fly-fishing small rivers in Ireland?

[ColdWaterFshr]

Anyone have any firsthand experience fishing over there?  Heading that way in a couple weeks.  Will be mostly in SW corner of the country and also around Killarney.  Planning on bringing a travel rod.  Hopefully can rent some waders from a shop.  Would like to catch a few brown trout.  Looks like they are well established in most of the waters.  Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.

[fishinwrench]

They love the barter system, take lots of fu-fu beer and a handful of tan stimulators.

[Gavin]

Most fishing is on private property, so permits may not be required. You can purchase access through local tackle shops, pubs, inns, etc. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I had a buddy that went and he got a guide.  They dappled live daddy long leger's for trout from a wooden boat. 

Report with pics if you get to go out please.   

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

They dappled live daddy long leger's for trout

They call'em Paddy long leger's.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Back from my trip a couple days ago.  Took everyone's advice and hired me a guide.  Thomas Ankettell.  Found him on a directory of available guides somewhere on the web and his resume of accomplishments looked good enough for ole Paul Dallas.  He is a retired electrician and now vice captain of the Irish fly-fishing team or something or other, and has travelled all around with them.  

So he took me to a private stretch of water on upper 1/3rd of the Munster Blackwater near a very small town of Banteer on the county Cork/Kerry border.  Beautiful river about 40 minutes outside of Killarney, but mostly known for its salmon runs.  Brown trout get up to decent size, but most fisherman are there for the salmon.  150 Euro seemed like a bargain for picking me up early at a nearby pub and dropping me off, providing fly rods, waders and boots, and all flies, and about 5 hours of fishing.

So he unlocked a gate at this farm in the middle of nowhere and drove his beater down a terribly rutted dirt road through a corn field.  He rigged me up as I finished my coffee.  Walked down to the river and I fished upstream about a half mile with a parachute dry and midge dropper.  Caught half a dozen fish like this and smaller all on the midge.  Had a nice one break me off, but we were using 7X which I'm not used to.  Fishing downstream, he had me on a triple wet-fly rig that I was fishing down and across.  Wasn't near as productive, but then again the sun was getting higher by that time too.  Wish I had taken more pictures, but I was too busy enjoying the fishing, scenery, the complete solitude -- didn't see another soul, and talking with Thomas.  Good dude -- he is vice chair of the local fishing club and fighting the good fight for protecting the areas rivers and streams which are under constant threat of pollution from a couple of repeat offenders (dairy processing plants, and a factory or two).

The net for this fish seems like overkill, eh?

Couldn't have picked a worst time to fish.  Much of Ireland is in the worst drought and heat wave they've had since 1976.  Rivers and lochs are at the lowest they have ever been.  People complaining about the heat and it was only 70F.  The whole week we were there, it didn't rain once and was sunny everyday.

[Flysmallie]

Nice job Mr. Dallas. 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Thanks for the report.  Glad to hear about your success.  Kind of surprised that you didn't mention the beer.  

[ColdWaterFshr]

2 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

Thanks for the report.  Glad to hear about your success.  Kind of surprised that you didn't mention the beer.  

Oh, there was plenty of consumption going on.  Lots of Murphys, Guinness, Chieftain, and a smidgen of Jameson and Bushmills thrown in here and there.

The tiny little pubs out in the country were the best -- such as this one called the Blind Piper.

[ness]

Looks and sounds like a great trip. On my bucket list for sure. Fish and drink sound good. How about the food?