One of the few remaining additions to my angling repertoire is to learn the art of fly-tying. For no apparent reason I have avoided tying my own flies, and instead opted for the effortless visit to Rory's tackle shop in Temple Bar to purchase flies suitable for a particular lake or river.
I have no excuse, particularly since I recently acquired a life-long collection of fly-tying material from a close relative and received a prize of a fly-tying kit for my sixth placing in the angling World Cup on Lough Mask. However, when I do make the effort, a book I will certainly refer to is the recently published Irish Mayflies - A Fly-Fishers Guide by Patsy Deery. This book is different from most as it concentrates solely on Ephemera danica, better known as the mayfly. "The fly is up" is a call that signals the start of a magical part of the angling calendar, and anglers are galvanised into action for those few weeks of "the mayfly".
The author has brought together more than 130 different patterns by well-known fly-tiers, and some of his own creations, to form surely the most comprehensive collection of Irish mayfly dressings ever to appear in book form. Each fly is beautifully photographed by Terry Griffiths from Flydresser Magazine, with step-by-step tying instructions and background information. A fascinating photographic sequence of the metamorphosis from dun to mayfly, together with recommended hackles, prologues the collection.
"I have listened to various theories as to why claret, red and orange should be included in patterns to represent an insect that, to the human eye, does not contain any of these colours," writes Deery. "The general hypothesis is that each represents the haemoglobin rush to the wing area as they break from the nymphal shuck."
Deery is a noted fly-fisher and fly-tier, and has represented the national team on a number of occasions. With more than 40 years' experience of fishing Ireland's loughs and rivers, he has gone to the grassroots of Irish fly-tiers to provide working mayfly patterns. The book will make an ideal Christmas present.
Irish Mayflies - A Fly-fishers Guide is distributed by Smith Settle Ltd, Gateway Drive, Yeadon, West Yorkshire LS19 7XY, £25 (plus P&P) in hardback with dust jacket.
Tel: 0113-2509201
E-mail: sales@smithsettle.com
• Following a request to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, by the North Western Regional Fisheries Board (NWRFB), the Minister has signed two new bylaws relating to angling on Loughs Conn and Cullin which take effect from January 1st 2008.
The first bylaw brings forward the start of the close season for trout fishing to September 30th, in line with the salmon angling season. It will therefore be illegal to fish for brown trout on the two lakes between October 1st and February 14th inclusive.
The second bylaw introduces a minimum trout size limit of 30.48 cm (12 in). Brown trout inadvertently caught under this size limit must be handled carefully and returned without avoidable injury immediately. Any person aggrieved by the introduction of these two new bylaws may appeal within 28 days of publication to the High Court. Vincent Roche, NWRFB chief executive officer, said: "The new bylaws were introduced following consultation with all relevant interests in order to conserve trout stocks."
• A must-have for all seafarers is the pocket-sized Tide Tables 2008 for the Republic. It provides tidal predictions for the primary ports of Cobh, Dublin, Galway and Tarbert Island, together with local variations for each secondary port.
This well-designed publication utilises colour-coding to enable speedy location of primary ports: red for Cobh, blue for Dublin, maroon for Galway and yellow for Tarbert, and tidal information is reproduced by permission of the UK Hydrographic Office. The booklet also provides details for phases of the moon, with highlighted dates to enable visual identification of spring and neap tides. In addition, a map of the Met Éireann marine weather service is included, together with the RTÉ weather forecast schedule, a map of the Irish Coastguard Marine VHF communications network, Mayday protocol and information on meteorological effects on tides.
Tide Tables 2008: Republic of Ireland is published by Maps N' Charts Ltd, Derryconnell, Schull, Co Cork. Tel: 028-37370 or e-mail: mizen@eircom.net
• Dargle Anglers Club held its annual Christmas fly-fishing outing at Annamoe Trout Fisheries in Co Wicklow last Sunday week, and by all accounts a great day's fishing was had by 24 anglers who braved very windy and showery conditions. In all, the group accounted for 72 rainbow trout, the best reaching 2.5kg. Cats Whiskers proved the most popular lure on the day and all fish were returned. Following the competition, the group adjourned to the Coachhouse Inn, Roundwood for dinner and presentation of prizes.