Peter’s notes: Don’t forget to join us tomorrow night right here at piscarifly at 8.30pm for Nymphing November # 3….we will be live from 8.30pm tying some top nymphs and having a chat about different tactics www.piscari-fly.com
Nymphing November part 3
The good news is that if you can’t tune in on the night you can catch up on his Youtube channel Piscari-Fly where all the shows are stored.
Tie a fly…
Peter’s fly shop is at www.piscari-fly.com for all your fly tying and fly fishing needs.
Fly-tier and angling guide George McGrath’s super Youtube channel Gundog and Fly pays host to a series of interviews with well know anglers. The series was cut short unfortunately by the lockdown, but you can watch the first four online now.
Episode 3. Sean Maher
George’s notes: Another fascinating chat with one of Ireland’s top fly anglers.
Tying flies
George has a whole host of fly tying how to’s at his channel and he also ties flies to order. You can find out more or get in touch with George at his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/george.mcgrath.5243
The latest episode of Ireland on the Fly was recorded as a video webinar in conjunction with the 2020 Virtual Irish Fly Fair which has been organising talks and fly tying demos online in place of the usual fair in Galway that was postponed due to Covid.
Daire Whelan was joined by renowned fisheries scientist, Ken Whelan and well known guide and instructor Jason O’Riordan, as they discussed ‘What Lies Beneath – the lough trout’s underwater larder and how to imitate it’.
The lough trout’s larder and how to imitate it
Jason and Ken will also be back for a follow-up session next week when they answer any questions you may have in relation to the topic and you can email them to [email protected].
Or you can also watch the webinar itself on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Hq4PvQsxI0s
and submit your questions there.
We were saddned to hear of the recent passing of Des Johnston. We just received the following passage that was circulated to the angling community during the week.
It is with great sadness we would like to notify you of the passing of Des Johnston. Des passed away on Sunday morning after a short illness surrounded by his family. He was 84.
Des was a member of many angling clubs countrywide, and was Hon Secretary of Kilbride Anglers for 25 years. He also served as President of Co Wicklow Anglers Association and a committee member of Brittas Fly Fishing Club.
Des was a very familiar face on the lakes all year round with his wife and fishing companion Ann.
Des will be missed on lots of waters. He was a regular visitor to Lough Mask, Lough Curranne and also Sheelin, Ennell, Corrib and Inagh.
A keen sailing enthusiast he had links with Sutton Dinghy Club and also Howth Yacht Club.
In Sutton where he lived as a teenager and in his 20’s he met Ann and they spent their time sailing and sea fishing. He was lucky to live only 25 metres from the beach where he enjoyed time Bass fishing. In winter he was a keen and active pike angler.
He had a particular interest in getting kids fishing and was active organising competitions in several clubs for them.
Due to current Covid restrictions the family were limited to numbers for Des’s funeral.
Des is survived by his wife Ann, children Andrew, Sarah, Leah and Richard, and also grandchildren Susan, Michelle, Jake, Leah, David, Meisha, Lien, Daisy and Noah.
With Level 5 restrictions and poor weather, many of us are confined to base with no chance to get out fishing at the moment, so we’ve been getting our fishing fix by catching up with Youtube videos and podcasts.
Smooth Hounds
Our latest video is another one from James Raymond and the Irish Angling Adventures crew on Youtube, James is fishing for smooth hound from a rock mark, and the video shows how he gets on. For budding sea anglers, James’s videos are full of information and helpful tips on how to fish a mark, bait and rig ideas and just great scenery and fishing.
Well between one thing and another… namely Level 5 restrictions and dreary weather, no one is getting much fishing in at the moment. So it’s another Look and Learn week at Irish Angling Update HQ, where we’ve been catching up on some great videos, brushing up on old skills, and learning some new ones from some of the best.
Podcast
This week’s podcast comes from the Flyfishing Tapes on George McGrath’s super Youtube channel Gundog and Fly , where he plays host to a series of interviews with well know anglers. This week’s interview is with avid O’Donovan, a prolific competition angler with many wins both at home and abroad.
George McGrath interviews David O’Donovan on the Flyfishing Tapes
Look and Learn
Kicking us off this week is another great tutorial from Peter Driver, currently in the middle of Nymphing November, where he is hosting live flytying sessions on Facebook from 8.30pm on Saturday night. And the good news is if you’re out in the pub (haha!) you can catch up on any videos you miss on Peter’s Youtube channel Piscari-Fly where all the shows are stored.
Nymphing November part 2
Next up is another masterclass from Chris O’Sullivan, the Inshore Angler on Youtube. This week Chris gives us a run-through in how to tie a Pulley Wishbone Rig.
Chris O’Sullivan ties the Pulley Wishbone Rig
Philip Jackson is one of Ireland’s top coarse match men, and in this video produced by Daiwa, he gives us a quick walk through of his set up and top tips for fishing ‘out’ in Ireland loughs.
Finally, Paul Gustafson, pike angler and author, has launched a new book with loads of Irish content, titled “How to Catch Big Pike”. This book – a landmark on the subject – features Ireland again and again. It shows how you can consistently catch specimen pike when fishing rivers, loughs and more.
From the Archives
Another look back through our angling heritage and this time it is to River Slaney and the Munster Blackwater we go to see how things were with the 1988 Channel 4 angling documentary series ‘The Angling Experience’, this one posted on the Swelly Dave Youtube channel. Well worth a look!
News
A new scientific paper entitled ‘The spawning location of vulnerable ferox trout (Salmo trutta L.) in the Lough Corrib and Lough Mask catchments, Western Ireland’ has been published in the Journal of Fish Biology by scientists from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in conjunction with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. It gives a great overview of tagging and tracking work carried out over several years, with information on important spawning areas that can inform future management.
Ferox trout being released
Inland Fisheries Ireland has granted funding for 35 angling projects across the country in 2020. The projects, which received financial grants though Inland Fisheries Ireland, supported by the Dormant Account Fund to the tune of €140,000, will benefit initiatives from groups in Ireland that are engaged in novice angling.
The draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations have been published and are available to view here. A public consultation on the regulations is now open, and stakeholders have until December 11 to make any submissions they feel necessary.
Level 5 and angling
Everyone is aware that the lockdown is in place and what it means. But here is a reminder of the measures in place for angling:
Guides and ghillies are not on the list of essential services
Charter boats are not on the list of essential services
On Saturday morning, rain affecting eastern and southern counties will ease and clear leaving a fresh and blustery day nationwide with sunny spells and scattered showers. Maximum afternoon temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in fresh west or southwest wind. Sunday looks like the best day of the week, largely dry with good sunny spells. There will be a few isolated showers, mainly affecting the west and northwest coasts. It will be a cool day with afternoon temperatures of just 6 to 9 degrees, in light to moderate southwesterly winds. The rest of the week looks much more unsettled, however, with rain moving in from the west on Monday, and further bands of rain on Tuesday.
Safe fishing to all this weekend and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.
Peter’s notes: Live this coming Saturday Night we will be live right here @piscarifly for our second instalment of Nymphing November. Make sure and check in for some fly tying, Nymphing tips and a bit of fun from 8.30pm www.piscari-fly.com
Nymphing November part 2
The good news is that if you can’t tune in on the night you can catch up on his Youtube channel Piscari-Fly where all the shows are stored.
Tie a fly…
Peter’s fly shop is at www.piscari-fly.com for all your fly tying and fly fishing needs.
Chris O’Sullivan, The Inshore Angler, is back with top tips and handy hints. This time he ties the Pulley Wishbone Rig – a great rig to target flatties and whiting. Don’t forget to subscribe to Chris’s channel and like the videos…
Pulley Wishbone Rig
Chris’s notes: This is the 3rd video in the rig series and it is a Pulley Wishbone Rig. This is one that was asked for by John Stone. There is a number of different ways to tie this one and this is my take on it. I find this way allows both hooks to fish rather than one being pulled to the swivel when a fish takes it. As always please share this video where you think it will help and let me know what ones you would like to see in future. Up next will be the garfish rig…
The Inshore Angler…
Find out more about Chris and the services he offers at The Inshore Angler
Ensure you park responsibly and don’t block gateways, forest entrances and narrow roads which need to be passable for emergency services
Distance yourself at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
Let’s keep the outdoors litter free – 
Wash and sanitise your hands regularly
Whether angling, walking, jogging or cycling – please be considerate and make sure to give others space who may be also exercising around you
Many outdoor sites get very busy over weekends and have limited parking – Consider fishing in quieter, less-used spaces
Respect private landowners – don’t trespass
Many outdoor amenity sites do not have toilet facilities – please plan ahead
