Posts Tagged ‘Fly Fishing’
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
With boats taking precedence over the last few weeks it was nice to get out on the river again. Recent falls of rain had both freshened the water and raised levels slightly. Pushing along nicely and running clear albeit with a tinge of dark tea, the river screamed fish and I was not disappointed.
Setting up an eight foot, four weight rod I made my way upstream to work a team of wets back down. Overcast, a cool north easterly blew down the valley making it impossible to upstream fish, besides other than spotting and photographing what I am certain was a mayfly there was no hatch of any description. Nymphing may have been an option but even that would have proved difficult. So putting up a beaded pheasant tail on the point and a greenwells spider on the dropper I commenced working the runs and pots.
Very quickly I connected with a nice 10 inch fish to the greenwells, closely followed by a similar trout on the pheasant tail. The first held station along a seam on the far bank, slashing at my flies as they swung across, the second fish took deep in the run tail, both giving a good account on my light rod. So a taking pattern developed criss crossing between the pheasant tail and the greenwells with at days end the greenwells just shading it.
An interesting aspect of fishing this particular stream is how it changes from visit to visit, no two days being the same. Given its rain fed almost spate like nature the water rises and falls all the time, steady flow maintained to a degree by the bog higher up, however in long dry spells like Ireland has just experienced the sponge drys up with subsequent dramatic effects on the river below. Today however it had come alive and tomorrow it will flow in a torrent a resultant of the forecast heavy rain.
Trout had moved out of the deep slacks and positioned themselves in ambush points behind rocks, along seams and guts, in fact just about everywhere you might expect them to be. Two fish in quick succession here, one trout there, head and tail rises, pulls, the day went in a blur, only my gnawing stomach told me it might be time to go home. At least a dozen trout caught and released with as many more slashing, pulling, and cavorting. This river is special and I never tire of it, the trout are not big, but they are beautiful, big spotted and yellow bellied providing wonderful sport in a breathtaking location.
Further reading: In the Footsteps of A.A. Luce.
Tags: Angling, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Greenwells Spider, Ireland, Pheasant tail nymph, Wicklow, Wild Brown Trout
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Monday, April 16th, 2012
What started as an idea over 18 months ago finally become a reality when the Jean Anne made its first drift before a stiff northerly breeze across Roundwood south lake. It has always been my belief that Ireland’s natural resources, utilised and managed correctly, can help alleviate some of our economic problems by generating real long term jobs, and in the process contributing financially on a local and national basis. Having joined the unemployed ranks over 18 months ago and seen an opportunity to create an international standard tourist fly fishing product, yesterday was the first baby step on the road to what will hopefully be a success for both east Co. Wicklow and yours truly.
Accompanying me for the day was Mr. Irish Fly Fisher himself Liam Stenson, creator of a wonderful fly fishing blog and dab hand at fishing north country spiders on the mountain streams of Co. Wicklow, today we swished our 5 weight rods, casting ahead of the boat while stripping lines fast and slow, absorbed by the peace and quite of this wonderful location. Early morning showers of icy rain accompanied by strong gusts eased in the afternoon to variable breezes, which ruffled the surface away from the lee shores creating ideal conditions to work a team of flies.
It was great to meet unexpectedly my daughter Emma Claire and her partner Gary out enjoying the lake, making their own way in the world having vacated the nest long ago, unplanned shore side lunches of home made roast pork and stuffing rolls with your siblings taste all the better. Boiling up water in the Kelly kettle to make chicken soup, teas, and coffees, along with all the other bits and bobs we had, sure where would you get it, the rat race completely forgotten.
Saying our goodbyes Liam and I approached the second half with renewed vigour. Having rose a trout just before lunch and with conditions improving it was not long before action commenced. Fishing a sinking line while stripping at a medium pace my silver dabbler on the point was taken by a sprightly half pounder. Liam fishing a floating line was next in, again on the dabbler. Over the next hour three more fish to a little over half a pound came to the boat, all hard fighting wild fish.
Allied to numerous rises and turns it had been a productive and most enjoyable afternoon. A highlight being giving a heads up to a new CWA member as to a particularly productive drift, result a beautifully spotted pound fish and one happy angler. With the season just kicking in as the weather warms up, on the strength of yesterday afternoon things look bright.
Please note: “Due to circumstances which in time will become apparent the service outlined above has been suspended indefinitely. I am sorry for any confusion.”
Ashley Hayden
Note: Roundwood is a fly only water, An Irish Angler’s World secured permission to run a boat fly fishing operation on the lake from the owners Dublin City Council. Unfortunately and not surprisingly, after all this is Ireland, certain local people in word and deed made it very clear that the operation was not welcome creating an atmosphere which was not conducive to inviting tourists. On a positive note day tickets to fish the shoreline are available from Dublin City Council and can be purchased at the Vartry Waterworks beside the Dam on the south lake.
Tags: Angling, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Ireland, Roundwood, Vartry Reservoir, Wild Brown Trout
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Sunday, March 25th, 2012
County Wicklow was bathed in unseasonal March sunshine, temperatures reached sixteen degrees, moss dried on bleached granite boulders due to the crystal clear water flowing at summer levels, and the trout stayed deep, indifferent to a fly but not uninterested. Conditions would have tested the best, however William Hayes on holidays from Chicago and I were in a special place, there were trout in those lies so why not rise to the challenge.
A brisk warm downstream breeze dictated our approach, in the main we crouched low using the bank and boulders for cover searching out seams and pots where a fish might hold station. Commencing with spiders it became apparent that a bit of depth was required, enter William’s bead head pheasant tail with a cul de canard hackle.
Flies swing around and start to rise, in unison a splash/tug and a trout swims strong across the current. Not large but welcome, one of four hard won between us. Occasional tentative pulls kept the interest up and time flew, in a flash the road beckoned, a wonderful day on the river ends….
Tags: Angling, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Ireland, Wicklow, Wild Brown Trout
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Saturday, March 24th, 2012
Enjoyed a great day fishing the annual media competition organised by Derek Evans, angling correspondent with the Irish Times, at Brian Nally’s well appointed Annamoe Trout Fishery located close to Glendalough in Co. Wicklow. A warm day punctuated by a brisk variable south/south east breeze, the resident rainbows were obliging, at least in the morning, and all 16 participants landed some cracking fish.
“What’s catching Brian?”, I asked eyeing the selection of flies and lures available within Annamoe’s club house, a spacious log cabin where anglers can relax before, during, and after fishing. Today at half time we were to enjoy a slap up hot buffet meal courtesy of Annamoe Trout Fishery and plenty of teas, coffees, and biccies in between, “you spoiled us Brian and thank you”. “Try that red bead head zonker lure, it was working very well last week”, replied Brian, so I did and it still worked as I was to find out.
Three casts in my rod locked and the first of four rainbows lured by that red strip of fluff powered off. All giving a good account of themselves, they took a while to get to the net. Fishing an intermediate line to a 15 foot leader with a six pound tippet, slow long draws of the line worked for me. Using barbless hooks I lost two more fish which threw the iron after spectacular jumps, that while witnessing Killarney fly fishing machine John Buckley take 21 fish in the morning session. John blanked in the afternoon, as I did, but he still did enough to retain the trophy with Dave McBride of South Side Angling coming second. Thank you to Brian for your hospitality, Derek for inviting me, and to all the participants that I know and the new people I met, Ed, Remy, Chris, and Rob, see you on the water and tight lines….
Tags: Angling, Annamoe Trout Fishery, Brian Nally, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Ireland, Lure Fishing, Managed fisheries, Media Competition, Rainbow Trout, Wicklow
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Friday, March 23rd, 2012
The rumble of artillery rolled across the hills as shell after shell thudded into the boggy landscape, interspersed with heavy machine gun fire I now have an idea what the poor unfortunates dug into their trenches in Flanders fields had to endure close on 100 years ago. Carried by a south east wind from nearby Glen of Imaal where the army were on manouvers, the noise on occasions was very loud and the air shook, God knows what it was like for those living in the vicinity. A weak sun shone through the haze and it was bloody cold, my chosen stream was decidedly low now due to the current dry spell, in short fishing was tough.
On the other hand it couldn’t escape me that I was out and about in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains, glaciated dome shaped granite covered by a green, russet, and purple blanket. Coconut scented gorse flowering, lambs everywhere, farmers going about their business, the river snaking through, and me, 20 miles from O’Connell St alone with the trout. Walking upstream to fish wets back down, it being fruitless to dry fly due to the sharp east wind blowing in my face, I chose a run flowing out of a boulder field into a long flat and commenced.
Immediately a head and tail rise followed by a tug, instinctively setting I missed but continued the movement recasting to the same spot. The trout came again and this time took the kill devil on the point, diving and darting in the swift current, silver with black and red spots it could have been a sea trout, unusual. Returned, I connected with another standard coloured fish from this lie before moving on.
Shrunk due to the lack of rain, clear with that reddish tinge, if I was a trout the deep holes and flats is where I would be. The strong wind made upstream fishing practically impossible so I persevered on down. At days end my rod took five wild fish averaging six ounces, with a number of rises and tugs to keep interest. The kill devil, coachman, and greenwells all scored, and other than a couple of stone flies and a lone sedge I saw no fly life. Happy with my lot and heading for the car I considered the different personalities of the stream, all connected with one unifying strand, rain…
Tags: Angling, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Ireland, Kill Devil Spider, River fishing, Trout fishing, Wicklow, Wild Brown Trout
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Friday, March 16th, 2012
A grey heaviness enveloped Roundwood as, pushed by a warmish southerly breeze, we drifted down the annexe. Lines swished rhythmically and casts, ahead of the moving boat, uncoiled across the surface, sinking a foot before being stripped back at a pace. Top dropper dibbled for a few seconds creating a wake, then lifted for the procedure to start again. Yes, I’ve got one, my fishing partners rod bends to a nice fish which takes to leaping and hopping before diving down so pulling the tip over hard.
Played, brought to hand plump and in great condition, a little over half a pound the trout was quickly photographed then gently released to fight another day. The first of three trout and a couple of rises all to a silver dabbler, my card was marked. Swapping a wicklow killer point fly for a size 10 dabbler I recast. Instantly a pull coupled with a surface bulge, recasting, stripping, dibbling, another hard pull. Lifting, recasting, stripping fast my line locks, a trouty splash, fish on. Boring deep but soon in my hand, another half pounder to you’ve got it, the dabbler.
Later my rod took another similar fish this time to the wicklow killer, in position now on the middle dropper. With himself landing four and both of us rising numerous fish it had been a busy three hours. Six fish to the boat and it not St.Patrick’s day yet, what has happened to the world. Roundwood they say is a dour lake not prone to giving up its inhabitants easy, it does though as you have learned have its good days, and as for large bushy flies, sacred heart sure what would you be wanting to use them for….
Tags: Angling, Boat fishing, Dabbler, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Ireland, Roundwood, Watsons, Wicklow, Wicklow killer, Wild Brown Trout
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
There are day’s when you are reminded why you chose to go fishing, spring starts to show its face, the air is warm with just a little zephyr of a breeze, a hazy brightness fills the landscape, and trout dance with your flies, pulling and cavorting as you work down the runs. Low,almost to the bones my chosen stream diverted and sluiced between the boulders, trout sat in the back eddies waiting for morsels to drift by, and my spiders twitched irresistibly enough to lure a fish at regular intervals, a man couldn’t wish for more.
In his 1959 published treatise on angling “Fishing and Thinking” Dr. A. A. Luce, Professor of Moral Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin wrote of his best day on the river. Casting a line on the same stream almost 73 years to the day I couldn’t but feel a sense of deja vu. Commencing fishing around noon after having walked a step upstream I felt confident as my initial cast snaked across the stream, throwing a mend the flies worked along a seam whence simultaneously a boil and a tug signaled my first trout of the afternoon.
A little six ounce brownie, perfectly formed, yellow bellied, and brightly spotted, taken on a Greenwells spider it tricked and darted in the swift current not out gunned by my four weight wand, a nice start. Carefully wading down stream I placed my flies in runs between rocks, into back eddies, and through likely pockets searching out ambush points where a wily trout might lie up, the pool head runs being very productive.
Newly born lambs suckled and gamboled in the fields and the smell of coconut drifted from gorse bushes high up on the bank, other than the chatter of the stream there was complete silence. An hour or two had flown by and noticeably rises to my flies had slowed down. Taking advice from Dr.Luce I switched the point fly for a Coachman his successful pattern from 63 years ago and bingo a gut produced three trout on the bounce.
Making my way around a long meander I came across a nice riffle with a constant depth, casting my flies towards the far bank at a forty five degree angle, as they swung around BANG my best trout of the session took the coachman. At half a pound and in great condition the cake had been well and truly iced, time to call it a day. Eleven trout all returned along with numerous rises, a busy afternoon for sure. County Wicklow has some wonderful trout fishing in beautiful locations, the best of it found in the most out of the way places. You have to work for what you catch, but the rewards, a picture paints a thousand words….
Click on: Guided Fly Fishing for Wild Trout.
Tags: Angling, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Ireland, Kill Devil Spider, Stream fishing, Wet fly fishing, Wicklow, Wild Brown Trout
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Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
Enjoyed a great first day of the season fly fishing with Mr Irish Fly Fisher himself Liam Stenson and his good friend Ray Bradley on the River Liffey somewhere in Co. Kildare. The sun shone, however a stiff south east breeze put a chill in the air keeping fly hatches to a minimum, that said a few dark olives did show and trout were rising in the more sheltered runs.
Fishing a team of wets to include a kill devil spider on the point, a greenwells spider on the middle dropper, and a partridge and orange on the top I proceeded to fish a likely run endorsed by Liam, “he hooked and lost a fish estimated at 5.lbs in it last season, the hook straightened”. The upstream breeze made fishing wet difficult so I quickly reverted to dry and put up a small olive klinkhammer pattern. With no trout showing I fished likely seams to little effect.
Liam on the other hand found a sheltered back water with a nice streamy run pushing close to a half sunk tree. Placing his fly in the suds he winkled out a 10 inch trout to break his duck for the year. Two more fish rose but were too quick for him, these Liffey brownies are lightening fast.
Moving upstream I found a run sheltered from the wind by a high bank. Heavily lined with willow trees, there were enough gaps to enable fishing if one used unorthodox casting methods. Switching over to wets my luck changed and I rose a number of trout landing three to close on half a pound. Beautifully spotted but a little lean, in a few weeks they will be plump and full of fight.
By now the sun was waning and a chill started to fill the air, we had forgotten but it was only March 3rd. Close on four bells three tired but happy anglers walked back to the cars, the Liffey had been good to us Liam also netting a few nice trout and the day most certainly augured well for the season to come….
Tags: Angling, Co. Kildare, Dry fly fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Greenwells Spider, Ireland, Partridge and Orange, River Liffey, Spider patterns, Stream fishing, Wet fly fishing, Wild Brown Trout
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Saturday, September 3rd, 2011
Pat Foley is a man with a vision, along with his family he has developed a fine angling and agri-tourism facility close to the village of Myshall in south county Carlow. The Southern County Fishing and Family Resort, 10 minutes from the M9 motorway, encompasses 45 acres of undulating landscaped surroundings in the foothills of the Blackstairs Mountains overlooked by Mount Leinster. Including 10 acres of water on three different rain fed lakes, stocked with rainbow trout reared from an on site hatchery, these fish are in superb condition fully finned and fighting fit. Ranging in size from 1.5 lbs to over 10.lbs, be prepared for fish to take you to the backing and tie on a leader of at least 8.lb B/S.
Officially opened by Minister Phil Hogan T.D. on 1st September 2011, the facility also includes 3 kilometers of walks and cycle ways, a pet farm, children’s play area, tackle shop along with a purpose built club house and function venue. Invited to the open day but not having the time unfortunately to fish, I did have the pleasure of witnessing fisheries scientist Dr. Ken Whelan land a cracking rainbow trout tempted by a Woolly Bugger,”They’re taking damselflies off the surface”, says Ken, so it seems the obvious choice.
Most definitely in the premier league of Irish managed fisheries, I will most certainly be paying it another visit, this time I will carry a stock of rainbow trout lures along with a selection of naturals. An ideal location for a family day out, Southern County Fishing Resort will satisfy experienced and novice anglers alike and in my opinion is the ideal place to coach youngsters new to the sport of fly fishing. Being a rainbow trout facility fishing is allowed 12 months of the year, and with talk of a club being formed why not give Southern County Fishing Resort a ring, Tel: 059 915 7773, Mob: 087 837 3032.
Tags: Angling, Co. Carlow, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Ireland, Lake fishing, Myshall, Rainbow Trout, Southern County Fishing Resort, Tourism
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Ace fly dresser and passionate salmon angler Denis O’Toole couldn’t believe his eyes at the end of a twenty minute battle with one of the Avoca Rivers migratory visitors. On reaching into the landing net to cradle his prize, incredulity took over on recognition of the heavy set head and broad shovel like convex tail, a sea trout of lifetime proportions, Denis was in dreamland. Experiencing all of the emotions, both Denis and his fishing partner Dean Kennedy (who netted the great fish) were shaking as they carefully removed the hook with a view to weighing and returning the superb specimen.
The needle bounced down to 16.75 lbs, taking into account the weigh net, officially the sea trout weighed in at 16.lb, the largest recorded Irish fly caught sea trout and one which will be very hard to better. Denis has to be commended for releasing the fish, the action being a reflection of his passion and love for the sport, “Respect”. His fishing partner Dean Kennedy has to get special mention also, for it was he that netted the bruiser and did the photographic honours, for which I and many others who read this post are very grateful, “good job Dean”.
For the record Denis’s 16.lb sea trout of a lifetime was tempted by a 1.5 inch Lava tail aluminium tube fly designed and created by himself. He used an eight weight Partridge Switch rod, a large arbour Orvis Battenkill reel, and a weight forward 8 line.
This wonderful angling feat highlights the potential of the Avoca river as a game fishing location and hopefully will spur the decision makers, clubs , and stakeholders with an interest in the system to fast forward action plans regarding its restoration and future management. In the meantime lets celebrate Denis’s great feat, sea trout of this calibre usually only enter our lives in dreams. Denis O’Toole will dream happily for the rest of his life.
Click on: Salmo Spero Elite Salmon and Sea Trout Flies.
Footnote: Denis O’Toole is a professional fly dresser specialising in tying top quality salmon and sea trout flies. For advice and information email Denis at , otooledenis96@yahoo.com.
Tags: Angling, Avoca, Denis O'Toole, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Fishing, Ireland, Kill Devil Spider, River Avoca, Sea trout, Wicklow
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