17/1/20

17/1/20  It’s great to be back on the No Spin No Fly's  just Facts Waterville Fishery Zone. Sadly we start on a sad note because the Waterville Fishery has lost another great fly angler, sadly Currane angler Mr. Ken Towner RIP passed away on the 6th of January and on behalf of all the Waterville anglers and the good people of Waterville we send our Deepest Sympathies to his good wife Anne, son Jack and daughter Mary. Now I let Ken’s Yorkshire and Waterville mate's  Mr. John Young and Eccy have the last say on a great photographer. Now today's opening day,  well My Noble Salmon were the only one's smiling this opening day. So we head for the Lobster Bar and their Bacon and Cabbage and it was first class in all department's so a big thank you to Management and staff for a great night, fish or no fish. Talking of Salmon we head for the Hatchery and Manager Mr. Tom O’Shea of www.flyfishingatloughcurrane.com reports,
Hi Vincent
In Dec 2019 16,000 juvenile salmon were released from the hatchery. 11,500 of which were finclippeJust before Christmas twenty broodstock were collected from the cummeragh River. Those fish produced 50,000 eggs to continue the cycle once again for 2020
Now for last heavenly cast on Ken Towner RIP and the finale words by his good Currane and Yorkshire mates Mr John young and Mr, Dave Eccleston finish Ken's story on his last Salmon
Hello Vincent.Good to talk to you earlier and I’m pleased you are keeping well.Thanks for enquiring about Ken’s circumstances in his twilight.You do a fantastic job not only for Waterville but even more importantly for the brother and sister hood  of all who visit and are enchanted by the area but most especially Lough Currane.
Although I moved back to England the friendships made in Ireland have endured.Although ,like Eccy I am from Yorkshire I relocated to Cumbria,near to the town of Penrith.As perhaps you know it’s a rural environment with pristine rivers and lakes.Ken has visited,from London every year since I returned ,sometimes in spring to brown trout fish and sometimes in autumn when the Salmon was the main quarry.Of course he so sadly fell ill last summer and the diagnosis said his days were drawing to a close.He accepted his fate,the man of dignity and grace that he was,and decided to do things in his remaining days,if his illness allowed,fond to his memory.He expressed a desire to venture north one last time,to meet myself and Eccy,and fish the north country rivers which he had grown to love.As the weeks passed I feared it would not happen but finally at the end of September he said he was making the trip.His grand daughter Mary Rose,who had studied at Leeds University,escorted him up to Cumbria where we happily reunited.On day one we fished in the Yorkshire Dales in pursuit of a grayling,a fish Ken was particularly fond of.Heavy rain had made for a big river and it was evident Ken had a lost a lot of strength especially in his legs-we did not manage to capture a grayling.Day two however,we were back in Cumbria and decided to try for a Salmon.Between myself,Eccy and the local river keeper we targeted a pool called ‘Waters Meet’ which is where the river Eamont ,which is sourced in the Lake District national park,joins the parent river Eden.It was the perfect place for Ken to be.The water was perfect,the bank underfoot friendly and the Salmon were running.He fished quite beautifully and was a complete peace with his life and the world.We did not move from the pool and mid afternoon his line tightened and the Salmon was on.It fought very hard and though not the biggest or prettiest fish Ken declared he had never wanted to land a fish so much in his life.Thankfully he did and it brought a beautiful closure to his wonderful angling journey through life.Special memory’s.God rest  your soul Ken.

Ken RIP