Angling Notes: Darndale Pond on Dublin's northside came alive recently during the first Darndale/Belcamp Youth Angling Festival attended by 27 teenagers from the locality and 13 from Belfast as part of a North-South angling initiative.
Families, friends and spectators from the local community turned out in droves to support the occasion, which saw many fish caught and, most importantly, witnessed great camaraderie between the groups during the six-hour event.
Despite blue skies and dense heat, the fish responded magnificently and almost every competitor featured on the scoreboard. In keeping with the etiquette of conservation, all fish were returned. Species included rudd, carp and perch and one special 4cm stickleback. Red maggots on size 16/18 hooks provided the magical formula.
The competition was organised and sponsored by Darndale Belcamp Youth Project, Wooddale Project, Community Training Workshop, Discovery Centre and Dublin Angling Initiative. The local Drugs Task Force donated prizes to the visiting anglers from the predominantly loyalist Taughmonagh estate, which is near King's Hall in south Belfast. These teenagers are attached to the Angling First Group in Northern Ireland.
Following the competition a wonderful spread was provided for the visiting anglers and helpers at the local Community Training Workshop. The array of prizes included a top prize for nine-year-old Christopher Lanigan from Darndale for a cracking 3.6kg mirror carp, and Michael McCabe (16), also from Darndale, was the outright winner, with a respectable bag of rudd. Matthew McCusker (14) from Taughmonagh, was the visitors' top angler.
Darndale Pond is open to the public all year round. It is in the heart of the housing estate, which is just north of Coolock village. Fishing is free and the amenity holds a good stock of carp, rudd, perch, tench and bream. Fish stocks are maintained by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board.
The Darndale anglers have been invited to Belfast next year by the Taughmonagh contingent to reciprocate the hospitality.
• Despite a poor run of grilse to the coast so far this season, the three big grilse rivers on the west coast accounted for 1,000 salmon to rod and line last week. On the River Moy, 626 brought the season total to 3,008, down 33 per cent on last year. The Moy Fishery produced the lion's share of the catch, with 136, while the Foxford Fishery and Rinnaney also did well. Margaret and Lucy Downes, Dublin, each had two on the fly, and William Watterson, Scotland, and Michael Faherty, Galway, each accounted for three on fly.
The Ballisodare river had a good show of grilse with 291 recorded, the bulk of these on worm. However, local angler Sean Maye caught a fine 5kg salmon on the fly, which he returned.
• At the Galway Weir, anglers caught 80 fish, 42 on fly and the remainder on shrimp. Last Wednesday proved exceptional, with 24 caught, including three on the fly for Dublin angler Dexter Lynas. Jim Curry took two on fly, as did Scottish visitor Hamish Everitt. It was a day to remember for Loughrea angler Collette Quinn, who landed her first ever salmon, a 3kg fish on shrimp. Collette's father-in-law, John, caught his first salmon two weeks ago, and now brother David is hoping to follow in the family footsteps soon by landing his first.
Father Arthur Devine and James O'Hora, on the Newport River and Lough Beltra East, respectively, had one salmon each of 3.4kg.
• Trout angling on Loughs Conn, Mask, Corrib and Carra remained in the doldrums, with very little fly life and very few anglers out. As sedge hatches continue to appear, fishing should pick up in the coming weeks, with evening time the best.
On Lough Conn, of the 31 trout reported, Bibios, Green Peter and Octopus attracted most attention.
• At Culdaff in Co Donegal, windy weather restricted The Barracuda's movement, but skipper Des Mills did manage to get a party out to the Cumberland wreck, north of Inishtrahull, last Friday week. The group enjoyed good pollock and ling fishing, and although mackerel were scarce, they encountered a small shoal of big mackerel.
• Closing date for entry to the 48th World Cup Trout Fly Angling Championships is this Wednesday. Note, this date is final and only entries received with payment on or before Wednesday will be entered into the draw. The competition itself will be held from July 28th until finals day on August 1st.
While rules are similar to previous competitions, from this year it will be a legal requirement to wear a lifejacket during the competition. Payment of €130 should accompany the entry form and made payable to Esther Sweeney, World Cup Competitions Committee, 30 Lakelawns, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. Contact 094-954 1428 or wctrout@gofree.indigo.ie. Anglers who wish to participate as boatmen, should contact Tom Mulvey at 087-6251122.
• Markree Castle in Co Sligo will be the venue for the biggest game and country fair in the northwest next weekend. Held in the grounds of Ireland's oldest inhabited castle, the two-day fair will celebrate traditional sports and heritage. Outdoor sports will be catered for, with fly-casting competitions and demonstrations, clay-pigeon shooting, gundog and sheepdog trials, and terrier and lurcher races. Contact Camilla (071-913 3111).
• A talk on how to catch mullet will be given by Brian Cooke tonight in Howth Angling Centre, West Pier, at 9pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.
Around the fisheries
Corkagh Park, Dublin: The warm, balmy weather resulted in a bonanza for carp enthusiasts last week with fish to 3kg now a regular feature and, on the trout lake, evening hatches of caddis and sedge also provided great sport. Tuition in casting and fishing techniques are available on request (01-459 2622/087-265 0495).