ANGLING NOTES:LOUGH Sheelin in Co Cavan proved a tough cookie last Tuesday as we set out from Chambers Bay in a brisk south-easterly that grew in strength as the day progressed.
Because of recent rainfall the lake was very high, witnessed by the fact that we lost an hour bailing out water with our boat almost full to the gunwales after just a four-day lapse. Equipped with sufficient Silver Dabblers, Invictas and Gorgeous Georges, our first drift across Chambers from the reed bed on the southern side to the sticks and on to Kilnahard Point proved fruitless.
A move to the southern shoreline of Bog Bay and skirmishing a series of small islands and rocks and where conditions seemed perfect, once again, failed to even move a fish.
“Why don’t we try Church Island, there’s six boats there all day,” Ray Connolly says. Sure enough, as we passed Derry Point a fellow angler said he caught three good fish and lost several, all on dries.
On with the Sedges and on my second cast I raised and lost two fish. As the evening drew to a close, numerous really big fish tumbled close to the boat but when covered were reluctant to take our flies. All in all it was a great day, particularly with the chance of one of those elusive big wild trout and the Kelly Kettle brew-up in Hollywell Bay.
Traditionally, the latter part of August and September can produce good angling on Lough Conn. Certainly this was the case for Michael Tiernan Jr of Foxford who boated and released a magnificent brown trout, estimated at more than 4.5kg (10lb). It took a size 14 Pearly Dabbler on the top dropper in the Massbrook area.
Fishing out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Philip O’Rourke had three trout while boat partner Seamus Parke, from London, had one. Vincent O’Boyle and Steven Lusty boated five trout between them, all on Dabblers.
Lough Melvin fished well last week for sonaghan trout with all drifts producing fish, particularly in the evenings. Garrison and Melvin Anglers held its annual four-day competition with the final last Sunday. The winning duo each received a boat and Galway Crystal. Results: 1, Brian Uprichard and Tom (Doc) Sullivan; 2, Mick Coyne and Peadar O Baoill; 3, Ronnie Law and Cecil Marshall.
Fishing on Mask proved challenging as the recent low pressure pounded the lake with more unseasonable wind and rain resulting in many boats remaining on the shoreline. However, the Partry Angling Club held its annual pairs’ development competition at which anglers had the choice to fish Mask or Carra. The event attracted 168 anglers and 95 trout made the scales. First prize went to Corrib anglers Tom (Doc) Sullivan and Mike Keady with seven fish.
Don’t miss the chance to visit the Howth Lifeboat Station next Sunday. The boathouse on central pier will be open to the public from 2pm to 5pm and the ILB and ALB will be there for all to see.
Get on board, wander around and view equipment and clothing. The crew will be in attendance for advice and chat about anything to do with saving lives at sea. Unfortunately, trips on the boats are prohibited by law.
University College Dublin will again host the popular adult education course this autumn by Prof Ken Whelan, entitled: The Freshwater Detective. Students will learn the basics of such as how to identify whether insects and crustaceans are present and how this affects the quality of the water.
There will be six classes at Belfield starting on October 8th from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and three field classes from 10am to noon. The fee is €190. Contact the Adult Education Centre, Library Building, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4. See ucd.ie/adultedfor call 01-716 7123.
angling@irishtimes.com