Dan O’Neill from Trout Fishing Ireland reports from the River Nore…

Wow! What a week and set of challenges the Irish weather threw up this week for us. I fished the river when I could and utilized the lakes quite a bit. I had many guests out and the important thing was we had a great time and caught fish.

First up was Spring Schoellkopf an interesting lady who was the first female pilot for US Air’s predecessor Allegheny Airlines, her first flight was at the age of 23. I didn’t have to do much instructing here as Spring was quite a caster and angler.

We fished a foam indicator with a 3mm pheasant tail, simple fishing which gave good results. It wasn’t long before we had our first trout on what were challenging conditions.The largest trout we had was about 28cm and gave a great fight in the heavy water.

Listening to Springs stories while we fished was super and it was an enjoyable morning. Spring reminded me a little of Joan Wulff who i studied quite a bit for my APGAI exams. It was with some sadness we bid farewell at the fishing room and drew a line under a fantastic day. Its times like this that are the slightly sad part of guiding, watching Spring and her partner depart the fishing room, take one last look a the Nore and head off into the sunset was like saying goodbye to two people I knew all my life. Perhaps it’s just me but I find guiding gives you a connection with your clients and they relax to a level where the conversation just flows, humour and friendship just become natural. It’s this connection that becomes hard to break even after a few hours of knowing each other.

Float fishing the lakes

I had another fantastic duo out during the week and the river wasn’t so kind this time to us. Father and Daughter Kayleigh and Patrick McCarty were exactly what I needed to liven up my lake fishing. I was keen to fish the river but I knew we would have been wasting our time; it was chocolate brown.

We went to the lakes and tried for some roach, watching the orange tip of the float while one of us had some hot milk and the other two had a nice hot cup of coffee was exactly what we all needed. Sometimes fishing is put in brackets and its really time to spend with people maybe you haven’t seen in some time or you just need their company.

Kayleigh, I believe, was the first to hit a nice roach followed by Patrick, my turn did come but I missed the take, typical and I’m meant to be the pro. We had a great time on the lakes and had many roach, cups of coffee and hot milk. It was great to meet both Patrick and Kayleigh and throw a line with them.

Back to the Nore

Fishing wise this week it was for sure tough going but as always challenge accepted. I fished streamers myself expecting a bigger trout but it didn’t happen, I had a few around the 30cm mark but that was it. Fishing a 3mm gold head pheasant tail was the order of most of the days, had some fish on wet fly also, just a winged olive wet fly. Some rain due in shortly so will push the river up little but as far as i can see its to be dry for days so will aim to get down and give it a cast.

My tik tok videos on the basics needed to fly fish / coarse fish have begun so make sure to check them out, they are aimed at beginners to help them to choose or see what they may need for their chosen discipline.

Trout fishing Ireland (@trout.fishing.ire) | TikTok

Irish Angling Spring Fair 3rd and 4th May 2025

It’s here at last, the 2025 Irish Spring Angling Fair. I am delighted to be included in the demonstrator line up with some of the industries finest. It will be a great weekend for people to learn more about fly fishing, get some advice and even tuition.

I look forward to seeing you all there, make sure and stop by the APGAI stand or Cadence stand and say hello.

Go Fishing…

Trout Fishing Ireland

Trout Fishing Ireland

Address Thomastown Kilkenny Irelandwork Mobile Phone: +353857652751cell Email: [email protected]INTERNET Website: Trout Fishing Ireland

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Notes

Growing up in the countryside of Gowran, Co.Kilkenny, I started my fishing journey on the River Barrow with my dad, which is where I caught my first fish, a lovely brown trout. The Gowran River was also a short walk from my homeplace, and on the days my dad couldn’t fish, I would walk through the fields and fish the Gowran River. My love for fishing grew and took me to Mount Juliet Estate, where I began guiding at 13. I went on to become fisheries manager at Mount Juliet Estate and, to this day, enjoy taking out hundreds of clients every year fishing on the River Nore. I enjoy all types of fishing and guide all over Ireland. I am an Apgai Ireland-qualified casting instructor and have Ambassador roles with Cadence and Yeti. I joined Fulling Mill as an endorsed pro guide and am part of the Patagonia pro team. My angling journey has been an exciting one and hopefully will continue to be.

I take out all levels of anglers, from beginner to experienced. I enjoy what I do and count myself very lucky to be able to meet and guide new people to what might be their first Irish fish.

Dan O Neill

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Website: troutfishingireland.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +353857652751

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