Lurefish Ireland

I took a spin down to Arklow over the weekend to do a little lure fishing for flounder and I bumped into my friend David. We spent more time chatting than fishing but we still managed to catch a few all the same. Great fun on the light gear.

Check out David's blog too, he's posted a few more photos.
http://ecoastfishing.blogspot.com/2012/05/more-lrf-flatties.html


 




My Set-up:
Rod: Major Craft Solpara7' 3" (0.5-5g) Solid Tip
Reel: Shimano Rarenium CI4 2500Ra
Line: Sunline Rockfish 0.6PE
Lures: Curl-tailed sp's on 2 - 3g jig heads

Duo Spearhead Ryuki (50mm, 4.5g, floating)
Duo Spearhead Ryuki (50mm, 4.5g, floating)
Smith Panish 55 (2.7g, floating)
Smith Panish 55 (2.7g, floating)
Illex Flat Fry 50 (2.3g, suspending)
Rapala MaxRap (50mm, 2g, suspending)
River2Sea Baby Minnow (50mm, 2.5g, floating)
Damiki Mu (45mm, 4.5g, suspending)
Damiki Mu (45mm, 4.5g, suspending)
River2Sea Humbug Minnow (4.5mm, 5g, sinking)

It was an early start for this weekends fishing but I was already awake when the alarm went off at 4:30 am, the gear was ready and waiting at the front door, a quick bite to eat and I was on the road. I would be meeting up Stephen from Irish Sport Fishing and heading to St Mullins in Co. Carlow for a spot of Shad fishing on the river Barrow. By 6:30 am we had arrived in St Mullins, had rigged up and were fishing away.




It didn't take Stephen too long to catch his first ever Shad and a fine fish it was too, tipping the scales at 3 lbs. The Shad seemed to pass through in waves and we were both quickly into a few more fish, all on the trusty blue and silver Tasmanian Devil. We fished through until just before low tide and were just thinking about taking a break for lunch but decided to give one more spot a few casts before we did. First cast and I was into a decent fish, it went well too in the shallow water, tipping the scale at an ounce shy of 3 lbs. We had a few more casts but the fishing seemed to have gone a bit quiet at that stage, so we took the opportunity to take a break and grab a bite to eat. That's one of the great thinks about St Mullins, there is a lovely little café right on the river, the Mullichain Café. So after a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, it was time to get back to the fishing.







For the afternoons fishing we were joined by my friend Ronan, who had fished St Mullins with me a few weeks ago. Ronan was determined to catch a few Shad on the ultra light gear and his determination soon paid off, with a couple of Shad in quick succession. After seeing how much fun he was having catching the shad on the lighter gear, I had to get in on the action too. So I grabbed my lighter gear from the car and was soon into a fish, I can tell you on a 1-9g rod they go well. The three of us fished on until about 6:30 by which time the fishing had slowed up, so we decided to call it a day. I think Stephen and I ended up catching about twelve fish or so each, with a few of those being around the three pound mark and I think Ronan ended up catching seven fish.







Just in case anyone isn't familiar with this particular species, the Twaite Shad is a member of the herring family and like the Salmon is anadromous. Each year this elusive species migrates up the rivers of southern Ireland from the sea to seek out gravel beds and spawn. Whilst they are quite a hard fighting fish and provide good sport on lighter gear, the Shad are a surprisingly delicate and if you are considering fishing for them, please return them to the water quickly and take the time to allow them to recover before releasing them.

My Setups
Rod:  Cormoran TR4 7' 6-28g / Cormoran ULX 1-9g
Reel: Shimano Rarenium CI4 2500
Line: Sunline 4x4 Momentum / Sunline Rockfish 0.6PE
Leader: Sunline Siglon FC
Lure: Tazmanian Devil

Stephen's Setup
Rod: Diawa Branzino
Reel: Shimano Rarenium CI4 4000
Lure: Tazmanian Devil

Ronan's Setups
Rod:  Teklon Concept Spin 802ML / Cormoran ULX 1-9g
Reel: Shimano Technium 4000 / Shimano Rarenium CI4 2500
Lure: Tazmanian Devil and Small Pirks 
 

A few more Brown Trout from the last couple of sessions lure fishing on the river Dodder. As you can see Sam and I have been concentrating on trying to catch the trout with small plugs recently and have had some success, plenty of fish but no particularly big ones. 















My Lure Set-up:
Rod: MajorCraft Solpara 7'3" 0.5-5g
Reel: Shimano Rarenium CI4 2500Ra
Line: Sunline Small Game 3lb Flurocarbon mainline / Sunline Rockfish 0.3PE braid
Lures: Illex Tiny Fry (50mm,2.7g, Suspending), Rapala F5, River2Sea Sinking Humbug

Sam's Set-up:
Rod: Rod: Reins Raz 7' 6"-0.4-7g
Reel: Daiwa Certate 2500 
Line: Varivas 0.3 light game
Leader: Triple fish 6lb
Lures: Rapala F5, River2Sea Sinking Humbug

First bass of the season for Neil, caught on his recent trip to Cobh in Co. Cork. He was fishing with his friend James MacSweeney, who also just happens to be a bass guide in the area. Neil and James were fishing Cork Harbour aboard a Bella Vista self drive Warrior 175, however the weather was far from ideal and the pair knew that it would make the fishing a little tricky.



They tried a few of the reefs outside the harbour but the weather forced them to seek out more sheltered water. A change of venue later and after a couple of more comfortable drifts, Neil got what he was after - his first bass of the year. He was bouncing a soft plastic lure on a 15 gram jig head very gently along the bottom, when he had a very subtle take. As the fish inhaled the lure and Neil lifted into the fish he quickly realized that it was a good one. The fish took off on a couple of nice runs with plenty of head shakes but Neil carefully guided the fish into the net which James had ready and waiting. The fish was in great condition and after couple of photos was released to be caught again another day. 


Rod: Diawa Branzino
Reel: Shimano Stradic ci4 4000
Line: Diawa Tournament 8 strand braid 20lb
Leader: Sunline Siglon 14lb fluorocarbon
Lure:  15g jig head and soft plastic worm

I decided to try something a little different this weekend and to meet up with my mate Ronan and head to St Mullins in county Carlow to see if any Shad had begun to run in the Barrow yet. It's still a little early for the Shad and the big runs will most likely coincide with the next big spring tides but I still figured that there might be a few around. We weren't disappointed and after a few lost fish we both landed an early season Shad each.







My Setup
Rod:  Cormoran TR4 7' 6-28g
Reel: Shimano Rarenium CI4 2500Ra
Line: Sunline 4x4 Momentum
Leader: Sunline Siglon FC
Lure: Tazmanian Devil

Ronan's Setup
Rod:  Teklon Concept Spin 802ML
Reel: Shimano Technium 4000
Lure: Tazmanian Devil 
 

Still at the trout fishing on the river Dodder, although it's very much been a case of the ones that got away recently. We've had plenty of follows on the lures, lost some cracking fish at the net but still managed to land a fish or two, on both lures and also on the dry fly.






I also went exploring some other stretches of the Dodder that I haven't fished in years and over the weekend I stumbled on this unusual bit of structure in the river, yes that is a car on its roof in the middle of the river in the suburbs of Dublin. It's actually one of the many car that were washed into the river over the winter, when flash flooding turned the Dodder into a raging torrent but why it's still in there I do not know.



My Lure Set-up:
Rod: MajorCraft Solpara 7'3" 0.5-5g (solid tip)
Reel: Shimano Rarenium CI4 2500Ra
Line: Sunline Small Game 3lb Flurocarbon mainline / Sunline Rockfish 0.3PE braid
Softplastic Lures: Illex Jacoknuckle 2" and Ma Worm Action Fish #1.8
Jighead: 1/80 oz Tungsten bead jighead size 10 hook
Hardplastic lures: Illex Tiny Fry (50mm,2.7g, Suspending), Rapala's

Sam's Set-up:
Rod: Rod: Reins Raz 7' 6"-0.4-7g
Reel: Daiwa Certate 2500 Line: Varivas 0.3 light game
Leader: Triple fish 6lb
Softplastic Lures: Illex Jacoknuckle 2" and Maria Ma Worm Action Fish #1.8
Jighead: 1/80 oz Tungsten bead jighead size 10 hook

Over the past few weeks Sam and I have been focusing our efforts on freshwater lure fishing and taking a bit of a break from the LRF (light rock fishing), partly to try different things but mainly because the salt-water fishing has been very hit and miss recently. However last weekend we decided to venture back and if it had improved.

We were joined by Jay La Roche of South East Lure Angling, who made the trip from Wexford to meet up and fish with us. The plan was to start at Dun Laoghaire Harbour and maybe move on to other marks if the fishing wasn't too good. When we arrived the conditions looked perfect for LRFing unfortunately though, the fish had other ideas. After a bit of a slow start we managed to winkle out a few few Long Spined Scorpions, Rock Goby and a Pouting but with the fishing not improving a move was on the cards.We headed further south to try a few marks around Greystones and again were greeted by flat calm sea but not much better fishing. We did pick up a pollock and a scorpion before calling it a night.

It was great to finally meet up with Jay and I'm sure we'll arrange a few more sessions over the coming month, pity that the fish weren't about in any numbers this time but what can you do.

This weekend marked the opening of the trout season on my local river, the Dodder. It's where I caught my first fish many years ago and for that reason I've always been very fond of this little river. Well, that and the fact that it also offers some fantastic trout fishing on my doorstep, right in the heart of Dublin city.

I was joined on the opening day fellow Lurefish Ireland angler Sam and Stephen of Irishsportfishing.com. However we wouldn't be fishing the fly this time, instead we would be using the kind of ultra light lure gear that we use for LRF (light rock fishing) and fishing both hard and soft plastics for the trout. We actually fished the soft plastics for the trout in a slightly different way this time and used ultra light 1/80 Oz Tungsten bead jig heads. This allowed us to fish the small soft plastics more like a fly, allowing them to sink slowly and come around in the current as we slowly worked them. It proved to be a very effective technique and accounted for a few decent fish over the weekend. Anyway I'll let the photos do the taking.



Here's the kind of gear we were using for the trout over the weekend, Illex Jacoknuckle and Maria Ma Worm Action Fish soft plastics, 1/80 oz Tungsten bead jig heads, high quality fluorocarbon and braided lines.



My Set-up: Rod: MajorCraft Solpara 7'3" 0.5-5g (solid tip)
Reel: Shimano Rarenium CI4 2500Ra
Line: Sunline Small Game 3lb Flurocarbon mainline / Sunline Rockfish 0.3PE braid
Softplastic Lures: Illex Jacoknuckle 2" and Ma Worm Action Fish #1.8
Jighead: 1/80 oz Tungsten bead jighead size 10 hook
Hardplastic lures: Illex Tiny Fry (50mm,2.7g, Suspending)

Sam's Set-up:
Rod: Rod: Reins Raz 7' 6"-0.4-7g
Reel: Daiwa Certate 2500 Line: Varivas 0.3 light game
Leader: Triple fish 6lb
Softplastic Lures: Illex Jacoknuckle 2" and Maria Ma Worm Action Fish #1.8
Jighead: 1/80 oz Tungsten bead jighead size 10 hook

I must admit that I'm really enjoying freshwater lure fishing at the moment and after last weeks successful perch fishing session, I decided to have another go again this week. However this time I was joined by fellow Lurefish Ireland angler, Sam. and not only would we be fishing for the perch but also seeing if we could perhaps tempt a pike or two with a lure. I've had so much fun catching perch on my recent freshwater excursions that I haven't really given the pike the attention they deserve, this week however would be a little different. I had decided to focus on them a little more whilst Sam would focus on the perch.

We set up at our first mark with Sam fishing both drop shot and jig heads for the perch and me fishing a Tsunami 4" Swirl tailed shad for the pike. I was sure that this mark would throw up a few perch but for whatever reason they just didn't seem to be about or interested in the lures. Meanwhile I was making my way along the river bank looking for that elusive pike, I had just about made my way back to Sam and was about to suggest a change of venue when the rod arched over, a pike at last and a decent one too. I hadn't really fished properly for pike in a few years so I was absolutely delighted when this little beauty slipped into the net, a fine river pike of about 6.5 - 7lb or so. We fished on for another while but with no sign of any more pike or perch, a change of venue was called for.

The second mark didn't disappoint and the perch were as entertaining as ever, providing Sam and I with a great mornings fishing. The big perch eluded us once more but that didn't matter, we still had lots of fun catching them on the light gear and a variety of soft plastics. We also managed to catch a little dace on the soft plastics too and a jack pike of about 1.5lb or so to finish up the day. A very enjoyable days fishing it has to be said.











My Perch Set-up: Rod: Major Craft Solpara7' 3" (0.5-5g) Solid Tip Reel: Shimano Rarenium 2500
Line: Sunline 3lb Small Game FC Lures: Spro, Maria and Manns 1.5" paddle-tailed sp's on 1-2g jig heads
My Pike Set-up: Rod: Cormoran TR4 7' 6-28g Reel: Shimano Rarenium 2500 Line: Sunline Momentum 4x4 15lb braid Lure: Tsunami 4" Swirl-tailed shad
Sam's Perch Set-up: Rod: Reins Raz 7' 6"-0.4-7g
Reel: Daiwa Freams Line: 3lb FC Lures: Illex, Maria and Manns 1.5" - 2" paddle-tailed sp's on 1-2g jig heads, Ecogear Strawtails on a drop shot
Sam's Pike Set-up: Rod: Graphite Leader Argento Reel: Daiwa Certate 3000 Line: Sunline Momentum 4x4 15lb braid Lures: 4" - 6" paddel-tailed soft plastics

I figured I'd try something a little different this weekend as the sea fishing (lrf) over here has been relatively poor recently, so I decided to venture inland to freshwater in search of Perch once more. I must admit that these little spikey warriors are fast becoming one of my favourite fish to target, they're more than happy to take a lure and they go well on light gear too. This week I headed to a river mark known to produce the odd large perch, in the hope of catching that elusive 2 or 3lb perch.

I was fishing with the same set-up as I use for a lot of my LRF (light rock fishing), a MajorCraft Solpara 0.5-5g (solid tip), Rarenium 2500 , 3lb Sunline Small Game FC straight through and fishing small 1.5" paddle-tailed soft plastics on 1-2g jig heads. I got to work making my way along the bank, slowly bouncing the small soft plastic lure along the bottom and it wasn't too long before the little lure got the attention of the first perch of the day. It wasn't a particularly big fish but it was the first of many. Unfortunately though I didn't find that big perch this time but I did catch plenty of perch all the same and must have caught about 25 fish or so in the end, none particularly big but great fun all the same.














Finally, I’m delighted to be able to be announce that I am now a part of the UK and Ireland Sunline Team, along with fellow lure fanatics Matt Newcombe, Matt Jones and Paul Gunning. It’s an honour to be a part of the team and to be associated a company such as Sunline.




I'm very much looking forward to putting a few of the quality Sunline lines through their paces over the coming weeks and months.This week I had the opportunity to try out Sunline's Small Game FC in 3lb and I have to say that first impressions are very good indeed. The Sunline Small Game FC performed really well, its a nice soft line and lays on the reel nicely, knots well, good sensitivity and doesn't stretch too much. I quite like using fluorocarbon lines straight through for certain situations, it simply saves time tying and re-tying leaders and as a result makes chopping and changing rigs a little easier. I'm looking forward to using it a little more over the coming weeks for both my ultra light freshwater fishing and LRF.



My Set-up: Rod:  Major Craft Solpara7' 3" (0.5-5g) Solid Tip Reel: Shimano Rarenium 2500
Line: Sunline 3lb Small Game FC Lures: Spro, Maria and Manns 1.5" paddle-tailed sp's on 1-2g jig heads 

For a while now Sam and I have been talking about the idea of fishing some of the beaches over here with the LRF (light rock fishing) gear but the unrelenting high winds and big seas that we've had to endure over here recently have made it an impossible task. However over the weekend we finally got a little respite, the wind finally died down and a plan was hatched to give the beaches a go. So Sam, Neil and Steve headed off to a well known beach mark at low tide armed not with beach casters but instead with ultra light LRF gear.You really have to pick your battles with this style of fishing and it was a perfect night to try the beaches. Unfortunately the fish didn't play ball this time but the lads still ended up getting a few whiting all the same on 2-3g jig heads and Gulp Sandworms / Ecogear. Some how I don't think this will be the end of our beach LRF and we've already begun to hatch a few plans for later in the year when the fishing picks up a bit, watch this space...





In the meantime however Pat and I had arrived at a nearby harbour and were finding the fishing equally tricky but the lads decided to drop up for a chat and to see how we were getting on.We managed to winkle out a few fish but it was slow fishing and after a while the lads understandably decided to call it a day leaving Sam and I to soldier on. The harbour clearly wasn't fishing so another change in venue was in order, that's the great thing about this style of fishing, you don't need to carry much gear so its very easy move around and cover more ground. We headed to a rock mark that has produced for us in the past and sure enough it didn't disappoint, persistence paid off in the end and we caught plenty of Whiting and Rockling to finish off the night.

Some tasty looking Illex and Maria soft plastics, perfect for LRF (light rock fishing) and best of all they are available right here in Dublin. Sam picked up this lot from Henry's Tackle Shop over the weekend and to tell you the truth I didn't realise that Henry's stocked this kind of stuff but there you go. I've actually been using some of those Maria Ma Worms for the past year or so and have done well with them, so I'm looking forward to trying some of the other lures in the range. As for the Illex / Jackall JacoKnuckle, I've not used them before but they certainly look promising and I'm sure they'll do well.
Illex JacoKnucle 2" (Pink)
Illex JacoKnucle 2" (Silver)
Maria Zero Head Drift CR #4  (Resin jig heads with luminous eyes)
Maria Ma Worm Action Fish #1.8
Maria Ma Worm Shirauo #2
Maria Ma Worm Shirauo #1.5
Maria Ma Worm Dart Squid #1.5 

Over the past few weeks Sam and I have had a few new faces join us for the odd LRF session or two, namely Neil, Pat, Derek and Stephen. I have to say that it's fantastic to see a few more lads taking an interest in this style of fishing, leaving the bait rods at home, getting out there with ultra light gear and just giving it a go. Even though the fishing recently has been tough going, as it always is really at this time of year, we still got out there, caught a few fish and most importantly had fun. Anyway here's a few photos from the last couple of sessions with the lads.


Neil with his first LRF caught fish, a Sea Scorpion
Pat with his first LRF caught whiting
Derek with his first LRF caught whiting

Check out Irish Sport Fishing, it’s a fantastic new website full of excellent photos and well written articles dedicated to showcasing the variety of fishing Ireland has to offer. The site is the work of the accomplished and talented angler, Stephen Brennan, who I'm sure will be no stranger to many of the Irish readers of this blog. You might also recognise some other familiar faces in Stephen's latest article as he joined Sam and I over the weekend as we introduced Pat and Derek to LRF (light rock Fishing).  Check it out

http://www.irishsportfishing.com/2012/01/30/lrf-no-stress-fishing/


Image by Stephen Brennan of Irishsportfishing.com