Flyfishing for Irish pollack “the best angling in the world”

Cork Harbour flyfishing guide Richie Ryan was in touch with a look back to a visit from two long-time friends over the summer, when they enjoyed spectacular fishing for pollack. We could extol the virtues of this hard-fighting fish, but we’ll let Richie tell it in his own words…

Richie takes up the story …  Sometimes in your fishing life a guy comes along who influences your angling destination in a major way. Two guys meet on a beach in Africa and become best friends through that chance encounter Then one moves away to another country, in this case Ireland, which could hinder their angling plans. Fly fishing together in really productive waters is the goal. Thus Dr. Jacques Bronkhorst and Louwrens Badenhorst ( Bads ) infatuation with pollack on the fly in Ireland was initiated.

As a novice saltwater guide I entered into this amazing experience through an Irish Navy connection. I consider myself very lucky to happen upon these two South African fluff chuckers when I set up my business Eire Bass. Another stroke of luck was meeting the famous bass guide Jim Hendrick who gave of his time to help the me set up my business. Through their endeavours I continue to operate my guiding business in Cork Harbour.
Every other year the two South Africans and myself meet up to fly fish for that most underrated fly fishing species , pollack.

Between Cork and Connemara we are in thrall with the sheer quantity and fighting quality of this species. And let’s face it , these guys have great fishing on their doorstep. Jacques asks his friends back home how many fish they catch on the fly in the salt each year and they say 20-30. And then the doc bursts their bubble that the 3 anglers can land and release over 120 pollock on the fly in a 4-5 hour session on his or my boat.

The fly fishing this summer in particular was the best angling they’ve had anywhere in the world they said (and the Connemara trip was even cancelled, sorry guys). It dawns on all three of us that we have something really special here on our doorstep extolling the virtues of this undervalued sport. We have to pinch ourselves at times the fly fishing is so good. As mentioned in my previous article , I didn’t have a blank day on the boat this summer. Let’s hope it’s as good next year.

Make a booking

If you want to book Richie then go to  www.corkbass.com