Northern Ireland Trout Angler

showbeastie · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 41 Location: County Down

Reports are a little sketchy at this time, but once again it appears the Ballymartin river & Six Mile Water have suffered another fish kill.
It's just been a matter of two months since the last. Unbelievable!

harry_lfc · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:17 pm 35 Post subject:

thats a disgrace Evil or Very Mad

they need a good kick up the hole lol
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its not the flies its how u use them

Hardy Caster · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 35

To Help THE SIXMILE and this rivers fish after the awful pollution ,this Year it has been decided that it will be , Member's and yearly permits only and they MUST Fly Fish only with one barbless fly , so no droppers ,, no Worming or Spinning ,and ALL Fish MUST be released.

here is some help for C&R as many dont do it right,

Tackle

Use a barbless hook (or flatten the barbs with pliers)
Single hooks only.
Playing the fish

Bring the fish in firmly and quickly to reduce the likelihood of severe exhaustion
Use a heavy breaking strain of line or cast that will permit this
Move the fish out of fast currents if possible

HANDLING FISH
Handle the fish as little as possible.
Keep the fish in the water if possible, Fish should not be brought out of the water on to the bank if possible.
If a landing net is used, it must be knotless. Avoid abrasion of the scales — NEVER beach the fish
You must Wet your hands before touching the fish
Be gentle, do not grip the fish tightly — and take extra care with fish during warm weather, when they are most vulnerable
Remove the hook gently — forceps can help (always take a pair of long nosed forceps with you when you go salmon or trout fishing)
If the fish is deep hooked, cut the line as close to the hook as possible better to lose a fly than a fish,
Never hold up by the tail or hold up by the wrist .
Reviving and releasing the fish

Do not weigh the fish — estimate the weight (the weight of a fish can be calculated from an estimate of the length of the fish: tip of nose to centre of tail. Details of length/weight relationships are available from web sites etc
For photography — stand in the water if not to deep — gently cradle the fish using both hands — and just lift the fish above the water surface for a few seconds
Support the fish gently and steadily in a current, facing upstream. Do not hold the fish too firmly
Be patient, and wait for the fish to recover
Let it swim away on its own when it is ready
Will the fish live?

Radio tracking of released fish has shown that over 90% of salmon and trout, if carefully handled, survive to spawn successfully. and 10 % could have been taken by the fishes natural predators . So a pretty good chance if done right,
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Hardy Caster · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 35

SIXMILEWATER-POLLUTION CASTROPHE. PUBLIC MEETING ARRANGED FOR ANTRIM FORUM

In mid June this year the Province experienced one of its worst fish and wildlife kills in decades when the Sixmilewater from Mallusk to Lough Neagh was severely polluted. 10’s of thousands of fish and millions of insects were killed along the 15 mile stretch of the river. It is estimated that the river will take decades to recover.

The incident has incensed residents and anglers who had warned that this type incident was inevitable following a spate of pollution incidents and problems over a number of years. More than five weeks after the incident, locals have no idea what has happened and no recovery plans have been put in place despite numerous letters and emails to central government and a meeting with Minister Sammy Wilson at Stormont.

Local Communities including anglers have called for a public meeting to develop an action plan and this has now been facilitated by the Antrim and District Angling Association who have arranged for the meeting to take place in the Antrim Forum at 7-00pm on 13 August. The Minister has been asked to address the meeting.

Alison Millar, Vice Chairman of the Templepatrick Residents Association has expressed her anger at the incident and the apparent lack of information to date. “We are determined to get to the root of this problem. It is simply not good enough; this incident has impacted on thousands of people young and old who live along the river and we are fearful that Lough Neagh which is a source of drinking water for the province has also been contaminated.”

Maurice Parkinson, Vice Chairman of the Antrim and District Angling Association says local people and members are dismayed and very annoyed. “Members of this Association with the help of local people from farmers to specialist interest groups for years have invested heavily with their time and money to keep the river in some sort of order; despite the ongoing problems. This has been to no avail. We have been badly let down but I know from speaking to those who have an interest in the river and its surrounds that no stone will be left unturned in bringing this river system back to a reasonable state.”

In addition to the Minister being asked to address the meeting presentations will be made by the local politicians, anglers and a range of interest groups.

For further information on the event please contact:-

Paul Erwin, Chairman of the Antrim and District Angling Association. Email to paul.erwin@btinternet.com

Maurice Parkinson, Vice Chairman of the Antrim and District Angling Association at 02893322952 or email to maurice@ballyrobertcottagegarden.co.uk

Sam Andrews t/p email samandrews100@hotmail.com

Stevie Munn
Professional Angling Guide emial anglingclassics@aol.com
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www.anglingclassics.co.uk