A Variety of Fish in Dry Weather

It has been nearly a month since I updated this blog as I was waiting for rain but it looks like we're enjoying our second dry summer in a row. Like the rivers, the salmon fishing has more or less dried up as the Bandon awaits bigger runs of fish with the next flood. Some grilse and bigger fish are trickling through on the tides but a flood is whats needed now to bring in the new fish and wake up the old. Alas, I haven't fished for salar very much but released one more fish around the 10-12lb mark which felt like chewing a worm.

Although not exactly prolific, sea trout have turned up in somewhat better numbers this year than previous. Since the 2nd week of June, small sea trout have arrived in decent shoals. These can take vigorously and provide great sport on light gear. Put anything small, flashy and silver onto your leader and they will take it. The Medicine and Alexandra have been working a treat and my best day yielded 8 fish but hardly any broke the half pound mark.

These small sea trout have many names such as schoolies, juniors and finnock, to name but a few. At the moment there is an absence of sea trout around the pound mark but a few bigger fish are slipping their way up river all the time. Whilst trying out a spot below Bandon with my dad one night, he connected with one of these and stole the show by  returning this fish we estimated to be around the 3 to 3.5lb mark. For scale, that is a Medicine tied on a size 8 low water salmon single hook in its scissors.

On the bass fishing front, seeing as the river is so low I ventured out a few times to a couple of rocky shore marks and estuaries. Its brilliant to see that the fish are in great condition and are really putting up a good fight! Sometimes bass don't seem to be the greatest of fighters but the last few have really given a good account of themselves. The lure which has been doing the business for me, again, is the IMA Komomo SF-125. Of course I use plenty other lures to suit the ground, water depth, clarity, etc but time and time again the SF-125 comes up trumps. No big bass for me yet, the biggest I estimated to weigh about 5lbs and the rest around 3lbs.

Like most salmon fishermen I can't wait for the next flood to hit the river and for the fish to start running again but until then its great to just fish for various species. That's the beauty of living in West Cork, no matter what the weather conditions there is nearly always a chance of sport at this time of year between salmon, sea trout and bass. My next blog post will be of a report from the Irish Bass Festival 2014 which is on the weekend of July 25th to 27th. I cannot wait for this, fingers crossed the weather will behave!

Light Line Worm Does the Trick

Summer time is well and truly here! We're enjoying some spectacular weather at the moment and the river as a consequence is dropping quickly. At least if the fishing isn't too great we can gorge ourselves on the 64 matches the World Cup has to offer or simply admire the beautiful scenery down at the river.

As I mentioned in my last post, good fishing was experienced as the flood water tapered off but from Wednesday on fishing fell away. I went out for a quick cast on Friday and scoping through a few pools unveiled very little. Just as I was leaving however, casting way down the pool along a long line of Ranunculus, I felt a solid tug and was surprised to see a big 3lb plus brown trout had taken my size 4 Flying C. That's the beauty of the Bandon, sometimes you just don't know what's going to strike your lure next!

Saturday came around and the sun was absolutely splitting the stones. Not the most conducive conditions for successful salmon fishing but if they are present there is always a chance. Casting a spinner over a fish which had splashed a couple of times yielded no response. A tactic taught to me by my uncle years ago came to mind, as it was applicable to the conditions before me. I rested the fish for a couple of hours and returned with my rod rigged up with 4lb line for fishing the worm. Employing such light line is a huge risk but can be the difference between blanking and scoring. The main advantage to be gained is the presentation, as the worm is trundled down the current in the most natural fashion possible. Using heavier line compromises the upper hand gained by this manoeuvre. However, it is not a strategy recommended for using over coloured fish or if you intend to release your capture. Covering the fish after half a dozen casts, I could feel the unmistakable draw. Giving line and waiting for the fish to run I struck into something a little bigger than I was expecting... 

The battle commenced and lasted 20 minutes before the fish ran down to the end of the pool for the umpteenth time and proceeded to exit into the next. Sprinting in chest high water after the fish for a few hundred yards and some nail biting moments later, I eventually netted the 13.5lb dazzler of a salmon 3/4 of an hour after the initial take. Of course, the hook fell out in the net, I kid you not.

Good Sport on a Dropping Flood

For the past couple of weeks fishing has been slow due to low water levels on the river. Salmon were present in good numbers but proved very hard to entice, with just a few fish falling mainly to the shrimp. Some sea trout were entering the system and I enjoyed a couple of nights out but unfortunately I brought nothing to hand. The best sea trout I hooked was pushing 2lbs but it just wouldn't stop jumping and eventually shook off my size 8 Stoat's Tail.

The Bandon took a turn for the better though on Friday with water levels rising rapidly which is exactly what it needed. Saturday saw the river bowling down and spinning was the order of the day for me due to the height, speed and colour of the water. I ventured out in the evening, trying to give the river a chance to drop, and was rewarded with a beautiful fish of 11.5lbs.

On Sunday the river was in fine fettle and acceptable for all methods. On my way down the river I had a quick chuck with a Flying C and 3rd cast I had a follow from a fish which gave the bait one quick rattle and was gone again. A few more casts yielded no more interest but the evening looked promising. The next pool down was perfect for the fly so I stuck with my intermediate tip and tied on a gold bodied Willie Gunn which served me well during the last flood. Just as I was coming down to the sweet spot I saw some people walking in the field across the way and I was thinking how great it would be if I hooked a fish in front of them. Next cast and... the strollers were stopped in their tracks!! 15 minutes later and I had a sea liced bar of silver for them to admire which I estimated to be around 8lbs before I gently slipped her back.

All in all from talking to other fishermen the general consensus is that there was a good run of fish going through. I heard of only one grilse caught with most fish weighing between 8-14lbs. With the river settling down now lets see what the week ahead brings.

Early Grilse on the Bandon

Joining in on the dawn chorus Saturday morning paid off with a sparkling, stocky grilse of about 5lbs on the fly. Its great to see these entering the system now, along with some good sized springers. The best fish I heard of at the weekend tipped the scales at 11lbs.

Once again the green butt cascade produced the goods and it is without doubt my favourite salmon fly, especially for fresh fish. Dressed in sizes to suit the water level you wont go far wrong with one tied to the end of your leader. When I started fishing with the standard cascade I couldn't conjur a pull but when I acquired a dressing which included the fluoro green trigger point there was no looking back. 

Hand lining, as the fly was  coming to the end of its swing across the main current, induced this fish to take with conviction. It pays to always retrieve a few yards of line before recasting as it just might inspire a following fish to pounce. Keeping the fish in the water while being unhooked made sure it swam away with gusto. 

Grilse, especially the early fish, don't take their time in ascending the river even when the water is low. Whilst having a quick flick with a spinner on Sunday a host of trout followed the flying c to my feet and next cast it was a grilse which had just entered the pool. Unfortunately it showed no more interest but walking back upstream I could see the same fish slowly creeping its way up at a leisurely pace.

The photo above is of a similar sized, very fresh salmon I observed last year in a lower volume of water just downstream of Dunmanway, approximately 35 miles upstream from where the river enters the sea. It will be very interesting to see how the fishing develops with the next rise in water levels!