The Telephone and Raymond Variant fly patterns proved the winning combination in last Sunday's Partry Angling Club Pairs competition for Peter Roache from Ballina and John Warren from Crossmolina.
“We fished the Gortmore shore area, never moving more than 200 metres, in and out all day. When we realised with the telephone fly that yellow was the colour fish were on, we added a Raymond and went on to catch our quota of four trout each,” Roache said.
Anglers had the option of fly fishing or dapping on either Carra or Mask. However, following the excellent returns from Mask of late, most decided on the daphnia feeders in the bigger lake.
Now in its 26th year, the Partry competition is a wonderful occasion, well supported and enjoyed by all competitors. All funds raised go towards fisheries development work on Mask and Carra and, in that regard, proceeds to date exceed €60,000.
Consultation over Memorandum
The
Ulster
Angling Federation
(UAF) has received an assurance from Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs that it will be consulted over a proposed “Memorandum of Understanding” with farmers over pollution problems.
The federation wrote to the Minister, Michelle McIlveen, expressing concern that members wish to be included in any discussions regarding the memorandum’s content. To date, discussions have taken place with the Ulster Farmers’ Union, but no decisions have been taken.
Robbie Marshall, UAF development officer, said: "Any memorandum would have to be approved by Europe before the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Ulster Farmers' Union agree to sign-off. This memorandum covers only low severity incidents which do not involve a fish kill."
Pollution from farms remains a major killer of fish, and anglers have called for a tougher regime to prevent run-off into waterways.
Last week the Loughs Agency issued the following guidance to farmers: "The moisture content of the current grass crop is very high and without suitable weather conditions to allow wilting when cut, will give rise to a higher than usual flow of effluent when ensiled. The Agency would ask the farming community to take this into consideration when harvesting and ensure they have adequate storage for the increased flow of effluent."
Sensas crowned champions
Two teams from the Leinster-based BSI Sensas AC are the proud holders of the Bobby Smither’s Cup and duly crowned NCFFI Club Champions of 2016, following last weekend’s championships on the Grand Canal at
Daingean
, Co Offaly. The two-day match also served to select the team to represent Ireland at the world club championships.
The Sensas AC teams, named Green and Black, entered the challenge against Kingfisher AC, Tubertini Match Club and Fermoy AC. However, at close of play the Green team members, Damien Maddock, Pat Bartley, Conor Browne, Fint Browne and Matt Kemmy emerged victorious.
Winning team manager Gavin Walsh's intuition that end pegs would almost guarantee to be section winners proved correct with A and E sections victorious both days.
The teams plan consisted of feeding one ball of ground bait with a pinch of pinkies and caster with chopped red worm fed on two lines. Hemp was fed at 13m looking for the better quality fish.
This worked on Saturday with a wind blowing up the canal but not in flat calm conditions of Sunday. Local knowledge prevailed as the water appeared coloured when, in fact, this was the boggy canal bottom. The winning team fished three foot of line between pole and float to prevent spooking the fish.
Results: 1, Sensas Green, 19 pts; 2, Sensas Black, 26 pts; 3, Tubertini MC, 32 pts; 4, Kingfisher AC, 36 pts; Fermoy AC, 38 pts.
Victory for young Irish anglers
Ireland’s young anglers won top honours at the recent 32nd Four
Nations Youth
International Fly Fishing competition on Lough Lein in
Killarney
, Co Kerry. Top Irish rod with 12 trout and overall winner of the coveted Brown Bowl went to
Ciaran Flaherty
from Galway. Biggest fish prize went to team captain
Jack Egan
from Cavan.
Results: 1, Ireland – gold with 82 trout; 2, Scotland – silver with 64 trout; 3, England – bronze with 52 trout, and Wales received the wooden spoon with 35 trout.
Team manager Frank Dempsey said Susan Randles from Randles Court Hotel and Dromhall Hotel, left no stone unturned to make sure the teams were well catered for.
angling@irishtimes.com
