Autumnal

I've been out on a few walks with the camera. Heres some of the results.

 

 

Also a few shots taken from Ronan's camera.

The last, last day!

Myself, Ronan, John and Petsie headed to the river Mourne for the very last day of salmon fishing for 2012. We started at the grevenue. I was using my Echo 3 as I've since sold my 12ft6 Lpxe. Ronan had his 14ft Lpxe with Rio AFS shooting head 9/10. Petsie was using his 13'4 Sage Z-Axis with a Rio AFS inty/sink1 shooting head, and John used his Echo double hander, I think its a TR 14ft, he was using an Airflo Rage on his outfit. Great days casting with no fish though, also met some characters and locals with a good bit of banter thrown in. An enjoyable end to the season, its seldom I get to fish the bigger rivers but its always something I look forward to. And so, till 2013.

 

 

 

Closing time.

And so the 12th of October has come and gone, so here is my report from the final day. I recorded 21mm of rain for the 11/10 and we did get a good rise. The next morning I checked the level at Knockbridge and it was holding at 3 and was fairly clean given the rise from the previous day.

 

 

 

I had made my mind up to head far upriver for the last day, just for something different. I started at Cullaville and fished down to Gregory's.

 I hit two fish on the trip, both at the "heap of stones" pool. The first one was a fine cock fish in full mating suit. I measured him at 34 inches by 17 inches so around 13-14 lbs. I got him in quickly, few snaps and back no problem. In and around my personal best and a stunning fish to behold.

I hooked the next fella and he went ballistic and lept onto the far bank!

He then went into a massive clump of weed and reed and couldnt be budged. I had to tie up the rod, cross downstream, free him up from the far bank, cross back, then land and release him!

Resume play!

I then worked my way down to Gregory's fishing sporadically and taking some snaps.

Another present my brother took me home from Africa, weapon of choice for the wilds!

Met John downriver, he uses a Loop Zpey, 11ft 17gram switch rod. Beautiful setup, its very light with great presentation. He uses the zpey compact heads and has the whole set I think.

John fishing the Mill pool, or "Barking dog pool".

The old railway bridge above Gregory's

The weir at Gregory's

Final height for 2012 season taken that evening, 12/10.

 

Ronan and Petsie after giving Knockbridge a final throw.

 

So thats the season over, I may get to the Mourne next weekend so we'll see what happens. I'll keep updating with info, tyings and some casting videos hopefully. My most enjoyable season and my most dedicated one. Now what the flip do I do now?

The Gorge

Went on a bit of a journey upriver today, started at Knockbridge this morning and a really chilly one at that. Had to clear the ice from the car so Jack frost is making an appearance. Got one and lost a good fish, have some snaps on my mates camera which I will get up some day. I was fishing deep and slow, weather conditions probably make this tactic more likely. We then went to Cullaville and fished below the bridge. Nothing doing and it didnt really look that big upriver. Water was absolutely crystal clear and really betraying, deeper than you think with the clarity. Great to see this aspect of the Fane return as sight fishing was the norm years back. Went a bit nuts with the photos, really was stunning up there.

 Cullaville Bridge

 

The Gorge

 

A fly to finish it off! One of Ronan's, a Mc Cormick Shrimp.