The River Whispers is compiled by Dan O’Neill of Mount Juliet and South East Casting.
This week I fished with Curran all the way in which from Maine, Curran speaks of his expertise and in addition somewhat in regards to the fly rod we had been utilizing. Patrick Maye is a trout angler that may be the right treatment for a nasty day, I fished with Paddy fairly a bit and his humour can complement any fishing journey, let’s see how Patrick’s season went. Trout angler Ciaran Maye speaks about his journey to date. Anthony goes via some winter plans and his favourite financial institution aspect snack when predator fishing. I discuss my final couple of weeks fishing and upcoming occasions.
Curran from Maine emailed me a while in the past seeking to uncover what the River Nore needed to supply alongside the traces of trout fishing. With the water ranges fairly low I wanted to do my homework on which location would work greatest at some stage in the journey. Right here is how we acquired on.
“I’ve been wanting ahead to my journey with Dan on the river Nore for a while now. I’ve been studying stories and noticed some articles on the Nore, so it added to my pleasure. I often fish medium sized rivers, not not like the river Nore in locations. I have a tendency to make use of dry dropper or micro streamers at occasions. The day we had it was somewhat overcast early, so I used micro streamers. There was a trunk of an oak tree dipped into the water mid-way up the run. The rooting system left fairly a hole and lower into the financial institution a bit which simply screamed fish to me. I ran the streamers via a few occasions with out success. I then modified the streamer to one thing with somewhat flash via it. On in regards to the 4th forged I had take, I lifted and was into my first brown trout. The fish fought fairly arduous, and I believed it was bigger than it turned out to be, the fish was 33cm which was a pleasant trout and positively made me comfortable as now I do know my patterns work on the R. Nore additionally. The rod right now was a Cadence rod which I had not used earlier than. I turned very keen on the rod; Dan had a tough time getting me handy it again after our journey. We additionally tried some dry dropper and had trout on that technique too, although I a lot most well-liked micro streamers because it’s what I’m used to. I actually loved the Nore and what it needed to supply. I’ve already rebooked for subsequent season.”
Patrick Maye is an outstanding character and one I take pleasure in being round whereas fishing; he’s ever grateful for every fish he catches. Behind Patrick’s humour and one liners, there’s a very severe angler who pays plenty of consideration to element.
“The 2024 Season began very nicely for Daddy, Ciaran, and me. From the start, my journey into angling in 2023 was with a silly perspective, involved that I might be bored and never seeing a lot level in losing time or vitality getting chilly and moist. I didn’t see myself carrying on the passion my youthful brother and nephew had adopted, however as everyone knows, that modified immediately once I hooked my first trout! From then on, it turned my love and fervour, second solely to my household and kids.
I’m blessed to be a part of Thomastown angling membership on the gorgeous River Nore and a member of Ennisnag on the Kings River, which boasts improbable areas to fish and loads of huge wholesome trout.
As you all know there are a thousand questions and doubts when casting flies and each doubt I ever had was quashed with easy steerage and strategies to enhance each facet of my nicely hung out on the rivers.
When beginning out I used to be launched to the dry-dropper technique, which I used to be very profitable with as soon as utilizing the black Frenchie Jig Nymph and an indicator. I then had the pleasure of a casting class with Dan on the improbable Mt Juliet Property, which I really feel turned the tide for me. I had been watching ,YouTubers, like Tom Rosenbauer, and I used to be attempting to match them by casting so far as attainable, however I ended up getting tied up in myself, shedding many flies and inflicting unbearable tangles that meant I needed to re-tie all the things from scratch! This was an enormous frustration, whereas Dan taught me to simplify, to eliminate the frustrations and to fish the water in-front of me. To cite him, ‘much less is extra’, and one other piece of gold that enters my ideas on each forged – ‘flicking the paint off the comb’!
This simplicity modified my forged and complete expertise immensely. As for the usual of fish within the Nore, they’re huge and plentiful at current.
I switched from the dropper to dry fly, particularly within the evenings, with a measurement 12 inexperienced Mayfly sample within the morning and a purple/inexperienced color that has been working a deal with with my newest (and greatest) night being in Mt Juliet (ten beauties in two hours all on the dry).
I do know it’s luck and timing, however ever satisfying and I nonetheless really feel as a newbie that I’m all the time studying and can by no means grasp what some name a passion, now a ardour that has grow to be part of my life.
With three youngsters beneath three, the escape is usually very welcome, and in a really hectic work atmosphere – as a building supervisor – fly fishing brings an ideal work life stability; it’s the best stress reliever I’ve ever skilled!
I stay up for instructing my son and two daughters all the things I can on angling and I see it now as one thing important that I can cross on to them. We, the Mayes, are a fly fishing household, I’m commonly out with my father, Johnny, my brothers, Ciaran and Brian, and my nephews, Oisin, Sean and James, and gained’t be lengthy till I’ve the children in waders beside me.
I’ve just lately began work with Flynn Furney environmental consultants, Simon Furney has been a wealth of data to me on the right way to take care of and look after our residents across the river which is of big significance. I stay up for persevering with my journey in fly fishing and conservation.”
Tight Strains, Patrick Maye.
Ciaran Maye has a robust ardour for fishing and commenced his journey actually wanting on the technical aspect off fishing. I discovered Ciaran to all the time ask “why” which is main him to shortly turning into a prime fly angler. Let’s see what Ciaran needed to say.
“This season went nicely for us when it comes to numbers regardless of the terrible begin in March with the rain, for me it was all about dry-dropper. I spent most of my time specializing in the nuances of this method and honing in on completely different variations. I’ve discovered that the dry dropper, requires you to fish both the dry fly or the nymph, however hardly ever each equally. All through the season, I discovered that small tweaks – whether or not adjusting the load of the nymph, the size of the dropper or sizing up or down the dry fly and adjusting my deal with the “principal” fly, made an enormous distinction in how successfully I may goal several types of water. It’s a vastly versatile approach however it’s vital to recollect it’s not a catch all technique both, it does have its downsides too, in that you simply’ll by no means fish the dry or the nymph as successfully as you’d when you had been solely fishing it. There’s all the time some compromise since you’re fishing each.
The simplest dry flies within the setup for me had been measurement 14-16 Klinkhammers and Deer Hair/CDC Sedge’s, and essentially the most profitable nymphs had been measurement 16-18 Silver Beaded Frenchies, although I nonetheless discovered some fish with pheasant tails and olive CDC collared nymphs too. For subsequent season, I plan to focus extra on dry flies and streamers.
This variability and fixed problem-solving facet of fly fishing is what retains me hooked. It’s a puzzle the place the items change each time you step within the river, and that’s one thing I actually take pleasure in.
On a private degree, fishing with household has all the time been a spotlight of the season. As my father says, generally it’s not about catching fish in any respect, it’s nearly getting on the market.
Fly fishing additionally affords me a much-needed psychological reset. It offers a break from the depth of labor and the on a regular basis. Being out on the water, concentrating on the rhythm of the forged and the move of the river, is the very best type of stress aid I’ve discovered.”
Tight traces! Ciarán Maye
Anthony is gearing up for fishing now throughout the colder months. Rooting across the hot-press for his hat and jacket. Checking out the lure field and bait containers. I requested Anthony what his plans for over the winter had been.
“I’ll miss the summer season and stalking carp within the night occasions. I like to tench fish within the night time additionally. I like watching my float and seeing the fizzy bubbles getting nearer and nearer, then the float slowly strikes away and disappears.
My purpose this winter is to focus on a much bigger perch and perhaps attempt to beat my PB pike. I want to go to the lakes once more for a pike in Northern Eire. Final time I had some good ones and really feel I’d beat my lake PB this time. My river PB just isn’t very huge, however I will likely be attempting to beat that this winter additionally. I actually take pleasure in fishing the canals on the R. Barrow. My dad fished right here when he was my age and grandad tells me a number of tales about very huge pike he noticed across the spots we go. I’ve seen huge pike earlier than, so I do know they’re there.
One other favourite factor I’ve is to have some dinner on the riverbank. I assist my dad make stew and we take it in our meals flasks. It helps me to remain heat on the riverbank and provides me vitality and I can keep fishing for longer. When the blackberries are on the bushes, we take some house and make jam from them to, it’s my favourite jam to have.”
Anthony O’Neill.
Lastly, a report from Dan himself:
The final 2 weeks have been fairly good with some bigger trout exhibiting. I’ve had some good evenings with spider patterns. Numerous my lessons now are on grass or on a lake. Often, purchasers attempting to eliminate unhealthy habits or make casting somewhat simpler on themselves. I all the time discovered the winter months to be greatest for me to fantastic tune my casting as I couldn’t fish the river. This could guarantee my efforts went into casting and never into attempting to catch a fish. Studying the stopping factors of the fly rod was most likely essentially the most helpful to me. I might report myself stopping the rod at what I regarded as one o’clock which, to my shock, might be 2 o’clock. Muscle reminiscence will kick in and you’ll quickly be extra correct in the place you may cease the fly rod. Why is that this vital? Having the ability to open and tighten your loops could be very helpful for various angling conditions. Additionally appropriate loading of the rod takes plenty of pointless effort away from the caster. I by no means thought I’d have to know a lot of the casts I studied however, lo and behold, I take advantage of all of them very often now. I take advantage of the thumb on prime grip with a fly rod so I have a tendency to make use of the thought that wherever my thumb is pointing my rod tip should be pointing that option to. So, I now have taken all the things nearer to me. As a substitute of attempting to blindly guess the place my rod tip is I can now visually see my thumb and know the place my rod tip is pointing. As soon as my muscle reminiscence kicks in, I’ll not want visible help for stopping my rod tip. I’ll merely have to inform myself the place I need to cease it and hey presto! It stops there (often 😊).
Upcoming Occasions
The Irish fly honest is upcoming, and I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have been given a demo slot with fellow APGAI teacher Ray McKeeman. APGAI and GAIA instructors will likely be available to offer one-on-one tuition which may drastically assist anybody on their fly-fishing journey. APGAI have teamed up with Veniard to have a fly-tying competitors. I will likely be additionally on the Cadence stand doing the attempt before you purchase with the Cadence rod vary. An excellent alternative to fulfill our workforce and talk about the vary.
irishflyfair.co.uk
Casting Courses
This winter I will likely be having some casting mornings totally on Saturdays. These are a good way to fulfill different anglers and enhance a sure forged or approach. We additionally talk about chief set ups, fly patterns and methods for the season forward. Contact me for extra data on the lessons and availability.
Newbie fly fishing for pike class
With the predator season looming I keep in mind beginning out for pike utilizing the fly, I tended to get a bit misplaced so have designed a course geared toward inexperienced persons and serving to them to get into fly fishing for pike. Contact me for extra data on the lessons and availability.
