Hi Lads
I think to say that the Corrib is in trouble is a bit of an over exaggeration. Yes things have changed over the years and there is no doubt that the fishing has become more challenging but its a long way from being finished.
Pulling wet flies has become less efficient that is true but this is a product of our own making. The average size of trout caught on wet fly would be around 1 to 1.5lb with the odd 2-3lb fish thrown in for good measure. Now the pound to pound and a half fish don't seem to come as readily to the wets any more and the bigger fish seem only to be caught by the " buzzer men " or trollers. When anglers are asked what is wrong they cry water pollution, forestry, zebra mussel, African pond weed etc, etc, etc , but very few are willing to grasp the nettle which is the major reason for the big change in wild brown trout fishing, angling pressure or to be more precise greedy anglers killing large amounts of fish. The one to two pound fish they kill are the very fish that run to spawn and produce the next generation of trout that will inhabit the lough. The problem is the trout cant breed as quick as we can kill
In the last ten to fifteen years the loughs of Ireland have seen massive changes not only environmental but in angling pressure and methods.
The amount of anglers has quadrupled, every one has large boats and engines and most importantly tackle and fishing methods have come on in leaps and bounds. Now what you here around the loughs now is " oh them buzzer men have emptied the lough" and in reply the buzzer men blame the dappers and trollers each saying that the others chosen methods should be banned. This is a load of horse s**t. It is never the fault of the method, it is the angler behind the method that is to blame. I have seen trollers and dappers with 15 -20 dead fish in their boats, also fly fishermen with equally criminal amounts of dead fish in their boats but neither method is to blame it is the sheer greed of the angler that has to be called into question. As far as fly fishing is concerned yes buzzer fishing has been responsible for the death of alot of fish on Corrib,
ten years of raping the deeps of Mask have taken there toll and numerous competitions encouraging the killing of fish have changed what one can realistically expect to catch in a season on the wild loughs. What anglers have to grasp is that we must change our attitudes and realise that if we call ourselves anglers it is our duty to protect these wonderful fish and their environment and stop killing them for ego, food or what ever reason people dream up to justify their greed. In the last few years more and more anglers are coming around to the idea of catch and release and personally I believe this is why we still have any fishing at all but it needs the majority of anglers to come on board before things will change. No the Great loughs of the west are not finished by along shot but their future is in our hands, we can keep turning a blind eye, thumping fish on the head and blaming everyone and everything else for the tougher fishing, or we can stand up and be counted, return our fish, help out with and demand more development work on the loughs and streams and push for competitions to be run on a strict catch and release basis. Now I know that there will be those that will not agree with me but its how I see it and time I believe is proving me right. I think most anglers who love wild fishing know in their heart and soul that protection of our wild trout is the way forward,all we have to do is convert the non believers.
Tight Lines
Trout Hunter
Fishing Lough Mask in the morning.... anyone know if there are duckfly about yet?
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