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Fly Fishing

Casting a lightweight artificial fly using the weight of the fly line itself; the core technique for targeting salmon, sea trout and trout in rivers and lakes.

Fly fishing differs from all other angling methods in one fundamental way: the lure itself (the fly) is virtually weightless, and it is the fly line — not the lure — that carries the cast. The angler loads the rod by false-casting line back and forth before presenting the fly to the fish. Learning to control and load a fly line is the central skill of the discipline, and it takes time to do well, which is why fly fishing is best approached with some instruction before your first day on a salmon river.

The range of flies used in Ireland for game fish is wide. For salmon and sea trout, large wet flies, tube flies, and shrimp patterns are worked across and down the current, swinging in the current until they hang below the angler and are then stepped downstream to cover fresh water. Dry fly fishing — presenting a floating artificial on the surface film — is associated more with brown trout fishing on rivers and lakes, where a rise to a natural insect hatch can be imitated with a matching artificial.

On Cork’s river fisheries, a single-handed rod of 9–10 ft is appropriate for brown trout and smaller salmon runs; a longer double-handed (Spey) rod of 12–15 ft is used by many salmon anglers on wider rivers such as the Munster Blackwater, where it allows efficient line management without a wide back-cast area.

Leaders and tippets are finer than in other disciplines and must be matched to the fly size and fish size. A 9 ft tapered leader is a useful starting point for trout work; salmon leaders are shorter and heavier. Knot strength and care with tippet material are important, as a salmon has the power to expose any weak link immediately.

Fly fishing in Ireland for salmon and sea trout is a licensed activity. Check the regulations and ensure you have the correct State rod licence before fishing.