Providing Additional Salmon Angler Places On The Moy

A considerable number of new salmon angler places will be created as part of the overall Moy Development Plan. The main Moy channel was drained as part of an overall arterial drainage scheme for this catchment in the 1960's. This changed the physical nature of the river increasing the number of shallow glides and reducing the number of pools, the natural resting places for adult salmon which have returned from the ocean. This programme will involve the reconstruction of a large number of angling pools, thereby "spreading out" the adult salmon stock and increasing the number of salmon angler places. The anticipated increase in salmon angling catches in the post development phase will be balanced by increased salmon smolt production achieved as part of the overall Moy Development Plan and, also by the cessation of draft netting on the tidal waters at Ballina.

A new salmon angling fishery is being created here by the North Western Regional Fisheries Board using T.A.M. funds. A series of pools are being recreated in this formerly drained river. A total of circa 80 new salmon angling pools will be built on this State owned fishery over 11km of channel. This will accommodate an additional 30 salmon anglers per day. Additional State owned and some privately owned salmon angling waters in the Moy catchment will also be developed in the course of this programme.

Two pairs of stone groynes have been constructed to create 2 salmon angling pools. These were built in September 1996. A few salmon had already been caught at this location by the end of the angling season on 30th September, 1996.

This section of the Moy in Ballina town was formerly a commercial salmon netting site at high tide. Its shallow uniform nature at low tide meant that salmon would not lie here and so there were limited angling opportunities. Less than 100 salmon per season were caught here on rod and line over the last decade. The Central Fisheries, with the assistance of T.A.M. funding, have developed this site for salmon angling purposes. works were undertaken and completed here in August, 1995. In 1996, the first full angling season on this fishery, 1277 visiting anglers were accommodated. They caught 1,827 salmon. In addition 552 local anglers were accommodated on this beat in evening periods (after 6 pm). The total salmon catch for the 1996 season on the 'Cathedral Beat' was 1.827 fish. 

A series of paired groynes have been constructed. River bed material in the central channel area was excbated (7,000 tonnes) and removed thereby creating 8 new angling pools.