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Good trout fishing and good pike fishing tend to run in parallel
In response to Michael’s comment on the previous blog posting – yes, it’s a sad state of affairs that, so called, anglers indulge in pike culling competitions. Whilst I strongly disapprove of such practices, I consoled myself with the thought that at least the large scale culling of pike had stopped.
I regret to say that I am mistaken and that the information I had received was incorrect. Kevin Crowley of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Galway office has informed me that they will continue to aggressively cull pike. This is in accordance with their policy of maintaining the great western loughs as ‘game fisheries’ and they site ‘irrefutable scientific evidence’ in justification.
I assumed naively that this old argument had been put to bed long ago. I would refer readers to “The Case for Pike” by Dr. Barrie Rickards. Mr. Crowley’s assertion that scientific evidence from Britain does not apply in Ireland is utterly fatuous. Michael Canney of Portarra Lodge on Lough Corrib has studied pike for many years and his analysis of data from the culling returns shows the complete futility of the process. In a few days time, I will post a digest of this data on the blog.
Meanwhile, I would ask people to consider the following:
• The best control of the pike population is the large pike which predate on their smaller relatives.
• Pike don’t just eat trout. Studies of pikes’ stomach contents indicate that they take more coarse fish (thereby improving the trout’s ability to compete for available food).
• Pike take sickly fish, considerably reducing the risk of disease and infection.
• Good trout fishing and good pike fishing tend to run in parallel.
Rather than cull pike, the trout would be better served by dealing with pollution issues and by anglers exercising restraint in the numbers of trout that they take. Static buzzer fishing has accounted for some large bags of brown trout from the lough. Too often, these trout end up in the freezer. It may be condoned on a put-and-take fishery but it is inappropriate on a wild fishery such as Lough Corrib. In the past, pike were blamed for the decline in trout fishing on Lough Sheelin. The actual problem was eutrophication caused by pig slurry.
The fabulous pike of Lough Corrib (like this 20lb-er, left, which Paul Armishaw caught recently) are far too valuable a resource for genuine sporting anglers to be abused in this way. Culling pike because they are predators is on a par with shooting golden eagles because they prey on grouse – something which no one would countenance any longer.
I was under the impression that the establishment of a single body, Inland Fisheries Ireland, to replace the old regional boards would result in a coherent single, national policy regarding pike conservation. It would appear that the old misguided factional approach is still kicking.
I intend to write to Ciaran Byrne, the Chief Executive Officer of Inland Fisheries Ireland to express my views on the situation and will publish an open letter on this blog.
The barbaric process of pike culling causes enormous damage to Ireland’s reputation and has resulted in a boycott by many European anglers. At a time when the Irish economy is in meltdown, this is utterly insane. Culling pike is completely contrary to nature conservation principles and provides the anti-fishing brigade with plenty of ammunition.
Existing comments
I have recently sampled the quality Pike fishing on Corrib taking fish to 25.5lb on the fly. As an admirer of the location I am dissapointed that gill netting of pike is going to resume. I very much endorse David's ecological comments about the water. With my limited experience of large pike being culled on trout waters in the UK, there is invariably an explosion of jack pike during the following season supporting the premise that Esox has the capability to control his own kind without our "help". I also believe it is very short sighted and detrimental to the local economy. The pike in addition to the trout have the ability to bring tourist fishermen euros to the Corrib area. The pursuit of trout and pike peaks at different parts of the season so they can entertain both interests "having their cake and eating it". I was intent on making further visits in 2011 but this policy developement may change my mind.
By ARMISHAW on 2010 12 02
I have fished Lough Corrib now for over ten years for pike, and had the pleasure of fishing it with David this year. I am always saddened to hear about the pike culling especially when it could be such a valuable resource for Corrib. The truth is always more difficult to face up to, that the anglers and not the pike have lead to the demise of the trout population. The introduction of static buzzer fishing and for years no bag limit has pretty much cleaned the lake out, but the pike is always the easy target.
By pikefly89 on 2010 12 03
I am an occasional pike fly fisher but have visited Ireland for over 20 years to fish with bait and lures. I too am appalled at the duplicity of the Irish Authorities who on the one hand want to promote pike fishing in the Republic and on the other support, condone and finance the barbaric netting of pike on many waters. I have witnessed the decline in the quality of pike fishing year on year. Even on the so called 'coarse fisheries' the new wave of Eastern European pot hunters have been allowed to run amok. The upshot is that many of my Irish friends have given up pike fishing and visiting pike anglers declined. When I think of the fantastic pike fishing that there could be on the Western Loughs if nature were simply left alone it greatly saddens me.
By megitnetball on 2010 12 20
‘Kul’ is a Dutch word meaning absolute nonsense. And this is what pike culling is. We all took it that wisdom had prevailed in Ireland. That after all these years of wasting money and all those critical articles in magazines and books - sometimes from all over the place - they’d seen the light, so to speak. But, alas, I’m afraid David is right, they didn’t. What is wrong with those guys I do not know, but I’m pretty sure something IS wrong. They must have their own sacred agenda, fed by politics and, of course, the competition-minded trout-fishing lobby. I hasten to say there’s absolutely nothing wrong with trout, for they’re gorgeous creatures. There’s something very wrong with far too many dead trout that are lying around on funny tables after one too many competitions organized by the prize hunters. How stupid can one be to blame pike for what they have done/created themselves? Pike are an easy target. And of course pollution does the rest. I said it before, why not use all that (wasted) culling money to build sewage plants, or to use a part of it for a brochure and readings to enlighten the mind of the narrow ‘kill the pike’ thinkers. I have visited Ireland 74 times now, and I have many friends down there and I really love the country. I fished for almost all species that live in the beautiful waters there, latterly for those very strong and healthy pike. I hope (most certainly in vain) ‘they’ will change their minds and consider that every Euro spent by a pike angler (be it bait-, lure- or fly-fisherman) has the very same value as the coin of a game angler. Maybe an economic point might help them to see the light, in this case with a golden rim? If I understand David right, I believe that the horror which is going to take place in Ireland again, ie killing innocent animals in a very inhuman and cruel way, will send Ireland back to the angling Dark Ages. What a waste. Ad Swier/the Netherlands on January 7th, 2011
By FFFT Assistant Editor on 2011 01 07
There seems to be a serious lack of information on the subject. Also there is no proposal to have trout anglers and pike anglers come together to try and reach a balance instead people have resorted to finger pointing. In my opinion there needs to be: >a study conducted to determine the holding capacity of Lough Corrib. >a comprehensive report on the functioning of the lake as a biosphere. >an assesment of the impact of angling on stocks of all species. >regulations put in place to sustain healty populations. >education, ie. greater understanding of predator/prey relations etc. The problem is the trout boys want it their way, the pike boys want it their way and the government will do it arseways. The future of the Lough should be in the hands of those who gain most from it. Putting petty arguements and greed aside is the only way forward. If not Corrib is in danger of ending up like Lough Derg, a pitiful shadow of its former greatness. It seems however that no one is willing to compromise ar indeed devote the required time to reach any sort of agreeable outcome. Regarding the comments by Ad Swier/FFFT Assistant Editor on the subject of killing wild animals in an inhumane way I would have to say that many topics covered in the magazine each month would be deemed inhumane by certain groups and therefore comes across as quite contradictorily. Bob Morgan.
By Bob Morgan on 2011 01 07
Hi Bob, that was Ad's comment, but I put it on for him – Stuart
By FFFT Assistant Editor on 2012 04 11
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