Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
Thursday 20th March 2008
The annual media fly fishing competition took place on Friday, 14th March at Annamoe Fishery, Annamoe, Co. Wicklow. Organised by the Irish Times, Annamoe Fishery and the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, the event has proved extremely popular over the years and now attracts the top angling broadcast and print media from Ireland and the UK.
Michael Flanagan and an Anamoe Rainbow Trout
16 anglers from a variety of broadcast and print media took part in the competition on the scenic fly fishing lake in Annamoe Fishery including Derek Davis and Fergal Keane from RTE; Dick Warner from the Irish Examiner; Paddy O’Flaherty from BBC Radio Ulster; Michael Flanagan from the Sunday World; Gillian Mills from Inshore Ireland and Ceri Jones from Trout Fisherman to name but a few. 49 hard fighting rainbow trout were caught, recorded and released during the competition. A minnow was also caught by newcomer Gillian Mills but unfortunately that couldn’t be counted!
It was a very close contest again this year with the top two teams, Trout Fisherman and the Irish Times recording 10 fish each. However, once the total points were added up, it was the Trout Fisherman team of Welsh angler Ceri Jones and Julie Gerry that won out with a total of 465 points. Ceri and Julie were presented with the beautiful perpetual Waterford Crystal trophy sponsored by Failte Ireland.
Ceri Jones and Julie Gerry of Trout Fisherman get first prize
Ceri continued his winning streak and also took home a beautiful mounted display of trout flies tied by Jimmy Tyrell of Irish Fly Craft and sponsored by Irish Countryman’s Weekly for catching the largest fish (53cm) and a weekend away at the Glendalough Hotel for catching the tagged fish. Ceri is a regular visitor to Ireland and usually goes fishing out West and in the Southwest but this was his first experience of fishing on the East. In order to show Ceri the fantastic wild brown trout fishing available in the region, the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board in conjunction with Failte Ireland organised for Ceri to fish on the Saturday and Sunday with top angling guide John Higgins on the River Liffey in Newbridge, Co Kildare. The weather on Saturday should have made conditions difficult but under John’s guidance, Ceri still managed to catch 13 good sized trout on the Saturday and 12 on the Sunday. Ceri enjoyed the fishing in Kildare so much that he didn’t even stop to watch Wales beat France in the Grand Slam and he has already booked to return in April to continue fishing with John!
Second and third place winners, Derek Evans and Denis Coghlan (Irish Times) and Philip Lawton and David Wilkinson (Irish Countryman’s Weekly) also took home Waterford Crystal prizes. Derek Evans was also presented with the prize of a top quality Shimano rod, sponsored by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board for the second largest fish of 52cm. There was a fantastic array of prizes on offer at the ceremony in the Glendalough Hotel and the organisers, Derek Evans of the Irish Times and Brian Nally of Annamoe both thanked all the sponsors, particularly, Failte Ireland for providing the beautiful Waterford Crystal prizes as well as the co-sponsors Irish Game Fairs Ltd, the Glendalough Hotel and Irish Countryman’s Weekly.
Brian Nally of Annamoe Trout Fishery announced that he has decided to retire and he will be selling the fishery shortly. Brian has worked in Fisheries for the last 30 years and since taking over Annamoe, he has transformed it into one of the best fly-fisheries in Ireland. As well as looking after domestic and international anglers, hosting winter leagues and competitions etc; Brian has also contributed a great deal to the local community employing generations of young people from the Wicklow area. He was a pleasure to work with and a true gentleman and we wish him all the very best in his retirement.
……Ends…..
For more information on fishing in the Eastern Region, please contact Marketing Angling Co-ordinator, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, 01-2787022 or visit www.fishingireland.net
| Place | Team | Names | No. of Fish | Points* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trout Fisherman |
Ceri Jones Julie Gerry |
10 | 465 |
| 2 | Irish Times |
Derek Evans Denis Coghlan |
10 | 453 |
| 3 | Irish Countryman’s Weekly | Philip Lawton
David Wilkinson |
9 | 408 |
| 4 | Hooked on the Moy | John Geary
David Faichney |
8 | 366 |
| 5 | RTE | Fergal Keane
Derek Davis |
5 | 225 |
| 6 | Sunday World/Irish Anglers Digest | Michael Flanagan
Jimmy Tyrell |
4 | 175 |
| 7 | BBC Ulster Radio/Irish Examiner | Paddy O’Flaherty
Dick Warner |
3 |
134 |
| 8 | Inshore Ireland | Gillian Mills
Tim Magennis |
0 |
0 |
No. of Teams competing = 8
No. of Fish landed = 49
Tagged Fish = Ceri Jones (Trout Fisherman)
Largest Fish = Ceri Jones (Trout Fisherman) 53cm
2nd largest Fish = Derek Evans (Irish Times) 52cm
17th March saw the opening of the Tolka Rivers in Dublin. The opening day produced good fishing for stocked rainbow and wild brown trout with more than 50 fish were caught on the day. The Competition was sponsored by The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, Josie Mahon (representing Dublin Angling Initiative) was on hand to present the prizes and despite the bad weather a great day was had by all who participated. Anglers fly fishing could try beaded weighted nymphs, wet iron blue duns and bloody butchers. Anglers are encouraged to return wild fish.
Results of Jnr. Competition (From Eamon Lynch, Tolka Trout Anglers)
First : Kyle McCormick with a fish of 1lbs 10 and a quarter oz's
Second : Daren Hanlon With a fish of 1lbs 9 and a half oz's
Third: : Jake Vavasour With a fish of 1lbs and 8 and a half oz's
Results of the Snr. Competition
First Paul (Wogga) Barnes with a fish of 2lbs and 1and 3quarter oz's
Second : David McCormick with a fish of 1lbs and 10 and half oz's
Third: Stephen O'Reily with a fish of 1lbs and 7oz's
Pictures available at this link look for Patricks weekend 2008 > www.picasaweb.google.com/tolkatroutanglers
St. Patrick’s Day saw the opening day for the River Dodder. A good head of fish were caught up to 2lbs in weight. The majority were caught on bait. Fly fishing is encouraged as is returning wild fish. Wet olive patterns, iron blue duns, weighted nymphs and bloody butchers should work well in the coming weeks.
This fishery has been fishing well. On Sunday 16th March several fish were caught on fly in the rainbow trout lake. Several of these were over 8lbs in weight and one angler had a fish of 22lbs! Buzzer patterns are working well as are lures, zonkers, fritz (black and green) and black buzzers. Most anglers are having success fishing intermediate lines with 10 foot leaders.