Gaelic football was never more exciting as in Burkes of Clonbur last weekend as Galway took on their arch-rivals Mayo for a place in the Connacht final. Close to the Mayo border, Burkes lounge was packed to capacity with a good sprinkling of both sets of supporters.
When the final whistle blew, signalling a win for Galway by three points, the cheering and excitement almost brought the house down. It had taken Galway eight years to record this historic win.
The media angling group were there too, not only to enjoy the game but to take in some fishing on Mask and to enjoy the hospitality offered by the Burke family. It was to be a return visit which again lived up to expectations.
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Along with boating partner Maurice Neill from the County Down Spectator and boatman Mike Hegarty from Killarney, we headed for the Ballykeine Rocks area with little success. Moving to the Inishocht shoreline and surrounding low-line rock formations, I boated three good trout and a few undersized.
While conditions were good, make no mistake, it was hard grafting to entice those wily fish. I found the Stimulator on the top dropper and Cock Robin to be most successful. As always, the key to success was the boatman, and Mike Hegarty certainly fitted the bill hands down. He simply loves those quarries!
Highlight of the day was the lunchtime pit-stop for nosh up on Saints Island of local white pudding and sausages wrapped in bread rolls and washed down with strong billy-can tea. Finger-licking good!
Our second day was marred with persistent rain and gusting strong wind. One hour out and we called it a day. Pity.
Thanks to our boatmen, Pat O'Donnell, Paul Geraghty, Noel Moran and Mike Hegarty for giving of their time and expertise. Much appreciated. And next time in Connemara, call in to Burkes of Clonbur for a meal. You will not be disappointed (087-9099593).
Big fish kill
Inland Fisheries
Ireland
(IFI) has investigated a major fish kill on the Yellow River, a tributary of the Sinking River near
Dunmore
, Co. Galway, which flows into the
Clare River
.
The stream is an important spawning and nursery habitat for young trout and salmon. An immediate inspection revealed large numbers of dead fish over almost one kilometre downstream. Dead crayfish were also found.
Staff traced the source of the pollution to silage effluent leaking from a silage pit on a nearby farm. Samples and photographs were taken, and a prosecution will be taken in light of the severe nature of the pollution.
IFI is again appealing to farmers to exercise vigilance when harvesting and making silage at this time of year. Water levels are low in many rivers, so any pollution has a much greater impact.
It is vital to prevent any leakage from silage pits, and to ensure slurry is only spread in suitable conditions well away from streams and drains.
Salmon conviction
At a recent sitting of
Ballina District Court
, Judge
John Lindsay
charged a Mayo man with possession of eight unlawfully caught salmon at
Lacken
Pier. The man pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined €160 and costs amounting to €250.
Judge Lindsay heard evidence that fishery officers had observed a car on Lacken Pier with liquid oozing from its underside, which they suspected to be blood and mucous from fish.
The car was searched and eight fresh net-marked salmon and an undersized lobster were found in the boot.
Good week in Galway
James Quinn reports on a fantastic week in Galway – perfect water levels, good weather and an excellent run of grilse to produce 92 fish, with many more exercising their right to early catch-and-release.
Water levels are perfect at the moment and grilse are running in good numbers on every tide, making for excellent fishing prospects.
Erriff picks up
On the Erriff fishery, manager
Osgur
Grieve said fishing has picked up with the first good run of sea trout showing. The heaviest were caught by
Daragh Faherty
and
Simon Hughes
of 1.1kg and 0.68kg respectively, and all returned.
Noel Doran had a great day, catching two salmon, his heaviest weighed 4.6kg and fell to a fly of his own tying called a Graham's Fancy, and visiting angler Ed Petagrew (US) caught a nice grilse of 1.4kg on an Ally's Shrimp.
The water is at 0.84m at the moment and anglers are reminded to check the website for special offers for club members.
Low water conditions
Costello and Fermoyle manager
Terry Gallagher
reports low water conditions prevailed up to Sunday which kept rod pressure low. That said, Padraic McDonagh managed to tease out a fresh off-the-tide grilse of 1.8kg on Beat 1.
“Then the heavens opened and the upper fishery was in full flood. As ever, when we get heavy rain, the lower river gets a rise even before the main flood hits. It was during this rise that our latest three grilse were caught,” he said.
For bookings, contact Terry at 087-2399988 or new email address gallaghere.terence@gmail.com
Ladies trial in Kilmeaden
The Irish Ladies Flyfishing team travelled to Carrigavantry Reservoir, Kilmeaden in Co
Waterford
recently to fish in the
Munster
trial qualifier for the team to fish the
Home
International next year on Lough Melvin.
Top three rods were Madeleine Kelly, 4 fish; Susan Brown, 3f; Michelle Hay, 2f. Club member Frank Fennelly got top boatman prize.
The trial was hosted by Waterford & City Trout Anglers’ Association who provided boats and boatmen, and the ladies hope to return to Carrigavantry in the near future, having enjoyed the fishing and hospitality extended by the fishing club.
For lady anglers interested in joining the association, contact ilfa1@eircom.net or irishladiesflyfishing.com
Carrowmore and Owenmore pick up
Angling on Carrowmore Lake and Owenmore River has picked up considerably and anglers on the lake enjoyed good sport for sea trout and grilse, while the first good flood of the season produced several nice fish on the river.
Regular visitors Erris Danny Verbessem and Paul De Neef from Belgium did particularly well, catching several fine salmon up to 5.4kg on the Owenmore River. All fish were caught on single barbless hooks and carefully released to the water.
Note: Carrowmore Lake is a brown tag fishery and the Owenmore River is strictly catch and release this year. For fishing, contact Seamus Henry on 097-83487 or bangorerrisangling.com.
angling@irishtimes.com.
