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Introduction
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The
brown trout is a native Irish species, and the most
widely distributed freshwater fish in Ireland. It thrives
in rivers of all types, from small mountain streams
to broad limestone rivers. Its main requirements are
clean water and swift runs over gravel in which to spawn.
Ireland has for centuries offered ideal habitats for
the brown trout. |
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Open
Season
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Most
brown trout fisheries open between February 15th and
March 1st. Most close on September 30th with some exceptions
which close on various dates between September 15th
and October 12th. Clubs may have their own regulations
on opening and closing dates. |
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Irish
Trout Rivers
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Irish
trout streams vary greatly in character and appearance.
The gradient of a river, its mean depth and the geology
of the countryside through which it flows determines
to a large extent its productivity, including the stock
of trout, and their average size. |
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Irish
Limestone Rivers
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Limestone
rivers provide the cream of fly-fishing for Irish trout.
They vary from powerful watercourses over fifty yards
wide to little brooks. Most are surface fed, with a
small proportion of their water coming from springs.
A few, such as the Tar in County Tipperary, are spring
fed and these are jewels, especially in May and June
when their crystalline streams reveal golden gravels
and the fresh green of ranculus fronds. They offer many
possibilities for the fisherman: fast bubbling runs;
deep pools with crease lines of current where discriminating
trout lie in line astern; technically challenging slick
glides. These rivers can hold heavy stocks of beautifully
coloured fish. The average size is probably about twelve
inches but a surprising number hold trout to eighteen
inches (3lbs) and every year trout over 5lbs are taken.
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Irish
Wet-fly Rivers
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Ireland
has many wet-fly streams. Their distinguishing feature
is a combination of steep gradient and flow regime.
Their streamy water is interspersed with shorter glides
and pools. These waters tend to be moderately alkaline,
or neutral, and therefore not as rich as limestone-based
streams. However, what the trout lack in size they make
up in numbers. The invertebrate fauna in such rivers
can be significant and trout of at least 3lbs are always
possible. |
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Upland
Streams
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Moorland
rivers are often highly acidic. They are usually fast,
boulder-strewn, and lack defined pools of good size.
The trout are generally small, averaging seven or eight
inches in length, but a deep pool at the base of a waterfall
can hold good fish of 2lbs or more.
The small stony rivers of the north-west, west and south-west
offer fish of only five or six inches long and a half-pounder
is rare. |
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The
Mayfly
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A
number of Irish rivers, for example Lough Key, Lough
Arrow, Lough Gara & Cavetown Lake, are all the in
near vacinity of Boyle town, have hatches of Mayfly.
The best of this fishing is associated with Limestone
rivers. Spent Mayfly usually fall in the evenings and
this is the time when some of the biggest wild trout
in Limestone rivers will rise to a dry fly. Every year
wild fish over 5lbs are caught from Irish rivers by
anglers fishing with spent Mayfly patterns. |
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The
Evening Rise
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The
evening rise is particularly important for the dry-fly
angler on limestone rivers from about the end of June.
The daytime rises usually diminish during the summer
months but there is compensation in the hours of intensive
sport from early evening to eleven o'clock or beyond.
The rise begins with trout moving to small fly such
as Pale Wateries from about 6pm; then the Blue Winged
Olive appears and can bring up heavy fish which feed
into dusk. Finally the sedge species hatch and the
trout rise to these until after midnight on some rivers
in July. Very good fish may be taken during that last
phase of the evening rise.
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Best
Times to Fish in Ireland
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In
general, April is the earliest month when trout can
be observed taking duns in any of these rivers, and
then for only a short period from about noon to early
afternoon. In May and the first half of June trout can
be feeding at the surface for most of the day, although
spasmodically at times. In late June, July and August,
especially in limestone rivers the best rises usually
occur in the evenings or early mornings. By September
the fly hatches are often light but they can persist
all day and provide fishing for much of that time. |
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Access
to fishing areas in Ireland
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Irish
waters are usually reached by passing through farmland
and anglers are normally allowed this access by courtesy
of local farmers. They will give a warm welcome but
please respect their property; leave no litter and close
all gates. |
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Safety
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Some
Irish inland waters are very large and become dangerous
in high winds; they may have reefs or rocky shoals which
can be hazardous even on a calm day. It is essential
to be familiar with such waters and their hazards before
going afloat unaided; a ghillie or guide should be hired
for the first few days of the trip. A lifejacket should
be worn by each angler in the boat. |
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Accommodation
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Self-catering
and Bed & Breakfast accommodation
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