‘This guy is potty’, was my first thought when he confided he had excavated a dirty great fishing hole on a plot where he was going to build his new home.
Ignoring the fact that Ireland is teeming with fishable waters, Macclesfield-born joiner and ultra-keen angler, Dave Price, bought three acres of land and the first thing he did was remove about one acre of soil to a depth of 1.5 metres!
The tale really begins in 1986 when Dave, a keen committee member of the Prince Albert AA, headed off on holiday to Cavan and Leitrim to beat the UK’s coarse angling close season. From the moment he stepped off the ferry he was smitten and even today recalls the overwhelming friendliness of local people, how they went out of their way to be helpful, the relaxed lifestyle, the Guinness, and, of course, the fishing.
It was no surprise that Dave said goodbye to the county of Cheshire in 2001 and emigrated to Leitrim, the least populated county in Ireland, also known as ‘Lovely Leitrim’ where lakes and rivers abound. And, as if there weren’t enough, he and his lovely missus turned the first sod three years later and so (thanks to his angling enthusiasm) ‘Anthea’s Pond’ became a place on the map.
The pond was a priority and with two diggers on site he expanded a natural small pond into a fishery. It took two months to landscape the site and eight months for the lake to fill naturally.
It is now a beautiful spot, caringly preserved with reed mace, bulrushes, lily pads and grassy banks. The environment certainly suits the fish and today the pond boasts a good head of tench to 6lb, brightly brassy rudd up to 12 ounces and perch that have grown to more than one pound. There are a dozen fishing spots along the mown bankside and a small island that attracts wildlife including kingfishers, herons, and moorhens that intermingle with the resident ducks and chickens.
And the fishing is simple with a six metre pole for the margins with a number 12 elastic, barbless size 16 or 14 hooks and the proven baits are sweetcorn and caster.
Dave commented:
“It is wonderful having my own pond – especially when angling friends drop by – even though the Ordnance Survey map shows there are 25 lakes within a 20 minute drive and I don’t need a fishing licence for any of them! My favourite venue for bream is the Shannon at Rooskey where I can take my boat to a spot that has a firm, comfortable bank alongside deep water that allows me to pre-bait a few days before making that final attack! It is a dependable stretch of the Shannon and over the years there have been plenty of bream over 10lb and numerous catches over 100lb.
Lough Boderg is another great venue and there is bank fishing available. It was once a popular match venue but there hasn’t been a match on there for years despite the increased number of large hybrids and stacks of roach providing sport all day long.
Nearby are the Inner Lakes, a string of mighty fish-filled waters renowned for tench, rudd, massive pike, roach, hybrids and bream. Unfortunately access can be difficult on foot and the best idea is to use a boat.
Thankfully the majority of waters in this part of Leitrim have loads of fish and getting on to the bank is simple and well documented by maps that are available to be downloaded free of charge (see below).
No doubt you have heard of the Garadice Lake, Kiltybardan, Corgar, Bolganard and Drumlonan; waters close to Ballinamore and famous for their tench and bream.
Carrick-on-Shannon is a popular angling holiday base with outstanding sport on the River Shannon – especially the famous Mud Flats with 40 modern fishing platforms – and a host of excellent waters. My favourites are Lough Scur, Keshcarrigan Lake and Drumharlow for some big bream when I fancy taking my boat out for a spin.
Any mention of Mohill and my immediate thoughts turn to tench on Lough Rinn, Bog Lake and the (now) rarely fished Headford Lake, a lake that was famous for tench in the past. Not far away is Tooman’s Fishery, a well-planned commercial water with a range of species that includes carp to 15lb.”
And now Dave is on a quest to help anglers coming to Ireland on holiday, he said:
“I have set up a simple guiding service called ‘Fish Tracker’and I offer a range of services including simple guided tours of where to fish on a range of lakes, rivers and fishable stretches of the Shannon-Erne Waterway Canal.
Anyone who needs an introduction to the area and a quick spin around the waters with my information pack is most welcome. However, what I enjoy most of all is providing the opportunity to catch plenty of big fish – especially bream and large hybrids – by pre-baiting prepared swims by boat on quiet lakes rarely ever fished.
Interestingly, so far the majority of my anglers prefer travelling by boat, then fishing from the shoreline of a lake where they will not be disturbed, often returning to the same spot two or three times.”
For further information contact Dave Price on 00353 877 576 367 or email: fishtracker@eircom.net
You can check out Dave Houghton’s website HERE and download the maps and information to the key areas mentioned above here:
