NEWS FOR "SEPTEMBER" FROM THE IRISH FEDERATION OF PIKE ANGLING CLUBS



CONSERVATION OF COARSE FISH IN EASTERN REGIONAL FISHERIES BOARD AREA
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board has applied to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to introduce a bye law to protect coarse fish stocks in its area.
The bye-law, if introduced, would ban the killing of all coarse fish in lakes, rivers and canals from Louth to Wexford. Over the past number of years organised gangs have been systematically cleaning out entire fisheries in the region using legal and illegal fishing methods. Reports from the Dublin area say that it is almost completely devoid of coarse fish. As the waters in the Dublin area become fished-out these gangs move on to waters outside the capital and it is now emerging that these waters are suffering a similar fate.
Areas hardest hit are the lakes around Carrickmacross in Co. Monaghan and Virginia in Co. Cavan. Attempts were made three years ago to have a similar bye-law introduced in the Dublin Area but failed because of lack of adequate personnel to enforce it. It can only be hoped that this attempt to protect the remaining coarse fish stocks in the area will come to fruition.


POWER BOATS & JET SKIS
Lough Ramor, near Virginia in Co. Cavan is now the venue for the one of the largest inshore powerboat and jet-ski race meetings in Ireland.
Each Sunday a large flotilla of these craft can be seen racing up and down the lake totally disregarding all other water users. The last Government promised to introduce legislation to control the use of these craft, however, this seems not to have happened. We know of only one lake, Lough Owel, where they have been banned by the Local Authority. The question arises whether these craft are insured or licensed in any way. If another user of the waterway is killed or injured who is deemed responsible? Recently a race for very large powerboats took place on Lough Ramor. Objections were raised with the organisers of the race by the Virginia & District Coarse & Pike Angling Club on the unsuitability of the lake for such racing but to no avail. It is claimed that as a result of the racing the lake bottom was churned up causing vast clouds of silt to be washed down the River Blackwater for several miles towards Kells.
We have received no reports of any fish being killed to date, however, a possible action could be brought for loss of amenity if the poor fishing conditions experienced after the race continues.
We will be raising our concerns with the Local Authority and fishery board on behalf of the affected clubs.


"PURE FISHING" ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR PIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS
All eight heats of the competition have now been held. This year's competition was a great success with the most number of heats ever ran and record numbers of anglers competing.
The final will be held on Sunday 21st September in Arvagh, Co. Cavan. All juniors who have qualified from the heats are asked to check-in at the Breffni Arms Hotel from 10.30 am with fishing from 12 to 5 pm. The All-Ireland Junior team competition is being run in conjunction with the individual event. Teams of four in both under-13 and under-18 are asked to check-in at the same venue from 10.30. The entry fee is €20 per team and clubs may enter as many teams in both categories as they like. Anglers must be either under 13 or under 18 on the date of the competition. The winners of the competitions in both categories will receive the Federation perpetual trophies, gold medals and valuable tackle prizes with medals and tackle prizes for the runners-up. The Executive Committee is looking at making some changes to the competition. It is proposed to run the team event separate from the individual event and to spread the heats over a longer period of time. We would welcome the views of clubs and individuals in this regard.


KINGSPAN NATIONAL PIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2003
The third heat of the 2003 competition was held on the River Barrow at Athy, Co. Kildare on Sunday 8th June. 44 anglers fished the heat in warm sunny conditions recording 65 fish the best fish being 18 lbs 8 ozs to Newbridge angler Eugene McCabe.
The results were as follows:-
1 Alan Mulcahy, Thomondgate Anglers, Limerick, 4 fish, 25 lbs 10 ozs
2 Eugene McCabe, Newbridge Pike Anglers, 3 fish, 22 lbs 8 ozs
3 Michael Padden, Ballina Pike Anglers, 3 fish 18 lbs
4 Shane Heffernan, Newbridge Pike Anglers, 1 fish, 15 lbs 12 ozs
5 Tommy Regan, North Longford Anglers, 2 fish 14 lbs 13 ozs

The fourth heat of the competition was held on Camlough, Co Armagh on Sunday 6th July. The venue was switched from the Newry Canal because of restoration work on the canal in preparation for next year's European Coarse Angling Championships. 46 anglers landed 65 pike, the best fish of the day at 12 lbs 12 ozs was caught by Brenton Sweeney, Cootehill.
The top 5 anglers who qualified were:-
1st. Brenton Sweeney, Cootehill & District Anglers, 2 fish, 15 lbs 9 ozs
2nd. Pat Gorman, Tullamore & District Angling Club Anglers, 4 fish, 12 lbs 9 ozs
3rd. Gary McKeown, Newry Pike Anglers, 3 fish 12 lbs 4 ozs
4th.. Ronan Murray, Cootehill & District Anglers, 4 fish 11 lbs 15 ozs
5th. Eddie Keogh, Piking Pirates, 2 fish 10 lbs 11 ozs

The fifth heat of the competition was held on Clae Lake, Keady, Co Armagh on Sunday 10th August. 53 anglers fished the heat in bright conditions which had a bearing on the low weights returned. Just 35 fish were recorded. The five happy winners were as follows:-
1st , Anthony Muldoon, Belfast Individuals, 4 fish 18lbs 6 ozs
2nd, Jim Slevin, Keady Pike Anglers, 5 fish 9 lbs 6 ozs
3rd, Shane Harker, Keady Pike Anglers, 1 fish 8 lbs
4th, Ibar Condron, Tullamore & District Anglers, 2 fish 7 lbs 10 ozs
5th, Tony Maguire, Keady Pike Anglers, 1 fish 5 lb

The next heats are as follows:-
7th September, Lough McNean, Blacklion, Co Cavan
12th October, Claregalway River (Note change of date from 5th October)
2nd November, Lough Gowna, Co Longford.

*Note : Check in for the Lough McNean heat will take place at the car park on the Blacklion to Manorhamilton Road approximately 1 mile from Blacklion.


AFFILIATIONS & INSURANCE
The Federation is pleased to announce that Rynn-Shannon & District Angling Club has affiliated. This brings to 6 the number of new clubs affiliated this year. All insurance matters have finally been resolved. The Safety Statement along with a list of recommendations is now ready and will be sent out to all affiliated clubs within the next few weeks. We have also received individually numbered policy cover notes from the insurance company, which will be distributed with the Safety Statement. There is an onus on affiliated clubs to appoint a Safety Officer. He/she will be obliged to bring the safety statement to the notice of club members and to receive signatures from them indicating that they are aware of the contents. We will then require a letter from each club Safety Officer stating that this task has been carried out. It is essential that each club adhere to the conditions so as to be sure their insurance cover is not jeopardized in any way. Remember adhering to good safety practices makes common sense and is in the interests of all anglers so that we all can continue to enjoy our sport.


INTERNATIONAL PIKE CHALLENGE
The UK will host the International Pike Challenge between Ireland and Great Britain this year. The two-day match will be held in the Cambridgeshire area on the first weekend of October.
The top-10 pike anglers from each country will compete for the Federation Cup on different stretches of the Old Bedford River. We are very familiar with this water having competed against the UK team here on three different occasions and won. Ireland has a great record in this competition having won it on seven out of eleven meetings.

The Irish Team is as follows:-
Marty Lawlor, Belfast (Team Captain),
John Marshall, Keady,
George Dillon, Dublin,
Terry Sheridan, Cavan,
John Chambers, Dublin,
Michael McKenna, Keady,
David Dennis, Drogheda,
Alan Mulcahy, Limerick,
Pat Gorman, Tullamore
John Boyle, Longford.

We wish the team well in the event and look forward to welcoming the Cup home again after its brief stay in the U.K.!!!!!!

September 2003

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