THE future of fly fishing as one of Kerry's favourite hobbies is secure with a new breed of enthusiastic young anglers coming on stream.
Over the past six weeks the true masters of the fly fishing trade in Rath-more have been passing on some key tips to a younger generation of anglers.
The Upper Blackwater Anglers, comprising of experienced fishing enthusiasts from Ballydesmond, Knocknagree and Rathmore, organised the six week training programme to help young anglers but even they underestimated the lure of such an event.
"We were thrilled with the numbers that attended we expected 20 or so to turn up but we had at least 38 kids turning up," said PRO Frank Buckley.
"The course dealt with the basics of fly-fishing and certificates of merit were presented to all those who participated in the course," he said.
The young would-be anglers learned the technique of choosing proper tackle, the art of casting a sly line and they learned all about knot tying as well as a lesson on what to expect from the fly life in the local rivers.
"They were told what fly to use at different times of the season and they were also fully briefed about safety which is probably the most important thing we taught them," said Mr Buckley.
The course tutor was Kieran Casey and the classes were based in Rath-more. Kieran was ably assisted for the duration of the course by John Coakley, Tom O Connor, Denis Hickey, Patsy Cotter, Patrick Dineen, Terence Keane and Frank Buckley.
On the final night last Tuesday Kevin Healy, the national youth officer for the Trout Angling Federation of Ireland, was on hand to present certificates of merit to the young anglers who completed the course.
And he told them that they had much to look forward to if they persisted with the pastime.
Mr Healy is responsible for selecting the Irish youth team for angling competitions at home and abroad and he said he was confident that a number of the promising young anglers from the greater Rathmore area would be on those teams in the future.
Three lucky course participants were the winners of a special draw held on he final night of the course and they will receive a full fly-fishing kit comprising a rod, reel, fly-line, monofilament net and a full box of flies.
The winners were Kane O Donovan, Terence Keane Jnr. and Denise Crowley.
The Upper Blackwater Anglers plan to hold a further course when the new season commences next spring and that will include practical tuition on the local rivers.
