Mayfly season looks like a wash-out

IT should be the time of peak expectation for all anglers with the recent run of good weather favouring an early arrival of the Mayfly . . . but instead this summer very few lines will be cast on the Corrib and other western waterways.

The coronavirus-COVID-19 has practically wiped out the first part of the traditional spring/summer angling season and now the hopes of anglers and the tourism sector are focused on a possible later season recovery.

Brian Curran, Fishery Manager for South Connemara, told the Connacht Tribune, that so far, the season had been wiped out by the coronavirus emergency.

“The season normally would start on the first of February but this year that start was delayed because of the exceptionally heavy rainfall and high-water levels.

“Just when the season then should have been ready to take off, we were hit with the COVID-19 emergency and really nothing has been happening since,” said Brian Curran.

He said that the March-April period would normally see a 50/50 mix between overseas anglers and ‘home business’ but the public health issue was now the overriding one.

“This has a whole spin-off impact for the economy of the region. There are many hotels, guesthouse and B&Bs, restaurants, shops and pub/restaurants who depend to a large extent on the summer angling season and it’s really hard on those people.

“We all have to be guided by the public health guidelines and really our advice is the same in terms of people not travelling and staying at home,” he said.

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