The village of Baile Bhúirne (Ballyvourney) in west Cork will come alive this week with the hosting of the Five Nations Fly Fishing Championship by the Trout Anglers' Federation of Ireland (Tafi).
The event, which is worth in excess of €50,000 to the area, will host 45 anglers from England, Scotland, France, Belgium and Ireland, fishing waters in the Lee Valley, North Cork and Killarney.
The official opening will take place with a parade at 6.30pm today in Kanturk and the closing ceremony and prize-giving will be held on Saturday at the Mills Inn in Baile Bhúirne.
Representing Ireland are: T Ankatell (captain); M Twohig; J O'Keeffe (manager); J Buckley; R Phelan; H Hutchinson; S Butler; C Leoppard; C Kennedy; M Clelland; R Gibbons; J Kellegher; I Cox and S McGrane.
IFI appointment
The Minister of State for Natural Resources, Joe McHugh, has appointed Fintan Gorman as chairperson of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on a five-year term of office. The Minister thanked the outgoing chairperson, Brendan O'Mahony, for his work since the establishment of IFI five years ago.
Night sea trout course
Following the successful Match the Hatch fishing courses, Prof Ken Whelan and Jason O'Sullivan are planning a river and night sea trout course on Saturday 15th and the morning of Sunday 16th August on the River Slaney's Clohamon Fishery, Bunclody, Co Wexford.
Participants will have access to this prime river beat from 2pm on the 15th until well into darkness, and continue on the following morning. An evening meal will be provided and a selection of accommodation is available in the Bunclody area.
The cost is €200 per person (excl accommodation) and each participant will receive a boxed selection of six recommended sea trout flies. As places are limited, contact ASAP: joriordan0@gmail.com or ken@kenwhelan.info.
Lough Corrib catches
On Lough Corrib, Declan Gibbons reports that fishing was relatively quiet. However, two first-time visitors to Corrib View Lodge, Tony Ling and Tony Donnelly, enjoyed spectacular fishing over four days. The early morning caenis rise produced some good trout including a personal best for Tony Ling of 5lbs 10oz. All trout were sportingly released.
Bill Lytham, an angling guide in the UK, had 10 good trout over three mornings. All fish were between one and three pounds. Bill also enjoyed an evening's fishing on the Clare River with a river beauty of 2lbs 12oz.
Salmon fishing
On Lough Inagh fishery, salmon fishing in June was above average with 20 fish landed, 10 from Inagh and 10 from the river beats. Water levels at present are very high, which is bringing in good numbers of salmon. Most of the fish are around 6lbs, but some landed reached 8, 9, 12 and 15lbs.
The sea trout run has started, but no big numbers are entering so far. Congrats to Inagh Lodge barman Thomas Moran on landing his first fish, a 6lb grilse from Derryclare Butts on a Green Highlander. (086-867 9459 for bookings.)
Ballynahinch Fishery produced 11 salmon last week, among them a 9.5lb fish by Frank Flaherty on Beat 6 with a Silver Rat, Nicky Strauss landed two grilse on Beat 1 on a Van Beck Special and Stephen Cullinane also managed a grilse on Beat 6 on a Cascade. (Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, 095-31006.)
Sea trout
Screebe Lodge will be expecting a good run of grilse and sea trout. With the lakes close to the estuary, there is less dependence on floods to entice the fish in. For bookings, contact 091-574110.
Newry club outing
The recently reformed Newry Coarse Fishing Club had its first outing last Sunday on Camlough Lake. An enjoyable day was rounded off with a barbecue organised by Polish members Daniel Skorczynski and Marcin Jankowski. Entry fees were donated to Ballybay AC cancer fund. Results: 1, D Wilson.16kg.7gms of bream and roach; 2, K Maguire, 4kg.2gm; 3, O McGauley, 3kg.6gms.
angling@irishtimes.com
