Thursday 29 November 2012

Life is short

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Why spend extended time in places where you already know you can catch fish? If you have invested personal time and learning in these locations then you will know their moods, their patterns and the subsequent results – nice one!

Do you want to become a better angler than you already are? Then avoid routine and accept the challenge of what that might mean.

That routine exists in technique, location, time of day, time of year, type of presentation, type of weather, type of thinking…. nobody gets better at anything by choosing the easy road – pay your dues, then collect the results.

Sunday 25 November 2012

May never be a rich man...

Ten years in the melting pot PIII – SW fly lines a review

Spending time on the ground (and /or in the water, sand, wind, rain, salt, sun as the case maybe) will over years reveal the strengths and weaknesses of fishing tackle. Time spent in a saltwater environment is no doubt a place where many items not up to the mark will find themselves in serious trouble.

After ten seasons of saltwater guiding and fishing on the Irish coast Picture2I have seen many rods and reels that claim to be suited to the Irish saltwater fishing environment – I will over the next few weeks take a look at some of these items and their performances over time. Looking first at saltwater fly reels then at some saltwater fly rods , I will now take a look at some fly lines that I have found to be excellent when fishing. These are categorised under four headings tactical, functional, practical and optional!

The testing mix consisted of – the environment where we fish, the type of fish, the type of fly to cast, price, functionality, longevity, personal experience over time, style and suitable application in a world where practicality is very important!

Tactical consider as a good recommendation, not necessarily the most expensive or indeed complete solution but offering something truly special

Functional consider as an item that works very well, lasts and is not too expensive, and whilst it may not be to every ones taste gets the job done well and better than most

Practical is a category that an item will fall under when it simply works, is very reasonably priced, will last but may not be the best looking or performing item on the beach!

Optional looking for something different that works and lasts and is immediately recognisable through design and function then this is it – a perfect alternative at times to tactical!

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Saltwater Fly Lines

  • Tactical Guideline coastal series
    • The Guideline Coastal series provides the bass and sea trout angler with an ‘integrated shooting head type’ solution that is something special. Some real benefits that can be realised are the longish front taper that turns over very smoothly for super presentations, availability in a range of densities – Available HERE
  • Functional Rio outbound
    • The Rio Outbounds both long and short  - if you are looking to cast large flies with ease and simplicity then the outbound is for you – short heads, aggressive tapers and outside the AFTMA specs these lines load and shoot big fish meals all day – not for the faint hearted
  • Practical
    • Airflo Sniper – A dual purpose line that will help beginners and advanced casters both in their saltwater excursions. Similar to the outbound short this can turn over large flies at distance with ease and also help build confidence when fishing in a tough environment.
  • Optional Bruce Chard bonefish line from Jim Teeny
    • Captain Bruce Chard, a full time Florida Keys flats guide designed this series of fly lines to deal with circumstances needed to cast, present, and fish a large fly hard into the wind. If you need a long cast and a delicate, accurate presentation when you have calm conditions OR when you need shorter casts with a powerful tight loop that will carry a longer leader with a bass fly hard into the wind – This is the floating line to do it. May no longer be easily available
  • If Only – Rio Striped bass intermediate
    • I’m sneaking in this line here as its nearly always loaded on at least one of my reels (#8’s) and it probably has caught me more bass than any other fly line. The #8 has a 41 foot head so it takes a bit to get it going – 4’-0” longer and 30 grains lighter than the equivalent #8 outbound. Available HERE

Friday 16 November 2012

Ten Years in the melting pot PII–SW Fly rods a review

Spending time on the ground (and /or in the water, sand, wind, rain, salt, sun as the case maybe) will over years reveal the strengths and weaknesses of fishing tackle. Time spent in a saltwater environment is no doubt a place where many items not up to the mark will find themselves in serious trouble.

Picture2After ten seasons of saltwater guiding and fishing on the Irish coast I have seen many rods and reels that claim to be suited to the Irish saltwater fishing environment – I will over the next few weeks take a look at some of these items and their performances over time. Looking first at saltwater fly reels here the following four fly rods I have found to be excellent and are categorised under four headings tactical, functional, practical and optional!

The testing mix consisted of – the environment where we fish, the type of fish, price, functionality, longevity, personal experience over time, style and suitable application in a world where practicality is very important! We might all love to have an Xi3 but……

I have included an if only category on this section because of one range of rods that I really like!

Tactical consider as a good recommendation, not necessarily the most expensive or indeed perfect solution but offering something truly special

Functional consider as an item that works very well, lasts and is not too expensive, and whilst it may not last forever it looks and feels a little different and gets the job done well and better than most

Practical is a category that an item will fall under when it simply works, is very reasonably priced, will last but may not be the best looking or performing item on the beach!

Optional looking for something different that works and lasts and is immediately recognisable through design and function then this is it – a perfect alternative at times to tactical!

_______________________________________________________________________

Saltwater Fly Rods

  • Tactical G-Loomis Crosscurrent GLX #8 –
    • The crosscurrent GLX is not something I would have been able to afford normally, the two that I own were given to me as presents a #7 and a #8. Loops, speed, reserve power when needed – it doesn’t get much better than this (unless its an NRX!)
  • Functional ECHO Rajeff Sports – ECHO3
    • The ECHO3 range of saltwater rods from # 6 –# 12, fast, tight, with a crisp action and feeling incredibly light in the hand, these to me are the rods that can ‘fit’ a range of Irish SW fly anglers. Looking for something that wont break the bank and yet perform brilliantly time and again, these are they! Available HERE
  • Practical TFO TiCRX
    • The TiCRX – slightly slower than the TiCR this rod is a good solution for many SW fly casters – whether you like to carry long lines in the air or to shoot quickly at close range – there are simply many many features here, I love this rod for the price and presentations it can cast ! Available HERE
  • Optional Sage Xi3
    • The Sage Xi3 – My favourite fishing rod, I currently use a #7  loaded with the Guideline coastal intermediate. Exclusive technology make this a sublime casting and fishing experience beyond anything else I have ever used.
  • IF Only – Redington CPS #8 and #7
    • No longer available I’m afraid but you might find them on the web from time to time – too many associations with this rod to mention and a great fishing tool too – featured many times in fishing reports throughout this site. The Cpx was the newer version, this is to change this year to another newer series calledLink – I’m hoping this might feel like a return to the CPS!

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Bass angling recreational submission guidelines

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I have just uploaded three of the submissions made by IFI to Government in respect of recreational bass angling and its protection / promotion in Ireland – they can be found individually at the links below or on the Scribd BASS DATA collection here

The Eastern region submission paper

The Western region submission paper

The South Western region submission paper

These were made under the older regional fisheries board designations during 2009.

Monday 5 November 2012

10 years in the melting pot PI – SW fly reels a review

Spending time on the ground (and /or in the water, sand, wind, rain, salt, sun as the case maybe) will over years reveal the strengths and weaknesses of fishing tackle. Time spent in a saltwater environment is no doubt a dsc0147baplace where many items not up to the mark will find themselves in serious trouble.

After ten seasons of saltwater guiding and fishing on the Irish coast I have seen many rods and reels that claim to be suited to the Irish saltwater fishing environment – I will over the next few weeks take a look at some of these items and their performances over time. Looking first at saltwater fly reels the following items I have found to be excellent and are categorised under four headings tactical, functional, practical and optional!

The testing mix consisted of – the environment where we fish, the type of fish, price, functionality, longevity, personal experience over time, style and suitable application in a world where practicality is very important! We might all love to have an Abel but……

Tactical consider as my top recommendation, not necessarily the most expensive or indeed perfect solution but offering something truly special

Functional consider as an item that works, lasts and is not too expensive, and whilst it may not last forever it looks and feels a little different and gets the job done

Practical is a category that an item will fall under when it simply works, is very reasonably priced, will last but may not be the best looking item on the beach!

Optional looking for something different that works and lasts and is immediately recognisable through design and function then this is it – a perfect alternative at times to tactical!

_______________________________________________________________________

Saltwater Fly Reels

  • Tactical  Danielsson L5W – 6nine or 4seven
    • The L5W series what can I say that hasn’t been said – I’ve caught bass, seatrout, bonefish, pike, mullet, barracuda, garfish, pollack. jacks, lemon shark, and dolphin fish – on a reel that refuses to fail year after year, with a minimum of maintenance superior build quality and drag mechanism the reel is now more than a fishing tool to me.
  • Functional Loop exact 5/8
    • The Xact reel is totally made from composite, except the reel foot, handle and drag knob these are made from aluminium. Replacing the CLW (an old favourite) this reel is simply made for tough conditions. Just like its big brother, and more expensive, Evotec G3, this reel is made for tough environments and is perfectly suited to the demands of Irish saltwater bass, pollack and sea trout fishing. I’ve even taken it further around the world, it looks smart too!
  • Practical Okuma airframe af 7/9
    • The Okuma like the Xact is a carbon composite reel that’s very very tough and saltwater resilient. If you are the kind of person that just wants something to work without being too concerned about aesthetics or maintenance then this is the reel for you. Low cost high longevity and deals with the environment month after month.
  • Optional Ross evolution LT
    • The Ross LT is light in the hand and beautiful to look, at this series of reels is designed for those anglers who appreciate both art and function. The cosmetic innovation and precision workmanship of the Evolution LT series is only surpassed by its drag system which is precise and sensitive – I love this reel so much.

Also consider Vision Nite, Redington Crosswater, Waterworks Lamson, ECHO ION.

Sunday 4 November 2012

The story that nobody talks about

 
Thinking back now to Friday, working with Ear To the Ground, I cant help but wish I had said more better, or worse still, said, what I now think I have left out! Its not an easy task to follow after the producer issues you with instructions – ‘’Just look at Helen Jim and not at the camera”. Looking at Helen was the easy part, connecting my mouth to my brain remained extremely difficult at times.
 
It was however done in one take.
 
This is not, I’m afraid a good news story.
 
On the contrary this is a story that extends out of The Sunday Times article published about the commercial threat to bass angling as published some weeks ago. The people at Ear To The Ground felt they had something here they could cover.
 
My biggest fear, at the time of the initial contact with ETTG,046-DSC_5984 was that they would also, in the interests of fairness, be interviewing people from a sector of the commercial fishery industry who seek to re-open the fishery and exploit the species. This fear is borne out of the realisation that the supply of national airtime and promotional opportunity would be given to an industry that has already placed the species on the verge of extinction prior to 1989 and could effectively destroy the species again in a time frame of less than one summer season.

In fact re-opening the commercial bass fishery would in effect destroy much more than that.
 
So when I spoke to the interviewer I spoke about tackle shops, restaurants, shops, pubs, B+B’s, hotels, charter boats, fishing guides the hundreds of anglers and the integrated network of business that is developing around bass fishing in this country both from a National and an International basis. This is not a ‘Jim Hendrick’ story this is a National angling resource that belongs to everyone who wishes to use it properly and sustainably – the fishery is not held in the ownership or false stewardship of a few people who think they have a God given right to it at the expense of everyone else.
 
Speaking 'economically' seems to be the buzz word – to get us back to where we were before! Where were we, before, exactly? A quick hit by the commercial industry does NOT mean lots of jobs over many years it means a quick smash and grab on a species that should never be commercially exploited, a two fingered gesture to everyone who has benefited from the small recovery and also to the extended commitment of protection and promotion afforded to the species in ways that reach far beyond the economics of the situation.
 
Be prepared for the ‘poor us’ story as the commercial spin machine of ‘what we as fishermen are denied and entitled to whilst others get their hands on them’ ratchets into place. The sympathy vote from the public caught up in a fog of misrepresentation and pseudo heartfelt hardship – we've been here before remember, ask why have we found it necessary as a nation to protect the species in the first instance? – Simply because they were commercially fished to near extinction prior to 1989. Not managed, not sustainably exploited, with no long-term investment. Gone. And all the benefits with them.
 
And now 22 years later some want their hands on them again!
 
It wont be probassfisher who will save bass from commercial exploitation, it wont be any individual, tackle dealer, guide, journalist, organisation, blogger or angler. It needs to be all the people who have all made thousands of hours of personal input to angling in this country – not just sea anglers, but game anglers, coarse anglers, boat anglers – you in fact!
 
You, your club, your organisation, your angling friends, the B+B you stayed at, the tackle shop where you bought the gear, the food you ate at the restaurant you went back to, the drink you drank in the greatest pub ever, the petrol you used, the mars bar the chewing gum, the soft drink, the books you bought and read, the guide you had who showed you something simple and new or opened a whole new world, all many many valid reasons to protect the fish.
 
But when you sit on a cold wet Sunday afternoon in February and you remember how on that July morning at four thirty as the sun had risen to the surface smash take of a big bass and you turned to your friend who was already running towards you and you felt like the greatest angler in the world and the stress and the difficulty of living in a country where development so often means destruction - all this slipped away and was forgotten in a moment of angling pleasure that connected you to yourself in a way that you had forgotten existed a moment that you want to share and remember again and again a moment that you cant wait to attempt next season, the anticipation already beginning, to simply get out there to connect
 
Surely this must be the greatest reason of all to save these fish - we can never re-capitalise the benefits of our natural heritage!

If you are a journalist, an angler, a shop keeper, a tackle dealer - what can you do to help?

Some ideas:

  • Write to Simon Coveney - simon.coveney@oir.ie and tell him of your investment and experiences in bass fishing in this country, ask all your angling friends to do the same
  • If you have travelled within Ireland and stayed overnight ask the B+B or guesthouse/hotel/restaurant/shop/pub to do the same - link the network to your bass fishing
  • Lobby your local politician or representative - keep copies of all correspondence
  • If you are a member of an ANY angling club ask the angling club secretary to write to Minister Coveney on behalf of the club and its members
  • If you know of any person in IFI or Failte Ireland express you concerns in writing and ask for an acknowledgement
  • Write about your concerns in your newspaper, magazine or website / social media
  • Connect to and inform if possible other conservation minded groups perhaps like The Countryside Alliance

New Website

The beginning AND the end…

Forwarded to - The Irish Bass Policy Group (David McInerny, John Quinlan, Shane O Reilly, Mike Hennessy, Dr William Roche, Dr Nial O'Ma...