Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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2
Contents
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Lure fishing techniques for saltwater - Ireland 44
Salt Water Lure Fishing - Part 1 of 21 - Surface Lure
Fishing I 46
Saltwater fly fishing - Part 1 of 21 General Fly Choice 47
what we saw today the dog and I - April 1 48
IWASHI 48
Saltwater fly fishing - P2 of 21 - The instinct of the
decision 49
Engelse-drop or the English Drop 50
what we saw today the dog and I 50
what i say today - April 08 51
chasing saltwater silver - the elusive seatrout 51
first signs of madness 52
Bass Fishing in Ireland - An overview 53
april evening at one of my favourite places 54
Saltwater fly fishing - P3 of 21 - Where is my fly? 55
Spring light at the cut 56
Salt Water Lure Fishing - P2 of 21 - Retrieves for early
spring and... 57
Three days in the melting pot 58
Your phone calls 60
trout from a lake 62
destination (wexford) fly fishing 63
The Saltwater Guiding Service from SEAi. 64
shad in the river 67
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Niall strikes it lucky - 10 days before close! 68
still stunned by the colours 69
let sleeping monsters lie 69
Visiting anglers to SEAi and Wexford - 2008 70
the fish - the smiles 71
............take off 71
larry makes loops at the river 72
Boat Angling Ireland 72
there are other places too 73
what we saw today the dog and I - May 28th 74
Saltwater fly fishing - P4 of 21 - Choosing a fly 75
Salt Water Lure Fishing - P3 of 21 - Fishing Ultralight
Lures 76
Future posts scheduled for June 77
Saving Lives At Sea - Sea anglers included 78
Saltwater fly fishing - P5 of 21 - Fly casting for
saltwater 78
Just arrived at SEAi 80
......feeding activity 81
aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhT LAST! 82
At the SEAi SWFF workshop today. 82
fly fishing the surf 83
SWLF - P4 of 21 - Using and choosing micro lures 84
some days are better than others 84
Andrew and Philip - aka 'The Nolan Sisters' 85
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Saltwater Lure Fishing - P4 of 21 - Water Clarity (I) 86
In 'BASS FISHING FILES' Now - 88
Saltwater fly fishing - P6 of 21 - Choosing the right fly
lines 89
Alans first of many on the fly! 90
New Zealand girls - a can do attitude! 91
Ger Potters Summer of Silver Continues 92
In Bass Fishing Files Now - 'Guiding On The Waterford
Coast' 92
a sequence of inevitable events..... 92
Saltwater Flyfishing in an open timber boat 93
The Irish Times Today 94
In Bass Fishing Files Now - Bass fishing on the Cork
Coast 94
Continued surprises 95
WANTED - One weather repair kit 97
In Bass Fishing Files Now - Attempting bigger bass on
the fly 97
wave landscapes today 98
...little things that mean a lot. 98
3 Days in the South East 100
Allez les bleus - the continuation 100
In 'Bass Fishing Files' NOW - Attempting bigger bass
on the fly - F... 101
Saltwater Lure Fishing - P5 of 21 - Water Clarity (PII). 101
things can only get better! 103
6
Post No 101 103
'Bass and B.A.S.S.' 104
Big Fly-Big Fish - Do I need BIG rod? 104
The Galleries 104
Swimming with bass 105
Mackerel on the fly - Childs play 106
In 'Bass Fishing Files' NOW 107
Fishing with a bycycle wheel! 107
say hello then wave goodbye 107
In Bass Fishing Files NOW - 107
letters and phone calls etc 108
A week in September 108
Jump for your lives 108
Saltwater fly fishing - P7 of 21 - Where should I fish? 109
A fishing report 111
Daiwa Certate Bass Rods - 902ms / 802ms 112
International Interest-Bass Fishing Wexford 112
Dublin Bass on the fly - Ger Potter 113
In a flap 113
End of the week 114
A day with friends on the boat 114
remains an influence 115
September evening at the river 115
Bass Fishing on the Fly in Norway DVD 115
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Caught and released - Jonathan 115
Autumn Bass at St Helens 116
83 cms of Solid Silver Landed Today on the FLY 116
What people say about the courses 117
Saltwater fly fishing in October 119
The pier in Howth 120
The Season 0f 2008 - a review! 121
The Sloopy Droopy ! 121
Bassfishing Files Now Open 122
In Novembers Irish Angler 122
Saltwater Fly Fishing Workshops 123
Autumn Silver and Gold 125
October Bass on the Fly and Lure - A week with SEAi 125
'committed' bass fisher - should be! 129
Mackerel on the fly - Childs Play 130
for Andrew and Philip 133
Saltwater fly fishing - P8 of 21 - When should I fish? 134
best bass fishing ? 135
Holidays Over 135
Can you 'dead drift' a surface lure? 135
ALL NEXT WEEK IN BASSFISHING FILES 136
FISHING THE TIDAL RACE! PI 136
FISHING THE TIDAL RACE! PII 138
FISHING THE TIDAL RACE! PIII 139
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Do you find yourself dreaming? 140
FISHING THE TIDAL RACE! PIV 140
Andys' Flies go on Holidays 141
Thank you 142
FISHING THE TIDAL RACE! PV 143
Winter scenes at the river 143
Wexford Anglers on Irish Team 144
The toughest bass fishing year yet! 144
Be careful what you fish for! 146
Salt Water Lure Fishing - P6 of 21 Surface lure fishing
II 147
Salt Water Lure Fishing - P7 of 21 - Micro lures for sea
trout 148
Saltwater Lure Fishing - P8 of 21 - Surface lure fishing
III 149
Saltwater Lure Fishing - P9 of 21 - Surface lure fishing
IV 150
Saltwater Lure Fishing - P10 of 21 - Timings 151
In Bassfishing Files 153
Saltwater fly fishing - P11 of 21 - Influences, Tidal Flow 153
Saltwater Fly Fishing - P10 of 21 - Where are the fish? 155
Ireland remains a Great destination 156
NEW PE+ Crystal Line from Cortland 157
Current surface water temperatures 158
BASS FISHING WEEKEND WORKSHOPS 2010 158
Spring day in march 159
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Fly fishing for bigger bass - I 160
Fly fishing for bigger bass - II 161
On the Barrow with David Wolsoncroft Dodds 161
What colour is the sun? 161
Fly fishing for bigger bass - III 161
First Workshop of 2009 161
Spring estuary bass 161
Fly fishing for bigger bass - IV 162
Surface water temperatures 162
What we saw today the dog and I 162
Next week in Bass Lure Fishing Files 163
Summer Rainfall 2008 163
Surface water temperatures. 164
Fly fishing for bigger bass - V 164
Sometimes you forget 164
Saltwater Fly fishing tips - summary 165
Saltwater Lure Fishing P12 of 21 - Catch & Release 166
All is never lost! 168
Pike fishing with Peadar O Brien and David
Wolsoncroft Dodds 170
Alans start of season 171
The approaching tide - Week 19/20. 172
Bass Fly Fishing Season Begins 172
Destinations Ireland - Coming Soon.. 173
Easy like a Sunday morning....fly & lure 174
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A lifetimes ambition realised at todays workshop! 175
Bass Fishing Guides Diary 2009 176
Saltwater Fly & Lure Fishing Workshops 176
Fly casting for saltwater 178
Pike - 30lbs plus on the Fly 179
X-Layer Vs Clouser Minnow 179
Recent rumours 180
Wexford summer days 181
Sunday, May 31, 2009 181
Tackling up for bass - Fly Fishing 181
The Bass Fishing Flies 182
Bass Fishing in Ireland 183
Italian Video Opportunity with Angelo Piller - Fly
Fishing for Bass... 184
Opening Day 2009 185
Welcome to the DARK SIDE 185
The remaining chapters of SWFF & SWLF tips - Bass
Fshing Wexford 185
splash, bubble and POP......... 186
Latest Reports 187
Andrews C+R - 79 cm's 188
How difficult is SWFF for bass on the Wexford Coast? 189
A great mornings fishing. 189
Fly Fishing for Bigger Bass - VI 190
Saltwater Fly Fishing For Bigger Bass 190
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Tuesday, July 07, 2009 191
Colms superb achievement 191
Waves of rock 191
oooohhh baby I loved you so...... 192
The Big White One 192
To Shauna, Caroline and Eileen 192
Allen strikes silver on home ground on the fly 194
The Ones That Dont Make it 194
Conditions Week 30 195
The Warmest of Wexford Welcomes! 196
Ivan the terrible or not as the case may be! 196
A Short Fairytale 196
Hurricane season arrives late in Wexford 197
Holidays 2009 197
West Cork Jellyfish 197
Fish & Fly 197
Going home 198
This morning is marked forever 198
Evening time and a close to a spectacular day 199
Bass fishing neednt cost the earth! 200
Saturday, August 08, 2009 200
Last Guiding Session of the week 200
Glad to be away from it sometimes! 202
Saturday, August 22, 2009 202
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Landing Gear 202
new definition of summer madness 203
biodegradable soft lures 203
Forecasting the weather 204
Get on down..........thats where its at! 204
get into the groove 205
Friday, September 04, 2009 205
Is this what we have been waiting for? 205
Theres no doubt its nearly impossible ! 206
Out of the brown and..... 206
......into the blue 207
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 207
Autumn surface lure fishing 207
The rod is loading and so is the weather! 208
September satisfaction 208
Two specimen fish on the FLY - during a Workshop! 209
Sunday, September 20, 2009 209
Reflections and Refractions 210
Ian's pesonal best - this morning. 211
Saturday, September 26, 2009 211
Five Ninety Nine - Silver amongst Autumn Gold 211
Fly Fishing for Bass - Considerations 212
Indian Summer Workshop - with Fran and Ger 213
Indian Summer Workshop - with Fran and Ger 214
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009 214
Forecasting the weather 214
Colins beautiful bass on the fly 215
Daiwa Day Breaker performs at Day break! 216
Eric le Guyader in Wexford 217
Friday, October 23, 2009 217
T minus 20 and counting destination Andros 218
T minus 19 and counting destination Andros 218
A fishing movie about a fishing movie! 219
Forecasting the weather 219
Wednesday, November 04, 2009 220
David Wolsoncroft Dodds in Northern Manitoba 220
T Minus 8 and counting - destination Andros 220
T minus 7 and counting - destination Andros 221
A Christmas present? 222
Coming soon 2009 a review! 222
Off today at last 222
Who made it happen? 223
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 224
A return to reality 224
Day One - Andros South - Monday Nov 16th 225
Saturday, November 28, 2009 228
Barracuda at the airport 228
A Bass Fishing Guides Diary - the last issue! 231
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The end of 'A Guides Diary' 232
Late Autumn Bass Flies - experimental 232
Some summary stats from 2009 233
Back to (a) school at Andros South 233
Forecasting the weather 233
Seek and you shall find 234
room for words 234
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 235
What do we think about when we think........ 235
Get Hooked 235
Trained to Train 235
Saltwater Fly Line 236
15
winter light at the cut
Saturday, January 12, 2008
During my fishing days i spend a lot of time
watching and thinking about different types
of light. I notice the dramatic effects it has
on the landscape and the way it can
change our perceptions of how good or bad
fishing co nditions will be. The light alters
our mood and hence we react accordingly,
as a result our fishing is affected. But is this
change in our fishing brought about by our
own conceptions of how we think light
16
bucktail deceiver....BTD
Saturday, January 19, 2008
During the late autumn of 2006 i was given
some flies by a friend of mine from the UK.
These were the bucktail deceiver. I tried
them and had some success, but it was
during the 2007 season that the fly really
came into its own - i fished almost
exclusively with it and it has proved itself as
an excellent bass catcher on the Wexford
and Cork coast.
The enticing action of bucktail is hard to beat and my bass fly box now contains
greys/whites and chartreuse of course. Originally created by Bob Popovic in 2003 the fly
is tough and long lasting and can also double as a teaser.
17
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:40AM (UTC)
Red 'n Ed
Sunday, January 20, 2008
.....glad to know Jim had the good common
sense to use the better looking person (Me)
for a picture on the website. Wouldn't be
surprised now if he gets overwhelmed with
inquiries from lots of good looking women
wondering who that handsome guy (Me) is.
Again he showed good common sense and
a good eye for business by leaving Ed out
of the ad. Who knows the likes Ed would
have attracted to the site. I've been to
Ireland a dozen or more times over the past
ten years. Getting to really see Ireland
(Beautiful places Jim took us) while we were fishing made that trip my best! Bendy Rods -
Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:56AM (UTC)
These species are late maturing often as late as nine or ten years, and not only are they
18
late developers but they also seem to
possess an ability to spawn in which ever
year they choose. Subject to the usual
influences like water temperature and
availability of food, it is suggested that they
do not spawn until at least late April and
spawning may continue into late summer.
Fish tend to remain in one location over
time especially if there is a local 'food
supply'. Often to be taken advantage of by
adder wrack. Fish will often swim in less than six inches of water and you can often see
their dorsal and tail fins. Its important that you stay out of sight to avoid spooking them, if
you do dont worry too much as they will return. With the rising tide fish will often swim
under sections of the seaweed with a very much-exaggerated sinuous motion, almost
snakelike. I often wonder are they dislodging food particles from the seaweed tentacles?
19
Watch them move from bunch of weed to
bunch of weed! Ok so we have found a few
fish I here you say but what are they
eating? If there is a local supply of food like
an ouflow pipe or effluent from a
commercial fishery or otherwise mullet will
tend to gather at these locals - imitative
flies of the food source can catch you some
fish no doubt. Bread flies, worm flies,
seaweed flies even grayling flies have been
20
saltwater fly fishing the rocky shore
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The rocky seashore is a dynamic world of
energy sound and constant motion. Waves
crash upon the shoreline and run towards
you like a white and green freight train,
hissing and roaring; spray is caught by the
wind and blown into your face. Sometimes
you are lost in a world where there is no
other sound other than the booming surf;
the air is filled with the strong smell of
As anglers we are presented with a wide variety of rocky shorelines and each has its own
demands and each offers its own saltwater fly-fishing opportunities. Rocky shorelines
provide holding areas for fish between tides, feeding areas for fish, and cover for both
ambush and hunting. Because of their erratic formations, rocky shorelines often create
and help to enhance currents and rips. Slacks and eddies are evident at different stages
of the tides and time invested by the fly fisher watching the water is a worthwhile activity.
These features exist sometimes for hours sometimes for as short as a few minutes. Wave
activity plays a hugely important role and they often can be used to determine where fish
21
will lie. Whilst we fish these areas, wind direction and light
levels affect how we make presentations and what type of
fly we will cast
The third area of rocky shoreline that we will look at is the area that I call ‘varied’. A
‘varied’ rocky shoreline consists of sand interspersed with rocky outcrops. These rocky
22
outcrops are often not visible over high
water but rather reveal themselves as the
tide drops and recedes. Over wintertime a
lot of high wave activity may create
outcrops by abstracting sand or indeed
cover these outcrops and a spring visit to
many beaches can reveal some big
surprises. On a day-to-day basis ‘varied’
rocky shorelines do not experience huge
change and are not prone to strong
currents. Only after a large storm or periods
of prolonged strong winds is there a
noticeable change. Activity is based more
around and along the rocky outcrops.
Covered in weeds with pockets of water
and many pools they hold life somewhat
similar to the ‘mixed’ area above. Trapped
between rocky outcrops are often lugworm
or small mussel beds another feeding
ground for many of our predators. This area
also fishes best with a slight breeze, which
creates wave activity
The last area of rocky shoreline that we can see on our coast is that which I like to call
‘permanent’. ‘Permanent’ rocky shoreline is often seen as vast areas of flat rock covered
in barnacles up to the high water mark and interspersed frequently with small pools. By
permanent I mean that generally on a year-to-year basis these areas remain the same
and exhibit very little change. ‘Permanent’ areas of rocky shore generally allow us the
opportunity to fish into deeper water from a height. It is often that just to the left or right of
a ‘permanent’ shoreline you will see a ‘dynamic’ or even ‘mixed’ shoreline. Washed free
of any sand and stone they provide a safe base for the angler to fish from but are often
subject to large or even freak waves and should be treated with some degree of respect
and care. Around the ends of these permanent structures there are often fast currents
and deep water – more opportunities for the fly fisher with short leaders and fast sinking
lines.
How do we go about catching fish on the fly from such a wide variety of locations? What
flies should we use? Should we use floating or sinking lines? When in relation to tide
should we begin our fishing? What presentations should we make to increase our
chances? In the previous series of last year we discussed tackle and flies and agreed
generally that a #9 rod and line – floating and intermediate would fulfil most of our
requirements. A stripping basket or line tray is essential. Flies tend to be the traditional
type of white or white and chartreuse – deceivers and clousers. I would also add some
brown or brown and red cockroaches and maybe a few sand eel type and crab patterns
too. Timings are important in relation to tides, weather and time of year.
Time invested in watching the rising and falling of tides will reveal where and when water
activity takes place. Checking and understanding which way the wind blows and how this
23
affects wave direction and hence our fly presentations will greatly increase our chances.
Where there is moving water and cover you will generally find predators lurking and
hunting but care must be taken in how we approach these fish. Tramping down the beach
in our waders clinking and clanking and then proceeding to walk and clamber over the
rocks and perching ourselves at the end of the nearest point will only scare every fish in
the Irish sea away.
By minimising our noise, visual and environmental ‘profile’ we can often creep up or stalk
our quarry. Be aware of things like birds on or near the ground where you intend to fish. If
for instance there is a lot of seagulls or cormorants resting up in the area and you
manage to scare them off in one big flock by walking up quickly then any fish close by will
also see their profiles as they all fly off together, he’ll swim off too. Walk up slowly
stopping now and again and bit-by-bit the flock will take off. Cormorants will slide into the
water rather attempting a panicked take-off splashing and flapping across the water. All
these little things help.
Fishing clousers on intermediate or sinking lines in shallow water in a rocky area will
prove very difficult, it’s a tactic better kept for the deeper water around the ‘permanent’
shoreline. A deceiver pattern with a big profile on a monofilament leader and floating line
will be easier to fish in the vast majority of circumstances encountered on the rocky
shore. Presentations can be made along the edges of promontories where retrieves are
kept to a minimum. When a fly is cast properly, wave action will simply lift and carry a
good fly up and over rocks and back again as the wave recedes, once contact is
maintained, the correct wave is chosen and slack is controlled this presents the fly very
naturally to cruising fish. A constant casting and stripping of the fly, whilst it may be
effective from time to time, will not appear natural in many occasions.
Continuous practice and experience at casting into, onto behind and in front of waves will
quickly teach you what works best in terms of line management and presentations. I have
a preference to fish whilst positioned away from rocks or reefs and try to cast long onto or
into them. I cast parallel to the shoreline and try to present the fly and line onto a wave as
it rolls over the reef. Casting too early and you get a tumbling of fly and line which is not
good, casting too late and the wave has already past and you fly and line don’t travel only
to be met with the receding wave and hence pushed further out to sea.
Fish will swim onto and around reefs through waves but not every wave will do this. They
have a canny knack for measuring the ‘transport’ systems and they will take a wave that
will assist them on the return journey too – they pass over the reefs in and out waiting for
that big deceiver to swim in front of their noses. Make sure your there. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 12:44PM (UTC)
Ed Mitchell - USA
25
February and 2 days in Cork..
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Its remarkable really how quickly things can
change - the top photo was taken on
saturday morning the next two were taken
24 hours later virtually at the same
location.....
27
Lucky Craft Pointer Real Skin
Saturday, February 09, 2008
ARRIVING SOON AT SEAi -
28
what we saw today Giles and I - Feb 13th
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:49PM (UTC)
29
jack and the scorpion fish
Thursday, February 21, 2008
I got this fantastic photograph from an e-mail friend called Jack. Jack saltwater fly fishes
in and around the Dalkey area of Dublin. He caught this, his first fish of the season on a
little shrimp pattern which he tied himself. It makes me wonder how many other species
can be caught on the fly in Irish waters? and I also wonder was it the first saltwater fly
caught fish in Ireland of 2008? - thanks Jack for a great first fish of 2008.
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some of the oldest rocks in the world
Monday, February 25, 2008
The estuary fosters an abundance of habitats that support marine mammals, seabirds,
fish, crab, clams, worms, cockles and mussels. These animals are linked together and to
an assortment of plants and microscopic organisms that form a complex food chain that
is influenced by many factors. As the tide ebbs and flows over sandbars and mudflats,
complex currents and slacks are created temporarily and then disappear or re-appear at
different locations within the estuary. Fish follow and hunt the food using the tide and
currents everyday. Fish are keyed into feeding opportunities that the fly fisher must learn
to recognise. These are wonderful places where rivers meet the sea and the sea meets
the land in a constantly changing environment. They provide without doubt some of the
best opportunities and challenges for the saltwater fly fisherman.
The water that flows into and out of the estuary is constantly changing. Because of the
constant tidal flows that influence the amount of mixing between fresh water and
seawater, things change on a day-to-day basis. Weather patterns like wind and rain
further influence the temperature and salinity of estuarine waters not only during the
different seasons of the year but also every day. Thus, daily tidal flows combined with
changing weather patterns are responsible for fluctuations in water conditions in an
estuary. This has a significant impact on the abundance and feeding patterns of fish. The
fly fisher needs to get intimate with these influences before he has any degree of success
in the estuary.
Fish that live in and around estuarine areas are very interesting because they exhibit a
number of patterns that are influenced by changes in daily, weekly and monthly tidal
fluctuations and indeed these fish are affected by degrees of salinity, water temperature,
current and tidal heights. For example, the daily rise and fall of tides creates flows which
help to carry and distribute various food items that fish need. This food gets distributed
into and out off estuaries in greater or lesser quantities depending on the state of the tide.
Food items in tidal estuarine areas include shrimp, crabs, small fish such as immature
mullet, flounders, as well as many types of worms that crawl or burrow on the rich, muddy
bottoms of the estuary.
For this reason the saltwater fly fisher should take advantage of tides by fishing when
tides are high or just beginning to fall, when creatures that live near the shoreline are
more active and fish are attracted by the availability of more food. Certainly, one of the
key factors in successfully fishing an estuary is an understanding of the local tide and
tidal current. One general rule, however, and I have found it almost always to be true, is
that during a falling or ebbing tide the fishing will be better on or near the outside of an
estuary. Similarly, the inside of an estuary is usually better with an incoming or flooding
tide. This is simply due to where the bait is being carried and ‘condensed’ and how
predators are also using the natural ‘transport’ systems provided by tides. The tides and
tidal currents are complex phenomena influenced by many things, including the sun and
the moon. By consulting tidal heights and tidal current charts the fly fisher can be well
armed regarding this important information. Each estuary has its own particular rhythm
and a fly fisherman with knowledge of how a local estuary works will increase his or her
33
chances of success.
Fish moving into and out off and sometimes through an estuary, will often not complete
the journey in one go. Along the way the fishing paths that they have travelled for weeks
or months on their daily journey for food will have several important ‘stopping’ locations.
These locations are linked to the type of activity the fish is engaged in; indeed the fish
may be exhibiting one or more activity types while at these locations. Resting, hunting or
simply shoaling.
Lets imagine we are driving along the west coast of some distant land. We have our fly
fishing gear in the boot and we have a few days off work. We have no real plans other
than to drive and fish. As we descend into a green valley and look out over some fields, a
vast expanse of mud and sand flat, reflecting silver and gold in the summer sun, reveals
itself to us. Naked and vulnerable we see an estuary undressed. We stop the car at the
side of the road and take advantage of our elevated viewing position. At the narrow
mouth in the distance the silent turmoil of pure white surf tells us the water is clear. We
note the channels, the water that has stayed in the estuary and where it lies. The corners
and bends and indeed some small rocky outcrops where we know rising tides will flow
around in the next few hours. We drive to the closest access point we can find gear up
and position ourselves midway along the shore of the estuary.
During summer months some fish like bass will choose not to leave the estuary when the
tide is exiting. Instead sometimes they will ‘lie up’ within the remaining water that stays in
the estuary when the tide is out. These fish are often lying in deeper pools created where
current has created ‘waves’ of sand. They may often lie along edges of bends where
water is deeper and drop-offs exist. They are resting and maybe digesting and are very
shy. One of the most exciting ways to catch these fish is with surface poppers. Now its
often not easy to cast a bass popper with a long leader as turnover can be an issue. I
would recommend that you try and fish one that is the longest you can. Lining these fish
is an issue as they will either simply swim off or refuse to take. Polaroid glasses are
always highly recommended.
Watch as to where your shadow falls particularly late in the evening or early morning. The
pools where these fish lie are often recognised by having a darker colour than the
surrounding areas of water – this usually indicates depth. After much trial and error you
will begin to recognise which type of pool holds fish. Try and place the end of your fly line
at the edge of the pool whilst your leader unfurls across it or better still along the edge of
it– easy! Wait and then pop and retrieve and repeat. There is nothing more exciting than
watching the powerful shoulders of a bass create a bow wave in very shallow water,
swimming faster now, towards your fly, hoping the next impact will be your popper –
boom! All hell breaks loose.
You can spend some time stalking along the estuary after these fish. You probably will
have noticed the clarity of water, which is always good. Mullet can also be tackled at this
very early stage of tide. As the tide begins to push into the estuary and further up your
legs past your knees you will usually notice deterioration in the clarity of water. There is a
lot of suspended particles and the water may be feel warmer and have a slight green or
yellow colour. Apart from the tidal and current influences within the estuary the fly
34
fisherman should pay particular attention to this water clarity phenomenon.
During a typical summer this ‘unclear water’ moves in and out within an estuary on a daily
basis under tidal and wind influences. During periods of very settled weather the amount
of ‘unclear water’ can be very small – and as the tide pushes past the angler it may only
take one hour or less for the water to become clear again. This of course depends on the
location that the angler is fishing within the estuary. During this time fishing often
becomes very slack and there is little or no activity. Then, if the angler has remained in
the one spot, after some time the water will run clear again, the temperature will drop a
little and usually the fish will follow very quickly. The incoming tide then usually remains
clear until full tide.
This ‘unclear water’ is subject to many variables, which affect its size, density and
temperature, and hence the time it takes for the estuary to push clear. A few days of
heavy rain before your fishing will increase this turbidity or a few days of onshore winds
will also increase it. The lethal combination of heavy rain and strong onshore winds will
often stop fish that would normally enter the estuary from feeding therein. And even as
the weather improves their expected feeding patterns will have changed as they hunt
closer to the bottom. Sinking and intermediate lines are often the order of the day.
The type of turbidity also affects the timing of the estuary running clear which has a big
impact on your bass fly-fishing. Onshore winds will throw particles into the water that are
larger than say particles washed into the sea from a mud flat or rain fall. As a
consequence clarity returns quicker to the estuary from an on shore wind than from
heavy rain, generally of course. This phenomena was particular evident this year as the
estuaries remained cold and grey and often brown well into the month of July. Excessive
rainfall and cooling breezes affected many fisheries all over Ireland and indeed North
Western Europe this summer.
So now the water is pushing well over our knees, we can feel the tidal flow build and the
water has run clear. By remaining in the one location we can catch bass and sea trout as
they pass us by on their way into the estuary. Maybe we have local knowledge and
information regarding a holding spot has been given to us. Bass will hold up for short
periods behind sandbars or rocks or other obstructions. They wait to ambush their
passing food items. As the tide pushes into the estuary it becomes more difficult for them
to hold these stations so they simply slip away and move further up with the rising tide
taking up another station. Again and again the process is repeated both on the rise and
the fall of the tide.
35
Our own influences are also apparent within estuaries. Pollution from failing septic tanks,
poor sewage treatment plants or under resourced facilities, storm water runoff from
empty ‘holiday ghost towns’, industrial organic waste discharge, and contaminated runoff
from farms using fertilizers or yards with animals can impact on our vulnerable estuarine
systems. Estuaries also face loss of habitat due to our obsession with development in
delicately balanced areas of natural beauty. Damage is caused by the continued and
often-illegal overuse and plundering of estuarine resources. These have resulted in a
continued reduction of even protected fisheries like bass, loss of habitat and wildlife, and
the destruction of wonderful landscape.
We all have a part to play to protect and maintain our valuable estuaries. Bendy Rods -
Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:48AM (UTC)
36
Exciting Seabass Games - ESG
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Team the lucky Craft ESG 8'-6" with a
daiwa Certate 3000 and you have the
ultimate saltwater sportfishing combination
- perfectly balanced for modern lure fishing
techniques - especially Irish bass.
Are you ready for summer !
The DD panish is intended for for trout and salmon fishing in the fast flowing midstream
and downstream sections of rivers. Diving minnows that are high in resistance should be
37
stable in water flow unless manipulated by
the angler. The centre of gravity transfer
system is designed to remain in place once
the lure has achieved its position whilst in
the panish it is a mobile system.
38
Troutin' Spin Interboron Rods
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Combine these rods with the range of
Panish freshwater lures as featured below
and you have a beautiful balanced
freshwater application - casting lures from
2gs - 10gs the Interboron offers a unique
fishing experience a combination of quality
and excitement. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 06:28PM (UTC)
The fact was, he was not like any other customer and at the same time he was exactly
the same. I had categorised him immediately as an expert who didn’t really need much
interaction from me as I assumed he knew how to catch bass on the fly. Steen had had
some experience of them in Denmark as they are now increasing their range into the
Nordic countries. Or maybe they were already there and people just didn’t fish for them,
and anyway he surely didn’t need me to show him how to catch a predator on the fly!
However after four sessions Steen hadn’t hit a fish and I needed to put it right very
quickly. Of course we had discussed equipment and flies and lines and fishing and tactics
in detail but what had we missed?
Steen was using a #8 rod and a #8 integra ted floating shooting head with a ten-foot
leader and a traditional lefty’s deceiver size 1/0. There was nothing spectacularly wrong
there as I suspected. His casting was what I like to refer to as a relaxed style with an
equally relaxed retrieve of a slow strip and stop. The thing was, as I stood and watched
him on the last session of day two he was continuously casting and retrieving to the same
place and retrieving at the same pace with the same fly. Nothing changed in his almost
robotic and yet effective technique. I say effective in as much as the fly was presented
correctly, was fished correctly but it was monotonous, too monotonous almost without
confidence and with a degree of uncertainty. He needed to change and so did I.
On the third session I went into super guide mode. I didn’t care if he was a ‘world-class’
expert; from now on he was been treated as if he was a novice saltwater fly fisherman. I
41
have as a preference started to use Varivas tapered leaders so I suggested to Steen that
he do likewise. Our fly choice was my default clouser minnows in white and white and
chartreuse, coupled to the same colours in a bucktail deceiver pattern that had proven
successful all spring and summer long. I ensured he had sufficient supply of both types.
This session was an evening one and as the wind was north northwesterly the sky was
prone to dramatic light and colour changes as had been the case for many days.
Temperatures were down slightly an d water clarity was incredible. However over the
last few evenings I had noticed baitfish appearing in shoals along the coast often chased
by hunting mackerel. As yet they remained out of reach of our flies. The venue was an
open beach with some rocky outcrops. Recently I had picked up fish cruising along the
outcrops as they hunted with the rise of the tide. Takes were fierce and often as not the
fish were deep hooked so I also removed the barbs from the flies we were using.
So I positioned Steen along one of the outcrops and explained in detail some of the
observations I had made over the past few weeks. I drew in the sand some of my
‘theories’ not really knowing whether they were true or not but at this stage I wanted him
to have a very positive attitude and feeling of confidence. So we began to fish again – fan
casting over the outcrop and…. nothing happened. I moved up the beach to explore the
next set, took a lazy cast and hit a small fish of about two pounds; whilst I was landing
him I noticed another bigger fish hunting through the channels of the outcrop. I walked
back down the beach and spoke to Steen telling him of the fish I caught and of the
possibility of him catching the one I had also seen. We attached a grey and white bucktail
deceiver pattern and Steen made his first casts in the direction of the fish. He stripped the
fly and bang – was on, at last! During the evening as the light continued to amaze us and
the evening sun began to set we were treated to more fish. Mackerel chased sprats onto
the beach and I’m sure some bass chased the mackerel too. We changed our rods to
#4’s and simple silver patterns and had some real fun. Just before the light disappeared
Steen had another bass on the deceiver.
It happens a lot like this. Sometimes it’s a little mysterious. I believe you can make things
happen in fishing simply by talking and communicating to someone that they are doing
fine and by making them feel more confident suddenly they catch fish. I felt I didn’t need
to make Steen feel confident, I assumed he was more than capable and I’m sure he was.
However, that extra ingredient, that last piece of the jigsaw was missing – you can never
assume anything in fishing least of all that either you or someone else knows exactly
what to do. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:53AM (UTC)
42
When i am fishing by myself the reel i use is the Danielsson LW 6 nine. All i can say
really is its ideal reel for use in Irelands saltwater environment with modern single handed
rods and light two-handed rods for salmon, sea trout and all Irish saltwater applications.
* Waterproof and heat resistant bearing and drag assembly in Hi-End materials.
* Works in wet or dry, cold or warm conditions, through the full range of drag settings.
* Min- and max- settings available within 330 degrees of knob travel.
* Easy-to-change spools.
43
My sixth year of guiding for.....& the C+R
competition
Thursday, March 27, 2008
This will be my sixth year of guiding for
bass on the Wexford coast - I have spent
the last few days fly fishing for sea trout
with some success and during that time I
was fondly remembering the summer of
2003. This was the summer when i made
my first editorial and it was with Voyages
des Peches - one of Europes leading
sportfishing magazines. The photograph
above was made on the first afternoon of
three - both fish hit at the same time on
surface lures, an unforgettable experience. Like all the editorials that were to follow and
still do, it was a fantastic 3-day succes. We filled 6 pages in the magazine and the stories
are still heard in Paris. The latest article from SEAi is featured in the European magazine
Vliegvissen. If you would like to read more editorial please visit my resource page on
http://www.bassfishing.ie/ Here you can see articles from - Fish and Fly, Peche Mouche,
Loup et Bar and many more. I had during the summer of 2002 'field tested' the business
with some customers using modern lure fishing techniques and enjoyed such a high
degree of success that I finally decided to take the plunge during that winter, and try
guiding as a job. Now six years later I am witnesss to a growing popularity in lure fishing
for bass all along the coastlines of south eastern Ireland. Bass fishing for six months of
the year on the Wexford coast, five days a week for the past five years, I have seen some
spectacular sites, witnessed incredible fish and learned an incredible amount of
techniques and methods. But most of all it continues to give me great pleasure to be Irish
and presenting this wonderful country to all my customers both foreign and national and
the wonderful fishing we are lucky to have here. As i move into my sixth year I continue to
learn and develop new techniques both in modern lure and fly fishing. This year I will
concentrate more on developing flies and techniques for Irish saltwater fly fishing. I am
looking forward to the season of 2008 and offer you a chance to enter my C+R
competition. THE COMPETITON If you would like to enterPlease submit your favourite
photographs of a catch and release fishing scene on fly or lure (made during 2008) to
SEAi sportfishing@eircom.net - the final decision reagrding the winner will be made on
September 30th 2008 - and a prize of 100.00 euros of tackle can be won. Photos will be
posted to the SEAi galleries as they arrive between now and September. click on this link
to view the gallery http://www.swsfd.fotopic.net/c1482798.html Good luck and tight lines
Jim Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:43PM (UTC)
44
Lure fishing techniques for saltwater - Ireland
Thursday, March 27, 2008
During April I will post short daily (if possible) articles here on saltwater lure fishing
techniques - this will cover a lot of aspects of surface lure fishing, jerk baits and soft bait
presentations to bass and other species in Ireland. I will also cover lots of valuable fishing
tips and techniques to help improve your lure fishing......
During the five seasons that i have guided for bass on the south coast of Ireland I have
learned a lot of angling information. This information has been learned from or given to
me by many mature and vastly experienced anglers who have travelled wide in their
destination angling, and particularly those in the saltwater fly and lure fishing arena. Their
exploits have brought many of them to places like South America, Japan, Europe, the
USA and Africa - and it is this wealth of experience that i can share with you.
This 'experience' covers a wide range of elements ranging from equipment, safety,
techniques and observations made over not only the last five years but also how it has
been succesfuly applied and adapted to Irish saltwater fly and lure fishing during that
time. I have managed to 'track' a lot of anglers opinions in relation to the performance of
various items and equipment, and as a lot them travel the world in search of new species
and destinations there are a few common factors they all come to demand and expect
from the equipment they use. Be it reels, lines, rods or lures - factors like the ones below
are a few that are most regularly mentioned
• constant reliability
• fishing performance
• endurance and longevity
• balance
• effectivity
As a result of this monitoring I continue to work closely with companies who manufacture
and distribute modern lure and fly fishing rods and reels. I want to continue to learn and
understand new and emerging techniques and methods and how they might be
applicable to my business here in Ireland.
In respect to the postings please dont hesitate to make a comment on any of the topics,
in fact contributions would enhance the pages, or indeed if you have any questions or
aspects of lure/fly fishing that you might like to discuss here dont hesitate to mail me at
sportfishing@eircom.net and I can personalise your question.
I must add that everyone has an individual preference or experience. These different
opinions and experiences that are expressed and discussed here have been condensed
over a long period of time with a lot of valuable contributions from many people. They are
not biased in any direction and are offered here simply as help or assistance to anglers.
45
Salt Water Lure Fishing - Part 1 of 21 - Surface
Lure Fishing I
Monday, March 31, 2008
Of all the types of fishing an angler can
experience in Ireland surface lure or
‘topwater’ lure fishing is without a doubt one
of the most exciting, enjoyable, addictive
and may I say simple techniques for
catching predatory fish and especially bass.
Using lures that float on top of the water is what makes surface fishing more of an
exciting angling experience than any other style of fishing. Lures that are primarily used
are specifically known as ‘topwater’ or ‘surface’ lures. These types of lures are quite
simple looking; many are produced in realistic, baitfish type patterns with lifelike
appearances and colouring to appeal to fish’s sensory receptors. Most surface lures are
hollow-bodied and made from hard durable plastic or wood with a standard tail treble
hook, and in some cases, two other treble hooks. Debarbing and reducing the number of
hooks will help your fishing and protect the fish and YOU from unnecessary damage.
So what are the tactics for surface lure fishing? Any angler despite their angling
experience can attempt and even master the basics of surface lure fishing quite easily.
It’s a little bit of work at the beginning, but it’s really worth the effort. The concept is
simple, and basically involves being able to fish on the surface of the water. The trick
though, is being able to manipulate the way one’s lure acts, floats, swims and reacts on
the water’s surface.
What you need to have is a decent ability to coordinate your rod, line retrieve, and the
timing of each with specifically hand eye coordination. Surface lure fishing starts with
your eyes and ends with your wrists and hands. You must watch the lure (particularly the
way it reacts) as your retrieve and fish it. Secondly, using your wrists and retrieving line
hand on your reel to control line pull, tug and twitch, and thus create lure action or
animation. When the lure is swimming successfully on the water’s surface it is this
enticing element that the fish beneath the water is fully drawn to. Techniques for fishing in
a surface manner can vary from popping the lure to walking it or twitching it in a lifelike
manner across the surface.
46
All the above cannot be done with out proper line tension and control Without doing this,
the way the lure reacts will not appear natural or act in the correct manner for which it
was designed. Thus slack line in your cast and retrieve will yield sloppy and non-realistic
fishing action. Keeping a ‘realistic’ fishing action as much as possible with your surface
lure presentations is crucial, especially since bass react very positively to lifelike lure
movement.
Next month () - retrieves for early season lure fishing. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:35AM (+01:00)
I am asked all the time what the best fly to fish with, when making fly selction choices
bear in mind the species you are pursuing. Saltwater fly patterns are relatively few in
number in comparison to the huge number of flies used in freshwater so that makes
things a little simpler. Saltwater flies are somewhat restricted in their scope - mainly
baitfish and crustacean patterns, yes there are smaller bugs like slaters and hoppers and
things so ‘matching the hatch’ is an option for the creative tier. The obvious answer is ‘....
Something that looks like a small fish!’, but we all know its not that simple and there are
many factors other than a small ‘fishy’ looking fly that also need to be examined before
making the decision to tie on a fly. Size, type, colour, and target species - when and what
do I choose?
I have caught several species on one pattern, I have caught bass on bonefish patterns, I
have caught mullet on seatrout patterns, and I have caught flounders on rainbow
patterns! What does this tell us about saltwater flies, or indeed about saltwater fish?
Given the predatory instinct of the fish and the tactics of the careful and strategic angler
the WHAT type of fly becomes less important (but not entirely so) and rather the HOW
the WHEN and the WHERE becomes much more relevant and important.
So the following are flies I would recommend for the beginner in Irish saltwater fly-fishing
47
Deceivers – White and white and chartreuse, olive and brown and tan – size 2 – 2/0
Clousers – White and white and blue, pink and white and olive size 2 – 2/0
Others – Charlies in tan and brown, Fredes, Minkies, Gotchas in black and white and pink
and white, oh and some surface Po ppers/Gliders/ Gurglers.
Next Month ()- the instinct of the decision Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:37AM (+01:00)
IWASHI
Friday, April 04, 2008
Ar e you ready for Summer? Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:44AM (+01:00)
48
Saltwater fly fishing - P2 of 21 - The instinct of the
decision
Friday, April 04, 2008
There are times when you open your fly box and reach
for a fly to tie on; and you have instinctively made the
right decision. The fly fishes well, it casts well under the
conditions and ultimately produces a result for you. This
quick decision-making is done without any long gazing
into the fly box and trying to decide on colour or size or
type but rather extends from the confidence of experience
that is now second nature to you and your fishing.
This analysis if you want to call it that, fine tunes us and focuses our attention on many
factors. Wind direction, temperature, light conditions, tide, moon, time of year and fish
behaviour etc and in this case the fly choice. We cannot wait for all of these factors to be
in their optimal positions or 'best levels' and then decide to go fishing - it simply wouldnt
happen, but we can learn the influences of each element and hence make valid angling
decisions.
So when does the Type become more important rather than the Where or the How? My
'go to' BASS fly is a white and chartreuse deceiver pattern on a size 1/0 hook. Nothing
very revolutionary there, but it could also be a white and chartreuse clouser minnow.
Already there's an option. Two very important flies - two decisions, and then more when
you add colour and more when you add hook size!
I have already said my 'goto' fly is a white and chatreuse deceiver - but it is only my
choice on unfamiliar ground. When fishing a new area for the first time this is my choice.
49
If i catch fish on this fly at a venue (never more than 3) then I may change to a different
pattern. If the subsequent pattern doesn't provide results under a similar time frame, in
the same conditions then i will change again, and again. This may result in you been able
to determine an optimum fly for a particular set of circumstances.
If you cast any fly and you catch some fish then its one of those days - if you cast only a
particular pattern that catches fish (where others havent or in greater numbers or in an
accelerated time frame) then its time to sit up and take notice. Visiting the venue on other
occasions under similar circumstances may well confirm this for you. Now your 'goto' fly
for your new favourite venue might be a cockroach or a black deceiver. Depending on the
circumstances!
So you arrive at your fishing you open your box and out comes your singular choice from
a range of patterns - you have caught a lot of fish in your last two visits using this fly and
you confidence is high - then something changes - you dont catch any fish - you try
changing a little bit but no luck!
We had some fun with this little surface fly last summer - the Dutch name of the Engelse-
drop is derived from a sweet which is available in Holland called the English drop. The
colours above are also the colours of the sweet (look closely at the pic) - this fly was
given to me by Jos van der Wouw and the tying sequence will be available in the gallery
at the following link in the next few hours- http://www.swsfd.fotopic.net/c1487770.html
50
what we saw today the dog and I
Saturday, April 05, 2008
I'm afraid the dog was hit by a car today (driver didn't stop) and has a badly injured leg,
bruised but not broken! So 'what we saw today the dog and I' will be reduced for a while
to what I saw today - I'm not even sure if he pays that much attention to the things I see
to be honest - he's usually off at other things. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:51PM (+01:00)
Heh Jim
Just got one in ............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 'bout 45cms. Old guy there before me with that
casting style where you have the lure just off top of rod got one first. But i felt if he can get
one so can i. Spotted his lure a small black and silver, the fish he had caught had at least
6 green sandeels in his gob. I fished and fished, my hands cold my back sore, was gonna
call you for some support, just then another lad came along and had a taz dev on and
said he had some success with it last year, i had tried all my small lures at this point so i
found a green an silver taz unopened at the bottom of the box and stuck it on. First time i
ever used one, cast it out the wind hit it it was like a frisbee and went about 20 yds. I
52
thought to myself " thats trying to make its way back to tazmanian thats some yoke" but
then bang and i was on to this fine fish. He didnt put up a great scrap, i had clutch on
very light following your advice and he was mine. I measured and tagged him and
bagged him for the old man who will be trilled. Its 20 years since we caught seatrout in
.............. so he will be delighted.
Im so exited.
ADENDUM
this is a follow up mail i got this morning from the same patient I mean person
Morning Jim
I was lying in bed last night just about in the transfer/twilight zone and i was dreaming
about the seatrout catch, i has reeling in the spinner in the dream and then he took it, so i
struck! i dragged my hand across the sheet at 200mph and the sound of this woke me
and the mrs my heart was pounding i thought i was gonna have a coronary or something.
She said what are you doin, i said nothing, she said were you dreaming about your
seatrout so i admitted to it and explained that the brain files away the memories and
events of each day when you sleep and that this was so exiting for me that my brain gave
me another chance to enjoy the moment. We had a good laugh about it!
TRUE STORY m8
Am i nuts?
I leave the diagnosis up to the professionals....calling soon I'd imagine. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:44AM (+01:00)
FSS recommends that bass should continue to be managed as an anglers’ rather than a
commercial species. Regulations that are currently in place should remain and should be
enforced. FSS also advises that efforts should be made to obtain wider protection
through the European Union for the species which is seen to be vulnerable in Irish
waters.
All agencies involved with fisheries management and angling should continue to co-
operate in the management of this species.
Management
53
Bass in Irish waters are protected by a number of measures whose effect has been to
extinguish the commercial fishery for the species. The Bass (Conservation of
Stocks)Order, 1990, regulates the activities of Irish fishermen within ICES sub-areas VI
and VII: commercial fishing for bass is prohibited, the taking of bass using nets is
prohibited, and Irish fishing boats must not have bass on board or engage in
transhipment of bass. This order also sets the legal size of capture of bass at 40 cm.
Two further measures, hitherto reissued annually, were in 2007 renewed on an open-
ended basis.
The Bass (Restrictions on Sale) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 367 of 2007) prohibits the
sale or offer for sale of bass (other than bass which have been imported into the State).
The Bass Fishing Conservation bye-law No. 826 of 2007 (S.I. No. 368 of 2007) imposes
a bag limit of two bass in any one period of 24 hours and it provides a ban on angling for
bass during the spawning season (15 May – 15 June).
The combination of regulations have the effect of confining the exploitation of bass to
anglers. Bass is the only marine fish species which is managed in this way in Ireland.
The bass stock remains greatly depleted since the 1960s and 1970s. Irish bass landings
are dominated by occasional large recruitments. Fish of 1989 and 1990 are now
becoming rare in the anglers’ landings and the 1995 year class, which is robust among
UK fish, is not strongly represented in Irish waters. However, the 2002 year class which
was the strongest
in the series of 0-group surveys since 1996 is due to recruit to the fishery in 2009 and the
2007 survey of 0-group fish was encouraging.
54
Saltwater fly fishing - P3 of 21 - Where is my fly?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Flyfishing in cold, early springtime saltwater or late winter time can be very difficult and
even downright disssapointing for the fisherman. Its my belief that of all the fishing
conditions that exist (except maybe cloudy and weedy water) saltwater fly fisherman
dislike cold water the most. I have witnessed a lot of fisherman become so frustrated over
these early and late periods (Spring and late Winter) that it makes them stop fishing
during these parts of the season completely. From December through to late April is often
avoided by many saltwater flyfishers and in fact its not until the warmer months of May or
June that many will begin their fishing at all. I can understand this and there have been
several points in time when I felt this way too but through some perserverance and with a
little hard work there are some good tactics that can greatly increase your chances.
There are other apects to this early and late season fishing that are beneficial too -as you
make and complete your early or later sessions, you also get back into or stay 'in the
groove' much earlier and longer than your warm water friends! Sometimes over a lazy
and slow winter, picking up and starting that fishing momentum can become difficult a
difficult thing! A bit like the fish who are sluggish, probably somewhat slow moving and
generally finding things a little bit difficult - shake off those 'comfortable' feelings and get
out there....during this time you will undoubtedy hit some 'weather windows'. This might
be a few hours of exceptional conditions that suddenly bring fish on and you have
success out of the blue - mark it down as something to watch out for in the future. Its
something to amaze your friends with. 'You mean you caught fish in the middle of
February you hear them ask' - 'its not possible' they say. You know it may not be very
frequent but it is very possible. The reason - you are actively engaged and in tune with
your fishing.
Fishing in the 'off season' always seems to be better when the water temperature is
steadily rising as in Spring and not falling as in late Winter. This often means that weather
fronts are becoming a little more stable and it’s often bright and sunny for a number of
consecutive days. These types of conditions will increase your chances of catching bass,
seatrout and other species.
Bass will start to move inshore in the Spring and there are two reasons why I think they
are moving inshore. One reason is to find the warmer water, the second, is to find food.
55
Food sources have probably diminished over the long winter and forage has been greatly
reduced due to lack of sunlight and cooler temperatures at sea. It may be one of the
reasons that during 'weather windows' fish move out of and then back to their winter
haunts.
I look for shallower water, and I definetly start looking for water clarity.
Its difficult to know exactly what is the most common food source for fish are at this time
of year. Crabs, shrimp little sandeels are probables. Throughout the wintertime when
water temperature is cooler, I suspect predators are on the deeper bottom offshore and
most of the food sources have already been greatly reduced. During early spring I tend to
use smaller flies that are trying to imitate shrimps and small sandeels that I see along the
shoreline. Be aware that the type of fish strike or take you will experience will tend to be
more reactionary and slower rather than the sheer massive hunger or hunter strike that
you will experience during mid and late summer.
To get the fly to fish it means fast intermediate or sinking lines with clouser minnow types
fished on or near the bottom - inched along or fished strip and stop.
The retrieve and the fly line will put your fly in the right fishing position. So where is my
fly? At this time of the year it needs to be on or close to the bottom! There are two fishing
actions to make. One is the long strip you make with your line hand to move and pull the
bait through the water. This is the initial 'triggering' method helping to grab the fishes
attention. The second action is the stop or pause. This will allow the clouser to 'drop' to
the bottom. So the fish has seen the fly swim and drop, maybe once or twice. It is during
this 'fly activity time' that a bass will make the initial decision to take the fly, more often
than not on the drop or pause. Pausing for 8 - 10 seconds is a good idea - even more,
and sometimes Inching the fly along the bottom after the drop can result in very delicate
pick ups by fish - be ready.
Remember fish are very lethargic and don’t swim around using lots of energy in cold
water.
Tactics to use in terms of the retrieve and helping to put your fly in the right place.
• make longer slower strips with less time on the pause or stop
• make shorter strips with more time on the pause or stop
• increase the time of the bottom 'inching'
• add some stopping and starting to the bottom 'inching'
• slow down - A LOT!
Next month (May) - Help - what type of fly? Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:28AM (+01:00)
56
Spring light at the cut
Sunday, April 13, 2008
You may have read the second posting I
ever made to this blog back on the 12th of
January called winter light at the cut - it was
a cold dark miserable January day. These
photographs were taken under different
lighting conditions and just shortly after the
cut had been made - 3 months later.
57
At the time of writing sea water surface temperatures are roughly between 9 and 11
degrees at the moment and this is just over the effective operating temperature for bass
fishing. In other words fish should be somewhat active. Again i can only speak out of
experiences here at Wexford for the following water temp ranges as described to me
some time back by a fisheries biologist as best as i can remember
At 5 degrees its the minimum acceptable temp for their existence or range
Below 8/9 degrees they seem to enter a state of suspension - slower metabolism (soft
lures, suspended lures)
Between 10-12 degrees you can catch them on DR diving lures and sinking fly lines
Between 12-15 degrees you can catch them on surface lures and flies and most other
lures
Above 16 degrees oxygen starts to becomes an issue and they are not present/ or feed
in cooler waters
However winds have been predominantly Northerly and North easterly over the last few
weeks and surface temperatures of the sea are a little down. I have a few notes from the
archives that indicate my first surface bass fishing wouldnt generally begin with
confidence in numbers until early May, and then its time to stop as the season is closed!
Traditional methods of fishing at this time of year involve casting and retrieving - casting
and retrieving with lots of different types of lures - tobies, krills, rapalas etc. But what if we
were to cast and not retrieve or at least retrieve much more slowly and EFFECTIVELY - it
could take us three minutes or more to retrieve our lure. So what are we doing? We are
presenting the opportunity to the fish to strike the lure for much longer periods of time.
Rather than casting and pulling lures at speed past slow and often sluggish fish we are
giving them the opportunity to take at their operating factors and not ours.
In order to achieve this we can fish with suspending jerk baits. These lures do not float or
sink but rather suspend at the depth to which we fish them. We make our cast, tighten
into our main line and feel the lure engage - a few deliberately slow turns of the handle
will get the lure to swim and dive - and then we stop and wait and.........wait, but
maintaining contact with the lure - gently we fish it home. Adding a little speed will drive
the lure deeper and as we make the stop again and again the 'active roll' of the lure when
suspended is enough to entice a cold water take.
This summer I had the pleasure of fishing with an angler who really has caught bonefish,
tarpon, permit and carangues on the fly. From Kamchatka to the Koala Peninsula, from
Iceland to the Caribbean he had fished in some of best fly-fishing arenas of the world.
They wanted to fish Wexford for bass! I met him and his friend one Sunday afternoon in
July at Dublin airport in a cold force 5 blowing in from the Northeast. After establishing
who everyone was I was told that one set of fly rods had not come off the plane and just
to liven things up I noticed it had started to rain. This was day one of three – a nice,
testing start to a hectic three-day schedule.
The drive from Dublin to Wexford took about three hours in torrential rain and falling
temperatures. One thing you don’t need for bass fly-fishing is a rapid change in
temperature and you certainly don’t need strong winds. Oh and one other thing that
doesn’t help is a customer with high expectations on a tight schedule in tough weather. I
had already written off day one and once we made it to Wexford I would check the
weather satellites and make some decisions regarding day two. I had 68 hours to get my
client some fish. On the way down talk was loud and animated, discussion ranged from
tactics and fly types to lines and depths, speed of retrieve, retrieve types and back to
choice of colour – it shortened the journey and helped lighten the three hours of
concentrated driving. At eight that evening I enlightened my clients that the wind was
remaining in the Northeast but slackening somewhat. Temperatures were about three
degrees below normal and we would have an early start at 5:00 am. They appeared
happy with my decisions. 64 hours remained.
In these tough weather situations it is essential to remain positive. I believe one of the
measures of a guide’s strengths is his ability to get fish for his clients even when
conditions are bad. Having done my homework and already spent nearly 600 hours at
work so far this summer I felt confident that we would get a result, I had the locations that
produced fish even in an easterly breeze, fewer mind you but they were there. It was
down to the clients.
5:30 am – 58 hours left, first venue. A little more weed than I would like floated on the
waters surface and in the mid layers, I felt it would clear in the running tide at about 6:15
and we would just have to fish through it. It’s seldom that you can pick up a fish in
seaweed soup but it has happened. We persevered and we all got into fly-fishing mode
after about one hour. The weed cleared and water clarity with it. Wind was from left to
right at about fifteen to twenty miles per hour – not too bad but a little cold. Four hours
later and we had no fish. I called an end to the session and suggested coffee and a break
till this evening. During the drive back to Wexford conversation was a little quieter and
questions a little more direct. ‘Why do you think there was no fish this morning Jim?’ ‘Do
you think we will get fish this evening?’ ‘Are we going to the same place?’ When I first
heard these questions from a customer I automatically assumed responsibility for not
getting the client some fish. I would come home disappointed and disillusioned. Today
things are a little different. It still hurts when you work very hard, you plan, you ensure
that the flies are working, your support gear is ready, the timings and tides are optimised
59
to venues, secondary options are evaluated and then you don’t get fish. But I have
learned that even after all of these things and more, you cannot be responsible for fish,
you can only optimise your client’s chances of catching them based on your abilities and
continuous commitments.
We were at the second venue, there was 52 hours left. The wind had increased slightly
and moving to the south, temperatures were still down but rising slowly. The water was
beginning to get coloured and I knew this was a bad sign I would have to resort to
Wexford harbour and the shelter it offered for the next session. But lets get this one done
first. As is often the case after a tough first session fish will come in the second or third
attempt. After four casts my client was into a decent fish of about 4lbs, then his friend had
one of about 3lbs and promptly lost it. After five more hours all three of us had no more.
47 hours.
This was session three in a five-session schedule. We had one fish and the weather was
beginning to improve. The tide on sessions four and five would be very favourable and I
believed fish would come late in the client’s three-day visit. It’s a different perspective
from the customer’s point of view, expectations are high, it’s the second early session
and concentration is beginning to lag a little. Its cool and bones and muscles are stiff. It
takes a while to get moving. But the prospect of bass on the fly is a great incentive. I had
39 hours, I was confidant that in the second last or last session we would get some
decent fish, pull through this one and we would be ok. I had taken my two customers into
a secret location in Wexford harbour. Tides were running a little faster and fish usually
piggybacked a free lift. We managed three fish in the middle of the session, one each.
After four fish and 38 hours fishing, pressure was building a little and conversations in the
car on the way home had almost died, and then there was silence.
Evening came around and there was noticeable lift in attitude. Heads were held higher,
gear was assembled faster, and waders were already on before we got to the venue.
There was no waiting around for instructions this time, the customers had heard them
before and in the warm evening sun I knew what I had suspected would begin to happen.
We had three fish each that session – exceptional fishing by any means and one ran to 5
and a half pounds weight.
There were whoops and yells and photographs and all fish were magic and beautiful and
I felt the pressure lift and could really enjoy myself for the remaining few hours of daylight
and I was already looking forward to the last early morning session… on the way home
the car was full of questions and chat and congratulations and the recalling of events and
sights and splashes and shakes of heads and shaking of hands and exclamations and
big 'No's' and looking and re-looking at the photos in the small screen of the digital
camera and then eventually there was silence and vacant smiles.
60
Your phone calls
Sunday, April 20, 2008
I’ve noticed that during periods of fine weather the number of phone calls I get increases
dramatically. I guess it’s a normal thing, fine weather gets people thinking about fishing.
Not all of the phone calls I get are in relation to business of course and for the past few
years many of them are in relation to illegal bass fishing. During the last weeks of March
for example I received 3 calls connected to this subject from different people.
These are not what I would term or call ‘I suspect..’ calls; these are confirmed sightings of
the regular illegal activity of bass fishing. Boxes of fish been landed, nets been shot, fish
been sold, vans coming to collect. People, make these calls to me, whom have
consistently witnessed this activity over the same periods for many years in the same
places – and this year is no exception it seems, the theme of this years calls is no
different.
The general content of these calls is that the people who have made them have been
through the correct channels of the fisheries boards, the gardai, some people have even
contacted local politicians and STILL the activity continues unabated. The question these
people ask me is generally something like ‘…maybe you might be able to do something
Jim…’ I keep hearing the same names, the same descriptions, the same places, and the
same activity, - the same exasperation and frustration is obvious from the tone of one
caller to the next.
As an angler I sympathise and listen to the calls that I get, make some notes. I cant really
do much either.
In few weeks time I will close my small business for four weeks – this is the closed
season for bass fishing – May 15th to June 15th. Closing a business for four weeks
seems like madness but its one of the factors that I need to work and plan around until I
develop an alternative solution. During these four weeks I will see anglers fishing for bass
quite openly – but what is really frustrating is the continued illegal netting pressure that
operates openly during this time, closed or open the activity continues.
This year, since Christmas, I have had 4 requests from potential visiting groups of
anglers – two from Italy one from Holland, and one from France – to fish in Wexford
during the period of May 15th to June 15th. These people are ALL fly fishers – single
hook and have a C+R frame of mind.
One of these groups would have had a significant impact on promoting bass fishing in
Ireland. I have managed to re-negotiate one of the groups for guiding later during the
year, the others I’m afraid will go to fish elsewhere in the world during this time. This is
what the business has to deal with and absorb and it’s just an example. Dont get me
wrong, I’m not looking for anything and I am not in any way advocating opening the
closed season (god forbid) but maybe you can imagine my normal sense of frustration at
61
turning away the business when its obvious that
but where it really hurts and the frustration is magnified is knowing that during this time of
the closed season, and during the entire bass season that the nets are out there killing
hundreds of fish, with no management, no foresight, no sustainability, no planning -
destroying another national resource with no consideration to any positive or creative
possibilities.
So please keep making the calls, I will do what I can, as anglers I share in your
frustration. As a person trying to promote our country as a world class angling
destination, with a sustainable plan with continued positive impact on local communities
maybe now you can share in some of my perspective too !
63
The Saltwater Guiding Service from SEAi.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Since 2003 SEAi has carefully developed
and continues to build a customer base
consisting of dynamic and progressive
European and Irish saltwater sportfishers.
My saltwater service continues to grow and
develop and we constantly attempt to
improve and provide the following for you to
enjoy.
1. Travel to and from your airport - Dublin, Cork or Waterford in ou r comfortable SUV.
2. On your arrival you can relax in our quality accommodations based in a quiet
mature suburban setting, a short walk from our town centre. I can ensure your stay
will be a comfortable and pleasant experience. Information is provided in our SEAi
info pack and you can sample some of Wexfords local breads, cheeses and Jams
from our welcome basket.
64
3. Your fishing is matched to the optimum weekly tides and a printed plan of our daily
activity and fishing requirements including regulations is provided and discussed in
detail on your arrival and on a daily basis.
4. Wexford town HERE and all of its amenities is easily accessible, you are less than
three minutes walk from restaurants, shops, pubs and many places of local interest.
All are here for you to enjoy, relax and play.
I recognise that todays visiting anglers are
not only interested in but expect the
following from their guiding services
The Guiding Service offers the absolute highest level of professionalism and customer
service. When you book a trip with SEAi for Saltwater, River or Lake fishing, you can
expect an experience punctuated by, and emphasised around you, your safety and
enjoyment. I am a fully insured professional guide with years of angling and guiding
experience along the coastline of South Eastern Ireland.
Whether you are a seasoned angler or someone who is interested in either learning the
craft of saltwater fly or lure fishing, or simply improving your angling skills, I hope your
visit to Wexford and the SEAi centre can exceed your expectations.
My service offers a variety of bespoke solutions catering to your needs, for example.
• One night stay and one day workshop - two four hour sessions with lunch €275.00
• One night stay and one days workshop - one six hour session with light ref
reshments €255.00 65
• Two nights stay with two days guiding - bespoke to your requirement €465.00
• One week stay five days guiding - bespoke to your requirements - p.o.a
Trips include provision of top of the range
lines rods and reels, flies, lures and
terminal tackle. please call for further
details
If you require a boat fishing session then a slightly different outfit can be used as we often
need to cast larger lures in the 35-75 grammes range so a suitable rod is
recommended.Braid strength needs to be increased too - about 15kgs is sufficient. Again
advice on lures and lure choice and tackle can be had by mail or phone.
The gear and accessories The outdoor clothing you will need should consist of
breathable wind resistant rain jacket and a pair of breathable or very light neoprene
waders. Felt soled or a combination of studded and felt wading boots, a pair of Polaroid
glasses, a cap and if you are travelling in autumn some thermal underwear. We
recommend a layering system. If these items are not available to you then any suitable
waterproof system can suffice shorterm. Sunfactor, a hat or cap and a digital camera are
also recommended. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:17AM (+01:00)
67
Niall strikes it lucky - 10 days before close!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Vision XLA 8/9 reel
Vision 3zone SW #9
Rio Outbound #9F
Rio Hard alloy mono
Rio Flouroflex plus
68
still stunned by the colours
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
the colours of these shad when taken from
the river leave a lasting impression, a truly
special fish. These photos dont really do
them justice.
69
let sleeping monsters lie
Monday, May 19, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:49AM
(+01:00)
Denmark (6)
New Zealand (2)
France (8)
Italy (3)
USA (2)
Ireland (10)
England (2)
Belgium (4)
70
Saltwater Lure Fishing
England (2)
Ireland (4)
France (9)
Holland (3)
Belgium (3)
Spain (1)
............take off
Friday, May 23, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:02PM
(+01:00)
71
larry makes loops at the river
Monday, May 26, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:14AM
(+01:00)
Its not often I get the opportunity to speak in front of such a large number of people about
the many aspects of Bass fishing.
I was glad to be able to help and encourage many of you into what surely is some of the
best and most exciting fishing Ireland has to offer at the moment.
72
Your positive questions and answers
allowed us to develop a very worthwhile
evening, and for me personally it created
and confirmed another opportunity to help
continue the development of SEAi.
73
what we saw today the dog and I - May 28th
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:49AM
(+01:00)
74
Saltwater fly fishing - P4 of 21 - Choosing a fly
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Although I have been saltwater fly fishing
for a good few years now I guess I’m still in
my infancy when compared to many other
people. I have also realised my personal
fishing tends to be very much limited to the
beginning and end of the seasons. In
between times I’m guiding for customers
and I generally don’t like to fish when
guiding unless asked. Because of my
limited time, which must be similar to many
other peoples, I like to make the most of
any opportunities that I may have. It still surprises me to get a fish on the fly and I always
try to go fishing as best prepared as I possibly can. This to some extent eliminates the
factor of luck, but I believe you make your own luck in many things and fly fishing is no
different.
During preparation I inevitably need to make choices regarding equipment etc. One of the
things I have started doing lately is travelling only with my jacket, waders, line tray, rod
and reel, two spare spools plus some tippet material. And that’s it! My jacket holds two fly
boxes, the tippet material and the spare spools. Of course I’m tempted to bring another
fly box but where do I put it – in a bag? Then I’ll put more stuff in the bag that I don’t
need. But what flies do I put in my fly box? How do I make my decisions?
My two boxes are divided into quarters - reading the quarters from top to bottom and left
to right the following applies
Bass Box 1
Quarter one - small clousers of the colours above and some with larger dumbells - size 4-
1
Quarter two - larger clousers of the colours above - size 1 - 3/0
Quarter three - half and half patterns of the colours above size 1- 2/0
Quarter four - various clousers of different sizes and material
Bass Box 2
Quarter one - small deceivers of the colours above size 4 - 1
Quarter two - larger deceivers of the colours above size 1- 4/0
Quarter three - eel and crab patterns of various sizes and colours
Quarter four - surface patterns - poppers and gurglers size 1 - 4/0
Next month (June) - how far should I cast? Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 03:10PM (+01:00)
Ultralight lures also transfer to fresh water for perch, pike, brown trout and salmon
How many quality seatrout have you caught on saltwater lures intended for bass - some
perhaps, but by scaling down and adjusting your lures and lure tackle not only can you
continue to target bass but you can also put seatrout positively in the frame! And so many
other species too. By opening the box of micro lures your fishing becomes instantly more
76
creative more active and more involved.
So what is ultralight? To me ultralight fishing is done with lures less than 10 grammes in
weight - rods are often shorter than eight feet - reels are small in the 2500 or less style of
things and braids are kept light too , less than 5kgs.
With this setup its possible to cast a 6 gramme lure 50 metres and more. Light lure fishing
does not restrict your fishing, with the correct setup it enhances it. Nor does a balanced
and light setup mean excessive 'playing' of fish. The technology invloved in modern
ultralight lure rods allow you to/or
Saltwater fly fishing P5 - How far should i cast - the casting phenomena in Irish saltwater
Using the right lines P6 - lines for different species and occassions
77
Saving Lives At Sea - Sea anglers included
Monday, June 09, 2008
RNLI Sunday June 8th - Wexford
http://rnli.tripod.com/home.html
78
‘…On a good day I can cast ‘x’ number of yards, on a bad day I struggle to hit ‘z’ yards.’
Then somewhere between the third and tenth cast of your fishing you decide you want to
go home. The cast is dumping and crashing, tailing loops are of phenomenal quality and
distance well....at its worst you want to turn the rod into a javelin aimed at the vile heart of
the cruel sea, go stomping and muttering back to the car, kick the rabbit you saw on the
way down the path, and at the top of lane stop the car and bite and punch the steering
wheel whilst growling like a mad dog. The following words perversely go through your
mind 'With good casting technique you can place the fly where you want it, effortlessly
and with precision and grace,...' they dont do anything to improve your mood.
The loneliness of the long distance fly caster (or not) as the case may be!
If you are already a capable caster in terms of both distance and presentation, in most
saltwater conditions, then you can usually weather these storms and pour some oil on the
issues. But if you are new to the sea or indeed flycasting then its more of a problem.
Without the experience or indeed a number of 'negative casting' experiences how can we
learn to deal with the above? Or more importantly can we recognise the early signs of a
bad day and find a middle ground, not X or Z but Y perhaps?
I think the important thing to remember is that it happens to everyone, and it happens
less often than you might think. When it happens to me I tend to stop fishing very quickly.
And for a while, I sit and watch someone else casting or simply watch the birds go by. I
know that I probably wont cast to 'x' this time out but when I try again I make short
accurate casts with small flies - if it works out then fine, I might make the move to further
and bigger but only slowly, and sometimes I have to retreat! This is where 'y' exists - I am
flyfishing within my limits and still enjoying it.
Rather than persisting with the agony of a poor casting day it pays to take time out and to
think about turning it around. You can do this by using many techniques but my favourite
is to start again after a while and push little by little until you move from casting mode to
fishing mode and once again you begin to think and feel this might be ok - there might be
a fish behind that rock over there - pull through the cast, stop, yes, not perfect but
ok......coming around now.....was that a follow?
some tips to use when things are not working out from a casting point of view
• Only put the amount of line you want to cast in your line tray
• dont put the biggest fly in the box on first
79
• dont try to cast to the horizon with your first casts
• if you are using heavy sinking lines or big flies - open you loops and slow down
• try to determine where and how the fish are feeding
• if they are blitzing on baitfish then presentation or distance wont be a problem
• if they are visible then they must be reasonably close - but wary!
• at night fish are very close - very!
• a current can often carry your fly to the fish!
• overlining your rod by one can often bring back that 'feeling'
• take you time and relax
Next month (July) - choosing the right fly lines Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 03:39PM (+01:00)
......feeding activity
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 07:28PM (+01:00)
81
aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhT LAST!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Smith Bayliner Boron in Action Photo
made by Julien Garbil Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:03AM
(+01:00)
83
SWLF - P4 of 21 - Using and choosing micro
lures
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
One of the most frequent questions I am
asked is 'What knot do you use to join braid
to mono?' When dealing with micro lures
any hindrance in terminal tackle will affect
its ability to 'swim' correctly so I use a very
tidy and strong knot called the Reverse
Albright.
Landing Gear
85
Saltwater Lure Fishing - P4 of 21 - Water Clarity
(I)
Friday, July 04, 2008
I'll try and post some thoughts on water clarity over the
weekend. This foto was taken on opening day 2008.
86 Further south past the southeast corner, there is of course vast quantities of sand, but I
suspect this sand and the geography has
different qualities than that on the east
coast.
We are talking strictly shore fishing at the moment – bear in mind that estuary fishing has
its own complexities like run off from the land and rivers.
After a long period of say North or Northwesterly breezes the water clarity is often
amazing on the south coast. A westerly breeze doesn’t affect this clarity adversely but as
it swings further south towards the southwest or south then this breeze or wind begins to
have its affects. The longer the wind blows and the greater its strength the more unclear
the water becomes. Waves crashing and rolling puts particles into the water, the weather
changes the environment!
If you witness a lot of seaweed deposits on the beach its usually an indication of previous
high wave and wind activity. This seaweed will rot and will often decompose into the sand
where you are walking. When waves hit this sand it adds these smaller often-minute
decomposing particles to the water and then you can witness quite a vivid two-colour
scenario of blue and green (or even brown) at the sea close to shore.
The water clarity and its longevity/components and causes are not an easy thing to
understand. Because I’m exposed to it on an almost daily basis I try not to rationalise it
but have developed a ‘sense of conditions’ based on experiences. Unclear water on the
south coast is a different phenomena than that on the east coast and hence the fishing is
different and you’re expectations should be too.
You arrive at you fishing destination – its warm, a little cloudy and misty, high tide is in
about 3 hrs and it’s a spring tide, wind is from the southwest force three. Perfect. Then
you walk into he water and you can’t see your feet. Not so perfect! The cause of this
unclear water has been wind force, wind direction, and the previous number of hours it
has blown for. Combine this with heavy rain and you get miserable water conditions.
One of the reasons I emphasise the need for anglers to tune into the weather systems is
to try and enable the elimination of surprises and often disappointments. Taking the
example above and applying it to today July 05th for example. It’s a nice sunny day here;
it’s a bit breezy the tides are good I might go fishing! But. Already the water was murky,
the wind blew very strong from the east in the last 12 hrs, and its still blowing at 4-
touching 5. It will get worse this afternoon. There has been no settling period for particles
to descend. Sunday looks like a calm day with winds dropping this evening and all day
tomorrow so by Monday morning or maybe even Sunday evening – fishing will return
somewhat as particles descend, barometric pressure builds again and the water clears.
The nature of the particles are heavier than those along the east coast, I believe they
87
descend faster.
Can you calculate the extent and the longevity of the unclear water?
The table above is a representation of wind force and a recovery rate for fishing. Please
do not interpret this as 'definitive' or 'carved in stone' in any way. Its based around
observations and experiences of the last 6 years or so. The way it works as a guide is
that any number below three has a negligible if any effect upon the fishing. So for
example if it blows force three for 4 days its value is 2 and has no effect real effect on
your fishing (we are not considering direction). If it blows force 4 for four days its value is
3 and this does have an effect on your fishing or rather - water clarity and fish behaviour.
It should be noted that if it blows force six for 2 days its value is 2 this is in fact a 2+ and
probably closer to three. The table values for force 6 and 7 should be treated with this in
mind.
The values also give a rough indication of the number of tides it takes to recover so if it
blows force 5 for three days we have a value of 3. Multiply this by 12 and this is the
recovery time for water clarity from the time of the decrease in windspeed on your
forecasts. A sudden drop in windspeed may increase the clearing process.
Please bear in mind this is an indication from clear to unclear on the south coast - it does
not take into account the current clarity of the water. In other words if the water is already
unclear this table is meaningless. It is also based on a slowing of wind speed to the
negligible end of the table for a period of time, the 'future wind' on your current forecasts
will decrease in speed from the value you are now taking.
A value of two is merely an indicator and can often be a heads up to change. Any value
in the range of 3 or 4 and water clarity is affected and consequently so is your fishing -
beyond the factor of 4 fly fishing is generally impossible and even at 3 it can be downright
difficult. Lure fishers can expect to fish up to a value of 4 and even an early session at 5
but not for any extended periods.
Because the south east coast is subject to so many influences - water depth, current
speed, geography, weather, its possible to locate areas of 'clearer' water even when
winds are blowing hard. This is where again, ground work and perserverance pays of. By
constantly fishing in the one location you may well become accustomed to its patterns but
you are also subject to its negative influences. You need to find fallback locations when
your favourite is full of weed and brown sandy dirty water. You learn more by exploring
and expanding your fishing - I dont know exactly what a bass does when the water is
dirty but i know they hunt differently and in different places - change your techniques and
strategies and you will find them! Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:00PM (+01:00)
88
In 'BASS FISHING FILES' Now -
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Water Clarity and Bass Fishing - causes, effects, and how to adapt you fly & lure fishing
techniques.
Tight lines - Jim Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:46AM (+01:00)
Many fly fishers however don't carry the right equipment, in this case lines, to get the job
done. As we grow in the sport the majority of us have spent our time or money
accumulating a wide assortment of flies that we have to choose from. Deceivers,
clousers, poppers, half and half’s, on and on and on they goin so many different
colours…we've already discussed this in part 5 and 4.
If you're like some fly fishers I know you probably have so many flies that you can't find
room in your box to carry them all. You probably also carry many flies that have never
been cast into the water at all. These are the flies we label for that "just in case scenario",
or "I like it so much i dont want to fish with it".
With the new season now well underway I think it is time for many of us to change our
way of thinking or the approach that we take. We need to start to measure how effective
our time spent fly fishing at sea actually is. Do you keep a mental note of any of your
success? Or do you just move along casting and casting, putting in another bad day
where you say the fish weren't there or they weren't hungry or the sky was too blue ?
Or does this sound familiar? The fly fisher next to you is catching fish and you are not.
You cast just about every fly in your box but each one yields the same result, nothing. Or
how about this, you move from a spot and another fisher comes along steps in and
catches a fish on the very first cast.
I think all of us can honestly say that at least one of these scenarios has happened to
each one of us sometime in our fly fishing career. I know they have to me and it can be
rather frustration especially if they repeat themselves. Dont worry though, there arent that 89
many saltwater flyfishers for this to become a normal occurrence!
So what is the answer? What should go through your head when you are not producing
fish and you know that you should be? One of the big keys to your success in saltwater
fly-fishing is going to rest with your presentation at different depths. You will need to look
at two components of your presentation that are important. One is the retrieve that you
are using and the other is putting the fly in the right place. In other words putting the fly
where the fish are. Which of these is more important? Well, I think it is safe to say that
putting the fly where the fish are should be your first and most important consideration. If
you have the correct retrieve but there are no fish anywhere near your fly then good luck,
because you are going to need it.
I would recommend the following lines as essentials for the Irish saltwater flyfisherman to
cover all presentations at many depths.
or
Scientific Anglers saltwater mastery series fast and slow sinking lines plus a floater
Plus
Plus
91
Ger Potters Summer of Silver Continues
Friday, July 18, 2008
Whilst guiding Ger Potter on the waterford
coast on friday his summer of bass on the
fly continued with this beautiful fish.
92
a sequence of inevitable events.....
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 03:03PM
(+01:00)
A team of 'painters' and 'shipwrights' have been gathered to perform the neccessary
repairs and I personally will pursue the qualifications and insurances needed to operate
her safely over the next few weeks. It is hoped to have her operational before the autumn
season begins.
93
Not built for speed I bought the boat to
create an 'experience' of relaxed estuary fly
fishing. I feel it will also add a new
dimension to 'the one day' fly fishing visitors
as we will have the opportunity to reach fish
offshore in tidal rips from sandbars and
sandy shores.
94
Continued surprises
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Eileen, my wife is a Cork woman. Her father and mother
are both Cork people, we were married in Cork and we
have holidayed quite a lot on the Cork coast, in fact we
spend a lot of time in Cork. We have our different
reasons, Eileen having spent long summers at the holiday
house as a child finds a connection, I on the other hand at
some time try to connect with fish, Dan and Ruth are 100
metres from the beach and the rock pools! Circles.
There is part of me that is resigned to not fishing for bass on neap tides with any real
conviction, the other part (the sad one) says different. So on Monday having been to Fota
wildlife park with the kids and knowing I was fishing a falling neap tide, in the afternoon
mind you, I went fly fishing for bass. Heavy rain, high humidity, strong westerly winds I 95
trudged over to an unfished venue, well at least by me
anyway.
96
WANTED - One weather repair kit
Friday, August 01, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:22AM (+01:00)
1.Casting
2.Retrieves
3.Location
4.Timing
5.You in the 'Bass World'
6.Behaviour
7.Weather and tides
8.Flies
9.Gear (possibly)
10.Fish handling (possibly)
97
wave landscapes today
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 07:24PM (+01:00)
98
...little things that mean a lot.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Jim -
I think I can speak for the three of us when I say that
the guiding, education, accommodation - the whole
package - exceeded by uncountable orders of
magnitude anything we could have hoped for and I
sincerely hope that you got as much sheer enjoyment
out of it as we did. Two specimen bass to lures/fly for
the lads and two personal bests for me on consecutive
days is not to be sneezed at at all, especially given the
conditions we had to deal with - well, you had to deal
with. You're the one who had to do the hard work - we
just did our best to follow your advice. I know that Andy
and I had a certainty from last year that you could put
us where the goods could be produced, god willing and
weather permitting, and I think Gerry (globally
experienced angler that he is) is in absolute awe of your
abilities. His comment as we stood on the roadside with
his knackered engine was 'well, could have been worse -
it could have calved on the way down - and I wouldn't
have had my specimen bass'.
99
3 Days in the South East
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:24PM (+01:00)
100
In 'Bass Fishing Files' NOW - Attempting bigger
bass on the fly - F...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Having had a look at some casting
techniques we now move to Big flies
The extent of the turbidity of the water is usually indicative of whether bass will be
present or not. In the photograph above they are most definetly not present, this
photograph was taken after some days of very strong winds and rain. The photograph to
the right was taken after the wind had blown but the weather was improving and the sea
was 'fining down' or settling. Bass would be present in the circumstances to the right even
with the suspended particles and seaweed present. The camera visibility here was
reduced to about two feet.
Tying up subsurface visibilty, the weather and its impact on your fishing has been
discussed in Part One. Here are some pointers to help when the sea is murky.
Post No 101
Sunday, August 17, 2008
I've reached post number 101 for this blog. Over the past few weeks I have been adding
some material to the Bass Fishing Files section. Now that I have material added and
some commentary going it will be accessible to all readers of Saltwater Fly & Lure early
this week. I hope to keep Bass Fishing Files as informative and interesting as possible
with
If you would like to see anything added to the files please dont hesitate to contact me at
sportfishing@eircom.net
From people who genuinely know and understand their bass fishing and have done so for
years - this is a must for every serious bass angler.
104
The Galleries
Thursday, August 21, 2008
I have been neglecting the galleries somewhat http://www.swsfd.fotopic.net/ over the last
few weeks. This is because i've been concentrating on the 'bassfishing files' blog and
another project which is cooking for the winter. I will over the next week or so bring you
up to date with some nice photographs I have made over the last five weeks or so
Bendy Rods
Jim Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 12:14PM (+01:00)
105
Mackerel on the fly - Childs play
Monday, August 25, 2008
Dan and Ruth (aged 8 +6) have had great
fun catching mackerel on the fly this week -
I'm told the next fish Ruthie wants to catch
is a Bass! Its fantastic fishing for early
beginners in saltwater fly fishing and the
only real assistance is a little casting help,
making sure they both dont fall in and
minding sharp hooks! They learned
retrieves, knots, fish handling, a lot about
nature - plus had loadsa fun!
106
In 'Bass Fishing Files' NOW
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Fly and Lure fishing tactics for when you and the fish are faced with poor subsurface
visibility. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 07:58PM (+01:00)
107
In Bass Fishing Files NOW -
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
The eleventh specimen of our season was recorded last
evening - see all the details, rod, reel line and lure in
Bassfishing Files later this week.
A week in September
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:20AM (+01:00)
108
Saltwater fly fishing - P7 of 21 - Where should I
fish?
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Here we are a third of the way through the
SWFF section already. Looking back over
the previous six sections I can see where
some posts need to be re-written and
indeed more information added. That will
be done in time, at the moment I want to
keep moving forward at the rate of one
posting a month. That will mean by next
Spring we should be up to post number 14
or 15.
109
SWFF – Part 3 of 21 – Where is my fly
In the articles section of this blog you can find detailed descriptions of how you can
attempt saltwater fly fishing both on the The Rocky Shore and within and around
estuaries Estuaries . Perhaps you can use these quick links to access the articles at a
later time,
Looking at all that water around the coast its a big place – this is where you are going to
flyfish and isn’t it a pretty big place? What I want you to look for and indentify are places
like
Circle these places on your map – these are all possible fish holding areas. Pick some
that are relatively close together but offer different types of topography and concentrate
on those. Open your tide tables look for the next low tide, and then when the time is right
pop the children in the car and tell your wife/partner that you are taking the smallies on a
picnic/treasure hunt, hence the map and compass. Remember you will often be travelling
to these places early in the morning so a long distance journey is not recommended.
Look at the maps in the weather section of the newspaper and note the wind direction.
When you arrive at low tide look for deep pools, rocky patches and reefs, holes and
gullies, water colour, try to imagine when the tide is rising where does the water flow and
how does it flow around and within the area. Are there any ambush sites where predatory
fish will be lying in wait? Is it possible to access these areas as the tide is rising and are
these areas a safe place to fish? Note what way the wind is blowing and how is this going
to affect your casting ability/range/accuracy. Keep visiting the areas with the children or
for long romantic walks with your loved one and as the year moves closer to summer,
activity in the water should increase, baitfish should appear, sea trout, bass and mullet
will show themselves on or above the surface. Keep constant notes of wind direction,
temperature, tides, phases of the moon, natural activity. These notes will, over time
become your fishing reference
Of the areas that you have chosen perhaps two or three will have most if not all of the
110
following
This is where you are going to fish. Let these three places be your own private hunting
grounds, get to know them like your back garden. Begin to feel comfortable there in all
conditions and begin to anticipate the effects of the combinations of wind, tide, and
temperature on your fishing environment and the wildlife that inhabits the area. There is
always the opportunity with time spent at the water either fishing or simply observing to
add to that vast database that is necessary for success. For instance, you will learn that a
sudden drop in temperature (by two degrees or more) or a sudden change in wind
direction, or a slight combination and change of these factors will turn fish off for a while
and make them harder to catch. Weather will also play havoc with your casting and
mood, its difficult to get motivated at times but no one else can make you pick up that rod
and get out there!
A fishing report
Thursday, September 11, 2008
There are a number of things going on in this REPORT - probably working on levels that
can only be discovered over time and a re-read or two -
I can’t say thank you enough (to all of you) for what is a glowing example of what I am
trying to achieve through SEAi, this report alone represents to me what the Bass fishery
in Ireland is about.
Having fun, catching sporting fish on new and challenging methods, staying safe,
camaraderie, memories, all done in a perfectly sustainable environment.
I worked hard those three days - no harder than normal mind you - I felt I needed to get
the message across to somebody to demonstrate that SEAI is not just an 'aspiration, a
bring somebody fishing type set-up’. It is a proper angling guiding service that has
operated around the bass fishery in this country for six years now.
Whilst this post maybe written around SEAi - it’s really much more than that. Here in
Ireland we have a bass fishery to rival any in Europe or indeed the world. However we as
anglers seem to pay scant attention to the protection, exploitation, development and the
conservation of the species.
Its time, as IRISH sea anglers, to start thinking constructively and positively about the
111
future. To think about and act about this resource and those that need protection,
resources that have the potential for continued development on one hand and
exploitation on the other.
Rather than ignoring the in-action, rather than ignoring the inability or lack of will to
prosecute illegal offenders, (this only empowers them to continue), rather than listening to
and following blindly the rapidly emerging experts - you must realise as Irish Sea anglers
that this fishery is here and needs your support. Nobody else can do it!
It’s down to you to drive and change the in-action, to ask questions about protection, to
do something and realise the value of what we have - the potential, the expertise, the
challenges, and to acknowledge these things and do more, for ourselves and by
ourselves, for a change and indeed, the future of bass angling in this country.
Last week I fished with both the 902ms and the 802ms - and had great fun landing some
serious fish. A review is scheduled later this weekend in Bassfishing files. Bendy Rods -
Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:26AM (+01:00)
112
Wijm Brassar - Angler - Holland
Landing gear
Reel Loop evotec clw 5-8.This in my opinion is an excellent composite reel that is
reasonably priced and won't corrode unlike the innards of the scierra xda it replaced!
Thanks again for all your help and advice Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:02AM (+01:00)
In a flap
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 02:49PM (+01:00)
113
End of the week
Friday, September 19, 2008
There is no doubt in my mind at this time that this week has been particularly difficult for
bass fishing in Wexford. SEAi continues to develop its well established relationship with
French bass fishermen and this week Daniel from Peche en Mer magazine (55,000
copies per month) was here to sample the fishing and make some articles. Journalists
also joined us from Holland for the week.
Through some tough days of flat calms, north easterly breezes and sunny skies I think
we've done Wexford and indeed Ireland and its wonderful fishing proud again. Constant
comments were made about our fantastic coastline, the nice town and all its shops and
pubs, and the friendliness of the people. This is just a few of many.
To all the people invloved during the week - Sandra, Ryan, Danny, David, Ashley,
Jonathan, Neville, John, who helped in more ways than they can imagine - many thanks.
114
A day with friends on the boat
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:58AM (+01:00)
remains an influence
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
With, without
And who'll deny its what the fightings all about
Out of the way, its a busy day
I've got things on my mind
For want of the price of a tea and a slice
The old man died.
115
Autumn Bass at St Helens
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Clive takes a lovely fish in beautiful
conditions Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:42AM
(+01:00)
How I caught this Bass on the fly - flies, techniques and strategy used
116
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:07PM (+01:00)
Thanks again
Hiya Jim,
Thanks so much for the days tuition last week and the course notes etc. I certainly
learned a lot. Some of the information makes so much sense when you hear it, yet you
would not put it together without attending. It was well worth our while. Thanks again.
Hoping to put some of the techniques and knowledge to use in Dublin soon before the
water temp drops. Any tips for locations and times of tide etc etc??
Hope all is well with yourself,
Thanks very much for the notes and the invite to the blog. Thank you again for a very
interesting day yesterday. I am now a lot closer to achieving a life's ambition and now
funnily making new ones!!
I have been practicing knots and reading the notes over the course of the day (in
between bottles and nappies). The blog is very interesting. The more I read about SWFF
the more intriguing it is. I will hold the line and try to catch fish on the lures and build up
my sense of it all next season. I will get down to Clonanav in the Spring too and start the
117
ball rolling on the casting etc. Hopefully, by this time next year I will be ready to cast a
SW fly in anger!
Hi Jim
Then I feel very happy to get an invitation, Jim! Thank you very much! :-)
I am going to tell all my frieds who are fishing about your site, and I think many of them
have already been surfing around and really enjoyed your pictures and articles.
Since the bass is a pretty new specimen in our waters it is really informative to read all
your articles about the subject. The season for bass has been bad back here this year,
but know it seems to be a little bit better, but only for a short wile since the
watertemperature is approaching 10 degrees celsius, and then the bass will be far gone.
Actually I am just waiting for the workday to end right now, because today we are going
to try to catch some bass :-)
Hi Jim,
I took your advise and I went down to the beach you brought me to. I left the house at
4am last Saturday morning. I got there at about 5:45am. What a brilliant time of the day. I
stayed there until about 12 noon. I had a great time. I brought the spinning rod that I
purchased off you - what a rod. I also brought the fly rod but it got a little breazy to use.
Please find attached my prize. I returned it back to the water straight away. Any idea what
weight it is?
I caught it on a floating plug. In fact it stayed about a foot under the surface.
Hi Jim,
Well done on the 83cm fish today. Must have been great on the fly. Fished the last 3 hrs
of the rise this afternoon at St. Helens. Cloud cover was great, but the northerly breeze
made it cold in the water and not very optimistic for success! No joy anyway on fly or
plug. One other angler had a fish on a piece of free lining mackerel strip over some
shallow water. Remembered that it was this weekend a year ago I had my first session
with you. Thanks for introducing me to this exciting sport. I’ve nearly gone fly only in me
last few session but today it was also very enjoyable to fish the Sammy with the plug rod.
Hopefully will have a few more enjoyable sessions before the season ends. Would be
interested in doing any off-seasons sessions, e.g. winter species or even just working on
118
casting technique, if you were available. Alternatively, I would also like to meet at some
stages to review some of things which I have learnt and observed about bass fishing this
year and may answer some of those puzzling questions which I can’t seem to find the
answer to!
119
The pier in Howth
Monday, October 06, 2008
If you drive onto the pier in Howth right
NOW you will see a blackboard with the
following details outside a well known fish
distributor
V i s i t o r s f r o m -
Denmark/France/Italy/Holland/UK/New
Zealand/Ireland/Scotland - I share theirs
and my own experiences on fly and lure!
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:12AM
(+01:00)
121
Bassfishing Files Now Open
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Hello and welcome to all of you who are reading this post. I'm glad you have found your
way here and thank you for your continued interest not only in SEAi but in Bass Fishing in
Ireland. Over the last few months I have been busy slowly building a resource for my
website visitors that is a little more oriented towards bass fishing.
I n particular I would like to share information that is relevant to bass fishing on fly or lure
in Ireland. Included in many observations will be many topics like those below
tides
phases of the moon
wind and other weather influences including water clarity and watercraft
temperatures
fish activity
methods, techniques and equipment
flies and lures used and tested
The 'fishy feel' factor for days ahead - my best opinions on chances
If you have a specific area of bass fishing interest or would like to see something here or
on these pages then please do not hesitate to post and share it with us.
I will try and answer any questions as best I can or at least point you in a good direction if
I cant! By making this 'blog' more live and interactive it will help fishing experiences for all
of us.
122
In Novembers Irish Angler
Friday, October 10, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 05:10PM (+01:00)
o An introduction to Bass
o Behavioural patterns and ‘water craft’
o Discover how to read tides and the effects they have on our fishing.
o Fly Rod types and their applications
o Suitable reels
o The technology of a fly fishing line
o Leaders, loops and lines
o How best to stay comfortable and safe when fishing
o A brief look at some flies
o Accessories like the ‘stripping basket’
o Learn to apply your skills to a range of different saltwater fish.
o Short questions and answers session.
124
o How to improve your casting, fishing skills and knowledge.
o Techniques for big flies and strong winds
o The single and double haul
Conclusion and summary of previous discussions, the future, you and SWFF. Bendy
Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 01:36PM (+01:00)
Redington CPS #7
Vision composite - #6/9
Rio Striped Bass Aqualux - #8 Inter-
BassFlies – 2/0 White, grey and lavender hollow fleye from Andy Elliott
125
Rain, more rain and then some wind - and
fish, oh and flies! - Day Two & Three Oct
13,14
Landing Gear
Comment
Cooling conditions and chilling out! - Day Three & Four Oct 15,16
126
Andrew dropped in on Wednesday
evening far a late season session of
surface lure fishing. We had a quick chat
and a cup of tea with Colin before he left for
home. The fish were played hardball on
Wednesday afternoon probably because of
the sudden downward shift in temperature.
After Tuesdays warm, wet and windy
conditions things were now very much
different and a little difficult with a fresher
cooler feel
to the air.
falling down(again)
loosing bonnie
bending xwrap 13 walker
getting shock from fence
rolling in cowshite
having a stitch in every muscle in my body
getting lures stuck in the bumper of the car
Landing Gear
Thursday evening in
time for the opening of the Wexford Festival
Opera. Eileen Dan Ruth and I accompanied
Seamus to the opening ceremony
fireworks, which were spectacular. Earlier
that afternoon I had walked Seamus to a
potential bass fishing location, taking him
through fish lies, current developments, and
fishing strategy. We were ready for Friday’s
fly-fishing.
Friday morning was spectacular. Seamus was new to saltwater fly-fishing and over four
hours slowly managed to get into the swing of things. I managed a fish of about 3.5 kgs
128
just to keep things interesting and Seamus on his toes!
We finished the session and had a short lunch at The
Yard restaurant before session two. Friday afternoon
and things were looking different as winds increased from
the south and west. We had changed to a completely new
location and a different fly-fishing strategy. Seamus had
borrowed an integrated shooting head for this afternoon’s
session and this helped his casting and presentations no
end. I managed a nice fish in the early part of the session
just to keep things interesting but as wind speed
increased the water clarity diminished the fishing became
more difficult, the sunset however was spectacular. David
Byrne from the CFB joined us on Friday evening for a
chat and a pint or two.
Landing gear
Redington CPS #7
Vision composite - #6/9
Rio Striped Bass Aqualux - #8 Inter-
BassFlies – 2/0 White, grey and lavender
hollow fleye from Andy Elliott. Comment -
Its not always easy to catch bass on the fly.
It can be a difficult task at times due to line
management, casting, wind, footing, big
flies and distant horizons. However, all the customers who visited SEAi this week either
caught or witnessed the catching of bass on the fly. For many people who visit SEAi,
realising and discovering the techniques and strategies creates the urge to try it again
and again and then to succeed - it can be done!
Three enthusiastic and beginner saltwater fly fishers attended a workshop on Saturday
at SEAi. MJ, Michael and David (aged 16) whom are avid freshwater fly fishers now
wanted to learn the requirements for fly-fishing in the sea. We spent three hours between
09:30 and 12:30 at the theory of Bass fishing on the fly and then we took ourselves to the
sea to practice casting, techniques and strategies. After some initial difficulties in locating
my house we had a wonderful day and the craic was mighty.
We covered topics like -tides,locations, safety, biology, timings and many many more!
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 05:30PM (+01:00)
129
'committed' bass fisher - should be!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Hi Jim
On Saturday morning I walked down to ......... with only the light of the moon. I could hear
but not see large fish moving (probably large mullet). I had a few casts but with nothing
happening I decided to catch a few Zs in the field where the hawthorns end, while I
waited for the tide to turn.
I dozed off but was woken a few times by the sound of very big fish near the edge. it all
felt very fairytale. It definitely wasn't the real world, where I assume people are certified
for sleeping in fields. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 12:06PM (+01:00)
The vast mackerel shoals on our shores during late August and September are a great
example of a migratory fish. Mackerel don’t reside inshore but rather take advantage of
bait movement. Here in Wexford the shoals generally don’t arrive until the first spring
tides in September but further south they can be caught much earlier. If conditions are
favourable they can be caught right through until late October. Of course it’s a great time
for many anglers and the beaches of the south Wexford coast are often at their busiest.
130
Because of their vast numbers, suicidal tendencies and
sheer ease of accessibility, mackerel fishing is great fun
for children who like fishing or would like to catch fish in
the sea for the first time. Often within spitting distance,
casting to hundreds of fish with the simplest of flies’ life
can be fun in the middle of a blitz. The whole
phenomenon is a big visual fishing treat. Standing and
watching the water with my two guys, Dan aged eight and
Ruth aged six, they would literally scream with excitement
as the shoal moved along the surface of the sea towards
us. ‘Here they come again Daddy, look. Look.’
And sure enough as the fish came closer not only could
we see the surface of the sea boiling but we could hear it
as well. The
frantic baitfish swam as best they could,
hundreds of mackerel charging at the shoal
fleeing for its life, it sounded like the
heaviest downpour you could imagine.
They swam and hunted past us and were
She had learned to spot individual fish as they cruised and picked off wounded or
confused sprats, they were visible as individual splashes on the surface. I was
impressed. ‘We’re not after those guys’ said Dan ‘we’re going to the creek to catch them’.
The Creek as its known locally is a deep gully with high sidewalls that forms a natural
collection area for sprats. Dan said to me that he could see the seagulls flying over the
creek and that was a sign of fish. ‘That’s what grandpa says Dad!’ Good man Jim Powell.
It’s only a short walk but it takes us of the beach, which can become a little crowded and
somewhat dangerous at times. But its somewhat easier and anyway a little walk never
did anyone any harm. We arrived and sat down and watched. The seagulls had fallen
back to another feeding spot and the bay was a dark mass of hundreds of thousands of
sprats. And here they came, leisurely feeding at will, swimming through the bait ball
stuffing themselves on small fish. I cast at first for Ruth and she retrieved the spinner,
almost immediately a vibrating fish was on. The little rod rattled and shook as if electricity
was passing through it and Ruthie fought her fish valiantly! I can feel him, he’s a big one
Daddy a HUMUNGOUS one I think.
132
Then it was Dans’ turn, a fish every cast. I had de-barbed the hooks for safety and ease
of release. I wanted them both to get used to feeling the fish in their hands and been able
to hold them properly and not be afraid. With wet hands and a gentle grip they managed
this many times although its not easy with a vibrating, electro fish like a mackerel. From
then on we released all our fish simply by shaking them of the hooks and not touching
them at all. Then I introduced the fly rod, Ruthie from a practical point of view said she
preferred spinning.
At this point in time Dan can lift and cast the head of a #5 and retrieve – enough to hook
a mackerel and enough to get that ‘feeling’. He very much takes it or leaves it and that’s
fine. We huddled together over little pools and I explained to them both how the flies and
lures we were using fooled the mackerel into believing they were sprats. We examined
the mackerel we caught closely, marvelling at the colours, their big eyes and Ruthie
remembers that mackerel have a spike too! We put one in a big pool and watched it swim
around and around and I explained that they never stop swimming, we watched him
powerhouse his way through shallow water back to sea and Dan says I’m going to catch
him again and he made a cast and caught him again….
And then we had had enough, and already as we walked up the hill to the house in the
autumn dusk the questions were fired, the conversation was fishing. ‘Where will we go
tomorrow?’ ‘Do you think I caught the biggest one Dan?’ ‘Did you see me casting far?’
‘How many did we catch Dad?’ ‘I’m not touching anneee tomorrow Dan’. Its funny now,
listening as we neared the house, with the porch light on, I had heard similar words
earlier that week, but from people a lot older than Dan and Ruth. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:03AM (+01:00)
There is no doubt we should fish as often and whenever possible, if only life was that
simple! And of course if the activity of fishing is more important to you than actually trying
to quantify your catch rate or success then when is a considerably smaller priority. Some
of us just like to get out there and spend some time fishing full stop.
For those of us who take things with a view of continuous improvement then when plays
a more important role. Below are some simple rules for people beginning to bass fish on
the fly in Ireland
Next Month (December) - Seven over looked tactics Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:34AM (UTC)
134
best bass fishing ?
Monday, November 03, 2008
Arguably the best month (and most
difficult) for a big fish on the fly, November
is here. This week looks a little cooler with
sharp northerlies and north easterlies
blowing.
However tuesday and wednesday morning
look very good and present a a good
opportunity to the big fish hunter.
Water temperatures are dropping slowly
and are now at 11/12 degrees. Its a long
way from the cold of February and March
so we still have a great chance especially in the next 7 days. It wont last forever and this
is probably obe of our last chances! Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:09AM (UTC)
Holidays Over
Sunday, November 16, 2008
My sh ort holidays are over! So its back to
the grindstone. Will update the blogs over
the next few days - please keep an eye on
the new SEAi winter guiding service Pike
Fishing on Fly & Lure.
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Can you 'dead drift' a surface lure?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Dead drifting is a tactic used in fly fishing where the fly is allowed to drift with no drag in
the current. This year whilst fishing with George and Marc we 'dead drifted' surface lures
in a local estuary, catching lots of bass. More in Bassfishing Files later this week. Bendy
Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 05:39PM (UTC)
• Vertical jigging
• Surface lure fishing
• Diving Lures
• Soft lures an approach
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 02:45PM (UTC)
The link that has consistantly worked for me over the past years has been the illex hyper
8. Its almost a fail safe locking mechanism and is a definite must for this type of fishing. It
137
is better to keep things very simple and I
have found that over complicating things
with swivels or traces does nothing to
improve your experiences or chances of
fish, in fact they may not work at all.
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Thank you
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:21PM (UTC)
142
FISHING THE TIDAL RACE! PV
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Part Five (techniques) Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:29PM (UTC)
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Wexford Anglers on Irish Team
Monday, January 12, 2009
News is reaching me of James Gordon and Barry Roche - two Wexford anglers who
competed at the weekends master shore competitions. Barry finishing first and James
second places them on the Irish Team - a fantastic achievment. Well done guys.
Numbers of people
fishing with lures from international destinations has
decreased somewhat, this may be indicative of other
aspects of the marketing strategy of SEAi. Because of
the difficult and challenging nature of saltwater fly fishing
for bass, and whilst there are an increasing number of
people interested in this aspect of the fishing, it may also
have contributed to the drop in numbers of fish returns
per day during a difficult season. This is not truly
reflective of the saltwater fly fishery and in fact after two
consecutive years of tough fly-fishing conditions we hope
that the weather will improve for 2009.
Lure fishing returns do suffer during bad we ather conditions however the impact is not
as severe as that placed upon fly fishers. Over the five year reported period, numbers of
lure fishing visitors has decreased. This is part of the active marketing strategy based
towards a more fly-fishing oriented guiding service. As a consequence of the increase in
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fly fishermen there is a significant decrease in catch returns. However these numbers are
influenced heavily by two very difficult summers in a row.
GEAR; I operate the guiding service on average for 10 hrs per day – over a 7 month
season that can add up to a lot of hours in mny different environments. The weather this
year placed untold demands on rods reels and lines but also on waders, jackets and
other protective gear. I realise the average angler may not spend as much time on the
water as my customers and I – but I would strongly recommend that you buy the best you
can afford especially in relation to protective gear like jackets, boots and waders.
FISHING; I learned a LOT this year about bass fishing in very difficult weather, most of it
in relation to fly-fishing for bass. On the south and east coast there is a multitude of
variables that will influence the fish, wind, temperature, tide and rain to name only a few.
Understanding and observing these influences will help you no end in your fishing. DO
NOT be surprised where and when you will find fish even if the window is only very small.
Yes there are some hard statistics that are always associated with the words like ‘never’
or ‘always’ or ‘must’ – I will say to you now -you find the boundaries for yourself, you will
be surprised! Its not about the moon, or tide or wind, its about the amalgamation of these
influences by you and then using the information tactically.
CUSTOMER CARE: Because conditions were often very difficult during the season
customer care was of utmost importance. This extended from two sources that wouldnt
normally be as demanding. At times with strong winds and heavy rains, fly casting was
very physically and mentally demanding. Extreme care was needed. I emphasised
regularly both from a stable footing point of view and the travelling fly line, that it was
neccessary for me to watch the customers fly/fly line and its path during strong winds,
and to be extremely vigilant of waves. The second aspect of customer care was constant
communication and encouragement when things were tough as was often the case. I
normally fish very little if at all (unless invited) when guiding and most of my time this year
was spent demonstratng wind beating techniques while trying to fish effectively. Its very
important to me that YOU catch the fish not ME!
TACTICS; Soft lures, BIG flies and sinking lines – the hot items during 2008. In muddy
water wait and watch the situation develop over a tide - water tends to be a little clearer
near the bottom!
146
Be careful what you fish for!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Shark on the fly - here Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 04:53PM (UTC)
Its unique 'clunk clunk' sound and wide walk the dog action creates a target that many
bass simply cant refuse. The lure is not the worlds greatest caster but it more than makes
up for this with its own unique credentials. When water is colder and a little 'off' and fish
are not responding on the surface - then reach for the spook - it can often be the one that
gets you the adrenaline rush of a surface hit that you might hve missed.
Remember your fishing with a lure that started life 60 years ago and has remained very
little changed since then. Some things dont need fixin'. Bendy Rods - Jim 147
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:09PM (UTC)
148
Saltwater Lure Fishing - P8 of 21 - Surface lure
fishing III
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Cutting up the surface clock.
Where there is no current running you could begin to cast again at nine and at a slightly
greater distance and work your way back to three and then back again to nine, again at
an increased distance - slowly working you casting from right to left and left to right
further out to sea with each pass. If there is current on your location lets say flowing from
right to left I find that generally fish point into the current if holding, so casting from nine
back to three is often less effective.
This technique allows you to cover all of your fishing ground in front without going into the
water, to a range of say 30 metres. The next phase involves you stepping into the water
away from the shore line for about two metres and beginning to fan cast again, right to
left, wade a little, then fan cast right to left and continue until you reach a safe wading
limit. If you have done this slowly and carefully a cast behind you is often worth a try.
Return to shore, have a sit down and then move down the location a little and begin
again.
So how do I apply this to my lure fishing? Of course casting with a lure is considerably
easier but that doesnt mean you should be less patient or less careful. Simply flipping
your first casts to thirty metres along the shore and working out and around in the fan
cast fashion works equally as well from a lure perspective. In fact you may be suprised to
learn where fish lie, and covering them like this gives you the opportunity to find them
without spooking them off.
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Saltwater Lure Fishing - P9 of 21 - Surface lure
fishing IV
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
What time are the fish?
If we were to take CAST A over a normal tide rise and fall where the angler doesn't vary
his retrieve but we applied local tide flow, the path of the lure would be different at
different times during the tide.
The following rule may help you determine maximum flow of water over any time of tide
at a location during that tide. Fish activity and especially that of bass will coincide with this
water flow at different intervals .
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In the first hour of the tide 1/12th of the total tide or water
would move.
In the second hour 2/12ths of the water moves.
In the third hour 3/12ths have moved.
So after the first three hours a total of 6/12ths of the tide
has moved. For the remaining half of the tide the system
works in reverse -
during the fourth hour another 3/12th of the water moves
in the fifth hour 2/12ths
and in the last hour 1/12th moves.
During Spring and Neap tides this volume can be greater
or smaller, speeds are reduced or increased, and ranges
are wider or narrower.
For the first and early second hours of the tide the lure would travel in a path resembing
CAST C for the later part of the second hour and early part of the third it might look like
CAST A. As the tide moved into the late third and fourth hours it would look like CAST B,
and for the remainder of the tide it would begin to resort to CAST C.
So not only is this tidal flow timing affecting our presentations it also affects the timing
and the behaviour of the fish WE want to catch and also the behaviour of the fish THEY
want to catch too!
Understanding how our target species behaves in this sequence is a vital part of your
success and this is based around how their prey behaves, swims, hides, feeds, moves
around and generally behaves in the tidal sequences, flow and movement of water. Vary
your retrieves and presentations to match that of prey rather than simply pulling lures
through or across the water. In other words small fish like gobies in some locations might
be active in the first two hours and the last two hours of tide - during the rush hour they
seek cover from strong currents. Thats two different presentations you will need to make.
NEXT - Which of the twelfths is the best for fishing? Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:44PM (UTC)
This is not a miss-quote from some talking farm animal but it is a very accurate indicator
you can use for bass fishing in Ireland. In fact you dont really need to know much more
than the following short list
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1. Spring tides fish better than neap tides
2. The new moon often produces more fish than the full moon
3. Good weather conditions means good bass fishing
4. Fishing is better when the water is clear or clearing
5. Fish early in the morning or late in the evening
6. Fishing will deteriorate over time if the wind blows from the east
What this doesnt mean
During the five days of guided fishing, plans will be made initially for the week, and then
often re-made as weather and conditions dictate. Discussions and decisions are made
after and during each guided session. What I like to do during a five day period like this is
to introduce people to venues early in the week when we are not fishing - I walk them
through locations creating 'visibility' and discussing location 'development' over tides. As
the week progresses we return to these locations ready to fish - flies, lures,
presentations, locations, timing of effort, safety concerns, positions have already been
discussed and clients are ready and eager to fish. I try to emphasise advice afterall is
only advice and people are free to take or leave it - the only time I am particularly 'tough'
is when safety is an issue.
Each day that I guide I am attempting to place people into safe locations where they
have the maximum opportunity to catch fish! This is done in respect of weather, tidal
conditions, equipment and experience. In other words I don’t simply bring people fishing
every day, I hope to guide them into situations where they can learn and achieve
something from their angling experiences in Wexford – i.e. They successfully catch and
152
return a number of bass! I can’t make them catch the fish but I can assist and
demonstrate and facilitate but ultimately it’s down to the angler to take full advantage of
the situation.
If as an angler you are continuously adding more variables into the equation that only
serve to restrict your fishing and fishing times rather than enhancing them then you are
learning nothing. There is one only one-way to boost your chances and that’s to do it and
learn the craft for yourself. Bass fishing is not about an ever-increasing number of
exacting situations that prevent you from going fishing. It’s not about counting fish; it’s not
about catching the biggest fish, and I hope it never becomes competitively fished for in
this country. Yes there are many, many factors involved that influence the fish but on any
given day, on any twenty different locations, during a spring tide in summer with
reasonable conditions you can expect to catch bass!
In Bassfishing Files
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Fly fishing for bass is not always about casting and retrieving, you need to control how
your fly and fly line are affected by many and various factors - waves, current, wind,
eddies..
coming soon Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 12:29PM (UTC)
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Saltwater Fly Fishing - P10 of 21 - Where are the
fish?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lure fishing for bass in the sea whilst
difficult at times, and fly fishing too with its
greater challenges should not to be viewed
as impossible tasks. They do however
require some particular skills. Casting yes,
presentation yes, patience yes, but the
essence of this post is based around the
knowledge of 'where the fish are'.
If you spend some time with succesful
fishermen and you happen to have found
one of them
who will talk sensibly about his experiences over time,
you will quickly learn that they have several unique
abilities. One of them is that they instinctively seem to
know where the fish are, or rather they know where the
fish are going to be! The 'where' is not specifically like
what we have mentioned before HERE but rather the
'where' along many miles of coastline (be it estuaries,
current, rocky headlands, open beach) at any particular
point in time during the day. This of course doesnt mean
that ALL the fish gather in one location that is privy to only
a few people, but it does mean that at certain times under
certain conditions, you are more likely to catch fish at
location X rather than Z.
Lets go back to our 'virtual' rocky point - its 5 in the morning (June) and the wind is
blowing easterly with a rising tide. This means that three major influences are sourced
155
from a singular direction - the rising sun will shine from the anglers right hand side, the
wind will blow from the anglers right hand side and the current will be flowing from the
right hand side. This little scenario presents a particular set of circumstances to the bass
angler -
1. At this time of day the sun is low on the horizon for some time. When currents flow,
fish tend to point into the direction of current and in this case when they point into
the current they will also be pointing into the sun. They will experience lots of light in
the water in the direction they are facing for the first few hours over dawn. Their field
of vision is bright.
2. Wind blowing in the same direction as current flow tends to 'flatten' the water and if
atmospheric pressure is dropping both the volume and speed of the moving water
may increase significantly as a result of this.
3. Depending on the strength of the wind and whether the angler is casting lures or
flies his mainline will be affected by both wind and current. As a consequence so will
the presentations he makes to the fish with the fly or lure. A lure moving in a head
on collision with a predator does not induce many takes!
During the periods of dawn and dusk contrast should play a significant role in your lure
and fly colour choice. With fish staring into the sun against a lighter bckground a darker
lure or fly will appear more visible. Bass tending to hunt mid or low water in these
conditions may need to change position more frequently to view prey from different
angles to make determinations. Having to change and jostle for position will expose them
to the strengthening current, this current as I have mentioned may be stronger because
of lower atmospheric pressure and wind force and hence the fish may not spend as much
time as they would hunting in this local as they are expending energy. In other words this
simply may not be the place to fish today! Fish holding lies are often volatile and based
on subtle external influences that can change from hour to hour and day to day!
Appearing to have what can seem like the fishing powers of a Jedi Knight is based over
years of experiences coupled to a high level of sensitivity towards many of these
influences.
157
NEW PE+ Crystal Line from Cortland
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A new crystal clear FLOATING fly line now available from Cortland for fishing warm water
only! Surely a cold water solution is not far away..........
The all-new Precision PE+ Crystal is formulated with a proprietary blend of polyethylene
and special copolymers. Built on a nylon monofilament core, the PE+ Crystal’s patent-
pending crystal-clear jacket is naturally lighter than water, eliminating the need for micro-
balloons or other agents to make it float. The hard, ultra-smooth PE+ line jacket finish has
a lower coefficient of friction than any production floating line ever built, so it shoots
silently through the guides and casts faster and farther than equivalent PVC-coated
floating lines. The tough, new PE+ line jacket is also much more resistant to cuts /
abrasion and is fused to the monofilament core with an almost unbreakable bond so nail
knots hold securely and there is never any separation of jacket and core. It’s high tensile
strength virtually eliminates stretch for instantaneous hook sets and incredible sensitivity.
The PE+ jacket is also UV stable, will not absorb water, is highly resistant to chemicals --
and won’t soften or dissolve when exposed to DEET, gasoline or most other solvents.
And, unlike PVC-coated fly lines, they are 100% recyclable.
158
BASS FISHING WEEKEND WORKSHOPS 2010
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Details For 2010 will be available soon!
159
Spring day in march
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Andrew enjoyed a nice spring day today
with some beautiful sea trout landed in mid-
afternoon. Taking our time, we waited for
the strategic state of tide and suddenly the
fish were there. All fish were caught on
single barbless hooks retro fitted to the
lures. Trebles can really damage these fish
very easily. . . Landing Gear . Rod: Smith -
Troutin Spin Interboron Line: Varivas
supertrout advance braid
Reel: Shimano tecnium 3000 Lure: Sinking
minnow details available HERE
Remember sea trout are a designated sport
fish, it is neccessary to have a licence to
fish for seatrout irrespective of your fishing
in fresh or saltwater. Go HERE for more
details. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 06:36PM (UTC)
161
Spring estuary bass
Friday, April 03, 2009
When spring seatrout hunt and smolts seek
sanctuary in the nursery area of estuaries
BASS know where to find an easy meal!
Can you match the hatch? - Bendy Rods -
Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:54AM
(+01:00)
162
What we saw today the dog and I
Monday, April 06, 2009
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:43AM (+01:00)
Rainfall totals were above normal everywhere and were more than twice normal in the
east and southeast of the country. Except for a few parts of the west and northwest, each
of the summer months was wetter than normal. There were some exceptionally heavy
daily falls throughout the season, particularly in the period from late July to mid-August.
The extreme rainfall experienced during the summer of 2008 cannot be attributed to
climate change. The totals recorded fit within the range of natural variability, which is
greater that the global warming ‘signal’ at our geographic location.
June
Rainfall totals were above normal almost everywhere, with around twice the normal June
rainfall measured in the south and southeast of the country. Relatively little rain was
measured between the 7th and 16th, but some heavy falls were recorded at other times.
Many stations recorded their wettest day of the month on the 21st, when a band of heavy
rain was followed by widespread thunderstorms; 50mm of rain was measured on this day
in some places.
July
July rainfall totals were near normal in parts of the northwest, but it was an exceptionally
wet month over most of Leinster and Munster, where rainfall totals for the month were
more than twice the July normal. Heaviest daily falls this month were in the periods 1st to
6th and 28th to 31st. late on the 31st; exceptionally heavy rain caused significant flooding
163
in parts of County Limerick.
August
August rainfall totals were above normal everywhere, the third successive month of
wetter than normal weather. More than twice the normal August totals were recorded in
parts of the east, northeast and midlands, while some stations recorded over three times
the normal. The number of rain days recorded during the month (days with 0.2mm or
more rainfall) was also well above normal; there were between 20 and 30 rain days at
stations this month compared with the August average number of between 14 and 19.
A More Detailed report is available from Met Eireann HERE Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 03:57PM (+01:00)
You get
further and further away from the fishing
and then you just stop and go. Today was
like that. I stopped working hard at doing
nothing that was important and went fishing
for four hours - I missed it badly. I may
have forgotten but I remembered just at the
right time. As I stood and looked over the
water that I really hadnt seen properly since
last year I heard terns, saw Gannets diving,
swallows arriving along the coast, small
waves breaking crystal clear, then white
under blue skies. And then you catch some fish I ask myself is there a better job? Bendy
Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:23PM (+01:00)
Bendy Rods
Jim
SWFF – Part 17 of 21- Influences III Weather and the fishing environment
166
Saltwater Lure Fishing P12 of 21 - Catch &
Release
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Catch and Respect
Because time is crucial in keeping a released fish alive, work quickly and eliminate any
over exposure to air.
Avoid using landing nets.
Do not drag fish over dry sand which clings to its slime.
Handling the fish with wet hands helps to avoid removing the beneficial fish slime. 167
Remove treble hooks carefully and quickly using pliers and try to avoid lip or flesh ripping,
also avoid any contact to the red gill plate area.
When taking photographs make it very quick and always plan ahead.
Revive an exhausted fish in the water by passing water over the fish's gills by using a
gentle back and forth swimming motion until the fish recovers.
Points to Consider
If you intend to kill and keep a fish from time to time then carry the proper tool do the job.
Don’t leave fish gasping and flapping on the shoreline but use a salmon priest to dispatch
him quickly.
If keeping a fish consider keeping one that has spawned a number of times > 45 cms.
Try not to kill the fish that everyone wants to catch i.e. return bigger fish.
One thing I am sure of – hard work will produce results, it’s a question of try and try again.
Combine these factors with a few ground rules regarding fly selection a nd you are
bound to increase your chances at least twofold. If I was lost on a desert island and
presented with a choice of bass saltwater fly patterns I think there are only a few I would
choose. Firstly the all white deceiver with a little flash would be my number one choice,
this and patterns like it have caught me the most fish. The second choice would be
similar with the exception of adding some olive/chartreuse/lavender and a maybe a bit
bigger than the previous pattern, and my third fly would definitely be a small surface
popper (just for excitement).
It is interesting to note that this summer I have fished some combinations or teams of flies
and indeed lures that have helped increase the number of fish caught. A combination of
two poppers one bigger than the other is very exciting even if a little difficult to fish with.
Deceivers or sand eel patterns of different sizes fished in teams also present plenty of
opportunities with ‘induced’ take more often on the smaller fly. The right choice and
combination can often be critical so can sticking at it when you believe all is lost! Bendy
Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:40AM (+01:00)
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Pike fishing with Peadar O Brien and David
Wolsoncroft Dodds
Friday, May 01, 2009
A pleasant days fishing in Carrigmacross
with Peadar and David - the first signs of
summer - see more HERE later today
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:04PM
(+01:00)
I brought him to the location where I bring a lot of people to learn, which happens to be
the place where the net was reported to be 10 DAYS AGO. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 01:45PM (+01:00) 171
The approaching tide - Week 19/20.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Bass Fishing Outlook for the next fourteen
days HERE
You may ask what has a bird that spends its time in our towns and cities got to do with
Bass fishing!
During approaching cooler and windy weather parent swifts can spend long periods
sitting on nests close together, or on top of each other with bodies hunched and feathers
ruffled for warmth. In abnormally cooler and damp weather swifts may throw out complete
clutches of eggs before themselves congregating in clusters on walls. Swifts will take
shelter in their nests in heavy rain, even staying in for much of the day.Last summer they
seemed to be totally absent.
172
If you cant hear them screeching or see them whirling
above you house in town then consider the weather
before going bass fishing!. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 01:38PM (+01:00)
173
Easy like a Sunday morning....fly & lure
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Andrew and I took some wonderful fish on this
mornings tide. Andrew fished the lure whilst I fished the
fly. One or two of the eleven fish landed and returned
ran to over 6o cms one > 65cms.
Success came both on fly (5) and lure (6) more details
of the landing gear, flies, lures and tactics now in Bass
Fly Fishing Files
174
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 12:40PM (+01:00)
175
Bass Fishing Guides Diary 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
I have compiled the articles written for Irish Angler about life as a bass fishing guide
working and living in Ireland onto a seperate section of my blog. You can view them here
at this link. I hope you enjoy them - Jim Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 03:53PM (+01:00)
For those starting lure or fly fishing in saltwater there are often many skills to learn and
numerous equipment requirements and choices to be made. This can prove daunting to
the beginner or even the experienced fishermen. With more than 30 years of bass fishing
experience and working at my eight year as a bass fishing guide my saltwater lure & fly
fishing workshops are designed not only to help you fully understand the equipment, but
also to help you learn about casting, advanced lure fishing techniques, and why it is
important to understand various species their habitats, influences and life cycles. You will
also learn how and where to purchase and use the best equipment. Having completed
the courses you will have a comprehensive understanding of this intriguing and fast
developing aspect of saltwater fishing, each customer is provided with over one hundred
pages of notes and continued e-mail support - plus I bet too we can have some fun along
the way as we spend as much time as possible with practical application on the water.
Total Fee €265.00 per person – group rate available on request – 3 people maximum.
On the water
· Safety and a quick location audit for your safety and fish handling
· How best to stay comfortable and safe when fishing
· Learning 'Location development' over a tide
· Watercraft and ‘running down the fish’
· Correct presentations
· Lure choice and selection for any given time and location type
· Catch and Return – its much more than returning fish (discussions)
· An emphasis on returning fish even before and after the designated 'closed season' as
conditions dictate
· An emphasis on NOT killing mature fish but returning them
· Fish handling regarding
· Reviewing the different types of rods and their applicability to different types of lure
fishing
· The lure profile, colour, its action and its role in fishing when conditions are tough
· Fishing and you—common errors to avoid and positive aspects to enhance
· Advanced fishing tactics and strategies
· Confidence when handling and returning fish and making super photographs
· Learning to apply your skills to a range of different saltwater fish. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:34AM (+01:00)
Satisfying your ego with distance often can make you both blind and deaf. Blind to your
wide ripped open loops, blind to the broken wrist, blind to poor turnover. All we see is our
tag and leader crash landing some distance ahead of us and we are happy! The poor
hearing is a result of the shouting done by the voice in our head - we must cast further.
The rational and cool tones of self analysis are drowned out - we cant hear ourselves
think never mind remember the words of our instuctor.
Casting 30 yards in the local park to the background sound of summer blackbirds is
different than pushing big flies into a headwind whilst terns hover overhead and you lean
into thee foot waves. But we want personal satisfaction immediately and too many times
we are not prepared to listen to our instructor and do as he or she says. We dont practice
enough (short periods - regularly) and then wonder why we havent mastered the
technique that we paid a lot of money to learn. We dont listen because we think we know
better or somehow, magically we will assimilate the ability to fly cast before the next time
we go fishing.
Rod - when double hauling over long periods of time a more mid action rod rather than a
super fast version will help with your timings - you dont need to be as accurate ALL of the
time.
Line - dont extend the overhang beyond your ability to control it - be aware of where the
rear taper ends and the running line begins
Hauling - hauling wont make a 70 foot caster into a 120 foot caster - it will however make
178
your casting much more effecient, and when blind casting to bass over long periods
hauling will 'sprad the load', leaving you less tired at the end of the day. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 01:26PM (+01:00)
THE BLURB
THE BLURB
The essential difference between the two techniques (apart from material) is of course
delivery - one method of delivery is by a lure fishing rod and fixed spool reel, the other
with a fly rod and fly line. I have put heavier clouser minnows on my lure fishing gear,
cast, and caught bass and I have also 'fly-rodded' with soft baits to much success. Bendy
Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 07:37PM (+01:00)
Recent rumours
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The commercial lobbyists are a strong united powerful and cohesive force that constantly
tease at the commercial restrictions pertaining to Bass fishing. This is done not only in
Ireland or the UK but at European level at EVERY opportunity that is presented to them.
This type of message rings out at this time every year but only since the change in the
necessity to ‘re-invoke’ the commercial ban every year has it taken on a new note or
variation. It may keep us on our toes for a while but soon disappears over the horizon –
most of us forget about it, while this group never takes its eye off the ball and invents and
re-invents new strategies to appeal to politicians. They get closer and closer.
Having attempted to make a living from Bass guiding in this country for the past seven
years, approaching the month of may was always a nervous time as the bye laws needed
to be re-considered by the relevant minister, I mean how could you forward plan your
business if your resource could be destroyed in a very short space of time? A double
whammy a national resource that you hope are carefully exploiting by been sustainable
coupled to something that you loved doing could be destroyed in a flash. And not only for
you but for thousands of others too.
180 June was always met with a sigh of relief. So its no different this year – the rumours will
start and hopefully go away as nothing but rumours, the illegal fishing will continue, and
as I have worked very hard this year to sell an angling experience to people from
Denmark, Italy, France, Ireland, America, Holland, England and Spain - whom will leave
thousands of euros in the local Wexford economy, come the year end I will submit my
numbers as I have always done in the hope that this information is in some way a
preparation for some war chest to counter the lobbyists. Because I’m afraid some day it
may well happen – how well prepared in hard facts and figures will anglers and other
organisations like the IFSA, Bord Failte, the CFB be on that day, how strongly united,
cohesively proactive and energised will they be, to stand up and protect what is a
national resource and not just the imagined property of a reckless few who are quite
prepared to destroy it?
Fly Reels
Rio Flouroflex
Frog hair deep blue
Varivas
Sadly Rod Tye is no longer with us. The flies average in length from 6 to 9 inches,
182
because of good design and a clever use of material
most can be cast to bass with a #8 and even a #7 on
good days!
183
Bass Fishing in Ireland
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Flyer Costs Publish at Scribd or explore others: Brochures & Catalogs bass fishing in irel
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 03:23PM (+01:00)
In Italy interest for sea bass has recently started, and it would be great if I could make a
short film about you and seabass fly fishing. How are the chances...is there a possibilty to
film the capture of three or four sea bass?
I can only hope the weather holds up, its a real opportunity to demonstrate the
techniques, flies and the wonderful venues and fishing challenges that the south east
offers to the saltwater fly fisherman.
184
Opening Day 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tight lines to everbody for the coming seaon of 2009! Its
a nice day for opening, lets hope it stays that way for the
rest of the season.
These remaining SWFF and SWLF tips will be posted to Bass Fly&Lure Fishing Files.
They too will be expanded upon and re-written for completion during Spring of 2010.
These completed and re-written chapters will give me another 100000 words.
I then hope to combine these words with photos from an archive of over 10,000 to
produce a book, working title -
FISH THE WHITE WATER - Bass Fishing Wexford fly & lure.
The remaining chapters will be similar to the following headings and will complete this
blog at the end of 2009 or early 2010.
SWFF – Part 17 of 21 – Wexford - Water, wind, moon, sun, sky, the elemental forces that
shape our fishing on the south east coast
SWFF – Part 19 of 21 - Wexford – Challenges and opportunities in the Estuaries - Fly and
Lure
SWFF – Part 20 of 21 - Wexford – Challenges and opportunities along the Rocky Shore -
Fly and Lure
SWFF – Part 21 of 21 - Wexford – Challenges and opportunities of the Surf Shore - Fly
and lure
Bubble stream generation - Creating a bubble stream can often produce results where
popping wont. A buuble stream is simply a long pull of the lure through the water causing
a 'whoooshh' followed by a stop often just subsuface. Bass locate the lures through their
well tuned senses and this technique creates both longer and different sounds coupled to
a visual stream of bubbles. Can you 'walk' a popper? - If you own the new generation of
poppers then not only can you perform all of the above but you can also combine it with
the 'walk the dog' technique. Some poppers are more difficult to walk than others, some
are downright impossible but when you can achieve the combination of walk and pop its
often unbeatable. Not all poppers are created equal - The concave face of your popper is
unique to the particular model. The angle that this face is presented at is also different
across ranges of lures. Owning one popper doesnt mean 'you have a popper and dont
need any more'. Sounds, shapes, splash types, even static presentations all make
differences to your fishing on the day. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:12AM (+01:00)
Latest Reports
Sunday, June 21, 2009
With lots of fish now showing in all the systems plus the prospect of a great weeks
weather and tides ahead its all systems go. Mike hits and returns an 8-pounder
confirming Richard is a Jonah! All details of the latest catches, techniques and tactics in
BASS FLY & LURE FISHING FILES tomorrow! 187
Plus Allens SWFF Journey - Bass
Workshop May 5th, Casting Workshop-
Glenda Powell June 01st, Refresher bass
fishing techniques June 12th - JUNE 22
first bass on the fly (see above)!
188
How difficult is SWFF for bass on the Wexford
Coast?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The reality is of course very difficult - you
may be a capable fly fisherman but as
conditions dictate the fickle nature of the
fish, many factors are beyond your and
indeed my control. This 'grip' that elemental
forces have on the fishing is particularly
evident this week and sometimes, as I have
often seen before, a deterioration can
happen quickly and is often not perceived
as possible in having a negative effect on
the fishing. A breeze blowing from a
particular direction, I mean how could it?
The 'difficulties' and the 'positives' of the fishing influences are the subject of the next post
in SWFF tips. This is not a post on the technicalities of casting, line management,
presentation or similar subjects but of those ingredients that are beyond our control and
how we must deal with them too. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:59AM (+01:00)
189
A great mornings fishing.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Paul provided the thunder with his snoring whilst Nick
did a
great job on the silver lightning - Bill caught his first
ever bass. A day I will never forget, great company -
great fishing.
Landing gear and a full report of the week is dicussed
in Bass Fly&Lure Fishing Files later this weekend.
Waves of rock
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
A look at the weeks fishing ahead in Bass
FLY&LURE fishing files now Bendy Rods -
Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:00AM
(+01:00)
191
oooohhh baby I loved you so......
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:31AM (+01:00)
DO NOT worry about bass nipping the tail, or applying stingers or more hooks........
193
Allen strikes silver on home ground on the fly
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Allen asked me to work with him on home
ground for a short tide session today. So I
drove south to meet him. In very difficult
conditions he landed this beauty on a white
deceiver. His persistance is paying off as
he works at his casting his fishing his
presentations - its all coming together.
Landing Gear Redington - 9'-0" #9 CPX
Rio Outbound #9 Inter Rio tapered
saltwater leader Oceanflies - White
Decever Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:45PM
(+01:00)
194
Conditions Week 30
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Details of tides, weather and predictions for bass fishing
now available in Bass Fly&Lure Fishing Files Files.
One if the great things about this job is repeat business.
Pictured to the left with a nice fish is Jean Yves from
France who was last here five years ago in 2004.
Jean Yves is back today for a weeks guiding at SEAi
with his fishing companion -allez les bleues! Strawberries
New Season Potatoes
Cheddar cheese
Jam
Brown Bread
and during the week lets hope for some of the things
these travellers come here for - BASS! Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick
at 10:24AM (+01:00)
195
The Warmest of Wexford Welcomes!
Monday, July 20, 2009
I was working with two French customers today. We went fishing to a local spot this
morning at around 09:00 and fished the drop and anticipated the rise in the afternoon.
We chose a 'hot spot', one of many in the local and decided to concentrate our fishing
there during mid afternoon.
Twenty minutes into our fishing another angler arrived in the area, walked up to where
one of the guys I was fishing with (within two feet) and cast straight over him. No hellos,
questions, any fish, hows the weather, nothing. He caught my customers line and lure,
and I asked him what he was doing? The french fisherman cast again and the guy cast
over him and fouled the line - AGAIN - I asked him what the hell?
He said 'Yoose have the whole bay to fish in, this is where I'm fishin'! Several
pleasantries were then exchanged, I decided to move.
In a country where tourism might prove to be one of its small saving graces - I guess
ignorance is still in abundance. Not that I expect any privileges for visitors but fair is fair
when you have a whole system to fish in! Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 04:59PM (+01:00)
A Short Fairytale
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl 'Will you marry me?' The girl said,'NO!' And the guy
lived happily ever after and rode motorcycles and went fishing and hunting and played
golf a lot and drank beer and whiskey and had tons of money in the bank and left the
toilet seat up and farted whenever he wanted.
The end Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:38AM (+01:00)
196
Hurricane season arrives late in Wexford
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:51AM (+01:00)
Holidays 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
....and though the course may change sometimes all rivers lead to the sea - gone for 10
days! Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:16AM (+01:00)
197
Fish & Fly
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 11:02PM
(+01:00)
Going home
Friday, August 07, 2009
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 06:17AM
(+01:00)
198
In fact Gerry, Andy and Pat had a great time here Last Year as well - recalled at this link
HERE !
199
Bass fishing neednt cost the earth!
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Gerry friel from Donegal landed and returned 13 bass on a
short session on friday morning - he easily missed half as
many fish in the same session.
Landing Gear
Ultimately this ‘impact’ is what I try to create for my customers the readers and visitors to
my blog. By facilitating people into a multiplicity of venues, the sanctuary of estuaries, the
excitement of rocky shores, the thrill of fast moving powerful currents, the more likely they
are to see and feel the ‘Wexford experience’ that I try to create. Not only do I hope that
this provides a positive environmental impression and experience of Wexford and indeed
Ireland, but it also creates a realisation that even after spending a lifetime of fishing for
bass in these venues that you are simply scratching at the surface of the sheer number of
methods, techniques and presentations that you could make to catch them. There are no
experts, but there are many who think they are !
Today was the last guiding day of the week - a week of difficult days and fantastic days -
depending on how you looked at it - fishing was tough and became easier - the company
was superb and the shared experiences continue to make it a great bass fishing
destintion. Thanks to all the people who went through here this week.
Tony and Paul - Cork - Two Days - Saltwater Fly Fishing Workshop Bass
Pat and Gerry - Donegal - Three Days - Bass Guiding Fly & Lure
Phil - Dublin - One Day - Saltwater Fly Fishing Workshop for the tropics
Andrew - Dublin - One Day - Bass Guiding Lure
Monaghan for three days pike on the fly and home just in time around the seventeenth of
201
August for bass on the tides again all in the company of dutch anglers. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 12:20PM (+01:00)
202
Landing Gear
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
For those of you who asked, the gear used in the sequence below was as follows
Fly - Blurple - hollow fleye variant from Andy Elliot Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 07:14PM (+01:00)
1st to 7th-A number of warm, sunny days are probable, but there is a danger of
occasional thunderstorms. The alternative is very cloudy, changeable conditions.
8th to 15th-This week is usually cloudy at times but a fair spell is probable.
16th to 24th-Generally a few good days of calm, sunny weather, but one very changeable
period.
25th to 30th-There is a tendency for the weather to be more unsettled. The first autumn
rains occur and there is less risk of thunderstorm
204
get into the groove
Friday, September 04, 2009
You definetly know when you have been
trying hard - too hard sometimes! Bendy
Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:33AM
(+01:00)
This is what I have been waiting for and I guess you have too - fingers crossed!
205
Theres no doubt its nearly impossible !
Monday, September 07, 2009
Anyone visiting on the Wexford coast in the
last few days will know how far away we
are from 'normal' September weather. The
grip that the wind and rain now has on the
sea will take some time to 'settle'. Of course
today is a nice day but tomorrow there are
gales forecast so theres little chance of
stability or indeed fish on the fly in the next
few days. After a day like yesterday.........
but then its part of fly fishing, the
challenges
are not like any other fishing - its not always about
catching.
206
......into the blue
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 07:06PM
(+01:00)
Landing gear
207
Rods: Lucky Craft ESG’s – 8’-7” casting 2-16 grammes
Reels: Shimano twin powers, tecniums
Line: Varivas super trout braid – 4kgs.
Leader: Rio powerflex 3 kgs
Lures: Bevy pencil, Bevy popper, Skinny pop, Shirashu minnow, Camion, Wavy,
chinupen, and mebapen. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:29AM (+01:00)
September satisfaction
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:14AM
(+01:00)
208
Two specimen fish on the FLY - during a
Workshop!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
John Weir from Ennis Co. Clare had spent Thursday
and Friday with me working at a Saltwater Fly Fishing
for Bass Workshop. Conditions were improving all of
the time and this morning was going to be one of those
days. I convinced John to stay for just one more short
morning session of fishing. I took the fish in the post
below just at high water at a local mark on a lavender
white and grey sloopy droopy built by Andy Elliott.
Measuring in at 81 cms he proved to be a worthy
adversary and was returned after a few photographs.
Its not often that I post photos of myself and many
thanks to John for taking the time out to make them.
Brian whom was also on the two day workshop
returned to cork mid morning after a big breakfast at
cuasnog, convinced more than ever that fly fishing is
the best way to catch bass!
This afternoon John, having seen the fish of the morning and having caught some
himself, decided this was the last shot of the weekend as he was returning to Ennis –
whilst John battled on I managed another good fish for the day at 79 cms. It was great to
have someone there to witness it – two specimen bass on the fly in one day.
A big thank you to Brian and John for the company, the fishing, the pints and all the craic!
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 06:52PM (+01:00)
As light travels through water it can give us some information about the content of the
water. On calm days the water surface acts almost like a mirror. But look straight down,
and the mirror disappears. Instead you see what is under the surface. If you look further
away, your viewing angle increases, and the surface reflection becomes stronger. At the
same time more of the light from under the surface is reflected back down.
Refraction
Have you ever put a stick into the water and watched it bend at the surface? You know
it's straight, so what you see is an optical illusion. The reason is refraction. Light from
under the water is bent as it passes the surface into the air. As a result the underwater
part of the stick seems to be in a different place from where it really is.
Refraction can also make things in the water appear larger than they are. It is also the
reason why waves often focus sunlight into patterns of light and shadow on the bottom.
Once in the water the light continues to travel downwards, gradually growing weaker.
How deep it goes depends on the type of water and on the angle of the sun.
There are two reasons for the loss of light as you go deeper:
Absorption - photons disappear and the energy they contain is turned into heat or used
for photosynthesis.
Scattering - photons change direction, but do not disappear. Often the new direction is
upwards.
Absorption is what gives water its colour. Open ocean water is usually blue because the
blue photons travel furthest before they are absorbed. Water with lots of phytoplankton
(microscopic plants) is often bright green. Chlorophyll in the plants absorbs blue light, so
now the green photons travel furthest.
Pure or clear water scatters very little light. When the water is clear and clean most of the
photons disappear into the deep. That's why clear water seems quite dark when you look
straight down.
Small particles in the water (plant cells, decomposed matter, sand and mud) scatter
much more light. In this type of water many of the photons change direction and travel
upwards. Seen from above when you are looking down this type of water has a much
lighter colour.
In sea water, particle scattering and absorption has a BIG effect on your fly and lure
fishing. Just as in fog, the scattering and absorption blurs details, and if you were a fish
you might only see a short distance ahead. The light also fades faster as you go deeper.
In water with lots of small particles, it can be dark at just a few metres depth. Tiny
210
particles in the water scatter light and make everything look blurred and indistinct. Bendy
Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:40PM (+01:00)
211
Five Ninety Nine - Silver amongst Autumn Gold
Saturday, September 26, 2009
To Ian and Martin who made life easy and
fun for two days - thanks guys!
You can see some of the great experiences we had over the last two days in the
sequence below - both have already booked for Autumn 2010. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 02:05PM (+01:00)
1. Wave height
2. Wave direction
3. Wind strength
4. Wind direction
5. Current
6. Depth
7. Backwash
8. Light levels
9. Line and leader choice
10. Fly choice
11. Casting restrictions
12. Tidal state
212 13. Water condition
14. Time of day
15. Retrieves
16. Position
17. Presentations
18. Timings
19. Casting strategies
20. Safety
Go Here for bespoke solutions
Landing Gear
213
Indian Summer Workshop - with Fran and Ger
Friday, October 09, 2009
Thursday Afternoon -
Landing Gear
The temperatures now begin to fall more quickly than in any month of the year, although
there can often be a late fine warm spell of several days. The nights will be noticeably
cooler. The first frosts are more likely inland.
The depressons over the Atlantic are deeper and a greater deal of wind can be expected,
but there are not usually more than one or two severe gales.
The good spell, if prolonged delays the autumn change into November. and this, of
214
recent years has often occurred.
The sea remains quite warm but the land surfaces cool
quickly, and some fog and mists can be experienced in
many areas.
Bass fishing - Arguably the best month of the year for bass fishing Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:04PM (+01:00)
215
Daiwa Day Breaker performs at Day break!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
...
Rolfe Deppe took several bass this morning
- all on surface lure fishing techniques
Landing Gear Rod - Daiwa Morethan
Branzino 82 ll Reel-Shimano Stella Line -
Powerpro Leader - Seagaur fluorocarbon
Lure - Zipsea pop Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:46AM
(+01:00)
216
Eric le Guyader in Wexford
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Take a look here Orion Lures
217
T minus 20 and counting destination Andros
Friday, October 23, 2009
I guess at some time I had to really start
thinking about it - for the first time in months
its finally started to hit me. Location,
location, location. No amount of
preparation, equipment or planning can
replace the natural bounty that I expect to
experience at Andros South . It is, most
definitely, the location for bonefish. In
twenty days time that’s where I’ll be.
One of the pieces of equipment that I used last year and this for my bass fishing will
travel with me to Andros. The simms Dry creek flats pack is an indispensible piece of
equipment. Holding my two fly boxes, tippet material, first aid, spare spools, pliers and
camera its a great piece of comfortable gear. Long lasting and tough. I guess i'll just have
to include insect repellent, lip balm, high grade sun factor and water on the list..... Bendy
Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:54PM (+01:00)
Not only are these books full of incredible photographs but they also
contain information that takes time to digest, learn and apply.
Incredibly I found myself using many strategies from these books in
my bass fishing in Wexford this year. I highly recommend them to
any saltwater flyfisherman. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:59PM (+01:00)
The sea still retains its warmth but the land surfaces are definitely cooler, and this helps
219
towards the changeability of the weather.
The days are shorter so there is less sunshine, and the cool but often clear, nights are
longer. Gales are possible particularly near the end of the first week and during the last
week of November, but overall it can be a fairy calm month. The temperatures continue
to fall faster than at any other time of year.
1st to 7th – The latter part of this week is unsettled, with rain, but extremes of calm mild
days and frosty nights can occur with some fog.
8th to 15th – The days continue to become colder. The first effects of the coming winter
can now be felt with frequency of wind and heavy rain increasing.
16th to 23rd – Usually a fair to changeable period followed by unsettled and rainy
conditions.
24th to 31st - During this week the weather becomes more unsettled, rainy weather and
strong winds at times but often milder.
Bass Fishing - Best month of the year for bigger fish on the fly if you can take a short
weather window of opportunity. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 08:53AM (UTC)
Rods –
T
wo #7’s – Redington CPS saltwater
Two #9’s – Redington CPX saltwater
One #9 - Bloke XL50
One #10 - Bloke XL50
Reels -
Two Danielsson L5W 6nine with spare spools
Two Danielsson L5W 8twelve with spare
spools
One Orvis battenkill LA Mach IV Lines - Rio
bonefish lines
Rio tropical intermediates
Rio tropical outbounds
Rio deep sea lines Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 03:58PM (UTC)
221
A Christmas present?
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thinking of a Christmas present then look no further than
Out of the Blue - take a look HERE
For data and photos from previous years of Bass Guiding in Wexford please take a look
at the links below. I also have the .pdfs for 2005, 2004 and 2003 - these are available on
request only.
223
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 04:05PM (UTC)
A return to reality
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I have returned from my fishing trip to South Andros in the Bahamas. The words
neccessary to describe the experience are within my grasp but it might take some time to
shape them into how I want to try and best describe the last 12 days. Has it been the
fishing experience of a lifetime? Yes it has. But its been much more than a singular
fishing experience - in many ways this fishing trip has changed my life and again I now
find myself moving and thinking in other directions.
Over the next few weeks I shall make some postings here of my experiences - from the
224 people I met, the fish that I caught, the things that I have seen and learned - I hope you
will enjoy them. Below is a sequence of
photos I made on saturday morning - 14th
November. We went Kite fishing for sailfish
on a short charter off Fort Lauderdale
before we flew to South Andros in the
afternoon. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:50AM (UTC)
Landing gear
Rod – Redington Cpx #7
Reel – Danielsson – LW 6/9
Line – Bruce Chard Bonefish line
Backing – Rio 250 metres 20lbs
Leaders – Rio IGFA hard alloy mono – 4 section tapered
12’-0”
Flies – Gotchas, charlies, clousers and variants from
Bruce Chard
The anticipation that I felt on Monday morning was almost
at times
overwhelming. We had been in the US for
24 hours before flying across to Andros and
then I attended the bonefishing school with
Bruce on Sunday, more of which later.
What I had been waiting for was here at
last, this was the real thing, my first days
bonefishing on the fly.
Everybody from the lodge in our group was
up and about each morning at 05:30 for a
quick coffee and orange juice from the
dining room, breakfast was served each day at 06:15. I had a quick coffee then followed
my strict regime of sun factor application, the last thing I needed was a bad burn. The fly-
fishing gear, our lunches in cool boxes, and all the safety packs for the guides were
loaded on the jeep and we were bussed to the little harbour about ten miles away.
Arriving at the quay we waited for our guides to arrive in their flats skiffs. We donned life
jackets and speculated as to our locations and weather conditions and fly choice.
Our guide for the first day was ‘Sparkles’ and David having had the experience of Andros
before, spoke about our requirements to him – as an intro we would stalk some individual
225
fish in the morning and then try to locate a
school in the afternoon. The gear was
loaded on the skiffs, everything expertly
managed by Rick, the rods slid into their
little chutes already loaded with leaders and
flies. Out here things happen so fast you
don’t get second chances!
I removed my cap as the guide and the skiff
fell away from the little quay and
accelerated into the tidal rip that was
I held the fly in my left hand and about 10 feet of fly line outside the rod tip, I had about 50
feet lying in the bottom of the boat, I stood rocking slightly, scanning the impossibly blue
and clear water for fish then Sparkles spoke very quietly over my left shoulder the words
that I will never forget and in some strange way was almost afraid to hear
226
‘Big fish comin’ straid atcha - eleven o clock – fifdee feed’
I oriented myself on the clockface and peered into the
rippling water’
Do ya see ‘im ?
No
Twelve o clock, goin ride, fordee feed’
Do ya see ‘im ?
Led id sink
‘Shark comin ad im’ I bullied the fish as best I could but there was a sudden fierce flurry
of red and white and dark yellow as the fish on my line was eaten by the shark. The line
went slack the fish and the fly were gone.
I replay it again and again - the experience of the first bonefish that I ever caught, I will
never forget it. We had a long day ahead of us, my life was changing. We ran to another
location.......only eight days left. This surely was the greatest fly fishing in the world!
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 02:06PM (UTC)
My casting was off and I insisted on trying to put my crazy Charlie into the fish’s mouths
from sixty feet. This did nothing for my chances and of course I spooked every fish I cast
229
too, Fred grumbled several times (who
could blame him). I went and got my
camera. David was catching a lot of very
good fish; I sulked and took some photos!
Some days there is no point in forcing
things. I pointed and clicked and made my
way back over the flats towards David and
Fred. As I got closer to the pair I whispered
to David excitedly
‘Two fish,
eleven o clock at about fifty feet’.
I looked
Fred said the sharks were coming too close now as the
water was getting deeper and they would start eating our
fish, or us. Apparently they had the advantage when the
water got to ‘calf level’ I looked behind me a few times on the way back to the boat, not
sure whether my wading was attracting them or putting them off. As I was leaning over
the boat washing the sand out of my shoes Fred advised me to keep my hands out of the
water. He smiled!
We went on the hunt for ‘CUDAS as the tide was ripping over the sandbar and down the
gullies.
230
Fred manoeuvred the little skiff into a
shallow channel through which the tide was
flooding. He
took his position up on the poling platform
and asked me to be ready to cast. I was
fishing with my number nine and the Bruce
Chard ‘cuda special fly. Bruce had already
explained to me to strip fast. I simply wasn’t
ready and didn’t know what to expect –
Fred called to me that he could see a fish
holding at two o clock at about 120 feet. For
me it was always going to be easier to
distance cast – I made the cast (couldn’t see the fish) and began to strip roly-poly style,
faster said Fred. My hands disappeared into a sewing machine blur.
Then what I saw next left me dazed and confused (as if I needed more sensory
overload). The fish was swimming not from behind the fly but rather charging from the left
hand side, at least I assumed it was a fish. A closer description might have been a
prototypical silver torpedo with teeth that also had the address of my fly in its memory. I
simply couldn’t comprehend the speed of the fish travelling more out of the water than in
it, and then he had hit my fly and the reel screamed in terror at the prospect of what lay
ahead.
In the shallow water the fish ran for maybe fifty yards and then decided that going vertical
might achieve more in terms of an escape plan. There was an explosion as the fish
jumped from the water and shook his head far from the boat – so far I wondered was that
MY fish? And then he ran and jumped and tail walked again and again
This went on for ten minutes until finally he was brought to the side of the boat and
expertly handled by Fred. These were the little ones.
Fred said lets go to fish quay! I agreed, David smiled knowingly; he was in one of his
‘been there done that type of moods’ that meant – you don’t know what you’re in for
Hendrick. At the back of the tiniest sandbar in the lee of an island where two lemon
sharks snoozed in the afternoon sun I cast and hooked another renegade torpedo. The
take was fierce and I was pulled over and had to take a step forward and plant my foot,
then lean back a little. The reel was emptying rapidly, screaming in protest and even
though I had the drag nailed tight it made little or no impact on the fish.
One hundred yards later it stopped suddenly, the silence was deafening and then out of
the sea jumped the barracuda, again and again! Swimming at speed, jumping with
ferocity, head shaking and finally, finally giving up. I landed him on the beach as Fred had
poled the skiff up to the little island. He told me to step out of the water as I had one big
and angry ‘cuda on the end of my line! I looked at David baffled and searching for words
that I still cannot find. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 12:00PM (UTC)
231
A Bass Fishing Guides Diary - the last issue!
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
IA_12_Guides Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:01AM (UTC)
One of the greatest challenges that I face as a fishing guide is maintaining the
momentum that you need to provide a credible profile. That profile is evolving and
improving with each passing season. Its based on angling experiences, qualifications,
customer satisfactions, new and returning business, learning from other people. After
seven years of bass guiding the SEAi profile is founded on a genuine history of
experience and quality. Experience based on years spent bass angling on the Wexford
coast, experiences with anglers from around the world whom have brought their time,
money and breadth of knowledge to SEAi, this country and the bass fishing found here.
This weblog is a continuation and sharing of those experiences.
The quality is provided through the service, the environment, the fish and the customers
that choose to fish with me.
The people whom have helped me to achieve those things and much more are
mentioned HERE
The twelve articles can be found on the side bar of this blog! Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 10:18AM (UTC)
Bass Fishing - some fish can be caught in the weather windows but it becomes
increasingly difficult from here through to March or April. Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 02:20PM (UTC)
234
room for words
Monday, December 07, 2009
Hi Jim, Dan Smith here,
I've just finished your last bass fishing resource email, and I have to say your contribution
to the understanding of angling as a whole has been inspiring .Your website is fantastic
and you've rekindled the enthusiam I had for lure fishing for bass. Now that winter is here
I'll be turning my interest to catching big perch but like everything in fishing, conditions will
dictate what happens.
We go into our local tackle shop and whilst we are looking around we see the latest
range of lures with the hyper-realistic finish that cannot be mistaken for anything else
except a sandeel. There's no mistaking it this time they've got it right at last, this lure is
gonna catch me a whole stack of bass. Why do we make this assumption? Its because
we think that what we see and interpret as a reflection or portrayal of 'reality accuracy' will
in fact be experienced in exactly the same way by a hunting bass!
Part One - What do fish see that we dont? Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 02:57PM (UTC)
Get Hooked
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Pic as A Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 06:03PM (UTC)
235
Trained to Train
Sunday, December 20, 2009
I have always recognised both the
advantages and the rewards of continuous
professional development. I was challenged
again recently on a full time Train the
Trainer course which I have now
completed. In this constantly changing
world, skills need to be frequently up-dated
and readjusted and even here in the
angling arena its also true.
I can now utilise my own ‘new found’ expertise to re-design and re-evaluate my existing
angling workshops within SEAi and I will offer a new exciting development for 2010.
Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 01:45PM (UTC)
Bruce has designed a fly line that best handles the conditions
needed to cast, present, and fish a heavily weighted fly to the
almighty permit (and many oter species) . The most
prestigious fish deserves the most prestigious line. You need
a long cast and a delicate, accurate presentation when you have calm conditions versus
shorter casts with a powerful tight loop that will drive a longer leader with a heavy fly hard
into the wind. The hard “HPC” (high performance coating) coating and stiff mono core will
help in creating tight loops and turning over long leaders, while minimizing line tangles.
This line does it all and is available in the Teeny professional series!
236
Also excellent for many similar types of fishing, ranging from Tarpon, Bonefish, Shark,
Barracuda and anything else that requires a great presentation with a large fly.
Guess what, I took some home and I have been casting/testing them here in our cooler
waters and boy do they work - looking for a superb once in a lifetime presentation to a
cruising bass at distance then this line will do it for you.
Available in sizes 8 - 11 wt. Color: Sky Blue Bendy Rods - Jim
Posted by Jim Hendrick at 09:13AM (UTC)
237
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