Hello Fisherman,

I have the opportunity to fish on Lough Leane and Lough Caragh in September. As being the first time for me I'd like to get some "tips and tricks" from the forum, on how to fish these Loughs.

I got some information about fishing traditional wets, but are these flies the only way to catch these brownies? Or do I have a change to catch with other patterns as well. (Like Wooly buggers or damsels?)

And how about the flylines to use? Do I have to use DI5 and DI7 lines as well?

Another thing I want to know is how to fish these big "dabblers"? Do I have to put them on the point or as a dropper? The same for Bumbles. They look to me as very thick, tangle causing flies, but are they?

As you can see I'm quite a beginner, but by consulting the most experienced members I try to get my knowledge a bit up.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Greetings,

Bram

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Trout-A-Holic!

Don't go immediately before, during, or just after the European Flyfishing Championships in September unless you just want to watch and learn!

Thanks Abacus.

Greetings,

Bram

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Trout-A-Holic!

I fished Caragh a few times and had fish on wets. It seems that the bigger the wave, the bigger the fly on most Irish Loughs. Bumbles tend to fished on droppers as part of a three or even four fly team with maybe a pearly dabbler or similar on the point. Take a few sedge patterns with you for September - green peters and the likes.

On flat calms buzzers are good early in the year but I dont know if they will work for you in september. I got a few fish in tough conditions there on an intermediate line using minkies and marabou winged dunkeld.

Havent fished Leane but i am sure there will be some more local forum members who can add a whole lot to this and help you out big time with your questions.

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Seatrout on streamers - nothin compares

hey salmob;

Dabblers and bumbles are very good on or Irish loughs.
The bumble is usually a top dropper fly, and your dabbler's can be fished anywhere on your cast.

Any fly with black and silver in it with jungle cock works well. A silver or a pearly dabbler will do the job for you on Lene. On Carragh i would make sure you have a sedge pattern on your cast.


' lines to use'

i wouldn't worry about a Di5 or di7, All you would need is intermidate lines (fast glass) and your floating line.

best of luck in September

If you're in that part of the world take a trip up to the Cummeenduff Lough above the Upper Lake which - as its name suggests - is the lake above Lough Leane. I's at the foot of Mackgillycuddys Reeks, a beautiful area.

A river named the Gearhameen feeds both Cummeenduff and the Upper Lake, it gets a run of salmon but the brown trout fishing on Cummeenduff is good. Although the trout are small averaging 8oz the surroundings are superb and they take well.

In my limited experience of Irish loughs trad wets work well but if the fish are down a sinker with a weighted black lure like a Tadpole can do the biz. Mini muddlers work really well even when there's no sign of sedge hatching - the fish hurl themselves out of the water at them. You might even hook one!

The Irish OS maps are online now which may help in planning your trip

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Musha rig um du rum da

Thanks for the Irish map link db. Been looking for that for ages.

Jon

Cheers Jon, me too, here's a nice place to walk and fish, a bit further north of Killarney and the Lobster Bar mind. I rented a house in this area some time ago and still want to return -

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Musha rig um du rum da

Almost looks like a nautical map!

As mentioned before, there is probably no point you fishing Killarney on and around the date of the Europeans.
For Killarney and Carragh, keep the wets small enough 12 and sometimes 14, anything blackish will get you fish (bibios, watson fancy, connemara black, etc...) Fish light, I'd use 4lb unless there is a big wave and you could go up to 6lbs. Floating line and Kelly Green/intermediate lines for most of the fishing.
In September, the mouth of the river in Carragh usually fishes quite well. As for Killarney, if you get a boat out of Sweeneys, stay around there and you'll meet fish... watch out for rocks if you're going on your own in the boat, it can be tricky depending on water levels.
If there isn't much of a wave, go on the dries. Again keep them small and fish light.
And most importantly, enjoy yourself and the scenery, both are beautiful places to fish. Carragh has to be one the most beautiful place to fish in the South West.