Ballisodare Angling Club in conjunction with the North Western Regional Fisheries Board organised a junior angling event on the Ballisodare Fishery on Monday last, 14 July, 2008.

Some of the Junior Anglers with their fish, along with North Western Regional Fisheries Board staff members, and members of the Ballisodare Angling Club.

   
Fifty-two budding young anglers enjoyed a fantastic day’s salmon angling on the Ballisodare River. The event was fished in three shifts from 8am-12, 12pm-4 and 4pm-8pm. The competition was supervised by staff from the North Western Regional Fisheries Board, members of the Ballisodare Angling Club and some visiting anglers. Tuition was given to the young anglers in various forms of angling methods and also in the importance of “Catch and Release”. Angling on the fishery must be booked in advance and the Ballisodare Angling Club is to be commended for allocating a full day to the junior anglers.

The winner of each category was presented with a trophy and the second placed junior received a prize. The overall winner was Seán Gallagher who caught the heaviest fish of 3.7 kg while fishing a prawn. Thomas O’Donovan, Chairman of the Ballisodare Angling Club presented Seán with a cup sponsored by the O Donovan Family. There were also numerous spot prizes given out on the day. Darren Kelly, on his first salmon fishing trip, won the prize for best fish on a worm with a nice 2.5 kg grilse. Karl Quigley had the best fish to the prawn, Jason Carroll took the best fly caught salmon. Rebecca Stokes took the prize for best girl angler and Ciaran Jennings won the prize for the smallest fish. 

Luke O’Connell, a member of the Irish Youth fly fishing team also competed on the day. Luke is from Ballisodare and will be representing Ireland in the Youth International Competition to be fished on Lough Conn on Wednesday the 30 July. 

Luke O’Connell plays a salmon at the Ballisodare Fishery with Ken Henry on hand to land the fish.