The ROD
A light salmon rod, single or double handed; 10-12 foot long, fit to handle a class 8 or 9 line is just perfect for any of the north west's salmon and sea trout rivers. Floating lines with a short sinking tip are a favourite with the local angler.
For your brown trout fishing a 9-10 foot rod class 6 or 7 is all you want. A standard floating line will cover you for most situations here.
If you don't know how to handle a fly rod, bubble floating is a good method for catching brown trout in the lakes. You would need an 8-9 foot rod and a line of 3-5 pounds, or 0.18 mm to 0.22 mm for that.
Spinning is another widely used technique to catch salmon and seat trout. You should have an 8-10foot rod, comfortably casting weights of 40 grams or so with a 10 to 15 pond line, that is 0.30 mm to 0.35 mm.
The coarse fishing tackle corresponds with that used everywhere else for catching Perch, Pike, Bream, and Rudd etc.
So, that's the tackle, and I'm sure you have a rod and line just about right to fish anywhere in Ireland.
For your brown trout fishing a 9-10 foot rod class 6 or 7 is all you want. A standard floating line will cover you for most situations here.
If you don't know how to handle a fly rod, bubble floating is a good method for catching brown trout in the lakes. You would need an 8-9 foot rod and a line of 3-5 pounds, or 0.18 mm to 0.22 mm for that.
Spinning is another widely used technique to catch salmon and seat trout. You should have an 8-10foot rod, comfortably casting weights of 40 grams or so with a 10 to 15 pond line, that is 0.30 mm to 0.35 mm.
The coarse fishing tackle corresponds with that used everywhere else for catching Perch, Pike, Bream, and Rudd etc.
So, that's the tackle, and I'm sure you have a rod and line just about right to fish anywhere in Ireland.
Don’t bother with an expensive fancy reel for now. Try a standard hand-crank reel. They’re easier to control and you can get a better feel for the water with them.
There are quite a few lines to choose from; weights, colors, tapered, weight forward, floating and sinking. But don’t get confused. All you need is a medium weight line, preferably green. The color makes it harder for the fish to see, and the medium weight is suitable for everything from a bluegill to a bass. At the end of the line, you’ll need a leader. Again, just choose a simple, medium weight.
(Knots and Rigging)-
The Arbor Knot - Attach Backing to Reel
The Arbor Knot is used as the basic connection for anchoring backing to the reel arbor (or spool center)
Albright Knot - Fly Line to Backing
The Albright Knot is a perfect knot to attach you fly line to you fly reel backing. Easy to learn and effective. This knot slides through your guides well when a fish takes you into your backing ( a real good thing!Start by unwinding 2-3 feet of fly line from the plastic spool it came on (make sure you unwind the end marked ""this end to reel").
Nail Knot - Leader to Fly Line
Slightly more complicated than the Albright Knot, the Nail Knot offers a smooth finish which helps your leader slide through the eyes and guides on your fly rod. You may use the Albright Knot for the leader to line but the Nail Knot offers a smoother connection between your leader and line.The Nail Knot requires a small diameter tube, such as the barrel of a ballpoint pen, a nail knot toot or other similar object about twice the diameter of the fly line. Using a small diameter tube makes the knot easier to tie.
Double Surgeon's Knot - Tippet to Leader
This is an easy fly fishing knot to tie and is best used to join two different diameter lines together. On tapered leaders that you purchase pre-made, the leader is tapered from the butt (the thick side attached to your fly line) down to the other end. Some pre-made leaders are all ready for you to tie on your fly as they have the right diameter sized line at the end. Since the tip of your leader and your tippet diameter are usually going to be different in size, the Double Surgeons's Knot is the best choice. You can use the Nail Knot when the diameters are very close in size, as it will have a higher breaking strength under those conditions.
Improved Clinch Knot - Fly to Tippet
The final knot needed to put it all together is the Improved Clinch Knot, which we recommend for tying a fly to your tippet. This is an easy fly fishing knot to tie and can be used for just about any diameter line.The turle knot is also very good, especially on dry flies as it helps them ride upright on the drift. We will cover the Turle Knot later.
The Lure (the fly)
The insects or "flies" come in endless colors, shapes and sizes. But the most effective usually are a combination of yellow and black, a quarter inch in diameter, and three quarters of an inch long with rubber legs and feathers.Fly-Fishing Waders
Remember that wading boots are not supposed to fit as close as a hiking boot, but should have stiff soles and ankle support. They can have felt or rubber soles. Felt gives good grip on rock or gravel-bottomed water; rubber soles are best on muddy-bottomed waters.
Decide how high you want the waders to go. Chest waders offer the most versatility; you can wear them in any water level. Waist-high waders are for more shallow water. Hip boots offer the least versatility and are less practical for getting out into the water to fish.
Consider adding a wading belt. It will keep your waders from filling with water in the event that you slip and go in.Look into getting elastic straps to hold your waders up instead of webbing. They're more comfortable for all-day wear. Also make sure you have enough room to move in your waders - they shouldn't be skintight.
Nets are elementary tools for landing fish. In the sport of fly fishing nets are a secondary method for landing fish. In this sport many fish are landed without nets. However, in the sport of trout fishing, nets are often helpful, practical tools for landing fish that are hooked with tiny flies and played on light leaders. Often the anglers is in a position that the fish may not be beached or grabbed. The preferred method is to lead the fish over the net and then the net is lifted and the fish sinks into the bag which is supported by a bow.
The more the fish struggles the deeper it sinks into the net. Nets are essential for landing fish when the angler is in a boat or float tube. The intended use will influence your choice in size and shape of your net. Size-range of fish will dictate the size of the net. Nets used from floating devices usually have longer handles than nets that are used while wading. Nets with rubber bags even though heavier are gaining popularity over nets with mesh bags. They injure fish less and are easier to clean. The nets listed here are most useful for landing fish that are under six pounds.
