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I have finally got around to typing a report for you on my recent trip to this beautiful country.
Day 1
Early start - up at 4.30am to get ready!!! Have to be a Durham Tees Valley Airport for 8.15am for a 9.15am flight. Western Bypass oin a morning? Leave in plenty of time!!!
The group - myself Andy Campbell (my mate), Brian Jaques and Derek Snowball (Frasers), Andy Rutherford (Rutherfords Angling) and the immortal Sam Harris (evening Chronicle and Radio Newcastle) met up at the airport only to be besieged by hoards of smoggies!!!! Never thought, it was the day before the Boro got stuffed in the UEFA cup. Bet they werent smiling as much when the came back!!
Flight was bang on time and it was a short (55 minute) hop to Knock International Airport. Honestly, that is what they call the airport - it has two gates, Arrivals and Departures!!!!
Picked our car up, courtesy of the Irish Tourist Board (thanks fellas!), and made our way direct to Westport, which is only 40 minute drive from the airport.
On Sam\'s advice we stopped at the tackle shop in Westport (Hewitsons) and met up with the manager, Dougie, a Fifer now exciled to Ireland. This guy is something else and gave us all the info we needed and provided us with maps. Not only that, he took 2 and a half days off work to show us around and generally \'guide\' for us. Doug, if you read this you were a star mate!!! Of course he pointed us in the right direction for good Guiness to!!
The Helm Hotel, were we stayed for the duration, is superb. Siutuated right on the harbour front it has a great bar with live entertainment every night and serves great food.
The accomodation is based on an appartment with 3 bedrooms to the appartment. These are very clean, comfortable and well furnished.
Vinny, the hotel owner is very hospitable and makes you feel very welcome.
After a quick pint of Guiness (just to be sociable) we headed off on our first fishing trip of the week.
The afternoon was to be spent fishing for Salmon and Sea Trout on a stretch of the Dowross River at Kylemore Abbey. To say the scenery around that area is stunning would be an understatement. The fishery consists of 3 lakes and 3 beats on the river. Andy R had gone off sea fishing so Andy C and myself fished the river hwilst Brian and Derek fished one of the lakes.
We met the ghillie, Nigel, at the Kylemore Abbey car park and got our day Salmon licences (17 euros) and got the low down off him. He wasn\'t hopeful, conditions were against us and the main runs of fish hadn\'t started yet.
Unfortunatley the weather was definatley against us - bright sunshine, temperature of 23 degrees C and water levels below summer level. Nevertheless I managed to hook and return an couple of small brownies, no bigger than 9\" but beautifully marked. To be honest, catching fish was secondary this afternoon as it was a pure pleasure to be fishing somewhere so beautiful and well maintained.
Here are some of the pools on the beat
Made it back to Westport about 6 and enjoyed one of the best steaks I have had for a long time in the hotel, washed down with a couple(ish) of pints of Guiness.
All set for day 2!!!
Day 2
Weather forecast was for it to be the same as the day before but hotter!! Early morning haze soon burnt off to leave a beautiful sunny day with virtually no wind
Great full cooked Irish breakfast and we took the long walk of about 20yds to the hotels own charter boat, the White Sehorse. This is a 36\' Bullet with all modern electronic aids and safety equipment on board. Our skipper for the two days was Austin Gill and Catherine, the waitress from the hotel, decided to join us
The plan for the day was to head out into Clew Bay and see if we could find some Mackerel to use as fresh bait and then go after some Pollock. Despite trying a few of the \'regular\' Mackerel spots we only found 3 Mackerel!!! It was early in the season for them with any sort of numbers not moving in until June.
We had had a few small Pollock and Coalfish whilst we were chasing Mackerel but Austin decided to take us right out to Clew Island and fish the rough ground for the Pollock.
First drop and we were all into fish. Andy C and myslef were using some light spinning gear and had some fantastic sport with fish to 3-4lb. Looking for some bigger specimens, Austin took us out to the west side of Clew Island so we were actually fishing 26 miles offshore and in the Atlantic Ocean!!
Boy did this guy know his stuff. Straight away we were hitting bigger fish and had some tremendous sport for the next 3 hours. We eventually finished the day with 200+ Pollock to 7lb, Cod, Coalies, Mackerel, Ling, Octopus, Sandeel (more bait!) and Dogfish. All but a handful of the fish were safely returned
Clew Island
Everyone into fish
Catherine with a fine pair of Pollock
Back to the Helm for some more of the black stuff!!!
Day 3
Our final days fishing. Austin has decided that the conditions (tide and weather) are good to go for some rays so we head 17 miles out into Clew Bay.
Frozen Mackerel is the bait of choice. It would have been fresh but we didn\'t catch enough
This will be fished on a running ledger on the sandy areas of the bay
After 10 minutes of fishing Andy was in. No ray but a good dogfish of around 4lb. For the next hour we didnt connect with a single ray but boated around 20 \'dogs\' up to 6lb
It was decided a move was in order and we headed further out into the bay to the east side if Clew Island. What a move this turned out to be!!
For the next 3-4 hours we were hitting rays and dogs on virtually every cast. By the end of the session we had landed, and returned, over 100 Thirnback Rays and 40 dogfish!!! The rays were up to 7lb and the dogs up to 6lb
Andy lifts into another Thornback Ray
A good Thornback
Yet another for Andy (Austin with ANOTHER cup of tea in the background!)
The Harbour at Westport. The Helm is the orange building in the distance
In Conclusion
This was a fantastic trip!!!
The hospitality shown us was second to none. It was unbelievable how helpful everyone was, and special thanks have to go to Vinny and his family, Austin, Doug and Catherine for making it a memorable few days.
The accomodation was superb, as was the food and ale, and the fishing was even better!!
It is hard to think we can take off from Durham Tees Valley at 9.15 and be fishing in Ireland by 1pm
I would recommend this trip to anyone. I have already booked up for June next year and I am planning a trip in September if anyone is interested. Even if you are not a sea angler, the amount of game fishing in the area is unreal and can easily be arranged through Doug in the tackle shop. Lough Mask is also only a short drive away
If anyone is planning their own trip contact me for the details
Costs
Flight £27.50 return from Durham Tees Valley to Knock International
Car parking at the Airport for 4 days £24
3 days B&B at the Helm and two days on the charter boat £140 pp (200 euros)
Fishing - Priceless
Day 1
Early start - up at 4.30am to get ready!!! Have to be a Durham Tees Valley Airport for 8.15am for a 9.15am flight. Western Bypass oin a morning? Leave in plenty of time!!!
The group - myself Andy Campbell (my mate), Brian Jaques and Derek Snowball (Frasers), Andy Rutherford (Rutherfords Angling) and the immortal Sam Harris (evening Chronicle and Radio Newcastle) met up at the airport only to be besieged by hoards of smoggies!!!! Never thought, it was the day before the Boro got stuffed in the UEFA cup. Bet they werent smiling as much when the came back!!
Flight was bang on time and it was a short (55 minute) hop to Knock International Airport. Honestly, that is what they call the airport - it has two gates, Arrivals and Departures!!!!
Picked our car up, courtesy of the Irish Tourist Board (thanks fellas!), and made our way direct to Westport, which is only 40 minute drive from the airport.
On Sam\'s advice we stopped at the tackle shop in Westport (Hewitsons) and met up with the manager, Dougie, a Fifer now exciled to Ireland. This guy is something else and gave us all the info we needed and provided us with maps. Not only that, he took 2 and a half days off work to show us around and generally \'guide\' for us. Doug, if you read this you were a star mate!!! Of course he pointed us in the right direction for good Guiness to!!
The Helm Hotel, were we stayed for the duration, is superb. Siutuated right on the harbour front it has a great bar with live entertainment every night and serves great food.
The accomodation is based on an appartment with 3 bedrooms to the appartment. These are very clean, comfortable and well furnished.
Vinny, the hotel owner is very hospitable and makes you feel very welcome.
After a quick pint of Guiness (just to be sociable) we headed off on our first fishing trip of the week.
The afternoon was to be spent fishing for Salmon and Sea Trout on a stretch of the Dowross River at Kylemore Abbey. To say the scenery around that area is stunning would be an understatement. The fishery consists of 3 lakes and 3 beats on the river. Andy R had gone off sea fishing so Andy C and myself fished the river hwilst Brian and Derek fished one of the lakes.
We met the ghillie, Nigel, at the Kylemore Abbey car park and got our day Salmon licences (17 euros) and got the low down off him. He wasn\'t hopeful, conditions were against us and the main runs of fish hadn\'t started yet.
Unfortunatley the weather was definatley against us - bright sunshine, temperature of 23 degrees C and water levels below summer level. Nevertheless I managed to hook and return an couple of small brownies, no bigger than 9\" but beautifully marked. To be honest, catching fish was secondary this afternoon as it was a pure pleasure to be fishing somewhere so beautiful and well maintained.
Here are some of the pools on the beat
Made it back to Westport about 6 and enjoyed one of the best steaks I have had for a long time in the hotel, washed down with a couple(ish) of pints of Guiness.
All set for day 2!!!
Day 2
Weather forecast was for it to be the same as the day before but hotter!! Early morning haze soon burnt off to leave a beautiful sunny day with virtually no wind
Great full cooked Irish breakfast and we took the long walk of about 20yds to the hotels own charter boat, the White Sehorse. This is a 36\' Bullet with all modern electronic aids and safety equipment on board. Our skipper for the two days was Austin Gill and Catherine, the waitress from the hotel, decided to join us
The plan for the day was to head out into Clew Bay and see if we could find some Mackerel to use as fresh bait and then go after some Pollock. Despite trying a few of the \'regular\' Mackerel spots we only found 3 Mackerel!!! It was early in the season for them with any sort of numbers not moving in until June.
We had had a few small Pollock and Coalfish whilst we were chasing Mackerel but Austin decided to take us right out to Clew Island and fish the rough ground for the Pollock.
First drop and we were all into fish. Andy C and myslef were using some light spinning gear and had some fantastic sport with fish to 3-4lb. Looking for some bigger specimens, Austin took us out to the west side of Clew Island so we were actually fishing 26 miles offshore and in the Atlantic Ocean!!
Boy did this guy know his stuff. Straight away we were hitting bigger fish and had some tremendous sport for the next 3 hours. We eventually finished the day with 200+ Pollock to 7lb, Cod, Coalies, Mackerel, Ling, Octopus, Sandeel (more bait!) and Dogfish. All but a handful of the fish were safely returned
Clew Island
Everyone into fish
Catherine with a fine pair of Pollock
Back to the Helm for some more of the black stuff!!!
Day 3
Our final days fishing. Austin has decided that the conditions (tide and weather) are good to go for some rays so we head 17 miles out into Clew Bay.
Frozen Mackerel is the bait of choice. It would have been fresh but we didn\'t catch enough
This will be fished on a running ledger on the sandy areas of the bayAfter 10 minutes of fishing Andy was in. No ray but a good dogfish of around 4lb. For the next hour we didnt connect with a single ray but boated around 20 \'dogs\' up to 6lb
It was decided a move was in order and we headed further out into the bay to the east side if Clew Island. What a move this turned out to be!!
For the next 3-4 hours we were hitting rays and dogs on virtually every cast. By the end of the session we had landed, and returned, over 100 Thirnback Rays and 40 dogfish!!! The rays were up to 7lb and the dogs up to 6lb
Andy lifts into another Thornback Ray
A good Thornback
Yet another for Andy (Austin with ANOTHER cup of tea in the background!)
The Harbour at Westport. The Helm is the orange building in the distance
In Conclusion
This was a fantastic trip!!!
The hospitality shown us was second to none. It was unbelievable how helpful everyone was, and special thanks have to go to Vinny and his family, Austin, Doug and Catherine for making it a memorable few days.
The accomodation was superb, as was the food and ale, and the fishing was even better!!
It is hard to think we can take off from Durham Tees Valley at 9.15 and be fishing in Ireland by 1pm
I would recommend this trip to anyone. I have already booked up for June next year and I am planning a trip in September if anyone is interested. Even if you are not a sea angler, the amount of game fishing in the area is unreal and can easily be arranged through Doug in the tackle shop. Lough Mask is also only a short drive away
If anyone is planning their own trip contact me for the details
Costs
Flight £27.50 return from Durham Tees Valley to Knock International
Car parking at the Airport for 4 days £24
3 days B&B at the Helm and two days on the charter boat £140 pp (200 euros)
Fishing - Priceless
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