It came to my notice that a decision was made that float tubes are banned on the Irish midland lakes.
That would include Sheelin, Owel, Ennell, and several others.

On enquiring with the Central Fisheries Board I was referred to the Shannon Region Fishery Board over those lakes who said it's not decided yet, but they are considering the matter and will let me know when the decision is made.

Bearing in mind the fait accomplais aspect to their suggestion "that I get back later" - now is a good time for anybody who has float tubed these lakes during their holidays, or anyone planning to do so, to let their wishes be known on this subject to the Shannon Regional Fishery Board.
The CEO is Eamon Cusack, and the Assistant CEO is Sean Ryan. Their email is info@shrfb.com

It is probably a good idea to copy any representations to the Central authority too. Their CEO is Ciaran Byrne and his email is ciaran.byrne@cfb.ie

Maybe you might let me know by PM if you made a representation as I will be talking with the people involved over the coming week, and it would be helpful for me to be aware of who has contacted who and said what!

This is a matter where a reasonable numbers of correspondence showing polite expression that you are interested in float tube fishing in Irish waters while on holidays may produce the result that you will still be entitled to do it later.
The right amount of feedback from float tube users now will affect the outcome positively.

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Norm

Float Tube Fishing 30+ years
Float Tubing Info Resource

Just posted a email in that direction.

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

Why would you want to f;oat tube on sheelin ?

Well why not? It's fun I guess.
As a comparison generally boats scare the fish in shallow water much more than tubes - mainly from wave lapping noises and the bigger shadow on the bottom, and I fish the shallows most of the time. When tubing I can go back over the same area many times and still get fish. The boat seems to work best when constantly covering new ground and fishing it once.
So when the weather is fine-ish tubings a very effective way to fish as an alternative to boating.
I fish from the tube more on Ennell and Owel but also get on Sheelin a few times a year.

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Norm

Float Tube Fishing 30+ years
Float Tubing Info Resource

Norm i aint having a go at you, , but "well why not" aint a answer the fishery board will take,
having dealt with mr cusack ,and mr ryan on more than one occasion the are well hardened to their beliefs on whats proper and what is acceptable,

the negative issue about fishing a big lough in a tube would have to be from a safety point of view,
1, big loughs contain lots of water that stays at a low temp for most of the year, , given the bad summers we have had i would imagine that the risk of cold or even hyperthermia would be a problem

2, been caught out in bad weather and drifting with the current or been swept away by large waves,

3, visibility, for yourself and for other boat users,

4. What monkey sees monkey do, others could see you in a tube and get in on the act with tubes from tractors etc etc, not purpose built ones, leading to a situation where no control means anyone can do it and could lead to health and safety issues,

their are other points norm but i reckon these are ones you have seen and heard before,

id imagine from a fitness point of view its great exercise but fatigue would be a factor ,


maybe concentrate on getting a club up and running and hold a float tube fly fishing competition,

Hi Liam
Aaah ... the tube vs boat debate !!!
Well to be clear about it - I am more of the opinion we should have both tube AND boat if we want.
Now for me, I personally prefer tubing when I can, but when I can't a boat is absolutely fine, just a lot harder to carry around. And that's just me. You are welcome to use a boat all the time too. But if these guys go ahead you won't be able to compare boat fishing with a tube on lakes in the biggest waterway of our country.
Feedom of choice and all that!

Now that's the main point. And I'd rather not divert the thread topic.

But as an aside in answer to your other parts ...

A quickie reply on the safety aspects, comparing with a SMALL boat or eg 10 - 14 feet: a boat will turn over on entry by beginners, fill up and be swamped when making headway into waves, and breaks on rocks and sinks. But a tube self bails, making it unswampable by waves, and is uncapsizeable, and bounces off rocks.
Wind and distance are the reason a BIG boat beats tubing on a BIG lough. But not every day is windy. Big loughs have smaller bays we can use. And we can launch close to our place of fishing. As I said due to reduced disturbance, we don't clear out a place of fish the way boats do, so smaller areas sustain fishing for longer.

Pls don't reply here on the 2nd part, I'd rather keep the topic on what is important just now. It's not a debate for me anyway. Everybody should be allowed to fish the way they want. It's not a zoo or garden with rules for everything, it's supposed to be fishing for wild fish.
Cheers
Norm

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Norm

Float Tube Fishing 30+ years
Float Tubing Info Resource

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Your all missing the point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The shannon regionall fishery boards monitor control and manage these lakes,
at the moment wether your aware of it or not their is a debate about registering boats???
Next will be the insurance, then the rod licence,
its coming down the road guys, like it or not, they dont want guys getting onto the lake without their boats been registered paying the fees etc, the tube is a obivious way around it,

watch and see!!!

No probs norm, i actually admire you for your stance
each to their own mate

I suggest , as a matter of urgency you contact the BFTA ( British Float Tube Assn ) and talk it through with them and get copies of their rules !

The way we did it here , against initially total opposition ( and it took me, personally , 3 years to get on anywhere in the mid 80's) was to set up the Association - come up with a Code of Safe Practise - begin Competitions - and I was fortunately sitting on assorted Committees of the Salmon and Trout Association during that time and managed to get the Association of Game Fishery Managers onside and the Salmon and Trout Association .

After that it was a matter of quiet gentlemanly persuasion backed up by the ever open offer to turn out 30-40 tubers for a ' match ' or even an exploratory session . It took us only a few years to access Rutland , for instance . We maybe overcooked things in the late 90's early noughties because when one water offered more followed and we have occasionally been embarrassed with an oversupply of offers we couldn't do justice to.

You must get organised - and rapidly ! And take as many organisations otherwise representing fly fishermen with you !

Best wishes and very good luck

Steve Parton

Steve , a simple question,

whats britain got to do irish loughs, shannon regional fisheries and people wishing to use float tubes on our waterways!!!!!