David Conn–ects today

Great Western Pike VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Hours done on the ground – it takes time.

		A work in progress - PI VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

There's no quick fix solution here. No instant information…go here or there and you can catch fish. Only time and effort spent. Hours upon hours of investment, driving to and from, fishing, gear, tying, weather, fish on – fish off, presentations, decisions, decisions, frustration, disappointments, tactics…..on and on it goes.
But coming out the far side, when it happens you have an unfathomable depth of appreciation and understanding, a real sense of the fishing.

This transfers easily to you now having done the work, quietly shared the experiences, taken the hard knocks, the lessons learned. You know what needs to be done to make it work. You measure the depth of the personal investment you have made, and realise the significance of what you have learned, the ‘value’ of such knowledge. This has not been handed to you via a PM or a wall, this has been earned.

And the only reward? What you feel in your heart and soul having spent some time walking there in anticipation and isolation, fishing there and then, when you decide to leave you feel satisfied, content and happy, you relive the experiences on the walk home.

The world in which we fish knows nothing of Facebook or CNN.

Pike fishing in the West of Ireland

The second fish I hooked was different. We drifted back over the zone, the water depth shallowed up to about fifteen feet, gleaming white sands and bottom features becoming very obvious. I could clearly see vertical columns of weed, rocks as big as cars, rippling fields and waves of golden light. The underwater visibility once again blew my mind. I cast and counted then retrieved and within thirty of forty feet of the boat I could see my fly tracking close the bottom. Strip strip stop, strip strip stop, opening then closing, breathing – enticing.

The fish not so much as swam but rather, sidled up to the fly, stopped, bristled ready - tensed.

Appearing from behind a pale cream coloured rock, I had that same familiar feeling of ‘brain refusing to acknowledge or comprehend what was going on’ and hence was going into some sort of protective mode of disbelief which stops itself from frying -

But yes it was a big fish, yes it was inches behind my fly, and yes I was in fifteen feet of water and I could clearly witness what was happening. I could see the fly, I could see the fish then I couldn’t see the fly and suddenly I felt the fish on. Moving very quickly to my right, my fly line tracing through the water leaving a skinny bubble trail – zzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiipppppppppppp

‘John’,

I heard myself speak as I eased and controlled the fly line under tension from my hand – and then the drag started up

‘John, take a look at this quick’ I sounded in hindsight, remarkably calm

Two other fish had joined mine and were tracking him as he sped across the white bottom, twisting and turning in a strange ballet threesome of escape and inquisitiveness. The fish were about 5 or 6kgs and their light, smashed up blonde and green patterns of colour at times rendered them invisible in their world of gold and silver.

I was pike fishing in the west of Ireland in one of the most remarkable fishing environments I had ever seen.

Landing gear

Rod: AV Jensen High Tide #8

Reel: Vision XLA

Line: Teeny T300

Leader: Rio alloy hard saltwater mono with Rio powerflex wirebite tippet

Fly: Tied by Rudy Van Duijnhoven

Thanks Brian for making it happen

Photographed in Co.Cavan

November falls

Guided Pike Fishing

Its difficult to describe the ferocity of a surface attack by a Pike. Its visual its aggressive and its fierce. There is no doubt about it but Pike are a worthy catch on fly or lure. The next time you see your favourite lure shredded and cast across the surface of a lake in a head shaking frenzy of spray and bits of rubber then you know its going to be a crazy day.

I guess it was inevitable that I would start to guide for them and now after a few years of many failures and success the service is available for both Spring, late Autumn and early Winter.

The service will open on March 20th and close again on June 10th for the Spring season.

It will re-open again on October 20th and run through to December 20th for Autumn and Winter.

The boat will come ready for action with fly rods from Vision, Bloke and Redington – these will be teamed with Danielsson reels loaded with Rio, Guideline and Teeny pike specialist lines to cover all presentations.

Lure fishing rods will be available from Smith, Lucky Craft and Illex, reels from Shimano and Daiwa loaded with braid.

The boat has all the safety features necessary for a comfortable day on the water

Transport, airport transfers, light lunch and accommodation can all be determined for you – so if your looking to meet some of Irelands most ferocious freshwater predators call me now.

 

Guided Pike Fishing Service

Time

Fishing Report - April 24th - David and Jim

David and I stole two days freshwater fly fishing in Irelands north west last week. We made a dash across the country to spend two days fishing with Kenny Sloane a well known fishing guide from the area. The plan was to fish for pike on thursday and again on friday morning with a sprinkling of trout fishing on Friday afternoon. We had an exceptional few days fishing with 18 pike to the boat (several over the 5kg mark) on Thursday and similar numbers on Friday.

The highlight of the two days was the fish David took on Friday morning in excess of 20lbs on the scales. Some of the photos I made can be seen in the posts below.

Landing Gear

Rods: Sage xi2, Redington CPx, Guideline,
Reels: Danielsson LW 6/9, Lamson Velocity, Hardy Angel
Lines: Rio Outbounds inters and floaters
Leaders : Rio toothy critters (adapted)
Flies: As per photos below

a predator

Fishing Report - April 23rd - David and Jim

photos blogged live via a Sony Ericsson Mobile

Green and Gold

Pike fishing with Peadar O Brien and David Wolsoncroft Dodds

A pleasant days fishing in Carrigmacross with Peadar and David - the first signs of summer - see more HERE later today

still stunned by the colours

the colours of these shad when taken from the river leave a lasting impression, a truly special fish. These photos dont really do them justice.

shad in the river

These beautiful fish were taken on the river By Ollie today -
Hi Jim,thought I might try for these guys in earnest today,and was rewarded with three smallish but very feisty fellahs. Great sport on light tackle..............

trout from a lake

David and I went fishing on Friday and Saturday, we were fly fishing for pike. Friday proved very difficult with wind and driven rain, the lake felt like a cold grey miserable place. There was a short window in the afternoon and we hit some fish - more of which later.

Saturday began a little slowly too but picked up speed throughout the morning and early afternoon. Unexpectedly a ferocius attack on Davids lure left us stunned and as he struggled to get his fine fish closer to the boat we could only guess at its size. Running repeatedly and fighting doggedly we imagined a considerable fish. Eventually landed, weighed and measured at 7lbs and 6 ounces going to 26 inches - an incredible brown trout under any circumstances.

Troutin' Spin Interboron Rods

Combine these rods with the range of Panish freshwater lures as featured below and you have a beautiful balanced freshwater application - casting lures from 2gs - 10gs the Interboron offers a unique fishing experience a combination of quality and excitement.