireland for discussion

Inland Fisheries Ireland (Ifi) is preparing a National Angling Development Plan (Nadp) which it hopes will provide criteria, support and proposals to ensure the sustainability and development of Ireland's angling resource to maximise the benefits on a prioritised basis.

All interested parties, anglers and members of the public, are invited to make submissions which may include angling development, projects, novice initiatives, fisheries evaluation and support requirements. Submissions can be formulated on a national, regional or local basis.

For further information including a template for submissions, go to fisheriesireland.ie or your local Ifi office. Submissions must be made in writing, marked "NADP – public consultation" to Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development, IFI, 3044 Lake Drive, Citywest, Dublin 24, or nadp.publicconsult@fisheriesireland.ie. Deadline for receipt of submissions is 3pm on March 31st.

Drowes rouses There was a little more activity over recent days on the Drowes, following the slowest ever start to a fishing season.

It was also the first time that only one fish was recorded in January and the first occasion that not one February fish had been taken by Valentine’s Day.

Conditions remain almost perfect, especially for fly, with water levels at 0.63 metres. The fish have simply not been present in any significant numbers.

On Monday, Paul McCausland caught and released a fresh salmon estimated at 6lbs on a homemade flying ‘C’ from the Black Hole. As it was the first released fish from the river this season, Paul received a GoPro camera.

Next day, Marty King had a 10 pounder on prawn from the Money Hole and a visiting German angler also landed a 10lbs fish on Rapala from just above the Crooked Hole. Hopefully, this will herald an improvement to what has been a very poor season thus far.

Gillie on song

On Currane, the Waterville hatchery again came up trumps when local gillie

Terence Wharton

Snr, caught a salmon of 9lb on the troll, while

Noel Clancy

of Dublin and Waterville celebrated Valentine’s Day with a springer of 13lb 8oz, also on the troll.

Wild brown trout season

The

Angling Focus

team led by

Michael Flanagan

travelled to Corrib for the opening day of the wild brown trout season. Michael teamed up with pal

Marty Smith

, brother JJ and

John Daly

of Ballinafid. Conditions were not for the fainthearted, and it was hard to entice the trout. However, they boated four lovely brown trout on the troll, and as evening fell a salmon kelt grabbed his little Salmo lure.

Good show at Cushlough

Ronan Cusack reports on a good turnout at Cushlough on opening day. Regular visitors to Mask,

Kieran Newman

and

John Brennan

from Longford, had seven trout on wets (best 2lb, all returned) and

David Connors

caught and returned four for his day.

Predator bank fishing

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of

Ireland

(Ncffi) has officially launched the Fips-ed world championships for predator bank fishing with lures, to be held in

Northern Ireland

this May.

The event will be staged in partnership with Craigavon Borough Council and Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Dcal) and is expected to attract entries from 20 nations including Russia and South Africa. Teams will comprise of six anglers along with coaches, captains, officials and staff.

Anglers will fish the Craigavon Lakes in Co Armagh targeting the north and south lakes for pike, perch and rainbow trout. The lakes are part of the public angling estate and fall under the remit of Dcal, which will stock the venue and provide stewarding.

Throughout the championships only rainbow trout, pike and perch are eligible and all fish must be caught using barbless hooks, netted and returned immediately to the water. Each fish scores one point, therefore no weighing or measuring is required.

Competing nations can avail of two training days immediately prior to the main competition on Sat/Sun, May 23rd/24th. An opening ceremony will welcome competitors to Craigavon and the grand presentation of prizes is scheduled for Craigavon Civic Centre on the Sunday.

angling@irishtimes.com