Angling guide Dan O’Neill is back with a report from the River Nore:
What a crazy week, weather-wise: extreme heat saw water temps on the Nore hit 22 degrees. One day, it was moving between 18 and 20. Fishing was limited to early morning or late evening. Sedge hatches were strong, and watching them dance around was a sure sign of summer. With fishing being restricted, it gave me time to sit and watch something I rarely get to do, but I promise I will do more once I do, if that makes sense. I watched two trout feeding for about 20 minutes, learning a little while I watched. It was interesting to see them switch food lanes and alter their depth as sunshine got brighter and wind picked up. They were totally tuned into something small; I got some nice footage of them feeding, which is available over on my Facebook and Instagram page.
When we did fish, we had some good trout, some over 35cm. The stamp of trout seems to have improved over the past two seasons; plenty of trout parr about too, very good to see and promising also.
I tied a couple of flies over the past few days, concentrating on small subtle patterns. When the water is so clear, I find the trout respond better to more natural patterns. Looking around the riverbed with the underwater camera has really helped me to create more patterns, subtle ones and, of course, some alien ones. I have been lucky enough to gain access to some super beats on the Slaney and the Suir; both rivers are known for super trout fishing and great quality trout. For details of trips on the beats, contact me at the details below:
- troutfishingireland@outlook.com or 0857652751
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/share/1RDD9oHGmX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/troutfishingireland?igsh=dDFraDh5M3E3ZjVq&utm_source=qr
- Tik-Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@trout.fishing.ire?_r=1&_t=ZN-96LwEhHtv78
Matthew Cooper of Kindale Fly Fishing has sent over another pattern that we discussed quite a bit. He breaks it down perfectly here to make it so even I can understand it. Let’s see what Matthew has come up with, Matchin’ what’s hatchin’… And what’s swimming
This week I’ve been down to the water most evenings after school with my boys; we head down with a net, turn some rocks and scoop in the shallows and banks. I’ve noticed a lot of black gnat on the water. The black gnat in my eyes isn’t a specific hatch, so to speak; it’s just small black insects which land on the water’s surface. When trout are feeding on dry flies, and I can’t seem to find the exact fly to use, I’ll stick on a black gnat pattern and usually tempt them up. The black gnat is a great fly; it’s got a good buggy silhouette on the water’s surface that trout just have to have. I’ve had the odd roach come give them a go too. I’ve had success taking trout on this fly even when the fish are feeding on olives, and I believe that’s just down to its look from underneath. Every fly tyer has their own version of the black gnat; for mine, you’re going to want a range of sizes from 18s up to 14s
Materials list: Dry fly hook 18 – 14 Tail: black cock hackle fibres, a good bunch Rib: black tying thread just to secure the dubbing down tight. Body: raven black hares and squirrel dubbing Hackle: Ewing black dry fly hackles Wing: Kindale’s white poly yarn tied in on top of the fly with a small wing each side.
Now the secret to having your black gnat float all day. I treat most of my dry flies with a tent water-proofing spray, but fly-tying alternatives are available. Dip them or spray them and let them dry before adding them to your box.
Matching what’s swimming. While one trout might be looking up to feed on the black gnat, we’ve also been getting a lot of sticklebacks in our net. And there’s no doubt the trout feed heavily on these, especially after a good dose of rain. They’re an easy big meal for the larger trout in the river. Maximum calories for the least amount of effort.
Materials list: Size 8 streamer hook, rabbit zonkers strips in olive, small sculpin head, partridge feather to act as the markings. For the males, I would add an orange throat to the streamer to imitate the mating colours. These flies work well cast across the river and stripped back. If the water you’re fishing is deep enough, a sink tip line may be needed to get the fly down to the feeding depth.
