By Brendan Connolly

Twenty years ago on May 10, 1989, the Edenderry Coarse Angling Club was established. Starting with a mere five members, this coarse angling club has grown into one of the most active angling clubs in Ireland. It has a current membership of around 80 members, and plays a leading role in the Irish coarse angling calendar.

Founding members: Pauric Kelly, Arthur Judge, Sean Breirton, Sean Kane, and George Slevin had fished the Grand Canal for years, and felt that forming a club would be the best way to look after the future of their sport. A major canal breach had occurred on January 14 that year just west of Blundell Aqueduct near Edenderry, Co. Offaly. This breach saw the bank of a raised section collapse and completely drain four miles of the canal, leaving fish floundering in the ditches and on the fields beside the canal.

By Wendy Scott

How many of us have witnessed the French when their rugby or football teams are playing – passionate is an understatement! But you have not witnessed anything until you have seen the first day of the fishing season – it is unbelievable or as the French would say, ‘incroyable’!

Inshore Ireland was invited to experience just what fishing means to the French. Driving into the High Pyrenees just south of Lourdes and a few miles from the Spanish border, I was amazed at the number of fisher men, women and children, getting ready for the first day of the season.
The beautiful town of Cauterets nestles in the heart of the Haute Pyrenees and is on the edge of the Pyrenean National Park (www.cauterets.com). Cauterets is a town of many guises: a spa town; a ski resort; a base for walking and mountain biking and is an excellent base for fishing. The locals are extremely friendly and were enthused to speak about their area.

By Brendan Connolly

Most anglers at one time or another will have to ‘negotiate’ with their nearest and dearest to go fishing. After all, not everyone enjoys fishing, so how can weekends and holidays be organised so that both anglers and non-anglers enjoy their precious leisure time together? Ballyhass Lakes trout fishery, located between Mallow and Kanturk in Co Cork, has come up with a solution to suit anglers and non-anglers alike.

Centered on two clear spring-fed lakes, Ballyhass is better described as an ‘all-round tourist destination’ rather than merely a trout fishery. The 36 acre location boasts 11 self-catering holiday homes over-looking the lakes, and employs qualified instructors who organise and oversee activities ranging from kayaking and raft building, to abseiling, rock climbing, archery and various team sports.

By John Rafferty

Sea angling is one of the top sports in Ireland, and one which all the family can participate in – everyone from your granny to your grandchildren will enjoy catching fish as well as providing the table with the freshest and tastiest fish.

Far from being a complicated sport, sea angling for many species can be done with the minimum of tackle and with methods that will suit the beginner without having to spend a packet. There are several different types of sea angling to choose from including beach, rock, estuary, pier or boat fishing, and by and large the same or slight variations in tactics and baits are used for each species from all these different venues.