Angling Notes: World-class teams arrive in midlands for Predator championships

Anglers from the across the globe have arrived in the midlands to take part in this week’s FIPS-ed World Championships Predator Boat Angling with Lures on Lough Ree and the river Shannon.

The Ballyleague/Lanesborough area is the chosen hub of the event, which brings world-class anglers from 17 nations to this community.

The championships will see 34 boats launch from the Ballyleague Marina to fish a 3km section of the Shannon. Teams will consist of four anglers fishing in pairs for pike and perch using artificial lures.

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The late BBC journalist. Paddy O’Flaherty, on a trip to Lough Mask in 2015

This world-class event, supported by Fáilte Ireland, Roscommon and Longford Councils, will commence with two days of practise from Thursday and that evening the local community will join in with the traditional opening ceremony when teams will parade through the streets. The event will close with a grand presentation of medals next Sunday.

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland (NCFFI) has chosen the following home team through a process of qualifiers: T Kurman, capt., J Gorny, J McDermott and M Dalton. Reserves: A Powell and S Powell.

The team is mainly sponsored by NCFFI and Duo Hook of Drogheda and Dublin and also Costa Del Mar, Baltic Sweden and Vass Waders & Rain Wear. You can follow the teams' progress at facebook.com/lureteamirelandncffi.

Marine projects launched

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,

Michael Creed

, has launched two new major marine projects in

Killybegs

, Co

Donegal

. The second of these is the new Killybegs small craft harbour built at a cost of €2.9million.

“This new harbour is a first-class facility capable of accommodating 63 boats ranging up to 15 metres in length. This is a great development for Killybegs Harbour and will complement the existing world-class facilities in place for our large fishing vessels,” he said.

Paddy O’Flaherty passes away

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of lifelong angler and

John Dory

contributor Paddy O’Flaherty. He was 73. Editor of BBC

Northern Ireland Radio

Current Affairs and Digital News NI,

Adam Smyth

, said he was “one of the best radio broadcasters these islands have ever produced, a tremendous character and a man whose name was synonymous with BBC Radio Ulster”.

Angling writer Maurice Neill said: "Paddy was a man of great patience and many skills. It was always a pleasure to hear his voice on the radio or to share the waterside with him. Angling in Ireland has lost a true friend and a great advocate."

Safety warning

Anglers are reminded of the importance of staying safe on the water as they enjoy fishing on Ireland’s rivers, lakes and seas. There have been 18 angling-related drownings in Ireland since 2014.

Drownings relating to angling are quite common in Ireland with four deaths reported this year. There were nine deaths in 2015 and a further five in 2014. In total, 122 people drowned in Ireland last year, equating to 10 deaths every month, with drownings often happening quickly, silently and in shallow water.

Rosslare Small Boats Festival

The Irish boat

Screaming Reels

with its crew from Rosie’s Sea Angling Club in

Midleton

, Co Cork, took top honours again in this year’s Rosslare Small Boats Festival. This is the eight year for this angling team to clinch the title, beating 43 boats with 30 species.

The festival, sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Garmin, Daiwa, Wexford County Council, Fáilte Ireland, Sea Angler magazine and IPB Insurance, attracted 140 anglers from Britain and Ireland and is estimated to generate €300,000 to the local economy.

Weather was challenging with gale-force winds delaying the start, however, the winds eased during the week allowing boats to launch from Kilmore Quay. The winning boat consisted of Martyn Rayner, Seirt Shults and Neville Murphy. Second place went to the boat Even Less from Gosport Angling Club in Portsmouth with 28 species and Joe 90 from Isle of Wight finished in third position with 26 species.

A marine fish tank manned by IFI staff was on hand to display fish species on offer from Kilmore Quay such as ballan wrasse, smoothound, gurnard and dabs. A huge effort was made to release all species back alive to the ocean, which was supported by Kilmore Quay harbour master and staff at Wexford County Council.

The prize-giving ceremony at Redmond’s The Bay included a fantastic array of prizes worth c. €20,000 and a presentation was made to the Kilmore Quay Lifeboat.

John Belger, UK organiser, said: "I would like to congratulate all competitors on their success at the 31st Rosslare Small Boats festival and look forward to seeing you all next year."

Next year’s event will take place from September 9th-16th. Further information is available from jbandfirefly@aol.com or josie.mahon@fisheriesireland.ie.

Fly fishing in Wales

Ireland finished a close second to

Scotland

in the recent international fly fishing autumn match at Llandegfedo Reservoir in Wales with more fish but unfortunately less weight. However, Ireland’s

Andrew Duncan

achieved best basket with seven fish for 5.4kg (12lb).

England

took bronze and the “wooden spoon” went to Wales.

angling@irishtimes.com