- Shame on me! I have neglected to update my website for some time now so here goes…
Our 2023 season was one of two extremes. Too much sunshine and then, too much rainfall. For the salmon angler long dry spells can be challenging when the water tempreture rises but not so with sea trout in an estuary where they will ‘hold’ and continue feeding on shrimp sand eels and herring fry.
An early season break in the weather can sometimes push these sea trout back to the coastline for as little as a couple of days but from late June the ‘Foxford sea trout’ will run upstream at the least whiff of a spate. The late JJ O’Hara (and many others) from Foxford would be waiting for them late evening with his fly rod and enjoyed success over many years.
During these long dry spells salmon destined for the Moy remain at sea waiting for the rain to fall and the lower water tempreture triggers that instinctive run…if the wind is from the south they will go like bullets on the ‘express to Foxford’ and beyond.
My speciality is sea trout in salt and brackish water. Much much different to fishing sea trout in fresh water. In an estuary these fish are at their best in sunshine whether you are fishing fly or spinning bait. I call it Bikini weather. Best results in the freshwater are at night which can be very exciting. Back in the ’80’s I started salt water fly fishing the estuary with that wonderful man Petrer O’Reilly. Every day with him was an education for me. He had an extrodinary understanding of the world of fly fishing. Today I feel honoured to have known known him. Sleep well my friend.
To be continued…