Any salmon angler or conversationalist who campaigned for the wild Atlantic salmon are now dejected after learning of the decision by the new regime in Dublin under Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Mr Pat Rabbitte TD to reopen what was classified as a mixed stock fishery in Castlemaine Harbour near Cromane in County Kerry.   

As news of the decisions from Fishery District Committees arrive in our office it is apparent that stocks are in serious decline and the policy will not change anytime soon. For example, one river in Donegal has a surplus of 194 fish to be divided up between 200 anglers and 10 draft licenses (some from closed Bays miles up the coast) which left under ten tags for each netsman and over half of the anglers having to catch and release again for the second year running. It is madness to allow commercial netting on a fishery that warrants brown tags for anglers, yet this happens year after year by people being paid from our licence revenue.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Pat Rabbitte T.D., has announced plans to re-open licensed commercial fishing in Castlemaine Harbour, following receipt of the results of the pilot fishery undertaken there in 2010.

The Minister in announcing the statutory 30 day public consultation on the required amendment to the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme for 2011 to provide for the opening of the fishery, highlighted that he has asked IFI to ensure full enforcement of the associated salmon conservation bye-laws and regulations and also to ensure adherence to the quota set for the commercial fishery in the harbour.

Now that we are well into the season, anglers are eagerly waiting for that magic sentence "the fly is up".

Fly patterns that has proved well on the Irish Loughs has been the humpy and the stimulator.  Although not native patterns to Ireland, these have been tried and tested with great results.

What I have been doing over the past month is looking at these patterns with a view of modifying them for use on the Irish Loughs.  This month we are going to tie the humpy with a difference.  Instead of the traditional wing of Elk hair I have replaced it with CBC dyed light olive,sooty olive and yellow to represent the different stages of the May fly when it has emerged.

CDC HUMPY

Hook Kamasan b15 no 10

Silk Brown 8/0

Tail Summer Elk hair

Body either sooty olive golden olive depending on your preference

Wing CDC dyed sooty olive medium olive golden olive also depending on your preference

Hackle Sooty olive medium olive golden olive

1. When dressing this pattern it is best to tie in the CDC when it is secured to the hook lift up the CDC and bring the silk in  front and make several turn so the CDC sits up at an angle of around 60o

2. Tie in the small bunch of Elk hair for the tail

3. Dub on the body, this patter calls for a chunky body

4. Bring the elk hair over the body and tie in

5. Secure the hackle behind the CDC and wind in six times behind the CDC then bring the hackle in front of the CDC and another six turns.  A good quality saddle is well worth purchasing for this as it will last a life time and can be used on  numerous patterns.

This month starts with the sad news of one of Ireland’s top fly dressers Rod Tye succumbing to his long term illness passing away last week.  It was nearly a year to the day since I rang him in the hospital passing on good wishes from all the fly dressers from the Loughs Agency show in 2008.

I believe I can say that his contribution to fly dressers by way of his incredibly dyed materials and innovative patterns will remain with us for many years to come. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family.