Peter O'Reilly deserves a PhD for his outstanding contribution to game angling, declared the minister for the marine of the day at the third edition launch of Loughs of Ireland in 1998. "This latest thesis is a masterpiece," Dr Woods said.
That synopsis of his illustrious work still rings "loud and clear" today as O'Reilly launches into his fourth edition of Loughs of Ireland - A Flyfisher's Guide. This latest rendering is a compilation of well-researched information and updated to contain e-mail and mobile phone contacts, facilities for anglers with disabilities and the latest catch statistics.
The 300-page encyclopaedia of Ireland's 800 loughs also contains important information on the best local flies; contact details of boatmen and guides; stocked or wild waters; average size of trout to expect; season dates for fisheries and detailed maps of each region.
A veteran of the Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors, in 2004 O'Reilly attained the world's most coveted game-angling qualification - the US Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Master Casting Instructors Certificate on the Delaware River at Roscoe, New York.
While his affection for game angling is self evident, fly-fishing remains his first choice and he believes trout and salmon deserve the right to be caught only on fly. He recalls one incident many years ago as he struggled to catch a trout before finally succeeding and promptly knocking it on the head. His son Patrick, said: "Dad, was that really necessary?" He had no answer and has never since killed a trout.
Man has an insatiable appetite, and today has the technology to satisfy it, he says in the introduction. But man should remember that when the last river is poisoned and the last fish is dead, he cannot eat money. The most urgent question therefore is: how do we get through the next half century without losing forever the genetic wealth of biodiversity?
Earlier this month I observed a group of anglers engrossed in a copy of Loughs of Ireland prior to competing in the World Cup on Lough Mask. Not surprising, really, because O'Reilly has devoted seven pages to Mask.
Loughs of Ireland - A Flyfisher's Guide (Fourth Edition) is a lavish publication and a must for every game angler. Published by Merlin Unwin Books with support from the Central Fisheries Board, the hardback edition retails at £20 and available from bookshops or from Merlin Unwin Books, tel: (00 44) 1584877456 or see www.merlinunwin.co.uk
Slaney River Trust in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board and Central Fisheries Board (CFB) with funding by Interreg IIIA programme, last Sunday week hosted a second ladies fly-casting and fishing course in support of Action Breast Cancer at Rathcon Fishery, Grangecon, Co Wicklow.
The course was booked up in advance and by all accounts the ladies enjoyed the day's fishing and in particular the opportunity to learn fly-casting techniques from one of Ireland's best instructors, Glenda Powell (APGAI), and Mark Corps, angling advisor for the CFB.
While there was no fee for tuition on the day, participants were invited to make a donation to Action Breast Cancer. The total amount raised was €1,440.
Fred Doyle from Bray, Co Wicklow, landed a highly unusual catch from Galway Bay last weekend. While fishing with friends aboard Kevin MacGabhann's charter boat Mighdean Mara out from Spiddal, Doyle accidentally caught an ocean sunfish of about 13.6kg on a strip of mackerel baited up on a trace for ray.
Sunfish are a summer migrant from warmer waters, here to feed on the abundant jellyfish and are occasionally seen basking near the surface. The summer visitor was quickly photographed and released. Other species landed included ling, ray, pollack and a John Dory. For details, see www.galwaybayfishing.com.
In an effort to navigate all services offered, the North Western Regional Fisheries Board has recently redesigned its website. The new-look www.northwestfisheries.ie features a download section that includes maps, guides and tariffs. The board welcomes suggestions to improve the site.
Joe Davis from Tullamore won the Patti Doolin Shield trout competition on Lough Owel last weekend. The junior prize went to Carol Owens from Dublin.