Pictured are members of the Friends of the Rye Group
New publication launched to celebrate the Friends of the Rye
‘The Friends of the Rye’, a special book that celebrates over three decades of stewardship of the Rye River waters, has been published by Intel Ireland.
It was launched at a celebratory event in Leixlip, which brought together local representatives, state agencies -including Inland Fisheries Ireland – and interest groups who have been an important part of the story of the Rye.
The launch event was also attended by Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform.
Intel has a long-standing commitment to the monitoring of the waters through the funding of annual reports. This detailed monitoring of the River Rye, one of the longest running, continuous freshwater assessments of salmonid populations, has reached an important milestone as it is now in the 30th year of reporting.
To mark this occasion, and to share the wealth of unique information obtained through years of monitoring, Intel has commissioned a special publication – The Friends of the Rye. The publication, compiled by AQUENS at University College Dublin, is an important reflection of the invaluable data that has been provided by the river water and valley.
The Friends of the Rye brings together a number of key stakeholders, all of whom share a common interest – the welfare of the Rye Water catchment. The group meets regularly to discuss the current state as well as plans for the river. This new publication is dedicated to the commitment of the Friends of the Rye.
Speaking at the launch, which was also attended by representatives of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Eastern River Basin District, Minister Noonan said, “We all know that the biodiversity crisis is an all-of-Government issue and an all-of-society issue, and that if we’re to tackle it, we have to work together. Collaboration and participation is at the heart of the most impactful initiatives, and Intel’s work on the River Rye, over so many years and engaging so many stakeholders to act on the science, is testament to this.”
Pictured are the Friends of the Rye (L-R) – Denis McCarthy (Ryevale Lawns Residents Association) Jan Roberts Baar, (AQUENDS Ltd.), Minister Malcolm Noonan, Aidan Crean (Leixlip and District Anglers Association), Lisa Harlow (Intel), Fergal Caffrey (Inland Fisheries Ireland), Conor Halpin (Intel) and Gavin McDermott (Kildare County Council).
Over the closed season Jackie Mahon will be posting a pattern per week for fishing on Irish Lough’s. This will include flies for Brown Trout, Seatrout and Salmon. This week’s tying is the Cock Robin Dabbler and a Cock Robin Dabbler Variant fly…
This week’s fly is another famous Irish pattern called the Cock Robin Dabbler, this is one of those flies that when you open your fly box it just stands out from all the other flies. I have probably caught more Brown Trout, Seatrout and Salmon on this pattern from the Western Loughs to the Midland Loughs of Ireland, it just catches fish.
I remember a good few seasons back even catching rainbow trout on Rutland water on this fly. When you have a pattern that works from day one, even in an olive hatch and a Mayfly hatch, right to the end of season… that just says to me you definitely have to have the Cock Robin in your flybox.
Some people like to dress this pattern with half of the body in medium claret Seal’s fur, I find that this dressing works very well when Sedges are around. The Cock Robin variant that I have shown has been working well for me over the years on Irish Loughs.
Cock Robin Dabbler
Cock Robin Dabbler
Dressing for the Cock Robin Dabbler:
– Hook: Fulling Mill all purpose
– Thread: Uni 8/0 red
– Tail: Pheasant tail dyed picric
– Rib: Gold wire
– Body: First half picric yellow Seal’s fur, second half red Seal’s fur
– Body Hackle: Golden Olive (Tony O’Sullivan)
– Under Wing: Krinkle flash
– Wing: Bronze Mallard cloaked
– Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Cock Robin Dabbler variant
Cock Robin Dabbler Variant
Dressing for the Cock Robin Dabbler Variant:
– Hook: Fulling Mill all purpose size 10
– Thread: Uni 8/0 red
– Tail: Pheasant tail dyed picric
– Rib: Gold wire
– Body: First half yellow Seal’s fur, second half red Seal’s fur
– Body Hackle: Golden Olive (Tony O’Sullivan)
– Under Wing: Mirror flash
– Wing: Bronze Mallard cloaked
– Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Go fishing…
You can purchase some of my patterns in the new Fulling Mills brochure for 2023 which will be out soon.
Notes: Provides guiding on Lough Arrow, Melvin, Glencar Lake & Lough Gill .
Clients from all over the world from England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Usa and South Africa. Total C&R on Jackie’s boat while guiding.
Flies for sale
2023 started off for me with an email from Fulling Mill to say that my fly patterns have just arrived in the UK and are up on the Fulling Mill website. The range consists of wet Mayfly, Spent, Stimulators and Daddies. The patterns have been working the last number of seasons throughout Ireland, the United States and the UK with great success. I will also be working closely with Fulling Mill on some new products which will be launched soon, so keep an eye on my page for updates.
Probably Irelands finest Coarse Match Fishing venue, Lough Muckno in Castleblayney in Monaghan.
The Lough Muckno organising committee have announced the series of competitions and festivals to be held on Lough Muckno for the 2023 season – the highlight of which will be the hosting of the prestigious World Club Feeder Event in April.
Booking early for the first two festivals (St Patrick’s and Easter) is advisable since they precede the World Club Feeder event, and are sure to be a sellout, due to many of the World Event participants, seeking to practice at the venue in a competitive environment.
On the subject of the World Club Feeder Event, the committee are delighted to facilitate the organising NCFFI team in providing what will be a totally refurbished venue in partnership with Monaghan County Council and Monaghan Tourism.
Well done to Brenton Sweeney and the wider team on the bid to host this event and for choosing to seek Lough Muckno as the stand out venue.
Lough Muckno Festival Group are very pleased that long awaited refurbishment of the venue (in the planning for more than a year) virtually started at the end of November, with a survey of all the Lough Muckno stretches with the engineer in charge John Fox, pictured below while on a site survey.
It was initially scheduled to finish prior to the commencement of our first events of 2023 so it will also now further help in facilitating what should be a top class World event.
Please note the significant change to our Easter Festival dates, which became necessary due to the requested mandatory closure of the venue, one week prior to the World event.
St Patricks Day Festival 17th-19th March
Easter Festival 6th-9th April
April 10th to 23th Venue Closed for World Club Feeder Championships (NCFFI/CIPS)
Feedermasters Q1 11th June
Feedermasters Q2 25th June
June Feeder Festival 26th June to 30th June
Feedermasters Q3 9th July
Feedermasters Q4 23rd July
Lough Muckno July Festival 24th to 28th July
Two Day IADA Irish open 29th-30th July
Feedermasters Q5 6th August
Feedermasters Q6 20th August
Feedermasters Final 10th September
Co Monaghan Pairs 11th to 15th September
Irish Open Feeder Championships 16th to 17th September
Andrius Bikelus has been in touch to let us know of a new ‘Trout Area Fishing’ league that he is running at Annaginny Fishery & Park Farm, near Dungannon in Northern Ireland. What is Area Fishing I hear some of you ask…, well it’s a type of competition fishing that originated in Japan, where anglers target fish with ultra light tackle and barbless hooks with an emphasis on proper handling and fish welfare.
Typical area Trout Fishing kit setup
It’s becoming a popular type of competition angling in other countries and you can learn a bit more about it here. If it’s something you are interested in joining up to then contact Andrius via this Facebook page. He’s also looking for a suitable venue to set up a similar league south of the border, so we’ll keep you posted if he manages to find one.
Bass angling guide Richie Ryan tried his hand at some ‘bow’ fishing last week:
Let me point out from the start that I’m a total amateur at fly fishing for rainbow trout. Southern County Fishing Resort in Garryhill Co. Carlow is a recent discovery for me. My brother Captain Fintan Ryan used to bring his son Ross fishing here as it’s very close to our hometown of Borris, Co. Carlow. Fintan had told me many times how good the trout angling was here. As stated before here, it’s a hidden gem with monster trout roaming the various waters.
Having stayed in Borris in the fabulous Step House Hotel, (thank you Amy Ryan for the voucher), it was only a short trip to the resort. On arrival, I met the owner Pat Foley who settled me in and wished me luck with the exciting news that an 18 Pounder was caught and returned yesterday! I had listened to a recent Ireland on the Fly podcast by Denis Goulding. So much excellent advice to consider, daunting. I’m used to using an indicator for mullet on the fly so I left that on the 6 Lb fluorocarbon. The indicator disappeared a few times, and, daydreaming as usual, I missed those opportunities. Pinching myself that I was fly fishing for trout in December, it was time to wake up and pay attention or end up with a blank.
Many changes of fly later I was eventually successful having hooked a steam train! Strip striking, which I always employ when fly fishing for mullet, was the secret. The trout was 6 to 8 lbs I reckon, anxious not to stress the fish too much pressure resulted in a broken leader. Another fly was tied and Pat was at my side for the next episode also. He told me he has no interest in fishing but absolutely loves to see anglers catching, especially on the fly. As can be seen from the photo it was no small quarry, 10 Lbs Pat reckoned, thanks for landing net neatly employed Mr. Foley! Another trout about half that size threw the hook just at the net and one more on the bank. Session over, I had to head to Dublin.
I’d like to thank Pat Foley for his kindness on the day, he really did want me to catch trout. I’ll definitely be back for another few sessions next year. If you want a winter fly fishing fix then I’d highly recommend Southern County Fishing Resort, Garryhill, Co Carlow. I should have listened to my brother Fintan so many years ago when he was recommending a trip here.
In the latest episode of the Piscari Fly live fly tying series Peter Driver ties some cracking Grayling Nymphs and looks forward to the Hanak European Grayling Festival on the River Dee in Wales which was fished at the weekend.
Peter has a great show lined up every Saturday at 8.30pm on the Piscari Fly facebook page. Don’t miss it watch live on his Facebook page or watch back on YouTube.
Catch this seasons previous episodes
As ever you can catch up on past episodes at the PiscariFly YouTube channel where all our episodes can be watched at your leisure.
For all your fly tying and fly fishing needs. Stocking rods, reels, clothing water etc
Guiding
Want to improve or learn any aspects of your fly fishing? Then why not give us a shout and we will look after you. Fishing available locally on the River Nore at Thomastown and other club water by arrangement. We have also teamed up with Blackwater Trout and Salmon fishery to offer you an amazing fishing experience with over 8km of amazing river to be discovered.
Full & Half Guided days
One to one coaching
Master classes
Groups and Clubs welcome
Nymphing. Dry Fly. Wet Fly. Streamer. Dry Dropper
Instruction
Peter Driver is a qualified casting instructor with APAGI, and advanced qualified fly dresser with APAGI. He specialises in competition nymphs and fishing, Irish lake flies, streamers and lures.
As a qualified casting instructor with APAGI I Peter offers casting clinic’s and lessons, to suit your desires. Being able to cast correctly and have a good understanding of the mechanics of casting is a solid foundation in fly fishing that will pay off in your fishing, be it rivers or lakes.
Munster Coarse Anglers were returned once more to O’Breinsbridge at the weekend, this time to fish Round 4 of their winter series…
Round 4. O’Briensbridge Dam. Back to the same venue we fished two weeks ago and what a difference! The river was 3ft down on what it had been, so we able to peg a lot closer and with a bit of help from our weed cutters made are selves comfortable.
The large roach and dace that were there 2 weeks ago had departed only to be replaced by there half ounce and 1 ounce cousins. So it was a case of plenty of bites but trying to sort out a few better stamp fish was the order of the day.
The feeder was the most effective method with only the last 2 pegs catching on the whip in the last hour.
Munster Coarse Angling Club are affiliated to the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland, NCFFI the National Governing body for coarse and predator fishing and casting. www.ncffi.ie
This week saw a welcome respite from the seemingly never-ending rain of the past few weeks. The sun even made an appearance in some places! The deluge over the past few weeks has affected fishing everywhere, with many rivers and lakes inacessible due to flooding, and even inshore sea angling affected by the influx of fresh water. Reports are hard to come by, and it seems many anglers have bunkered down and not ventured out.
Pike angling has been hampered by high water levels, but some anglers are finding good sport where they can get fishing. When rivers are flooded, canals are often a good fallback option, as Artur below knows too well!
Another angler landing big pike (and a PB) was William Hadley, fishing with guide Bodo Funke from Angling Services Ireland. William landed a 105cm pike on his visit, a great fish considering he is new to pike fishing.
William with his new PB pike measuring 105cm
An incredible 140 anglers turned up for the annual Pat Driscoll Cup, held on Poulaphouca Reservoir by Newbridge & District Anglers last weekend. Fishing was tough but a fine 17lb+ fish was enough for Darren Doyle to take the honours. Elsewhere, regular contributor Mick Flanagan took a break from the shooting season to land some lovely pike to 22lbs, which merits this week’s Catch of the Week.
Incredibly, the new salmon season is only 30 days away now, with several rivers opening on the 1st of January, including the Drowes Fishery. Salmon licences are already on sale, with prices remaining the same as 2022. This week’s Ireland On The Fly podcast looks at the 2022 salmon season, and how IFI assesses salmon stocks for managing catches and quotas.
The Drowes often produces Ireland’s first salmon of the year.
Trout anglers have a bit longer to wait for the new trout season, and many are busy tying flies to refill the box for the year ahead. This week Jackie Mahon shares two of his favourite patterns for the duckfly hatch – the Palomino Midge and the Grey Duster.
Grey Duster
Coarse anglers are also finding high water affecting sport, with anglers at the Erne Anglers winter league describing fishing as tricky to say the least. Some reasonable catches were made in the conditions, with 7.5kg enough to take the win. Skimmer bream were scarce where they had been caught recently on Garadice, leaving anglers to scratch for other small fish, and Francis McGoldrick taking the win with 2.3kg.
Sea temperatures are cooling fast now, and winter species are appearing more in catches. Johnny Byrne has been catching some very nice codling off the shore in Donegal.
At the other end of the country, West Cork & District SAC found reasonable fishing on Redbarn beach for the penultimate round of their club league. Codling, Bass, Dogfish and Strap Conger were the mainstays with an odd Whiting, Pouting and Rockling also making an appearance. With some high calibre international anglers among the members, it is understandably all to play for coming to the final leg.
Further afield, the Irish team put in a big performance on the final day of the Shore Angling World Championships, taking second place on the day to move up to 8th overall, A very creditable performance in unfamiliar surroundings, where the home team and other Mediterranean nations understandably dominated proceedings.
A busy scene on the beach in Tunisia
Christmas is coming
Many anglers are looking forward to Christmas, and possibly a fishing-related present or two as well! If you’re looking for a present for the angler in your life, or just treating yourself, why not buy next year’s salmon licence and start planning some fishing trips for 2023. To buy your 2023 Salmon and Sea Trout Licence now, visit our online Salmon licence shop.
In Other News….
Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched a funding call of up to €1 million, to support vital conservation projects around the country through the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund. From now until December 16th, eligible angling clubs, fishery owners and other stakeholders are invited to express their interest in applying for funding to support fisheries conservation through Inland Fisheries Ireland’s ‘Habitats and Conservation’ scheme. For more details check out the Funding Call Guide here.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is working on a new Customer Charter and Action Plan for 2023 to 2025. Customer Charters are short statements, describing the level of service that you can expect from a State agency. We are now conducting a quality assurance review of our existing customer charter and we would welcome your feedback and suggestions – for more info, check out our corporate website.
And now the weather
Turning cooler, with an easterly airflow, bringing some showers, but at least it’s a break from incessant Atlantic depressions!
Today (Friday) is mostly dry, even some hazy sunny spells, and temperatures of 8-11C in a light E/SE breeze. Saturday will be mostly dry, with bright spells in the morning, becoming cloudier later with some drizzle or light showers. Cold with highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in a light easterly breeze.
Sunday will be a cold, breezy day with sunny spells and scattered showers spreading westwards, most frequent over the eastern half of the country. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees with moderate E/NE breezes.
The outlook is for continuing cool, showery weather in an easterly airflow, becoming colder from Wednesday onwards with a northerly airflow developing and with showers possibly turning more wintry at times. Wrap up warm if you’re going fishing!
The Ireland on the Fly podcast talks to IFI’s Kevin Crowley about the 2022 Salmon Season
As we get closer to the start of the salmon season on January 1st, the IFI are busy finalising the data from the salmon tags for the 2022 season to make the final decision on what rivers will be open next year.
And for this week’s Ireland on the Fly episode, Daire and Tom decided to speak to the IFI’s Kevin Crowley to find out more about the data they have, to give us some insights into the salmon numbers from this year and how the whole process works.
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Great to see some lovely codling being caught on the shore for Johnny Byrne with a great run of fish in the last few weeks over the 40cm mark. A fish that isn’t easy got on the shore marks so lovely to see new boundaries being pushed. Well done!
