Regular contributor and angling guide Dan O’Neill is back with an update from the River Nore…
Another week has shot by on the river here. There has been plenty of action on the River Nore; I fished a nice spot just upstream of Kilkenny city and what an evening it was. I was using dry dropper for the start of my trip but after having a trout or 3 follow my dry fly and show interest I decided to take off the dropper and just fish the dry fly. The fly of choice was what they call a Mohican mayfly and it was just one of those patterns where when I saw it I thought “that will do it”. The trout seemed to be on a seam just shy of the opposite bank. Getting a drift there was a little tough and required a made up cast, a cast I call the Heinz cast as like the beans it’s 57 different varieties ! I Once I got a nice drift a trout did follow the fly for about 40cm and committed to taking it.
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These trout are not overly big, mostly 20 to 25cm but what a privilege it is to catch them and also watch them follow and take. The setting, the take and finally the fish combined make the experience one that is craved.
Moving on a little, now I am in Poland and getting some fishing in, mostly coarse fish on the fly which is super fun and different, again it’s the setting, the take and finally the fish which has even seen a bream hit the fly. The ponds/lakes I am fishing are deep in woodland which produces quite a lot of surface food for the inhabitants of the lake, the fish of course have tuned into this and look up quite a lot. Going to a different country and catching a fish always gives me a sense of achievement; I find that the chase of the achievement should be valued as once you catch the achievement it becomes a memory or at times a piece of paper. One of two things can happen: either you get ready for your next chase or look back at the memory, I as an angler have always looked for the next chase which also has made me do the same in life, another valuable lesson taught to me by angling. Go and chase those achievements!
Speaking of achievement this week I am very proud and honoured to have been invited to join the Fulling Mill pro community, to be listed alongside anglers that I studied during my angling career is a bit surreal for me. When I got the news I remember going back to the Gowan river where I made my first fly cast, I then glanced at my phone screen to see my name highlighted with the Fulling Mill brand surrounding it, it was kind of a moment I looked back and thought the work paid off.
l’m reluctant to say hard work as it never was, I enjoyed very much what I was doing, like the saying goes “if you enjoy what you do, you will never work a day in your life” .There is absolutely nothing special about me, I just practice, listen, watch and take opportunity.
Where am I fishing ?
I am taking bookings for guiding now on the below rivers, for information on the trips contact me by phone, email or any of my social media platforms,
River Slaney River Barrow Blackwater River Suir River Nore
Enough from me, let’s see what Matthew Cooper from Kindale has been tying up…
Last week I headed down to the river for an evening session, for most of the night it was pretty quiet. Then, just after 9pm, everything changed. Yellow Mayflies started coming off in huge numbers, something I’ve been wanting to witness first hand for agesl One had a rest on my hat and I snapped a photo. within minutes the river was alive with rising trout.
I tied on a size 12 Yellow Owl Shuttlecock Emerger and on the first three casts I landed three cracking trout. It just goes to show how important it is to pay attention to what’s happening around you. One minute the river looked lifeless, and the next the trout had completely tuned into the hatching yellow mays.
Dan has been guiding on the River Nore from the age of 14. He holds a wealth of knowledge in many different techniques. Dan provides guiding for Trout, Salmon and coarse fish.
All levels from beginner to experienced are welcome.
Available for guided trout and salmon fishing in the South East
Fly Casting Instruction
Dan is a APGAI Ireland qualified single handed fly casting instructor. All levels from beginner to experienced are welcome.
Dan also holds regular fly fishing classes on the River Nore for groups and individuals.
l’m reluctant to say hard work as it never was, I enjoyed very much what I was doing, like the saying goes “if you enjoy what you do, you will never work a day in your life” .There is absolutely nothing special about me, I just practice, listen, watch and take opportunity.
Where am I fishing ?
I am taking bookings for guiding now on the below rivers, for information on the trips contact me by phone, email or any of my social media platforms,
River Slaney River Barrow Blackwater River Suir River Nore
I tied on a size 12 Yellow Owl Shuttlecock Emerger and on the first three casts I landed three cracking trout. It just goes to show how important it is to pay attention to what’s happening around you. One minute the river looked lifeless, and the next the trout had completely tuned into the hatching yellow mays.
