|
||
| "The
Trouts" Ferox | Sonaghen | Croneen Gillaroo Lough Melvin in Ireland is home to Salmo stomachius. A species of trout which eats primarily snails. Gillaroo is derived from the Gailge or Irish for Red Fellow (Giolla Rua). This is due to the fishes distinctive colouring. It has a bright buttery golden colour in its flanks with bight crimson and vermillion spots. The gillaroo is a beautiful creature characterised by deep red spots and a "gizzard" which is used to aid the digestion of hard food items such as water snails. Although reported from a number of Irish lakes it is the work of Andy Ferguson, Queens University which firmly placed the gillaroo on the taxonomic map. Experiments carried out by A. Ferguson and his colleagues established that the progeny of the gillaroo of L. Melvin maintained their feeding habits and coloration when transplanted to a different water body. They determined that on average only one gillaroo cross- bred with the sonaghan, an other unique trout species found in L. Melvin, in any year. In Lough Melvin the gillaroo feed almost exclusively on bottom living animals ( snails, sedge fly larva and freshwater shrimp) with the exception of late summer. It is at this time that they come to to surface to feed and may be caught on the dry fly. Other lakes reputed to contain the gillaroo are L. Neagh, L. Conn, L. Mask and L. Corrib. However the unique gene found in the L. Melvin trout has not been found in some 200 trout populations in Ireland and Britain. Gillaroo rarely live longer than 5 years.
Main characteristics Background and fin colour golden-brown or yellow with many large vivid orange-red spots especially below the lateral line. Deep slightly compressed body. Angling methods: Lough Melvin is the only lough in Ireland where gillaroo are regularly taken on rod and line. Gillaroo are essentially bottom-feeding fish, taking snails (Molluscs), shrimps (Gammarus) and sedge (Trichopteran) larvae. Emerging insects (e.g. mayflies, sedges, midges) and terrestrials (e.g. crane flies) account for less than 2% of a gillaroo’s diet. Another important factor that the angler must bear in mind when targeting the gillaroo is that they can congregate in well-defined areas of shallow water along rocky shores, islands and in sandy bays. They will not be found cruising in deep, open water. Fly-fishing is the most viable method of angling, and while most anglers fish with general wet-fly patterns, it is likely that gillaroo would respond favourably to more imitative snail and shrimp patterns (e.g. Coch Y Bondhu). Gillaroo have razor-sharp reactions and will not tolerate clumsy casting or boat handling. Recommended fly pattern: Hook Size 8 or 10 Body Green seal’s fur Rib Fine gold tinsel or wire Wing Pheasant tail Hackle Red or ginger cock The Green Peter is probably the most popular fly pattern in Ireland, and there are few anglers that venture onto Melvin without it in their fly-box because it will take brown trout, grilse, sonaghen or gillaroo. Gillaroo are among the hardest fighting, tastiest fish around and can grow to over 5lbs in weight. Due to their shoaling nature, if you come across one, others are likely to follow. This can leave the stocks open to over-exploitation by unscrupulous anglers. If you are fortunate enough to land one of these amazing creatures, the ICCG encourages you to appreciate its uniqueness and existence value, while limiting your kill rather than killing your limit. Gillaroo, top. Sonaghan, bottom. |
||
|
 Copyright
2003. ICCG ©2003 |
