Sport

The Reel Thing: Reasons to be cheerful as season comes to an end

WHILE the 2016 season seems to be limping to a rather quiet close, with much of it ending after tomorrow for game anglers, there are reasons for optimism and some exciting events to look forward to.

By all accounts there were significant runs of salmon earlier in the season on a number of rivers, although it was by no means universal.

From what I understand the Lower Bann had a fantastic increase compared to recent years and this can only bode well for future stocks. Those of us who visited the Bush also saw great numbers of fish, although how the total run pans out remains to be seen.

Anecdotal reports tell me that the Strule, Mourne and Finn, to name three of the Foyle Rivers, all fished well with a number of big fish reported from the Mourne.

Unfortunately, probably for reasons best known to the officials involved, there are no official reports from the Loughs Agency on these famous rivers on either their catch records or on up-to-date counter figures.

In Donegal the Drowes, like some other rivers, also enjoyed an excellent and somewhat prolonged grilse run.

What will happen with next year’s spring run could be an interesting question.

Further south the Inland Fisheries Ireland seem to have had no problems in reporting excellent catches of large salmon (20lbs+) from the Suir and perhaps the best year the Munster Blackwater has seen in some time.

Meanwhile, in Connemara, where conditions have allowed – that is to say where salmon farms have lain fallow many would say – sea trout runs and sizes have recovered and provided great sport on the likes of Kylemore Abbey Fishery.

Next week (October 8-9) the ninth edition of the FIPS World Championship Predator Boat Angling with Lures on Lough Ree and the River Shannon takes place.

The Ballyleague/Lanesborough location will be the hub for the 17 nations taking part.

Teams will consist of four anglers from each nation fishing in pairs for pike and perch using artificial lures only. Thirty-four boats will be launched from Ballyleague Marina to facilitate the anglers. For more information, visit www.ncff1.ie/ wbc16.

Arguably Ireland’s biggest and best game angling show will take place on the November 12-13 at the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill with the seventh edition of The Irish Fly Fair & International Angling Show taking place.

Some of the participants include Scotland’s legendary Eoin Fairgrieve and Gordon Armstrong with Ireland’s Peter O’Reilly, Stevie Munn and Glenda Powell with Wales’s Hywel Morgan.

Multiple tackle trade representatives, along with free fly-tying lessons, a youth fly-tying competition, talks from Tom ‘Doc’ Sullivan, Ken Whelan and other attractions make this a weekend not to be missed. For more information, visit www.irishflyfair.com.