Geoff's Rants

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!