Timo’s 23lb catch ‘the biggest thrill of his fishing career’

THE biggest thrill of his fishing career to date was how Killarney angler Timo O’Sullivan described his landing of a salmon weighing almost 23 pounds.

Wheelchair user Timo, who avails of a special hoist to get in and out of his boat, was with another well-known Killarney angler, Mick (Kenmare) O’Sullivan, when he hooked the big one at Faillcoille, in Lough Lein.

“We were heading towards the copper mines, not far from the shore. The fish put up a great fight for 20 minutes to half an hour. It just stayed down and wouldn’t give in. We haven’t heard of a fish of that weight being caught in Killarney for a long time,” he said.

Timo was using a minnow made by himself as bait.

The fish, weighing 22.58 pounds, was purchased for €1,000 by Patrick O’Donoghue, of the Brehon Hotel in Killarney.

All the money from the sale will be divided equally between the Killarney Order of Malta and the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team.

Timo, who ties his own flies and also makes other bait, has been angling since 1992.

“I hope this will be an encouragement to other people with disabilities to get into angling,” he said.

“It’s a great past-time and very healthy for everyone taking part in it.”