FORMER world cup winner Julie Gerry lived up to her reputation as one of the finest fly fishers in Ireland with a comprehensive win at last weekend's three-day catch-and-release boat competition on Knockaderry Reservoir in Kilmeaden, Co Waterford.
Julie is no stranger to the winning enclosure. Since the big win in 2005 she has won countless competitions including the recent final qualifier for the ladies international team at Eskragh Lough, Co Tyrone, with nine fish.
This year's competition at Knockaderry was a joint affair between the resident club, Waterford City & County Trout Anglers' Association and Dunbullogue & District Anglers, Co Cork, under the guidance of chairman Michael Drinan.
Conditions throughout were mixed, with a persistent south-easterly creating turbulence and making for uncomfortable fishing. Nevertheless, the 45 brave hearts persisted and managed 95 trout, the largest reaching 66cm (about 6lb).
On finals day, Julie opted for a Di3 line with a multi-coloured blob. “I picked up a few fish close to the far shoreline and then noticed fish pitching down the middle. From here I completed my catch of six,” she said.
Knockaderry is a magnificent fly fishery nestled in rolling countryside just 10km from Waterford City and holds an excellent stock of brown and rainbow trout. The lake is huge (in excess of 70 acres), with an average depth of six feet and is open all year round.
On this, my first visit, I was bowled over by the facilities afforded to visiting anglers. Included are tarmacadam car park, pontoon marina, toilet facility and a fleet of fine boats. A wheelie boat is also available for anglers with disabilities.
Club secretary David Tantrum, said: "In order to achieve our goal, we obtained substantial grants from, among others, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Leader Programme, and a tremendous hands-on effort by club members."
I spent a most enjoyable afternoon fishing with David on nearby Carrigavantry Reservoir, again controlled by the Waterford club. Facilities here are similar to Knockaderry (if not better, though smaller in size) with two marinas, wheelie boat and all mod cons.
In very choppy waters, our two-hour stint yielded a hard- fighting 3lb rainbow on a Silver Invicta and several follow-ons. Loss of battery power forced an early close of play.
Day tickets cost €25pp and boat hire €15, electric engines are a must and bag limit is four fish. Permits can be purchased at tantrumd@gmail.comat and Centra Supermarket in Kilmeaden.
At the prizegiving in O'Donnacha's restaurant in Kilmeaden, Michael Drinan paid tribute to the sponsors which included Soldarini Fly Tackle and Hardy Greys. Tantrum said: "We are especially grateful to IFI for their support. When I informed them I was Welsh, they replied: 'We are always pleased to work with a taffy!'"
My thanks to Connie and David for putting up with me for a few days.
Results: 1, J Gerry, 6 fish, 282pts; 2, S Bird, 5f; 3, D Drinan, 173pts; 4, J O'Keeffe, 163pts; 5, R Crichton, 145pts.
On the beach Most days Portrane Beach in north Co Dublin is quiet an ideal shoreline to walk the dog and take in some fresh sea air. Not so last Saturday morning when more than 30 anglers were scattered along the beach.
"What's going on," I asked. "We're holding a fundraiser for one of our friends who died recently," I was told. Evan Maundsley (23) died suddenly seven weeks ago.
The competition was organised by his girlfriend, Hannah, and two pals, Leigh Barnwell and Josh Hand, to raise funds for a headstone. The event raised more than €2,000.
Flat calm conditions meant a poor return and this was borne out with just two flounders brought in.
However, the previous week, heavy seas resulted in bass anglers having a bonanza with a 12lb-plus, an 8lb and six school bass caught at Portrane.
angling@irishtimes.com
