Paul Hanley reports on the methods that are tempting salmon at Inniscarra Dam during low water…

Having fished downĀ beat 4 with a Hot Orange Ahilles shrimp fly I decided to give it another run, this time with a new fly pattern that I had just tied up the previous night. Moving down the beat a salmon just barely broke the surface film with a fast turn and suddenly myĀ line was going down stream at high speed, lifting into theĀ salmon it showed straight away and I could see that it was a coloured fish.

Putting plenty of side strain on the fish I brought it in close to me and then I allowed the fish to fight for a few seconds so that it would easier to deal with as the fly wasn’t visible in the mouth. Landing the salmon I saw that it had taken the fly deeply but seeing as I was only usingĀ aĀ size 15 double it was easy to remove from the salmon with very little harm done to the fish. Holding the fish for a few seconds it was ready and rearing to go so I released it back into the river.

The new fly has now been moved to my smaller fly box which is for my blooded flies, these are flies that have successfully taken salmon and depending on their success rate will be tied in all sizes for future sessions. I hear anglersĀ complain about their favourite fly thatĀ was lost either in a huge fish or a rock but they couldn’t remember the exact colourĀ etc to get a new one tied up, well that is why I keep a good stock of my blooded flies to save that happening to me. If you have a great fly that catches fish either take a photograph of it on your mobile phone or take it to a flytier so that you always have a copy of it just in case you lose it, also keep two boxes and everytime a newĀ fly catches a salmon put it in the blooded box so that it will boost your confidence next time you use it as you know it has worked before.

As for my new fly it doesn’t get aired on this blogĀ until it has a betterĀ success rateĀ because it could have been a fluke and that might be the only salmon that it takes.

Compliments of:

Paul Hanley,
Salmon fishing in Ireland
Web: www.salmonfishingireland2012blog.ie