Thirtyards

Courtesy of Paul Moinster

Salty seven made in heaven!

Pippen, pippen, here pippen……

In an homage to the boy who became the second victim of the giant great white shark in the movie “Jaws,” Tim Flagler designed a colourful topwater pattern for bream and bass that is just the right size to keep small fish away while providing an irresistible lure to the big boys

Wexford bass fishing

IF IT DOESNT CHALLENGE YOU IT WONT CHANGE YOU

Dedicated to fly fishing in Saltwater

MAGIC

S.C.O.F.

Fin Chasers– Online Fly fishing magazine

 

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Current Issue

Putting it together at the moment and over the next few months to hopefully achieve a feature for this magazine - Irish bass fishing on fly and lure.

Big bass on the fly–a considerable angling challenge

I am still challenged by bass on the fly – probably even more so now than ever.

Its not easy out there at the moment, in a much diminished fishery, a difficult method is always going to be at times more tasking. But……

But with a little bit of thought and planning some fishing is likely even if very much unexpected.

Some help can be found here from 2009 – Bigger Bass on the Fly

 

Yellow Flatwing 20 cms’s – drifted

G-Loomis CC GLX #7

Danielsson LW 6/9

Rio Outbound Short F/I #7

Airflow saltwater poly leader 5’-0” – Rio fluoroflex + tippet

Investment

Fishing on Wednesday and Thursday I was once again reminded of the role that a fishing guide plays in the company of his or her clients. I have learned how to let situations develop over time that then place the ‘consequences of realisation’ squarely on the shoulders of the client! This is a patience game that must also be accompanied by what I consider to be quality contributing and supporting factors.

Of course a healthy local population of fish is a necessity.

I can recognise, appreciate and assess wonderful fishing environments very quickly. I can determine the support infrastructure that needs to be in place, and I can analyse the ‘environmental’ fishing influences to a tee. As a fishing guide my methods are often very slow and for me all of these important things need to be in place. They play the role of the foundations of any fishing experience, a skyline, a run of water, a sound of birds, and a place, where after it all, after your day, you can stop, rest and think a little perhaps in the company of friends, good food and a pint or two of Guinness!

On the water, once clients are safe, I advise and provide support, tackle, encouragement, I also tend to watch the speed of development and or progress of one or two important aspects of the fishing very intently. I do not rush this and at times a client may feel slightly disengaged, on the edge, challenged, but that’s where I want him or her to be, at least a little! Yes of course I can answer every question but I’m not always prepared to do so instantly. By steering the situation as a consequence the next step is very often discovered, realised by the person fishing.

That significance once grasped is far greater than anything I could have ever told or demonstrated to any client.

Sometimes a lot of small significances roll over and add up until the end, but the end is only ever where and when a client feels ultimately satisfied with the realisation of what he has achieved. Be it a cast, a presentation, a consistency, an understanding or a confidence. This can take a hell of a lot of time; it can also prove difficult and testing for both of us if patience or time are an issue.

The consequences of small achievements lead to the understanding of and the recognition of the next challenge. This is constantly in evidence when saltwater fly-fishing for bass and seatrout from the shore. Time is often of the essence.

I believe that because it is such a significant challenge, and at times it still feels daunting, the many many bits and pieces to the endgame are not like any other type of fishing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not superiority I’m talking about here, but too often the considerable input and achievements made along the way by any successful saltwater fly angler are often dismissed or forgotten, taken for granted even. 

The path to the endgame, if there is one, can be short or long, anticipation for me is always one of the greatest feelings!

The long challenging personal investment in saltwater fly fishing is probably beyond measure on so many positive levels.

Saltwater fly dreamers

Bass fishing on the fly

A unique Irish saltwater event will take place in Cork harbour next week. Nine people from places as far away as the US, the UK and Denmark as well as a solid Irish representation will gather at the Bella Vista Hotel for three days.

The event is a series of workshops which can be used as either a primer or indeed an advanced lesson, depending on your requirements, in the three aspects of saltwater fly fishing in Ireland.

• · Fly fishing
• · Fly casting
• · Fly tying

The emphasis whilst not strictly placed on bass fishing is firmly based in the techniques used to catch them on the fly in Ireland. This of course also means if you wanted to catch stripers in the USA the workshops will transfer. They will also transfer between species like sea trout.

It was never going to be easy to gather a group of nine people together at once in the one place at the one time. And in order to achieve the workshops across all disciplines was a task so this is testament to the keen interest that people have in saltwater fly fishing for bass and other species, and I am really delighted it has happened.

All of this was pitched at a very accessible cost.

Glenda Powell – World champion fly caster and fishing guide will deliver workshops on fly casting over the three days.

Brian Healy who has worked with me over the past few years and has years of experience in salt and freshwater guiding/fishing/tying will facilitate the tying workshops and I, Jim Hendrick will look after the guiding for bass and possibly sea trout too along the Cork coast.

The three days will no doubt be an experience of sharing and learning many different experiences and aspects of saltwater fly fishing not only in Ireland but from other countries also. Alan is just back from Denmark, Paul fishes Montana, Johann fishes Denmark, and John fishes Florida backcountry…

Working across three small Irish fishing business’s plus Kevin Murphy’s Bella Vista Hotel which has been synonymous with bass fishing for a long while, it represents a pooling of considerable talent experience and skills that can be demonstrated as one resource and of course this can have a positive local economic impact too over the three days.

Once again it’s a small example and testament to the interest that exists in bass fishing in this country and all the positive aspects that are associated with it.

This aspect is often too easily overlooked forgotten or simply for reasons too many to mention, not promoted in any way whatsoever. This applies not only to this event but to the angling fraternity as a whole.

Who knows what may come out of this three days, maybe next year another three day event or an extended event incorporating lure fishing as well.

3-Day Saltwater Fly Fishing Primer for Bass-Cork 2014

Spring Bass Fishing Workshop by Jim Hendrick

Solid Adventure

The 3-Day Workshop–Saltwater Fly Primer

Eight places of nine now filled – one remains open at this time.

Jim Hendrick

__________________________________________________________________

Fly fishing for bass or seatrout at sea is a specialised and challenging aspect of sea angling that can elevate your fishing experiences to a completely different level. 

Any interested newcomers can of course learn the basics of fly fishing by reading about rods, reels, lines, leaders, knots, casting and fly tying on their own. But a much more efficient and enjoyable way to get started is to enrol in a fly fishing course and or take a fly casting lesson. 

The 3-Day Saltwater Primer was designed in order to

• Help the beginner to avoid many of the frustrating pit-falls that you can encounter
• To help reduce the considerable learning curve in the disciplines of casting, tying and fishing at sea with the fly. 
• To share the experiences with other saltwater fly fishers

It was also created to ensure that experienced saltwater anglers would

• Benefit from world class fly fishing instruction through Glenda’s workshops
• Improve their tying skills and techniques by working with Brian
• Have an option to develop those skills on the water with Jim

Because one of the most wonderful things about saltwater fly fishing is that there is always something new to learn none of us are going to loose over the three days – and to be honest we could all do with more time on the water!

All the fly fishing, tying and casting workshops have a low student to instructor ratio (3:1) and are facilitated by

Glenda Powell – Casting Instruction

Brian Healy - Fly tying

Jim Hendrick – Saltwater guiding / Fishing

The aim and objectives in all of the  instructional workshops is to teach you the skills necessary to be successful at saltwater fly fishing on your own for bass and seatrout. To help and improve any aspects of your fishing you may have trouble with, in fact its worth considering that all of us can benefit from the workshops!

We never lose sight of the fact that fishing is a form of relaxation, not a matter of distance, numbers or size of fish. So, the over-riding theme is for all fishers to relax, enjoy the days and have a lot of fun.

See you there in April 2014.

What does a bass guide pack in his bag?

Anybody who knows me, knows too of my quest (some say fetish) for the perfect guiding gear pack solution type thing. I think I may have found it. I have a preferred pack for my own personal fishing which is the Patagonia Stealth Atom Sling but for times when I’m guiding I need something a bit roomier.

Thing is, I don’t like being weighed down or having too much gear either, even when I’m guiding. The original contest existed in my mind between the Stealth Atom Sling and the Orvis Safe passage sling pack. Now I’m conscious of course that both of these packs are fly oriented and don’t provide a lure fishing solution as such.

And then along came the Orvis Safe Passage Guide sling pack , which as of today I am now the happy owner of one. Sometimes things just feel right and this is definitely one of those things. Its colour, its weight, its orientation and when I opened the cardboard box today the simple and unique Orvis packaging was already giving me an experience. You can read the specs yourself at the link above.

It can easily double as a lure solution as the internal fly holder is simply velcro’d on, the versatility is really cool.

So what is it as a bass fishing guide that you pack for a 4 hour guiding session lets say for Saltwater Fly Fishing with two customers on the shore? It surprised me when I loaded the sling pack today

The Gear

• First aid kit – full kit at car
• Kershaw knockout knife
• Ross Saltwater pliers
• Waterproof mini binoculars
• Fishpond pitchfork clippers
• Stainless forceps
• Braid scissors
• Loon reel lube
• Wader repair kit
• Zap a Gap
• Small sun block
• Extra pair of glasses
• Phone in ziplok bag
• Hook sharpener
• Tape measure
• Waterproof torch

And then there’s the fishing terminal tackle as such

• Braided loop connectors
• Pre-tied leaders both mono and fluoro
• Tapered saltwater leaders
• Poly leaders, various
• Tippet material
• Two boxes of flies, various types
• One wallet of flies, various types
• One spare reel with intermediate running line
• Optional shooting heads (F, I, Sk)
• Water bottle
• IFI scale collection kit

I think that’s about it from a fly point of view, there’s a few more things no doubt that could be added but you have to stop somewhere!

A trout and bass note from Denmark

Hi Jim

Haven't heard more from Alan so I hope he's got everything sorted out. The Danish coast is on fire at the moment with nice fish being caught all over the country. Some of the bigger ones have reached the 8 kg mark. Got my biggest of the year this weekend. 57 cm and 1,8 kg. 

I have been looking at the bass locations that I fish in the summer and one of the spots look like it's going to be a hotspot this year if the bars of silver show up. Some sand bars have formed during the winther storms creating rips. Same conditions we had a few years ago when we had a good bass year. The troughs on the inside of the bars tend to hold a lot of bait which gets flushed through the rips on the falling tide. I think/hope  it's going to be a good bass year here. Has your season begun? Really looking forward to working with you on the film project

Caspar saltwater fly fished for bass in Wexford some while back HERE and HERE

Spring begins–April days ahead

Its starting soon for me, another season of bass guiding on the Irish coast, in 15 days time in fact. Its an early start for me April 02 with Myles, but we’re chasing some trout on the fly in the sea and possibly light lure if we need to.

There’s something about trout fishing in the sea that really does it for me, in ways similar but often very different than bass on the fly. More later.

I’m looking forward to getting started and its not very long after April begins, that I’m down to the Dungarvan area to guide Daniel from the UK and his two pals for three days. This is a combination workshop/guiding trip for me and I really like these kind of days,this is rapidly followed with another six day series in Kerry in Mid month and then some fly fishing workshops.

That brings me almost to the end of April and the 3-Day Saltwater Fly Fishing Primer kicks into place. This is a big adventure for us, with 7 of 9 places filled its slowly but nicely falling into place. I guess having a world champion fly caster / instructor, an incredible fly tier and a very experienced bass fishing guide in the one place at the one time at The Bella Vista Hotel provides a good solution and opportunity to fish, learn and have a bit of fun too. I’m really looking forward to these few fishing days.

That’s my April fishing days for 2014, and its really after the 09th when I will have finished my degree that I will feel true relief and freedom from the shackles of study, its been a quick and at times tough three and a half years but I have no doubt it has already helped me make valuable decisions about the business and the way I will move forward and develop with it. I have met and worked closely in teams of some amazing people over these years, people I can trust and network with on a genuine basis.

Accommodation providers on the west coast, salmon fishers on the great river Blackwater, angling providers in the North West, photographers and travel writers and many more, and now I have access to all of their unique strengths, knowledge, facilities and friendships too. I intend to fully utilise all these services and new found opportunities over the next few years.

The strength of any future successful bass fishing development will always be greater than one person or organisation, it is of course largely a creation and action question of ‘networked’ openess and trust', a shared belief facilitating a range of sustainable partnerships whilst recognising other peoples skills, resource inputs and concerns too.

After ten years of bass guiding in Ireland I know what the job comprises of, ALL the aspects of the job and I know too the keen financial pressure it can place on a guide and his or her family. I have always believed that to make it work you needed to be a ‘Velcro’ type of person in as much that for winter you can attach yourself to a means of income that you could un-attach from again in spring – not an easy task at all! Because without some financial momentum the whole thing stalls and slows to a treacle. All of this of course is relevant to personal circumstances and what it is you want from life.

What I want and what I want to do is to continue to saltwater fly fish for bass and seatrout when ever I can for the rest of my life, simple.

I have grown beyond the delights of the Wexford coast and now having worked along the further coast I can travel confidently to many regions to not only guide but to also do what I have been missing – personal fishing and adventure.

I have through hard work made my own luck, secure in a contract that’s both flexible and demanding. I look forward to a busy and different 2014, my reduced days are booked with interesting people from France, UK, Italy, Denmark and Holland. My gear is almost ready, when is it ever? And the changed and different coastline lies like a new challenge before me.

With time to think and grow who knows what may happen!

One for the weekend

Sorry about all the videos as of late – just simply to busy to get here in any great detail – all will change around mid April as I get space at last. Looking forward to a good and different season for 2014.

Bullshit

The Fish: SCOF issue #9 Moving Pictures from Southern Culture on the Fly on Vimeo.