CONSUMERS concerned about sustainable seafood now have an option for Atlantic land-raised salmon from Kuterra farm on northern Vancouver Island, Canada. The farm is owned by the Namgis First Nation and was founded in response to concerns about wild salmon and the marine environment.
The salmon’s first retailer is Safeway-Sobeys in British Columbia and Alberta. They are grown without pesticides or antibiotics. Optimal growth conditions mean the fish grow to market size in half the time of conventional ocean-grown salmon and with 30 per cent less feed.
“With the start of retail sales, Kuterra is a step closer to achieving its goal of proving the economic viability of growing Atlantic salmon on land,” says communications director Jo Mrozewski.
Cascade tube fly John O’Connor sends details of a magnificent Moy salmon of 20.5lb (9.5kg) caught by game angling instructor Paddy Keenan, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, on his own tying of a cascade tube fly at the Long Bank on East Mayo club waters.
It took 20 minutes to subdue the big fish and when about to land, it managed to leap out of the landing net. It took another 10 minutes to get the salmon safely on the bank whereupon it was weighed by water-keeper Jim Kavanagh and witnessed by Sam Lewis.
Caught on the troll Spring salmon fishing on Lough Currane in Waterville, Co Kerry, got off to a flying start in March and April with good number of springers coming to the boats. The fish averaged 10lb and most were caught on the troll.
As April came in, so did some of the specimen sea trout for which Currane is famous. At least nine specimens up to 9.5lb have been reported so far. The number of salmon reported averaged 10 per cent up on last year despite a distinct lack of fishing effort early on.
At present we eagerly await the summer run of sea trout and already good numbers have been seen running the new fish counter on the Butler Pool. These fish mark the start of the cream of the season’s sport, fly fishing on the drift with a team of wet flies.
Early brown trout on the Upper Lakes, particularly on Derriana, was very good with baskets of fine conditioned fish boated, some in the 3lb class. The annual Duck Fly Deal, run by Waterville Fisheries Development was well supported on the Upper Lakes. Remembering Eamon Tonge The Swallows annual competition took place on Sheelin last weekend in memory of Eamonn Tonge, a great angling friend and well-respected salmon and trout angler who fished and captained both Leinster and Ireland teams. Eamonn’s brother Kevin won with a fine trout of 4.1lb (1.8kg), second was David O’Connor and third Ger Hanley. More than 30 cracking trout were caught and mostly released.
The get-together is arranged by Eamonn’s children Maeve, Aoife and Niall and next year, on the 10th anniversary, the event will be held on Corrib, fishing out of Cornamona. Ar dheis De a anam
I, too, spent a magical few days on Sheelin with boating partner Oliver McCormack. The mayfly was up in big numbers particularly in Walkers Bay where we met and caught some lovely fish including a five-pounder for Oliver. (I had mayflies flying around my kitchen for two days afterwards.)
Cracking five-pounder The good Mayfly fishing continued on Arrow with many fine brown trout in the 3lb (1.5kg) range. Gerard Martin caught a cracking five-pounder on the spent while young Charlie Cooke, Bonniconlon, did well on the dap catching a 1.5 lb trout.
Fly-fishing festival Lough Conn & Cullin Anglers’ Association celebrates its 50th anniversary with a fly-fishing festival on Conn on May 31st and June 1st from Gortnor Abbey Pier, Crossmolina, Co Mayo.
Entry fee of €100 with boat and engine or €130 angler only, includes dinner each night. A 19ft Sheelin boat; framed set of flies and the Tolan & Traynor Perpetual Cup make up first prize. Entries to Pádraic Traynor (086-6052687) or Orla Walsh (087-214 4395).
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