5. The prizewinners L to R. Andrew Creane (6th), Mark O’Malley(2nd), Aiden Thorpe(5th), Eric Gavin(4th), Michael Dempsey(3rd), and Graeme Quinn(1st).

The North Western Regional Fisheries Board held another Juvenile anglers event last Monday, 15 August, the second such event to be held in Ballina by the Board this season. The day which was kindly sponsored and publicised nationally by Recreational Angling Ireland took place on the Moy Fishery’s Cathedral beat and proved very popular with both local and visiting youngsters. This event is one of many which are held throughout the region as part of the Board’s policy to promote angling for young people.

The day proved very successful with 50 youngsters from 6 to 17 years of age, including a number of young lady anglers, fishing with great enthusiasm throughout the day. The Board’s staff and Recreational Angling Ireland volunteers provided coaching, advice and some fishing tackle for the aspiring anglers.

Fishing commenced at 8 am and within a few minutes local angler Mark O’Malley hooked a salmon which subsequently came off after a brief struggle. Ten minutes later, however, the same angler hooked another, a fish of 2.58 lbs, which he landed. This success was quickly followed by another salmon (2.85 lbs) for Mark which looked likely to set him up as top rod for the day, as no more salmon were landed during the first session.

However, 15 year old Graeme Quinn from Ballyclare, Co. Armagh, who displayed considerable skill with a fly rod, soon raised the bar by catching a 3.26 lbs salmon on a size 14 Ally’s Cascade. This was quickly followed by another salmon of 3.23 lbs, putting him ahead of the local hero.

Eager youngsters fished on throughout the morning with local 10 year old Michael Dempsey capturing a 2.47 lb salmon on a worm, ably coached by his father.

A ¾ lbs sea trout and 2 brownies which were subsequently released put Eric Gavin, Aiden Thorpe and Andrew Creane in contention for the serious prizes but the standard set by Graeme Quinn was not to be surpassed for the rest of the day.

A prize giving ceremony with refreshments and food was sponsored by Recreational Angling Ireland after the event and a fantastic array of prizes was again donated by two Ballina based fishing tackle dealers. Garry Piggott from the Ridge Pool tackle shop and Michael Swartz from the Ballina Angling Centre. Both were extremely generous in donating an array of quality fishing gear and each participant went home with a substantial prize.

1. Eric Gavin age 10 with his ¾ lbs sea trout caught on a worm

2. 13 year old Lisa Carroll receiving some coaching from Moy Fishery ghillie John Howley, after losing what would have been her first ever salmon

A scene from Ham Bridge, Ballina of the Juvenile participants on the Moy Fishery’s Cathedral beat

4. Local angler Michael Dempsey with his salmon and proud father/ghillie Paddy

6. Ghillie John Howley netting a salmon for the winner, Graeme Quinn.

7. Nine year old Sarah Ladden after her worm had fouled in the riverbed