Paddy Dunworth of Celtic Angling reports from the Maigue:
Nate and Jackson joined me on Monday for an extended half-day on the Deel at Newbridge. Home is Denver, Colorado which is 5000′ above sea-level, and they fish further up again at around 8,000′.
Our rivers, approach and fly-fishing methods were completely new to them. The wading alone above or below Altavilla bridge is a challenge in itself, adapting to a new technique is another. They are more used to open spaces, smaller rivers and relatively tame rainbows. And with the aid of a plastic or polysterene ball as bite detector.
So whilst traditional wet-fly fishing on our rivers is as old as the hills, and it was new to them. They loved the move away from artificiality towards this more natural form of fly-fishing for wild brown trout. Line control and being in touch with your fly(s) are the key requirements, casting a tight straight line at an angle of 45degrees and allowing your flies swim naturally across an arc. Fishing with the river(downstream) assures there’s a tight line between the rod-tip and the flies due to the pull of the current making it straight, so if the smallest trout hit’s your fly you should sense it, even a lifeless leaf becoming impaled on the hook should be detected.
Awareness of casting obstructions was another new experience for the pair but they adapted pretty well, needs must as they say. Right-handed US fly-fishers cast off the right side and exclusively so, overgrown banksides will punish them every time unless they change tack, the ideal cast in such circumstances is the overhead cast, single or double-spey is more ideal but that takes learning, lots of it, not a luxury one has on a half-day session, and roll casting is only feasible straight ahead or at narrow angles either side of straight.
The wind was rising all the while but was at their backs, one less problem to deal with, I spent most of the time helping Jackson and after an hour we rejoined Nate to find he had hooked and lost a couple of 12in fish. Jackson also had a vicious take and I saw the trout flash under the water as he took the fly, alas he came off too, that’s also the nature of downstream approach, you’re pulling the fly away from the fish when striking and everything happens so fast it’s immaterial what your reaction is, the fish is either on or off by the time your brain has informed your arm to strike, so don’t beat yourself up about missing fish using this method.
Both had smaller fish but more importantly both are now converts to this ‘new’ fly-fishing approach and will be experimenting with it back in the Rockies.
Go fishing…
Notes: Based near the picturesque village of Adare (Ireland’s Prettiest Village)
