Fishing Report April 2005

Welcome to the first report of the new season! The fishing has got off to a slow enough start, with low temperatures and winds combining to make life difficult. The duckfly hatches have started on Conn, with Cloghans and Bog Bay featuring. Cullen too has seen some good hatches, with columns of adults like clouds of smoke along the shore at Pontoon.

First client of the season, Peter from Stafford, had a good day at the end of March - 5 trout, 2 perch and a jack pike! I had numerous fish follow the fly (a Zonker - what else!) but frustratingly, none of them wanted to take hold. With the sun behind us on a southwesterly breeze I think they saw the boat at the last minute.

The new engine (a Honda 15 HP 4-stroke) makes a big difference, using a lot less fuel in a day's fishing and giving a lot more power. Unfortunately it weighs so much that I'll have to go to the gym to build up enough muscle to lift it!

Since last year I have obtained the Level 2 Game Angling Instructor Certificate (which used to be STANIC). So I am now able to offer casting instruction and have been asked by one of the local clubs to do two sessions for their younger members in April. My own club, Conn and Cullen, have appointed me Youth Officer and we hope to do more work to bring youngsters into the sport.

I have also obtained the Institute of Fisheries Management Certificate in Fisheries Management which has given me a greater understanding of the issues facing angling in terms of water quality, pollution etc. I thought I'd done my last exams years ago, but somehow I keep needing to do new ones.

I have been invited to do a workshop on Modern Irish Lough Style Fishing at the Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave in Livingston, Montana in August. This week-long event is one of the major occasions of the US flyfishing scene and it is an honour to have been invited. I hope to fit in some fishing while I'm there!

As I write, the temperature is around 5 C and it's blowing a gale, so I won't be going fishing today! Next outing is a competition on Mask on Sunday. After that, it's competitions every weekend, with the Connacht on Corrib the highlight at the end of the month. I came fourth in this event last year so I've got a lot to live up to.

That's it for this month. I hope to have more fish to report next time.