Park Lake Angling Notes

There has been a lot going on at Park Lake over the past week, we have held our May Bank holiday weekend promotion and our Over 50’s League final, both with great success. It’s been a week of great weather and truly pleasant surroundings as the Park is in all its new summer colours, making life more comfortable for our anglers. Fish have been responding to the rise in temperature also, rising for flies and making themselves very visible, lures are still working, “Orange”, “Pink” and “Green” lures seem to be the most productive.
The highly anticipated “Over 50’s” league final was held on Wednesday with a good turnout and great weather, the winner of the competition on the day was Robert Allen from Portadown with 5 fish for a total weight of 10 ½ lb. The final league positions were as follows; in 3rd equal place were Hal Dawson from Armagh and Nelson Baillie from Castlecaufeild with 11pts each. First and second place were very close, in fact one point separated the two anglers and in second place was Michael McMullan from Poyntspass with 21pts and in first place was Lurgan angler, Bob Pinkerton with 22pts in total. I would like to thank all the anglers who took part in the league and let them know we will be running another league in the not too distant future.
Our May Bank Holiday promotion went well with a good number of anglers participating, but in the end young angler Thomas Armstrong from Newry bagged 3 fish for an outstanding weight of 12 ½ lb, and will deservedly receive an angling voucher to the value of £100.
Up and coming events include our fully supervised “Junior Angling Competition” which will be held on Saturday 24th May from 10am-2pm, all equipment is supplied free and kids from 11-18yrs can take part. Cost is £10 for entry and 1st prize is a £75 angling voucher from a retailer of your choice, 3 bag limit and heaviest bag rule applies.

Cookstown angler, Matthew Drum had a great days fishing, opting for the catch and release option he caught 9 fish in total, all good weights up to 6 ½ lb. Trevor Wylie of Markethill did well to land 3 good fish for a total weight of 9 ½ lb. Park Lake regular, Tommy McVeigh from Portadown caught and released 3 fish in total. Lisbellow angler, Jack Pincombe had a great day catching and releasing 14 fish in total. Lisburn angler, Dennis Chambers caught one fish for 2 ½ lb. Bangor angler, Scott Armstrong caught 2 cracking fish weighing a rod bending weight of 6lb 8oz and 6lb 9oz, best fish of the week. Visiting angler from England, Desmond Brown had a great weekend catching 3 fish for a total weight of 9lb.

The Park Lake Fishery continues to be stocked on a weekly basis. For further information and bookings please contact staff on 028 87 728690 or e-mail us at dpreception@dungannon.gov.uk

Phew what a scorcher! Here in sunny Dungannon, we have had a hectic week of activity.....

On Monday 12th Council hosted a breastfeeding awareness day here in Council offices - local charity Uplift facilitated a very informative session on all the healthy reasons why breastfeeding is best.

On Wednesday our tourism representatives from Flavour of TYrone visited the Balmoral Show where they managed to convince TV chef Jenny Bristow to try her hand at cutting some Tyrone Crystal glass (see picture). Jenny also tasted some of the fine food taken from receipes in the latest edition of the Little Black Recipe Book. Entitled 'Tops and Tails', the book features a range of mouthwatering starters and desserts from Good Food Circle restaurants in Tyrone and Donegal.

Wednesday also saw a Council meeting with a difference, when St Patrick's Primary School Dungannon took over the Council chamber and told us just exactly how they would run local government. Led by their 'Mayor' Peter Dolan, the Primary 7 class certainly knew what they wanted and weren't afraid to air their views - most definitely the leaders of the future!

It was off to Dungannon Park on Thursday when country favourites Robert Mizzell, John McNicholl and Justin McGurk helped the Mayor launch a Guinness Book of Records attempt at the world's largest line dancing display. The challenge will take place when the UTV Countryfest comes to Dungannon on 2nd and 3rd August - tickets are now available locally at Dungannon Leisure Centre and all Ticketmaster outlets. Hospitality providers in town are taking calls from all Europe, so dont miss out on a great family day out this summer and remember, children under 12 go free.

Local Féis winners joined our Irish Language Development Officer and Mayor Barry Monteith on Thursday when they were honoured at a Council reception.

And on Friday, our Marketing team attended the Tri County Soccer 7s tournament in Cookstown where they promoted the large range of children's events arranged by Council this summer.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Getting Geared up for Summer...

So the good weather has come and gone just in time for the weekend, but that won't stop us at Council getting ready for summer...

We've packaged all our events together and are delighted to offer our residents and visitors a packed schedule to suit all tastes. See your copy of Update magazine which will be delivered to your door week beginning 19th May.

The Mayor's Pageant is somewhat different this year - instead of the usual parade, Mayor Barry Monteith will host a staged event in Market Square on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May. THe fun includes performances from all our local theatre groups in a showcase of Dungannon and South Tyrone's finest talent. Watch this space for further details...

This Monday 12th May, Council will host a Breastfeeding Awareness Day from 12noon to 2.30pm. Last year, Council declared all its buildings and venues as breastfeeding friendly zones and we hope to further enforce this message.

We'll also be promoting life after smoke free legislation - remember drivers, you cannot smoke behind the wheel if your vehicle is used for business purposes!

We'll have our local launch for UTV Countryfest at Dungannon Park on Thursday from 11.30am where local line dancers will strut their stuff for the tv cameras to promote Ireland's biggest country and western festival which comes to town on 2nd and 3rd August. Tickets are now available locally at Dungannon Leisure Centre (Tel 028 8772 0370) or from any ticketmaster outlet. Visit http://www.jwpromos.com/ for a full line up for this fab event!

Its blue bin week from Monday 12th May -more news next Friday!

Lithuanian Cultural Day

A community basketball challenge and world food market are just some of the components of Saturday's Lithuanian Cultural Day in Dungannon.

The Lithuanian Ambassador, Mr. Vygaudas Uoackas will attend a series of events including music and dance from both Irish and Lithuanian cultures.

Mayor Councillor Barry Monteith says:

“Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, through its Race Relations Project is delighted to promote such an exciting event for local people. It is also important to our local Lithuanian community to receive the visit from the Lithuanian Ambassador for the UK, Mr Vygaudas Uoackas, and his delegation and motivating to have their contribution in the event. I would like to thank the joint efforts from the Lithuanian Association, the St. Patrick’s College pupils, the Lithuanian Saturday school and of our local Council for putting together a celebration which reflects the true meaning of integration as a two ways process.”

Everyone is welcome to join in and experience Lithuanian culture this Saturday 26th April from 12 noon at Dungannon Leisure Centre. Programme is as follows:

12pm - 3pm - Community Basketball Challenge (Tyrone Towers v Lithuanian Select)
World Food Market - Free Tastings

3pm -Panel Discussion 'Local Hate Crimes'

5pm Lithuanian Weekend School

5.15pm Magic Act

5.40pm Coeomhaltas Group - Irish Traditional Music

6.10 Lithuanian Folk Band

For further information Ligia Parizzi on 028 8772 8603

Dungannon Park Angling Notes

Dungannon Park Lake Angling Notes 11.4.08

Water temperature is definitely rising lately and more and more trout are making themselves visible on the surface of the lake, which is good news for the angler as he doesn’t have to guess where the fish are now. With the warm weather comes a change in tactics and methods, retrieving line should become faster and higher up in the water and various types of aquatic life come into season and can be matched with imitation flies. Green and yellow still seem to be the colour of choice and the “Montana Nymph” and “Dog Nobbler” seem to be catching a fair number of fish.
Up and coming events include the “Learn 2 Fly Fish” adult tuition for beginners and learners which will take place on Saturday 26th April with A.P.G.A.I instructor Patrick Trotter from 10am – 5pm. All equipment will be supplied and refreshments will be served, the cost is £20 for the day and there are a limited number of places so this is your last chance for interested in taking up fly fishing and receiving professional instruction. We are also running a “May Bank Holiday Promotion” which entails a £10 3 fish ticket and ½ price boat hire, the heaviest 3 fish bag will win a £100 angling voucher from a selected list of retailers. The Promotion commences on Saturday 3rd May – Monday 5th May. The first 3 fish caught will be recorded. If you have any queries on any of our events you may contact us on the details at the end of this feature.

Dungannon Angler, Thomas Beresford landed 2 good fish for a weight of 4lb. His Father, Thomas Beresford Snr caught 3 fish for a weight of 5 ½ lb. Park Lake regular, Bob Pinkerton from Lurgan landed 1 fish for 4lb and released 7 fish in total. Dallingstown angler Andrew Miller caught 2 good fish for a total weight of 6 ¾ lb. Ian Mitchell of Londonderry landed 1 fish for 2 ½ lb. Noel Rutherford also of Londonderry caught 1 fish for 2 ½ lb.

The Park Lake Fishery continues to be stocked on a weekly basis. For further information and bookings please contact staff on 028 87 728690 or e-mail us at dpreception@dungannon.gov.uk

Weekly Fishing Update from Dungannon Park Lake

It has been a great weeks fishing here at Park Lake with some great fish caught at the weekend and a successful “Over 50’s” competition. The competition was won by Park Lake regular, Bob Pinkerton from Lurgan with 5 fish for a total weight of 14lb 12oz. The winter league has only one more competition to decide the overall winner, it’s very close at the top and no-ones position is set in stone. After May’s competition the “Over 50’s” will be as normal, and then we will start the summer league in July for a further 6 months.
Even though the weather has improved and water temperature has been steadily rising, the fish are still quite deep in the water so it is wise to keep a hold of your sinking line for the time being. “Orange” flies have started to become more productive lately but “Green” is still producing vast numbers of fish, but it is always wise to keep a variety of flies with you on the day.
Up and coming events include the “Learn 2 Fly-Fish” adult tuition which will be catering for beginners and learners, the course will be held by highly skilled A.P.G.A.I instructor, Patrick Trotter. It is a one day course which will take place on Saturday 26th April from 10am-5pm, all equipment will be supplied and refreshments will be served, it costs £20 per adult for the day. For more details on this and further information on the fishery you can contact us on the details at the end of this feature.

Portadown angler, Craig Henderson opted for the catch and release option and did well to catch 5 fish for an estimated weight of 15 ½ lb. Jurrison de Vriey also from Portadown caught and released 3 fish for an outstanding weight of 13lb. Armagh angler and Park Lake regular, Jimmy Corr landed 2 fish for a weight of 7lb. Another of our regulars, Bob Pinkerton from Lurgan had a great session, luring 5 fish for 15 ½ lb to his landing net.

Park Lake regular, John Chambers from Newry caught and released an excellent 10 fish on the day. Another regular, Alan Brown of Glenanne caught and released 8 fish for an estimated weight of 20 ½ lb. Yet another regular, John McGookin from Carrick managed to catch and release 10 fish for an estimated weight of 28 ½ lb. Patrick McElkerney of Ballnahinch had a good day landing 3 fish for 10lb. Paul McElkerney from Saintfeild caught 3 fish for a decent weight of 8lb, one of which weighing a rod bending 4lb. Finally, Roland Bann from Bangor managed 2 fish for a weight of 4 ½ lb.

The Park Lake Fishery continues to be stocked on a weekly basis. For further information and bookings please contact staff on 028 87 728690 or e-mail us at dpreception@dungannon.gov.uk

Parklake Angling Notes

Dungannon Park Lake Angling Notes 21.3.08

Definitely some better weather lately, even though the wind hasn’t seemed to go away the rain has died down a fraction and temperatures have risen slightly. All these signs and changes in weather can only mean the feeding habits of trout will also change. At this stage though the fish are still quite deep in the water and require a sinking line to reach, but a long leader with a sinking fly will suffice. There are some fish rising on occasion and the more skilled angler may wish to change over to a floating line with a dry fly or a line of emerging buzzers to entice these more adventurous fish.
This week we held our “Shamrock Bag” promotion, and the event proved to be very popular with 26 anglers in all taking part. The aim of the promotion was to land the heaviest bag of 3 fish to lift the 1st prize of £100 angling voucher, and there can only be one winner of course, and that was Sean Armstrong of Newry with a great bag of 3 fish for a weight of 11lb 9oz. Next week will be the results of the “Easter Monday” angling competition.

Portadown angler, Nigel McKinney had a great day landing 3 fish for a decent weight of 7 ½ lb. Armagh man, David Bradley managed to catch 3 fish for a weight of 6 ½ lb. B. Martin from Lurgan landed 3 good fish for a weight of 7 ¼ lb. Lurgan fisherman, Matthew Duff caught 2 fish for a weight of 5 ½ lb. Park lake regular, Bob Pinkerton from Lurgan Landed 3 fish for 7lb and on his return visit he caught 2 good sized fish for 8lb. G. Wilson of Lurgan had a good session landing 3 fish for 8 ¼ lb.

Young Omagh angler, Terence Molloy caught 2 good fish for a weight of 5 ½ lb. Thomas Armstrong from Newry caught 3 fish for a weight of 7lb 7oz. Park Lake regular, Jimmy Brown from Newry landed 3 fish for a decent weight of 8lb. John Chambers, also from Newry landed 3 fish for 9 ¼ lb. Regular, Alan Brown from Glenanne caught 3 fish for a weight of 8lb 9oz. John McGookin from Carrick caught 3 fish for a weight of 6lb 4oz. Finally, S. Trainer from Co. Meath landed 1 fish for 2 ½ lb.

The Park Lake Fishery continues to be stocked on a weekly basis. For further information and bookings please contact staff on 028 87 728690 or e-mail us at dpreception@dungannon.gov.uk