The Dublin Angling Initiative has organised a series of courses throughout the summer months to provide juniors in the Dublin area the opportunity to learn the fundamentals associated with angling.
Held under the auspices of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, the courses will run for three months and comprise 12 sessions per week, each with groups of 12. Last year more than 1,600 young people took part.
All aspects of angling are covered including setting up procedures, safety aspects, where to fish and how to prepare and cook fish. Identification is also important and again juniors are shown how to distinguish between game fish (salmon and trout); coarse (pike, tench and roach); sea (bass, flatfish and mullet).
Most courses will take place on waterways such as the Royal Canal at Leixlip, river Liffey, the Blessington Lakes and sea angling at Greystones. Caring for the environment and the social impact on waterways and coastline are also important features.
The scheme, up and running since June 11th, will continue to the end of August. For information, please contact the project manager, Mr Chew at 01-278 7022.
The Skerries branch of the RNLI benefitted substantially from the proceeds of last Sunday's open boat competition at Loughshinny, Co Dublin. Mr Brian Carty gratefully accepted a cheque for £400 on behalf of the RNLI from Loughshinny SAC committee member, Mr Tony Fenton, at a prize-giving in the Yacht Bar.
The competition was a resounding success with calm conditions throughout the day and a good catch recorded. To ensure equality between the flotilla of boats, angling was confined to a mile due east of Lambay Island and north to Rockabill Lighthouse, an area which produced 501 fish.
This year the winner was Mr Thomas Markey from the local club with 27 fish (84 points), a feat which earned him a widescreen colour TV and the Yacht Bar Cup. Thomas, as best skipper on the day, also received 10 pints of his favourite tipple.
A cheque was also presented to the Yacht Bar in recognition of their outstanding collection box contribution to the RNLI. This year's total amounted to £1,680.
A good rise of fish in late evening produced some quality wild fish on Lough Sheelin and resulted in 62 anglers returning 228 trout. Mr Frank Kelly (LSTPA) had seven for the week, best fish 63/4lb, of which five were released. Mr Dee, England, had eight all from the Bog Bay area using Claret Bumble and Golden Olive.
The river Moy has come on song just in time for Ballina Festival Week. Although runs were poor for most of last week, rain towards the weekend brought a massive run of salmon into the system. In all, 1,121 salmon were reported.
Most of the fish were grilse with an average weight of 3lb and caught on either worm or spinner.
Charter skipper Oliver Finnegan recorded an 18lb specimen smoothound on Wednesday while fishing out of Carlingford Lough. He says the tope are presently running and last week boated five including two specimens of 45lb and 57lb.
For bookings, call Oliver at 048-30264906.