My Son’s first Salmon

My eight year old son Rory landed his first Salmon last week. Im so proud of him. It was such an exciting battle for both of us and an absolutely magnificent moment when he finally drew it over the net and I lifted it. My only regret was that when I took out my camera I realised that the memory card was at home in my computer so we had to settle for an iPhone photo..anyway his face says it all, Magic! His told me that he loves fishing just as much as he loves football(that’s alot)

Rory's Salmon

Rory’s Salmon

Atlantic Salmon fishing Ireland

Lough Fishing for Salmon

I’m just back from a super two days fishing on Carrowmore lake with friends. Between our two boats we had ten salmon over two days and we rose and lost a few more. I managed four fish and had one amazing drift where I rose four fish, hooked three of them and landed two. Sounds like a numbers game? In reality, on the second day we left the taking salmon to try for some sea trout as it was starting to get silly with the salmon and we aren’t a greedy bunch! 🙂 A few of the fish we got were coloured springers that looked to have been in for a couple of months. One of the highlights for me was seeing a very large fish head and tail on my boat partners top dropper and absolutely empty his reel of backing in 10 seconds flat. Unfortunately this ended in a slack line before we even had the engine started to chase the fish. A well rested springer is an incredible fish and in such a shallow lake it requires a bit of luck and coordination between the people on board to land one of these fish on a single handed trout rod! All fish were released without harm.

Atlantic Salmon fishing Ireland

The biggest fish of the trip ran me into the backing twice.

 

Atlantic Salmon fishing Ireland Carrowmore Lake

One of the most important things on any fishing trip is teatime as this provides the opportunity to belittle a friend’s angling prowess and the size of his fish!

Salmon fishing Ireland

Playing with an ND Filter.

Irish Salmon Fishing catch and release

Catch and release is becoming an important part of Irish Salmon Angling.

Salmon Fishing Ireland

Fish on!

Lake Fishing for Salmon Ireland

Relief! A fish safely in the net for Alan Cahill.

Salmon Fishing Ireland Carrowmore Lake

A quick photo before release.

Salmon Ireland

Funsize for Falkus! The man behind the dark glasses has a reputation for catching Carrowmore’s biggest fish. This little fella grabbed the dropper after a much larger fish had taken the point fly!

Spring Salmon Carrowmore lake Ireland

Another springer that ran like a Bonefish!

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland Catch and Release

Fly fishing for lough Salmon

A fresh fish just off the tide.

Spring Salmon Carrowmore Lake Ireland

McGuidger with another handsome Springer.

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland Catch and Release

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland

Grip and Grin! 🙂

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland Catch and Release

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland Catch and Release

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland Grilse

A Gilleen for a very serious looking angler!

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland Grilse

Fly Fishing for Salmon Ireland Carrowmore Lake Mayo

Drift Boat Fishing for Big Trout

I brought my new drift boat down to the river Suir yesterday to give it a test run. I recently imported the boat from Dave Scadden in Utah, a very clever boat designer and pioneer of this style of craft.

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I bought the boat in order to access more water in my bonkers pursuit of big river trout. Philip Maher was given the honour of riding shotgun on its maiden voyage. I tied on my favourite big fish fly, handed him the rod and invited him aboard. I think he was scared! But 10 minutes into our first drift down at Kilsheelan his sceptisim at the scruffy chewed up fly and blow up boat disappeared when we hooked this stunning trout.

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The fish weighed 7lbs 4oz and put up an incredible fight: tail walking, jumping and taking us a long way downstream before finally netting him.

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The fish was released unharmed. We also got a 6lbs Salmon but we didnt care too much about that!

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I’m thrilled with how the boat behaved it handles like a sports car!

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Philip’s new deck shoes also performed well!

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We also managed a few Small Fish!!

For Dave Scadden Pontoon Boats: http://www.northforkoutdoors.com
Philip has extensive Fishing rights on the river Suir and runs an instruction and guide service and fly shop contact him through his website: www.fishhunt.ie
Keith McDonnell is a guide and instructor and big trout nut based in Dublin.