Am Angling

I am pleased to announce that I am now a Sales Rep with AM Angling. AM Angling has been set up since March 2013 and has reached some great heights in its first year of business, most noticeably in its sales of the Zpey brand and their acclaimed rods.
   AM Angling has some big brands coming in for the new year so watch this space. If you are a switch rod enthusiast then I guarantee you will not be disappointed in what this shop has to offer. For anglers in Ireland and across the UK the idea of switch rod fishing is taking hold so I hope you pick up a switch rod and give it a go. Myself and Mike are more than happy to have customers trial rod and line combinations before buying and this is part of the ethos at AM Angling.
Check out the store where you can also avail of the latest fly tying products http://www.amangling.com/

And if you have any questions, interest in switch rod fishing or AM Angling than get in touch with me liam@amangling.net

Spawners

Anything concerned with salmon fishing lately is all related to their "ahem" reproductive cycle. I have been out on a few scouts with Petsie and John and we were really surprised at how early the redds were appearing. Were they just going through the motions in anticipation or had the deed been done? It looks like a lot of activity happened in mid to late November on the Rivers Dee and Glyde as a huge amount of redds were present.

I didn't get any shots of the actual redds, I need to get a polaroid filter for my new lens, its a Nikon 18-200mm and will be my "do all" lens. Looking forward to using it in the new season and I think it is going to be a good addition when I'm outdoors or on the river. Its focal range is very handy and from looking at last years photos its all I am going to need.

Our local hatchery has started to strip fish of their eggs, I was on hand to take a few snaps. Room was very dark and found it difficult to get nice shots, need a lens for that now and all!

Only starting into the Vice lately. Here are some of my recent flies.

 Curry's red Shrimp

 Red Butt

 Green park Variant

 

Another park Variant. I'm using the drainer discs from future fly, really like them actually, they fit nice and snug. After watching some recent Henrik Mortensen DVD,s I took some inspiration to tie flies which blend into the background in which you are fishing. The fly should blend in with its environment (to a certain extent) and then appear in front of the fish quickly where it will trigger its instinct and attack it (in theory). Its something I have heard Goran Andersson speak of also who I believe has a great influence on Henrik's outlook. Anyway I like the sound of it and its something I am going to employ for next season.

Picked up some Partridge Patriots but have yet to try them out, they are a far more robust design in my eyes but don't have the finesse of the previous Salars which some traditional tiers might disprove of.

Switch rod article

Delighted to get an article on Switch rod fishing for salmon on the Guideline blog.
  http://guidelineflyfish.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/switch-and-see/

Who left the bath running?

River Fane on the 3/10/13

 

 

Fish counter on the Fane 23/10/13

Round up

The last few weeks of the season were full of disappointment, lows and pure stubborn persistence! Here is a pictorial round up of how my closing season went.
Low water brought shrimp rods out, not for me though mind, stuck to the camera

 

Caught in the act!

 

 

The low rivers did make river work a bit easier

 

Some of Ronan's Spey Hackle flies

 

Frances, just look balanced on trebles. Still rather fish singles for the fishes sake though.

 

 

A cast at Knockbridge

 

 

 

A late one, 19/10/13, Owenkillew on a park shrimp tied on Alec Jackson #9. Boy was I glad to land this fish. The Fane proved incredibly frustrating with me fishing 4 days in a row without a single solitary pull from a fish. Most fish on the Fane were taken on worm and shrimp but a few on the fly, just wasn't meant to be for me! Personally I feel the Fane has poor runs of fish and needs catch and release implemented to replenish stocks. Also an increase in spawning stretches and river enhancement is a must, this river has superb potential in comparison to the acceptable levels of fish which are currently running, its not enough to settle, the rivers true capacity must be realised. Over and out for another season!

 

Lift off

Good start! River is rising and starting to colour. Below No. 1 at Knockbridge, meter needs a bit of a clean up by the look of it!

Toes crossed

That beautiful band of rain moving across the East coast may give us the water we so badly need! Fingers crossed!

 

 

Some recent flies

Day on the Finn, Annick Beat, 16/08/13

Had a really enjoyable day with my mate Alan recently on the Finn. We got onto the Annick beat and made the most of it. We both had fish and lost a few also, memorable day on the Finn which had a season of ups and downs, still worth the trip ten times over though. Here's some pics from the day.

Alan was using the Lpxe switch #7/8 with a #7 switch line

I had the Lxi Switch #8/9 and a DDC shooting head at 21grams with TSL running line.

World Youths

Here are some photographs I took recently from the World Youths Fly Fishing Championship where a stage was held on the river Fane from 22nd - 25th of July. The Irish team took silver at it, a big congratulations to them and all involved! USA took gold and South Africa bronze.