For the second year running, more salmon returned from the sea and a number of rivers reported a greater volume of fish, according to the summer newsletter from the Atlantic Salmon Trust.
While optimistic, indications point to an improved survival rate at sea, and the overall picture is positive, the newsletter suggests.
In June the grilse run was heartening, especially from Ireland, and, similar to last year, there are signs of better smolt survival. It is also cheering to note that fisheries interests are continuing to work on topics aimed at improving conditions for salmon and sea trout fisheries.
The 6th International Atlantic Salmon Symposium will take place at the University of Edinburgh from July 15th to 18th, 2002. Entitled "Salmon at the Edge", the three-day seminar will include a tour of the Tay, the Aberdeenshire Dee and the North Esk rivers.
Items for discussion will include problems faced by wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout while migrating to sea, in the coastal zone and returning to their native rivers.
Accommodation is reserved at the University Hall of Residence and by the Edinburgh Convention Bureau. Full details will be available next month. In the meantime, registration forms may be obtained from their website at www.salmonsymposium.org
Back home, heavy rain on Lough Corrib over the weekend failed to deter anglers from venturing out or trout from rising. Terrific hatches of mayfly brought feeding trout to the surface, reminding those of what angling was like last May.
The rain kept the fly on the water for longer, allowing fish more time to feed near the surface. Hatches were good in the Portacarron and Oughterard Bay areas, with trout coming to wet-fly or dapped terrestrial flies.
In the Cong area of the lough, a report confirmed that two UK anglers landed 50 trout to wetfly, all of which were released, except for six.
Well-known angler, Mr John Dardis (Kildare), fished Lough Inagh for a day with wet-fly and landed a salmon of 73/4lb and three sea trout. His salmon came to a daddy-long-legs and the trout were taken on a bibio and black pennell. For permits and boats, contact Mr Colin Folan at 095-34706.
The Fingal Cup Boat Competition went ahead last Sunday at Malahide Marina despite rain for most of the day. Now in its 21st year, the event attracted 11 teams of five anglers from north Dublin. Due to poor weather, angling was curtailed from Lambay Island to Ireland's Eye and the Baily, yet a total of 525 fish were returned on score cards across a variety of species which included codling and ling.
Results: Top team: Balbriggan A (T. Squires, K. Rice, H. Donnelly, C. Flynn and J. Campbell), 80 fish, 421 points. Individual winner: D. Walsh (Phoenix), 155 points.
Tomorrow two heats of the Pure Fishing National Junior Pike Championships will be held at Lough Egish, Co Monaghan, and Broadford, Co Clare. Fishing at both events is from 12 a.m to 5 p.m. Entry fee is £4.
For details on the Monaghan venue, contact Mr Martin Murray at 087-2596382. For the Clare venue, contact Mr Eugene Hennegar at 086-8790115.
Correspondence and fishy photographs to The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Fax: 6791881. e-mail:angling@irish-times.ie