Fly Fishing in Ireland, Roundwood Lakes, Co. Wicklow

A request to help take a group of visiting Finnish anglers out on Roundwood lakes resulted in a fine days sport in good company. With the lakes low, the day dull, and a warm south west breeze creating a nice wave, conditions looked promising. Driving to the Knockatemple shore we loaded the boats with what seemed to be a mountain of gear and set off.

Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, brownie.

My guest for the day was named Essa and we hit it off straight away, a salmon angler back in Finland, he wanted to experience traditional Irish lough fishing. Choosing a drift across a shallow point, first cast a trout snatched at my bob fly, a bibio. Two casts later stripping fast a plump brownie took the watsons on the middle dropper with a bang. Launching itself into the air a spirited fight ensued, golden brown and well spotted, a great start to the day.

Happy anglers on a Roundwood, Co. Wicklow shore.

Mid afternoon we all met up for lunch. The kelly kettles were fired up, plenty of hot tea, wine, nips of Jameson, and the grub of course. Lots of banter and getting to know each other, how the fishing was going, what flies were working, which drifts, an hour flew by. Back on the water fishing was slow. Adjusting traces and changing flies brought no joy. The surroundings made up for the lack of sport and conversation flowed. In jig time dusk was upon us, the day had just disappeared.

Roundwood brownie nailed by a Wicklow Killer.

Suddenly the lake surface came alive as trout were head and tailing all around us. A hatch of small silverhorn sedges had got the fish moving. Just prior to this activity I had replaced a Peter Ross on the point with a Wicklow Killer. Bang it was nailed and a couple of minutes later another fine brownie graced the boards.

Wicklow Killer.

Essa and I fished on, trout were snatching at our flies, diving at the bob which was great fun to see. Essa had a fish on only for the hook to be thrown. Earlier in the day he had been broken by a take, losing his point fly. Finally in the midst of this great hatch Essa landed his first Irish brownie. By now it was dark, the hatch petered out, so we headed tired but also exhilarated by what we had witnessed to the mooring.

Kimo, with a fine catch of wild Roundwood trout.

Tying up the boats and packing away the gear we exchanged stories of the day. A few nice trout had been kept, mainly encountered during the evening rise of silverhorns. Tales of fish lost at the net, now of course twice the size they really were. But that is what it is all about. A great day in good company, memories to cherish.

Click on: Guided Lough Fly Fishing in Co. Wicklow.

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