Beulah Surf and Switch Rods

The most versatile fly rods on the planet. Can be used with one hand or two. High stick, Double haul, roll cast, single and two hand spey, and send the line zinging through the air well over 100 feet with a simple two hand over head cast. The Switch rods are very light, boat friendly and an alternative to two handed spey rods. The ultimate rod for most fresh water and coastal fishing situations. Each Switch rod is 10'6", 4pc construction from a blend of IM8 graphite that positions the fibers to maximize the strength/casting ability in each section of the rod. Each Switch rod comes with a rod sock and cordura carrying case. How would it feel to out cast your buddy who has a 13-15' stick!
Beulah Fly Rods was the first company to successfully manufacture and market a full line of Switch rods in 2005. Presently in 2009, Beulah continue to offer the most comprehensive line up of Switch and Surf fly rods including five models 4/5 through 8/9. With Beulah Switch and surf rods each size rod is defined by its own unique action and taper.

AVAILABLE HERE FROM LATE JUNE 2010 -

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

Bass fly fishing Ireland - Part 23 - The BTDG.

This is a fly tied for me by Andy Elliott – the BTDG or the bucktail deceiver gurgler.

The original gurgler as invented and tied by Jack Gartside must rank as one of the greatest surface fly ties of all time. Falling between a popper and a slider its easy to cast and when on the water it can perform all sorts of tricks - slides/squirts/splash. A slow retrieve will of course generate a wake when in calm water, whilst a short pull will create a spit and a splash much like frightened baitfish. At the end of your retrieve the gurgler will lift easily off the water, often easier than poppers do, that sometimes grip and ‘burst’ free if not managed properly, and during the cast you will find the gurgler easy to put out there, where the fish are.

Now take Bob Popovics buck tail deceiver. Seen put into action HERE and HERE and it rapidly becomes a favourite fly of many people. Tied skinny to get down deeper and with more material to ride higher in the tide. The BTD is tied by using shorter and successively more compacted layers of buck tail it achieves a wonderful profile – it has almost endless possibilities and when tied on spec with a tier like Andy the results are often incredible.

Combining the gurgler with the BTD results in a very, very effective fly indeed. The fish eye view is a solid and wide baitfish profile. The bucktail fibres breathe in and out on retrieving and stopping and the gurgler ‘prow’ allows you to create a lot of splash and wake and searching interesting noise. Highly recommended these flies are available HERE

Forecasting the weather - April - 8

I came across a little book recently - Signpost to the weather by D&K Barlett. First published in 1949, I have extracted their forecasts for each month of the year. I hope you will enjoy their weather theories over the next few months –

The Month of April according to D&K Barlett with BASS indications by Jim Hendrick

During this month there can be changeable weather, but on the whole it is fairly bright and sunny. Prolonged spells of heavy rain are very unlikely, and it usualy falls in light sharp showers.
During the calm sunny days it can be quite warm, but cool nights with frost usually follow. If a warm spell occurs a chilly one with dull dys usually follows.

If the latter part of March has been wet some fog can occur during quiet spelss of the month.
The sea around our coasts is still very cool and is slowly responding to the heat of the sun, it heats slower than the land hence coastal fog may occur at times.

1st to 7th - Can begin chilly, with occassional snow. The weather gradually improves later in the week.

8th to 15th - Frequently a short dry fine spell the n followed by showery weather

16th to 23rd - A changeable time, with mixed weather towards the end of the week

24th to 31st The week is usually unsettled at first, followed by the odd bright days and occasional showers

Bass Fishing: this is the first month of the new year that I would have some optimism in catching bass on the Wexford coast. These tentative opportunities begin on the tides at the end of the month but things will remain challenging from a lure and fly perspective until the period just before the beginning of the closed season in May.

Rating 2/5
April Bass Fishuing Experiences Here Here Here

In school today

Temporary Link to DAN and RUTH fly/lure fishing in Cork