Warning over proposed salmon-farm in the aftermath of storm damage on Galway Bay

GALWAY Bay Against Salmon Cages (Gbasc) pose an intriguing scenario following the recent storms as tsunami-like waves reached heights of 12m in Galway Bay causing severe damage to businesses, homes and amenities.

The group say that if the proposed giant salmon farm was in place during the storms, it would have been completely destroyed. This, in turn, would have resulted in an environmental disaster with millions of farmed salmon either washed up dead or escaping into the wild and destroying the wild salmon gene pool.

According to Gbasc, this begs the question: “As the Government would own the licence for the proposed salmon farm would it [the Government] also be the insurer of the proposed salmon farm?” If so, it would be the taxpayer who will have to foot the bill should the salmon farm be destroyed in future storms, they say.

Such storms are becoming more frequent, Gbasc says and calls on the Minister, Simon Coveney, not to grant a licence for the proposed salmon farm and stop an environmental disaster from happening in Galway Bay.

Rainbow fisheries
More and more rainbow fisheries are springing up around the country. By my calculations there are now 75, which includes 38 in the North.

Those I have visited have different characteristics in terms of amenities and quality of fish. While rainbow trout are favoured as an all-year species, some fisheries also stock triploid browns and can remain open throughout the year.

For a nominal daily fee, these fisheries are ideal for the beginner to become acquainted with the art of fly fishing and indeed, more experienced anglers to keep their hand in during the wild brown trout closed season.

Last weekend, I took time out with Des Chew to visit Nurney Lakes in Co Kildare. I had never heard of this venue and was pleasantly surprised by what it had to offer.

Owner Eddie Bennett said the complex opened last summer as a day out for all the family. Set on a working farm, the two lakes are stocked with rainbow trout: the Willow two-acre lake for fly fishing and Birch for bait fishing.

In addition, a farm park offers an opportunity to see a selection of farm animals up close and a play area for younger children. The tearooms are spotlessly clean and offer a variety of snacks and is wheelchair friendly.

For our two-hour fishing stint, Des and I caught six magnificent fully-finned and radiant rainbows up to 2.5kg. “I have trout in there up to 8kg,” Eddie said.

The Nurney Lakes venue is less than an hour from Dublin. To get there by car, leave the M7 at exit 13 and proceed along the R415 for 5km. The lakes are well signposted on the left. Visit nurneylakes.ie or call 087-222 1828.

Pike ahoy
Cuan Muyllaert and his friend Davie recently ventured out in their float-tubes on a small midlands lake well known for its quality of pike. As they rounded the corner of a small bay, Cuan launched several casts on the fly in towards the dead-looking reeds.

“I felt the line tighten and lifted the rod. The fish began to move, breaking the surface, a mesh of big open jaws, white water and spotted green . . . pike! The next 10 minutes were a mixture of strong dives and runs,” he said.

Not feeling confident enough to land the fish by hand, he began to back-peddle towards the bank and a short time later netted the pike; a healthy female of about 9kg. The fish was handled with the utmost care and following a quick photograph swam off in fine shape.

“All in all it was a great first day out in a float-tube and to get pike on the fly of that size in December? Well, my new year is made,” a delighted Cuan said.

Angling show
Date for your diary. Ireland Angling Show, National Show Centre, Swords, Co Dublin, February 15th-16th. This promises to be the best show to date.

angling@irishtimes.com