Floods floods and more floods. I reckon somebody up there wants to drown us all. When there is that much water and you cannot find a decent place to fish it's time to take up bloody tiddley winks. Having said that what a fabulous back up water the Shannon Erne link has now become. Anywhere you fish it will guarantee almost a bite every chuck. Fished it today for a couple of hours with my old mate Martin Blacow and we both had around 60 fish in less than three hours. I was talking to John Astell yesterday and heaven forbid last week he was approached by would you believe it, a FISHERIES OFFICER asking if he had seen anything suspicious taking place. I could have thought up a 1001 daft answers for that one but John asked him to elaborate. He also made the point that it was the first time in 30 years that John had met a Fisheries Officer on the bank. The chap asked John if he had seen anybody killing fish recently and John said he had witnessed it but not of late. My advice to the fisheries officer is to keep looking and keep at it until next spring when like the daffodils the perpetrators will all be out in force again. Like the leaves on the trees they tend to go out of view in winter. Hope the fisheries officers don't do likewise.

Death by Pollution

I have been receiving reports all week about the catastrophic pollution on the River Trent. Along with the River Witham the Trent was where I learned my trade so to speak. In those early days vast rafts of foam covered it's surface but it still carried a good amount of roach, dace and chub. I am told that there is now almost 30 miles of the river cevoid of fish life. It appears that none caring evil bastards allowed cyanide to enter a main drain at Stoke on Trent. The poison then made it's way through the treatment plant and then into the river. I guess the company that did it will plead innocence and declare it a terrible accident. Bollocks I say. Excuses like that shouldn't wash and in this case I hope won't be accepted. I hope this will also be a reminder to all those who have not yet forked out their 20 quids to support the Angling Trust which now incorporates what was the A.C.A, the body which for years now has supported the angling community in their battle against polluters.I believe the highest amount of damages the A.C.A has won is in the region of 240,000 Sterling. In this latest case I hope they manage to smash that amount by a country mile. Personally I would like to see the perpetrators of this crime strung up by their nuts and hosed down with cow shit on an hourly basis. And yes, I don't apologise for my language as this kind of irresponsibilty just make me furious. To go on from the above. I know the Trent was making a fabulous comeback but I was always a little suspicious of how clean it was. My mates that fish it on a regular basis waxed lyrical as to how clear the water was. I often asked had anybody taken a private water sample and had it tested. Gin clear water is almost always on big rivers a sign of pollution. The pollutant 'dropping' out all the natural growth and colour. I know from first hand experience. The Shannon suffered from it for years caused by a factory upstream of here where the EPA here granted them (would you believe) an I.P.C license For those of you who don't know what an I.P.C license is, it is a license to pollute a water course. Bloody unbelievable don't you think!

Monday the 12th of October.

I recently bumped into a bloke from Nottingham called Steve O'Sullivan. He was over on holiday staying up at Ballinamore. He recognised me as he was clutching a copy of the Angling Star, the magazine I write a monthly article for. I was fishing on one of the local lakes near my home and Steve was after info' which I readily passed on. Steve then broached the subject of the now much discussed subject....fish poaching. He told me that this was his second visit to Ireland this year and on the previous visit he had fished at Lanesboro. He was shocked to see our foreign friends killing all the fish they caught and placing them in bags and buckets. It appears when he approached them they got a little menacing and so his next line was to call on Bridie in the local tackle shop and ask her if she would contact the fisheries board. She informed him that it was a waste of time and money as she had phoned them on many occasions before with absolutely no response. It appears that this is not an isloated situation. Indeed from my own point of view I have reported situations where the miscreants would have been caught red handed but no action was taken.
Last week Senator Terry Leyden spoke on Shannonside radio with regard to the ridiculous rod licence fees the fisheries board charge for fishing the River Suck and other waters including the River Camlin which flows through Longford. He told how the charges were keeping anglers away. Damn right they are. I believe the fees are as follows, 39 Euro's for a full ticket, 20 for a weekly and would you believe 11 Euro's for a day ticket. Bloody outragious and very stupid. As I have pointed out before angling tourism is on it's knees. How the hell do we expect folk to return with daft charges like these being made. I say, wake up and get it scrapped. Enough damage has been done already!

28th September 2009

Firstly I apologise for the late posting of this weeks rant. I live in rural Ireland and have no broadband. I am told Irelands broadband system is worse than many third world countries and I can believe it. For most of this week I have been unable to recieve e-mails or connect to Google. I spoke to the local telephone engineer who tells me that my phone line is the equivalent of a wet piece of knackered string with at least 8 other subscribers on it. I have reverted to Vodaphone which is also about as much use a s a pork chop in a synagogue. Only last year, just before Ireland became totaly bankrupt Fina Fail the party in power proclaimed that we were the second richest country in Europe. I ask where has the money gone and why do I have to rely on the equivalent of wet string to provide my communication service. The Celtic Tiger officialy is now dead. I don't think it ever existed only in the minds of Irish politicians who have feathered their own nests at the expense of the common working man.
Now to fishy matters.
Even though I write for two other magazines I still buy on a weekly basis the Angling Times. It is a good read and I enjoy the stuff written by my two old mates Keith Arthur and Des Taylor, both writers of at times, controversial stuff. As I got to page 38 in last weeks mag I was faced with the headline 'These People Can Help Save Angling,' written by associate editor, Steve Partner. He was of course referring to the foreign nationals, the majority of, who rape and pillage our rivers and lakes. I read what he had to say and came to the conclusion much of it was tongue in cheek and lets not forget being a tadge controversial does make people sit up and ultimatley helps to sell copy. In the article Steve makes several very debatable statements. He says there are just a minority who don't stick to the rules. Perhaps a visit to the area I cover would help to change his mind. They ALL break the rules, even if it is not adhering to the county code of practice. Where ever they go, set aside the issue of stealing fish, the piles of crap they leave behing beggars belief. It is so easily recognisable as the beer cans, fag packets, food wrappers and sweet cartons are all in a foreign language. There are now several areas over here closed to ALL anglers on that very score. How is that helping our sport, God only knows. I was so inquisitive of what Steve would pen this week I turned to his page first.
Fair play to the guy, he printed in it's entirety a letter from an AT reader which is headed East Europeans Contribute Nothing which also made some very sweeping statements. Most of which I have to say I personally agree with.
Before any of you take out your racialist bible. I have several very good friends who are from the Eastern block. None are anglers and are very nice folk. Members of my family are also married to folk from foreign climbs who are also top order. My grouse is with the hordes who take fish by whatever method seemingly law abiding or otherwise and leave piles of crap behind with total disregard for the property of others.
Oh by the way Steve. This weeks headline, 'Admit it We Don't Love Roach Anymore.' I don't agree with that either. What is should say is, 'We do Love Roach But We Lost the Abilty to Catch Them.' I see it every week mate. Anglers (I use that term very loosely) who have decided to take a break from fishing what I describe as ----- holes in the ground. These puddles as we all know are so overstocked that any numb nut can catch them. When it comes to proper fishing these guys aint got a clue. They would love to catch wild fish but have either forgotten how to do it or have never been taught in the first place.
And another thing Steve. Keep writing your stuff cos like many other people I will carry on reading it.

16th September 2009.
A couple of days ago two of my mates Martyn Price and Eddie Swan were fishing on a lake near Arva when they were approached by a bloke purporting to be a fisheries bailiff. He went on to tell them how he was very influential within fisheries and sat on all the decision making boards etc. Eventually the conversation turned to the problems we have with people stealing fish and my mates asked why almost nothing was being done to bring them to book. They were informed that in almost all cases 'bailiff,s did nothing because if these people were approached they immediatley picked up their mobile phones and within minutes another 20 would arrive and would then intimidate the bailiff,s or go further and attack them. On the occasions I have approached these miscreants, and there have been many, I have been almost ignored by them. Never have I been accosted by blokes who were either hiding around the corner or behind nearby bushes or trees. IF this bloke is a real bailiff I have a message for him which is attributed to a very famous American president, 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.' On the other hand if you are an impersonater and I can't think for the life of me, why anyone who would want to impersonate anyone who works for the fisheries boards I have a message for you. 'Stop shooting bull shit and leave honest visiting anglers to get on with their sport in peace,'

Thursday 10th of September
I have left last weeks rant on longer than usual. My theme today carries on from last week. I have just been talking to my mate Keith Arthur, one of the 'magnificent seven' brought in to help save the Angling Trust which as you all know by now is in deep trouble. The problems are many but not insurmountable providing it has the support of the great angling public. Consider this. Where would you all be without the support of such a body. No voice no vote nowhere! The apathy that most of you suffer from is an indemic disease. Get rid of it. Help to fight for what you have got....and make it better. Get your 20 quids out and send it off now. You can do it on line. Lads that have joined this week tell me that they have had a problem going on line but have managed to sort it and got their 20 quids paid. If you don't, don't moan when pollution takes over your local water. Don't moan when nutters in canoes spoil your day. Don't moan when idiots on push bikes runover your gear cos it will be your own faults.
And another thing.
I see the second fishery owner to ban foreign nationals from his water is taking some right old stick. I see some jumped up Dick head from the Polish Embassy has branded him a law breaker and a rascist. What's racist about protecting what is yours and more to the point what is providing your living. Unless the law has changed....and I don't think it has, the landlord of any public house has the right not to serve and also remove anyone he wishes to do so from his property. During my 'occasional' visits to the hostelries of this country and the UK I have witnessed the removal of 'unwanted' guests more than once. You can't educate a raging p--s head and it is proving impossible to educate these foreign law breakers. Believe me I have tried. 'Me no speak English,' is the usual offering. O.K so I give them the fisheries laws written in their own lingo. They sit and read and then carry on as if you weren't there. Chuck 'em out I say and bloody good luck to the fishery owner who has done likewise.

Hi Marc, Yes I remember introducing you to my old mate Alan Edwards. He certainly made an impression on anyone that he talked to. There is a feeling that the new organisation has tried to run before they could walk. Maybe they have but I still maintain that the apathy amongst the participants of our great sport has to be the highest there is. As for the ethnic thing I can't answer that one and maybe I shouldn't pass comment seeing as I frequently 'rant' about the fish stealing bandits from the Eastern European block as I don't wish to be branded a racist. Bottom line Marc and all the other genuine lovers of this game of ours. Get your 20 quids sent off before it's too late.

This weeks entry is not so much of a rant but a question! Why are almost all who partake in this great sport of ours so bloody apathetic? I have just been reading how the newly formed Anglers Trust in the U.K is so cash starved and already having to make redundancies because the millions of anglers in the UK simply can't be bothered to become members. The joining fee is a miserly 20 quid, less than you would spend on a short session out with you mates. I was a personal friend of the late Alan Edwards who was the A.C.A supremo for many years. Alan often fished.....and drank with me over here in the Emerald Isle. The A.C.A was the main guardian of British lakes and rivers gaining countless thousands of pounds through the courts for clubs and riparian owners of fisheries that had been polluted. Without them it is my humble opinion that some would be polluters would just go ahead and do their worst. The knowledge that such a body as the A.C.A was there to bring them to book I am held them back from creating carnage. The new Anglers Trust is a body that encompass's all in the best interests of the angling community. There are hundreds of times when I have often wished such a body existed over here. Let me tell you all this. If the Trust folds lads, angling will be a bloody sight worse off. Please suport the people who stick their necks out to support you bloody miserable shower of apathetic numb nuts. Get off your arses and send off your 20 quids before it's too late.

Wednesday 19th of August.
Last Friday I decided to visit one of my old stomping grounds in Tarmonbarry. It was my intention to fish below Tarmon Lock, a place in years gone by of many magnificent catches. Indeed I fell in love with Tarmonbarry over 30 years ago. Then, it was a very beautiful village with around 18 houses and 4 public houses. I intended to fish a spot I had fished on a regular basis to see how the place fished now. I got out of my van to be met by the violest of stenches. The smell was so bad that I almost threw up. It was obvious that it was coming from the 'new' treatment plant which now serves the 'new' housing estate which is situated adjacent to the 'new' private marina. Taking stock of what the place has now become beggars belief. Hundreds of houses now sprawl across what was once open fields and bog land. The 'new' marina which if I recall correctly was vaunted as for the benefit of all when planning permission was being sought sports a big red notice saying 'private, keep out.' The road leading down to the lock which was once a public thoroughfare is now blocked off by bollards which have been placed adjacent to the main road.
Recently during our local elections we were given glowing reports of how this village, once the attraction of hundreds of tourists from all over the world had been massively improved. If this is what some eminent folk call improvement I think the human race must have gone stark raving bonkers. I think the only thing that has improved is the amount of cash in some peoples pockets. In a later rant I will tell you all about the destruction of Tarmonbarry weir. The weir was built during the famine and should have been left, not only as a monument to the folk that built it but also as a well known draw for tourists who not only visited the weir but also put cash into the much needed coffers of the local community.

Hi Martyn, Apologies for delay in answering your comment. The decline of Irish Rudd started many years ago. Possibly mans intervention which has destroyed classic rudd habitat is the main reason but also the prolific spread of roach has also caused the demise of rudd in many areas. Bream shoals began to crash around 1995-6. The main reason this took place on the Shannon in my opinion was a factory that was set up on it's banks polluting all bellow it. Indeed I spent a great deal of my own money having samples analysed. The results were shocking showing high perecentages of Formaldehyde and a defoaming agent. I showed the results to the EPA, fisheries boards and various locla councils. All ignored my findings. On a wider spectrum over use of fertilizer caused many lakes to go into decline. The control of Fertilizer use has already seen a vast improvement on this score. The factory (which has a world wide reputation for polluting not only water but the atmosphere) installed a water treatment plant which does work and the Shannon is now on the up.

On Friday I fished the Shannon above Carrick with Jim Baxter and his lovely wife Lynne. Both are brilliant anglers with many individual match wins between them. Lynne has represented England at international level and has won the ladies national title. We all had a smashing few hours catching plenty of roach and hybrids. Unfortunately, over the period we fished we were subjected to bloody lunatics trying to break the water speed record. Having said that most of the cruiser 'captains' were very courteous but the few nutters spoil it for everybody. Several speed boats, even though they saw us fishing never slowed down and appeared to get some form of twisted delight flying through our swims and leaving a wake which climbed over the banks. These law breakers, as this it what they are, have no thought for other river users or the animals and birds which live within the confines of the river banks. There ARE speed limits when approaching locks. These idiots choose to ignore them. Also.....I know I do go on but. This weekend the foreign nationals were out in force once again. Cloonboniagh lake was one of the targets this weekend with several taking up residence on it's shore line. There car (reg no 03 MN 2037) was left parked on the road side whilst the driver and his mates fished the lake on the Mohill end of the bank. Cloonahee lake was also hit by ten other foreign nationals on Saturday afternoon. Three visitors from the UK watched them arrive, set up their gear and begin to fish. Not one fish was returned to the water alive. The three visitors took car numbers which they will forward on to me and I will publish them shortly. We see these criminals everywhere totaly ignoring the laws of the land which have providied them with a living either by well paid jobs or social benefits. It appears the people in authority fail to see what we see on an almost daily basis. It simply beggars belief!

One of the things that does get my goat is rubbish left behind by so called anglers. Yesterday I did one of my regular drives around just to check what is happening in and around my area. I was accompanied by two visitors who are staying with me for a few days. Almost everywhere we went was littered with crap. Empty Sensas and Van den Eynde bags, hook packets, discarded fishing tackle including line, some of it with hooks and shot attached, coke and beer tins plus discarded fag packets and food cartons. The dirty pigs that leave this stuff behind are not only littering our fabulous countryside with s--t but are risking local farmers shutting up shop to all and sundry. Indeed one place where we often fished is now closed to anglers. I spoke to the farmer about it, who is a reasonable guy. He told me that one of his prize cows had eaten a plastic bait bag which it couldn't digest. The animal died and the owner quite rightly so was seriously p-----d off. Wouldn't we all be under the circumstances. I ask the question, why leave an empty container on the bank when you carried it there full. My message to all that do. Stop bloody well annoying me and more to the point the folk who own the land who are kind enough to let you go there. All that should be left behind is flattened grass. 3rd of August 2009.

28th July. 2009
Yesterday a local angler called at my house with a plastic pot with a screw down top. I asked what it was and he replied that it was an Eastern European fishing kit. When I opened the container I found a small pole winder with nylon line on it the thickness of my old grandma's washing line. As I explored further I found over 25 sets of treble hooks, a tent peg and a small indicator, the kind carp anglers clip on their lines on the odd occasions they are not sleeping in their bivies. The angler had watched a bloke string this lot together, bait it up with worms, launch it into the canal at the first lock up from Leitrim village and then tether it to the tent peg which he conveniently hid under a bush. For some inexplicable reason he placed the bite indicator on to the line and then walked away and left the lot in the canal. The Irish lad spoke to him as he walked away and the gentleman who had left the sorry mess in the water indicated that he didn't speak much English. After he had left, the local angler removed the mess from the water and then placed it all into the white pot that was conveniently left under the bush.
This nonsense is now a daily occurrence. Our coarse fish are being slaughtered by these law breakers and little or nothing is being done about it. I have reported illegal activity on several occasions where the miscreants could have been caught in the act if action had been taken. last year I reported a Polish gent who drives a blue VW caddy van taking fish from the Marina area at Keshcarrigan. A year later he and his co-horts are still at it in the same area. Not that many weeks ago, along with another angler I watched this person set nets in the basin below Castlefore lock. The following day I removed them and removed gill netted roach and hybrids. An English visitor recently reported to me an incident that took place on Lough Scur. He had set up on the back of Lough Scur on the rocks. Not long after he arrived ten foreign gentlemen arrived and immediatley lit a barbecue. All started to fish and soon small coarse fish were being placed over the hot coals. At the end of the session what they hadn't cooked were placed in black bin liners and taken away. Now I'm not saying all foreign anglers break the law, only most of them. The few that don't I commend. The ones that do should deserve all they ought to get. It won't happen of course. The plundering of our coarse fish stock will unfortunately carry on unchecked.

Watch out for more of Geoff's rants starting Monday 27th of July.

where are we now

I'll tell you where we are! we are in a country full of fabulous lakes and rivers with little or no access to most of 'em. Platforms that were erected years ago have now all rotted away and 90% of 'em are downright dangerous. I recently spoke to one of our fisheries officers and made the point that nearly all the platforms are in s--t order. I pointed out that two of my anglers had attempted to fish the platform near my house on Kilglass and had just about escaped with their lives as it gave eway under them. I was told that he agreed with me that most of the platforms were dangerous and the situation was 'under revue.' Yeah right it is. I would take a good bet the under revue situation will still be that way this time next year and probably the year after. How can this country expect anglers to visit when they just aren't catered for as they should be? Also. Another thing that does p--s me off is when anglers order bait from me and don't bother to collect it. I have to buy it like anybody else. So remeber Phil Pitt who stayed at Avondale House in Roosky. Next year when you are stuck for bait. Go and whistle Dixy.

July 2009

The first of Geoff's Weekly Rants will be published this week - so watch this space.