ANGLING NOTES:AS PART OF Fisheries Awareness Week, Dr James King of Inland Fisheries Ireland and Brian Cooke from Irish Federation of Sea Anglers will deliver a talk on estuaries as nursery areas for marine species at the National Sealife Centre in Bray, Co Wicklow, on Wednesday from 7.30-9.30pm.
Guests can also avail of a tour of the centre to see the wonderful display of marine and freshwater species. As spaces are limited, please contact Des today at 087-6740214.
Details of awareness week, which commenced last Saturday and continues until next Sunday, are available on faw.ie. All 70 events are free as permit fees have been waived for trout and coarse fisheries.
* The Something Fishy programme formed part of Zion Parish National Primary School curriculum recently as fifth- and sixth-year students took part in a field trip along the banks of the River Dodder to record the flora and fauna and fish life in this great river.
Organised by Dublin Angling Initiative, the gathering included Pat Seaver of Blackrock Education Centre, teacher Mervyn McDowell, parent Prashanthi Kola, daughter Malika and their Kerry Blue dog, Cocoa.
Highlight of the walk was undoubtedly the kick-sampling and electro-fishing at the outflow of the Owendower River. Here, students saw an array of macrobiotics including stonefly, mayfly, shrimp and midge larva, plus some fine wild trout reaching 0.25lb.
Students will now go on to complete a project for the Something Fishy programme in which more than 160 schools take part, reaching some 7,000 students nationwide. To participate, see somethingfishy.ie.
* Lough Mask continued to fish its socks off and mayfly fishing was very good on Corrib last week, according to fisheries inspector Kevin Crowley. On Mask, water levels remained low, but good hatches of Olives and the odd Mayfly continued from midweek.
Ballinrobe District Anglers held their annual pairs competition over the bank holiday at which 66 anglers weighed in 135 trout. First prize went to Noel Moran, Ballinrobe, and Billy O’Brien, Wicklow, with 13 fish for 8.2kg (18.12lb).
Three Cavan anglers spent two days on Mask with Ronan Cusack and landed 51 trout with 17 exceeding the 13ins limit (best fish 1.1kg (2.5lb).
Pat Noone and friend reported having 40 fish on a mixture of wets and dries with half exceeding the limit and all returned. Kevin Sheridan, Ballinrobe, had 22 fish over the week (best 1.4kg or 3lb, all returned). Kevin mentioned that in all his years fishing Mask he had never seen the lake fishing so well.
* Bonefish catches remained steady throughout the season and the Marls continue as the preferred area when weather permits, according to Peter Mantle of Delphi Club in Abaco, Bahamas. The new record of 52 bonefish in a day, taken by Margaret Downes and Robin Albury in November, was just one of many days when boats took more than 10 fish, he said.
May is the month when reservations are taken for next season, which runs from this October to June, 2013. The weekly package for seven nights with six days fishing stays the same at $4,995 (€3,859) and the popular June offer has been retained.
Fans of fly-fishing guru Peter O’Reilly should note that a few places still remain in the week he is leading from December 1st.
With its stunning lodgings, location and menus, plus brilliant bonefishing, the Delphi Club can lay claim to being one of the finest saltwater fishing lodges in the world. (I can vouch for that.) For bookings, see delphi-bahamas.com.
For sale:19ft "Anglers' Fancy" lake boat. Carefully maintained and stored in a garage. Included are: a 15hp Honda engine, long shaft, electric start with battery and charger, a little-used, Monroe-built, twin axle galvanised trailer with sturdy winch and in-built locking hitch. Price, €3,500. Call (087) 6280510.