Fishing in Ireland

Salmon Fishing in Irish Loughs

The services of a boatman are essential for the salmon angler on the loughs. Salmon will often be concentrated in known lies like the Black Rock on Lough Furnace at the Burrishoole fishery in County Mayo. They will rarely be evenly dispersed throughout a lough and anyone fishing elsewhere will have little sport. But the angler fishing these lies, who will usually be fly fishing, will also need to have the boat's direction closely controlled; it cannot be left to drift before the wind but must be manoeuvred so that the rods can address all the taking water. The angler will also need the boatman's help when a fish is hooked, for the boat must be rowed quickly to deeper water where the fish can be played out. A ten foot or slightly longer single handed rod such as would be used for grilse fishing, matched with an intermediate or sink-tip line, will serve well for lough fishing.

Salmon Fishing in Irish Rivers

The single most important factor in salmon fishing is finding the fish; they have preferred lies in rivers, so the visiting salmon angler should seek the help of a ghillie for at least the first part of his or her holiday.

Salmon may be caught on bait or fly, although some fisheries restrict anglers to fly only, except in certain water conditions. Bait is often used for early spring fish as rivers may then be high and coloured. The bait used may be natural or artificial depending on local regulations, and can be fished on twelve or fifteen pound test line and a ten or eleven foot spinning rod. Similar tackle can be used for bait fishing throughout the season, but with lighter lines for grilse fishing in low water.

To catch a spring salmon on the fly is one of the great experiences in angling. Usually fifteen foot rods and number ten or eleven sinking lines will be required in early Spring for Irish rivers such as the Slancy in County Wexford or the Laune in County Kerry, although shorter rods and lighter lines may be used on some rivers. Floating lines become necessary from late April when the water is warmer.

Fly fishing for grilse will require either a double-handed rod, or a ten foot singlehanded rod carrying a number (A.F.T.M) seven or eight floating or intermediate line. Leaders should be at least ten pounds test.

A range of flies has been developed for Irish salmon fishing, many of them specially adapted for local conditions. The advice of a ghillie will be invaluable for the patterns and sizes which best suit the water. The shrimp fly is a unique type of Irish salmon fly and is used on many Irish rivers, notably the Moy in County Mayo, in varying patterns throughout the season; sizes vary from number six or eight flies in late spring to fourteen or sixteen flies in summer.