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Anglers Can Find a Pot of Gold in Ireland
By Chris Shaffer
At Castle Leslie in northeastern Ireland. It may not strike your as one of the world’s best fisheries, however, that could soon change. While the region boasts some of the most spectacular lush green rolling hill scenery in the world, it also offers top notch pike fishing.
Ireland has never been known as a top fishing destination to Americans. Personally, I’d had never heard a peep about fishing in Ireland. Most of us dream of flying into one of Canada’s remote lakes, tapping into one of the Alaskan salmon runs or South America’s exotic fish.
On the other hand, Ireland is known for its rich folklore, rolling green hillsides, wet weather, St. Patrick, Guiness, leprechauns and of course, pubs.
It will soon be known for its fishing too.
While word of the Irish’s untapped fisheries has leaked into Scotland and the United Kingdom, Europe and the eastern United States are slowly discovering Ireland’s northern pike fisheries.
I, Joel Shangle, the editor of Fishing and Hunting News, a columnist for Salmon, Trout, Steelheader and a reporter from Fly Rod and Reel Magazine and Midwest Journal were flown more than 5,000 miles from sunny Southern California to see first hand what the Irish’s fisheries had to offer.
We were greeted with strong Irish coffee and presented a highly regarded UK fishing magazine, which featured Castle Leslie Lake. The editor visited Castle Leslie Lake the month before and had listed it as one of the top five fisheries in the UK after he and a buddy caught and released 320 pounds of pike in a day.
We were up next.
“Every single one of our lakes hold pike, and there’s a lake for every day of the year. There are so many big pike around here. The Irish used to think the pike was a nuisance,” says Ireland fishing guide Patrick “The Leprechaun” McDonnell. “Most of the anglers used to drag the pike home and give them to their neighbors to get them out of the lakes. Now, we throw them back. We used to think they hunted down all the trout.”
While the pike tend to average five to 10 pounds, it’s a disappointing day if you don’t land one over 30 pounds. Castle Leslie’s record stands at 38.9 pounds, however, bigger are hooked and lost often. The Irish’s conventional fishing tackle isn’t as advanced as ours in the states. You don’t see anglers trolling Rapalas, instead they drag homemade plugs that look like they’ve been taken by hundreds of pike before. Dead bait is also common. For the bigger fish we tossed out a rainbow trout, roach, eel and perch.
Along with the country’s technology and infrastructure fishing in Ireland has evolved over the last 30 years. For nearly two centuries the Irish viewed fishing as a supplementation of income. The Irish fished for food, to save money and in many cases so they could possibly have something to eat at the end of the night.
However, over the last 30 years, things have changed. With recent unemployment rates at an all-time low, fishing has become a sport. Waters are being protected, anglers are practicing catch and release and the fisheries are prospering. The region is best known for its agriculture economy where production of beefand cereal crops bring in the biggest dollars. Fishing is gradually becoming a source for tourism dollars.
Europe has caught on to the great fishing. The West Coast is soon to follow.
“We get guys from all over Europe to come here for weeks just to fish,” McDonnell added. “In Ireland every lake that you have and most of the rivers have pike.”
Pike were introduced to Ireland from Europe hundreds of years ago. They aren’t stocked in any lake, but reproduce naturally. Pike fishing remains hot year-round, but if possible, avoid visiting in April and May when they spawn. These months present the slowest fishing.
“Our pike fishery is extensive. People are beginning to realize as a sport fish the pike have a lot to offer,” said David Byrne, of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board. “They are one of nature’s well formed predators. They are opportunists. They are fierce attackers.”
They are also abundant.
On the other hand, pike isn’t the only game in town.
In between morning and evening trips to the local pub the Irish have taken an active role in promoting their fisheries to the world. In addition to the famed big pike, Atlantic salmon, brown trout, sea run trout and carp are available in good numbers. The combination of experiencing the Irish culture and quality fishing make the decision to book a trip a no brainer.
Here are a few of northeastern Ireland’s best fisheries:
South of the Irish Sea and north of Dublin, on Ireland’s east shore the Boyne River is excellent for sea trout and Atlantic salmon. The river is fished by locals, but there is so much water available each angler has their own run to fish.
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board estimates that only 150 local anglers fish the system and with both sides of the river open to fishing catch rates are promising.
While most of the salmon average five to 12 pounds, fish to 20 are common. Sea run trout can also be a big hit; however, they are overshadowed by the Atlantic salmon. Sea run trout can reach eight pounds.
Situated near the city of Navan, the Blackwater River is touted as one of the regions top brown trout waters. The limestone river is comprised of three types of water; slow, deep water, which the locals don’t touch until the evenings when night hatches begin; the shallow water that is fished during both day and evening hatches and water with lots of rocks and holes that is good for dry flies and nymphing.
The browns are abundant; however, your surroundings are what make the 10 hour flight worth it. Wading through two-to-three foot deep pools that are 10-20 feet wide can at times be difficult with such unforgettable and distracting scenery.
Exquisite century old chapels loom in the distance as does an 18th century stone bridge in the foreground. Rolling green hills, not the dead brush we are accustomed to in Southern California, make up the surroundings and mild temperatures keep angling enjoyable at all times.
“The Blackwater is one of the best brown trout waters in Ireland because of the different types of water and all the feeding that takes place on it,” Byrne said. “The water quality is very good. It’s a natural river and there are no dams. These rivers are on loan to us. We have an obligation to preserve them and save them for those who come after us.”
The preservation is evident. Harboring only brown trout, the Blackwater is a pleasure to fly fish. There are no destroyed banks, fishing pressure is low, it gets good weed growth, which in turn yields quality hatches and there’s no pollution.
Unfortunately, the browns aren’t world class. Your typical fish runs seven to 10 inches, yet, at times, anglers have caught browns to eight pounds. Fly fishing is the rule here. Bait is only permitted to youngsters learning how to fish.
For more information on planning a trip to fish Ireland contact David Byrne of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board by email dbyrne@fishingireland.net or visit www.fishingireland.net.
Also, Septre Tours offers affordable packages to Ireland. See www.sceptreireland.com for more info.
