Ex Lib r is C. K. OGDEN WARD & SON, ONE DOOR FROM DUKE STREET ) 9 45, JERMYN ST. ( ST. CT^HVEIES', s.w. Bernard's "Triumph" Dry Fly Reel. 3 in. 21/- This reel is made from our new metal. It does not, rust or corrode as aluminium does, and it is lighter and stronger than bronze or gun-metal. 3 in. " Triumph " weighs about 5^ oz. 3 „ Bronze „ „ 10 „ It is also made very narrow (fin.) between plates, and is fitted with large drum for winding in quietly. WRITE FOR 1904 ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE. C.J : ARliOW&CO. ) L^ 191, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. FARLOWS "PERFECT" GREENHEART LIGHT SALMON OR GRILSE RODS. They are made in 3 piece?, 14 ft. and 15 ft., for Ladies and Gentlemen who cannot use heavy rods. The grips are made of solid cork, thereby dispensing with the wood that is usually left for the grip. The cork handle has a hole bored through it to receive the butt, which is the same size under the cork as above the grip. Consequently the play is continued to the winch, thereby giving greater casting power than ordinary rods of the same length. Suction Fittings, Upright Rings, and Revolving Head Rings. Two Tops and Top Case. 14 ft. Rods weigh about 23 ounces. Price £2 I 5S. 15 ft. Reds weigh about 26 ounces. Price £3 5s. The Reel recommended for the 14 ft. Rod, size 3| in., weighs 1(H ounces. Price £3. For the 15 ft. Rod, size 4 in., weighs 12 ounces. Price £3 5s. These Reels are made of Alloyed Aluminium. LINES (Suitable).— 40 yds. Double Taper, specially soft diessed, 20/- , and 60 yds. Hemp Back Line, spliced to above, 5/- FARLOWS -PERFECT" CORK HANDLE GREENHEART TROUT RODS, Made in 3 Pieces — varying in length from 9 ft. to 11 ft. A very large assortment of Salmon and White Trout Flies in stock. All Books on Angling kept in stock. Illustrated Price List gratis, post free. C FARLOW & CO., Limited, 191, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. IIOLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY OF IRELAND. Connemara, Galway, Achill, and the West. issued from Dublin (Broadstone Station), embracing Galway, CIRCULAR TOUR Recess, Clifden, Letterfrack, Leenaae, Westport, Mallaranny TfCKETS an( l Achill, including Coupons for the Tourist Car between Clifden and Westport, and between Achill Station and Dugort. Reduced Fares for parties of two to four pass ngers. Extra Courx us issued for Extended Tours from Dublin (Broadstone) to the North and South of Ireland. are issued during the Tourist Season from the principal TOURIST Towns in ENGLAND and SCOTLAND, and at the Offices TICKETS °£ tne Steam Packet Companies and Tourist Agencies for CONNEMARA and ACHILL. are issued on Saturdays — First, Second, and Third Class, at EXCURSION Single Fares — from Broadstone to Galway, Recess, < lifden, TICKETS Westport, Mallaranny, Achill, &c, available for return up to the last train on the following Monday evening. These Tickets are not available by the Down and Up Limited Mail Trains. _ v _. IKir » IM Tourists can take train to Achill, Mallaranny, or Westport, CYCLING *" and cycle thence to Galway, via Louisburgh, Dhulough, CONNEIYIARA Delphi, Leenane, Letterfrack, Clifden, heeess, and AND ACHILL. Oughterard, returning to Dublin by train ; or take train to Galway and cycle up to Westport and Achill, returning to Dublin by train. Cycle Tours can also be made from Railway Hotel, Recess, up the Inagh Valley to Kylemore, Letterfrack, Leenane, thence to Clonbur, or from Recess to Cashel, Roundstone, Clifden, and back to Recess, via Ballynahinch. From Mallaranny Hotel Tourists can cycle or take train to At-Will, and spend the day on the Island, visiting Dugort, which is nine miles from Achill Station. The roads throughout Conne- mara and the West of Ireland are excellent for cycling. Bicyc'es carried by Rail as Passengers' Luggage: — Up to 50 miles, Gd. ; 100 miles, !W. ; 150 miles, 1». (owners' risk 4 . THE RAILWAY COMPANY'S HOTELS At Mallaranny, Co. Mayo, and at Recess (Connemara), Co. Galway, are furnished with every modern comfort and convenience for Visitors. Elect! ic Light through- out. Billiard R< oms, Baths, <&c. Terms moderate. Sea and Fresh Water Baths, hot and cold, are attached to the Mallaranny Hotel. run from the 1st June to the 30th September, between TOURIST CARS Clifden and Westport, passing through Letterfrack (for Renvyle), Kylemore and Leenane; and during tie same period the Midland Great Western Railway Company's Tourist Cars run between Achill Station and Dugort, distance nine miles, fare 2« fid. Steamers ply on Galway Bay during the Tourist Season, to Arran Islands, to Bally vaughan, and also on Lough Corrib. Application for Time Tables, New Illustrated Tourist Guide to Conm mara(price Gd.), Tourist Programmes, and information as to fares, Routes and Hotels, &c, may be made at the Irish Tourist Office, 2, Charing Cross, London (whi re Railway Tickets can be purchasedl ; to the Company's Agents, Mr. J. Hoey, 50, Castle Street, Liverpool, Mr. J. F. Eitson, 180, Buchanan Street, Glasgow ; or to'the undersigned, JOSEPH TATLOW, Manager. Broapstoxf. Station. DUBLIN. IRELAND HOW AND WHERE TO FISH IN IRELAND A HAND-GUIDE FOR ANGLERS BY "HI-REGAN" Dulcis scribens reminisciiur Argos EIGHTS EDITION LONDON SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY Limittd §&. jButwtiat'e gou« Fettek Lane, Fmjbt Strket, E.C. 1904 LONDON PRINTED BY GILBERT AND R1VINGTON, LD. st. John's house, clerkenwlll, e.c. DEDICATED TO MY SONS, E. AND J., # IN GOOD HOPH OF THEIR HAVING THE MANLY ENDURANCE, DECISION, RESOURCE, AND FINE TEMPER WHICH BECOME ALL TETJE SPOETSMEN. * The hope was realised, but alas/ " J. has since been killed m doing his duty to his fellow men wi South Africa. . - PREFACE TO SIXTH EDITION As foreword to this edition, and to bring it " up to date," I must impress my readers that many things which prevailed, when I wrote first, no longer exist. There were then more fish, salmon and trout, and more free fishing for them. There are fewer fish, because of the selfish policy of those who draw nets in the lower waters, and because there has been no proportionate increase of keepers on the upper waters, though the upper riparian owners have now set themselves to deny free angling. To say exactly how far and where this is being done would require a tour of inquiry all over Ireland. This I am unequal to, but, so far as I could, I have supplied information about it. With regard to the first part I have made no change, though the advance in dry-fly fishing and the more general use of split- cane rods might suggest that there is now a somewhat old-fashioned air about what I wrote many years ago. To sum up, angling in Ireland is still good, but in general not so good nor so " free " as it was. The hotels, modes of travelling, and of accommodation &re much better than of old and they improve and increase each season. "Hi-Regan." Spring, 190C, INTRODUCTION. I propose to set =j%=^ and the upright pattern of only two sizes. 3 In ROD RING* playing a fish in the Irish fashion (rings upwards), these rings have a great advantage in not chafing the line much, in wearing evenly, and in never fouling the line. They do not need a " cant " forward. All salmon, trout, and trolling lines should be of the best plaited silk, for such a length as is generally run out ; below that they may be " married " to butt-lines of best dressed hemp. I am heretical about lines. I don't use them of more than half the thickness of most Irish anglers, except when harling (Limerickese, trawling) on the Shannon. There the lines cannot be too stout, if the reel be big enough ; but salmon lines, and all lines except for blowing, should be heavy, and (here my heresy gets out again) I don't know of any adequate renson why a line should taper either way, or at all, unless so plaited (and I have not seen one) that the end toward the cast would, though slighter, be as * There is a serpent-ring used by trollers (not in fact a ring at all) which is excellent, but quite lately I have come to believe that the old-fafhioned loose rings are quite as good as, and better than most other kinds of "rings." Hozv and Where to Fish in Ireland. heavy as the thicker part on reel. If lines be of the bost sort, I have used oi:e I a reeling N i b 3 up a and kept carefulty, they last amazingly. five seasons, and never redressed it. It has assisted in killing many hundred fish, and is as good as new. It is a seventy-five yard length (No. 2 of illustration), of plaited silk and spliced to a brown hemp butt ; I always unreel and dry my lines over night, and if driving home a distance, before laying up my tackle for the journey, I dry the line as much as possible with a woollen cloth before little loosely. 4 In blow line fishing the reel line should be light, to take advan- tage of the lightest airs. In Westmeath and on the Shannon the trout which one takes on the blow line frequently tax the strength of a good line, therefore the very best plaited and dressed silk is needed ; but with seventy-five yards on a big axle, which takes in line fast, and a supple rod, one ought never to have a break, unless of the blow line, which is of floss silk. (Martin Kelly, or Flint of Dublin, supply the best, in fact, the only reliable blow lines I know of. I suppose English makers have not given their attention to them.) For trolling, the " cabledaid " lines are good, as they don't kink, but I do not know if they can be got now, as I have failed in ob- taining them in many tackle-shops provided only with new stock. The ideal salmon gut of great strength and great length has yet to be got at. An American angler has promised it, but for the present the best " Gibraltar " must do us, and for this the salmon-fisher should pay any price. I have seen some which brought seven pounds the hank, and under some circumstances it would be cheap. If a thirty- pounder breaks a cast worth six shillings, where is the salmon- fisher would not regret his loss the more because on another poo' 1 a fish of like strength was secured with a casting line of " extra- vagant " price. The truth is, a well made casting line of perfect gut is priceless to a man who knows how to preserve it and to use it. Therefore, reader, buy the best gut for trout and salmon at the lowest price, but buy the best at any price. As to fine gut for success with trout, the finest drawn must seldom be used. Drawn gut is not proportionately as strong as undrawn, but the fineness needed cannot olten be, at present, attained without diawing. I look for- 4 When lines are laid by they should be rubbed well with deer fat or tallow, but the tallow or fat must be almost lulled off aftnr com- plete anointment. "Whtnin use. the fat on the line makes it work lighter, and in dry-fly fishing a fatted line is indispensable. 8 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. ward to having fine gut supplied us without any process of fining down, find the strongest gut in loug lengths ; but to get these desiderata our gut merchants must bring to bear more energy and originality than they hitherto have shown. Some years since in Gibraltar, a general officer, with whom I had the honour to serve, asked a Spaniard in- terested in the trade to get him gut of the finest and longest strands. The result was two hanks of gossamer, perfectly round under the microscope (which was needed to see its full beauty), and this special gut was drawn from large silk worms, expected to supply short and thick salmon gut, but by a delicate hand, and before or after (I forgot which) the worm was quite ripe for the production of the coarser gut. Tln3 gut was tested with some of the best London drawn, and bore a little greater strain, and a much stronger chuck. I only narrato this incident to point out that the purveyors of gut are not faultless in not supplying finer material. Some knots I recommend will be found at the close of this chapter, and in others subsequently. All dye3 for gut I look upon as worse than useless in concealing it, and positively harmful to the strength of the gut. The only two which I have heard of, at all allowable, are black ink, to get a grey colour, and tea, to get a brown or yellow. In bog water there is a little advantage in these stains; elsewhere they are harmful. At best, these are both astringent, and dry up the gut enough to make it more brittle and less strong than in its natural state. Any combination with copperas rots the gut, and ;offee, which would possibly be harmless, leaves a stain too eva- nescent to repay the trouble of using it generally. In harling, on the Shannon, single-strand casting lines are not of sufficient strength — two ply, three, and up to six-ply are used. To twist a three-ply, which ought to be strong enough for anything, is not easy ; and after trials, during many years, I adopted the following method : — Having sorted sufficient strands of not the very best of my best hanks (these I keep for single-gut casts), I re-assort them, (after soaking in cold water for five hours,) on a long table, in separate sets of three, of exactly corresponding thickness. In making the loop and head of the cast, I so arrange the strands that they shall come out for twisting at unequal lengths, and then I build up three separate casts with " buffer-knots," as described further on. "When these three single- gut lines are of sufficient length— no two knots of any of them should come together — and laid alongside, each strand should, as it touches its two neighbours, exactly correspond with them in roundness and bulk. Having laid beside me a number of short lengths of waxed silk, and having plaited the three lines by a nice, firm roll of the fingers to the first knot on the longest drand oj the three, I strain the line well from the hook Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. 9 ■which holds the loop, and then tie a "stopper" on it firmly (with silk above the knot), and proceed to twist the next three strands till I get to the third next knot. Then I put on a new " stopper," and so on till the line is a little longer than the desired length. I then nip the last twisted strands in a heavy hand-vice, and let it hang from the hook, and cut off the silk stoppers with great care not to injure the gut. I wet the newly-made cast with water, and let it swing and stretch till dry ; then finish off the foot with a knot or a loop (as I elect). To do this, I must again steep that part of the line. This is all very troublesome, but necessary, if one cannot depend on the fishing-tackle makers ; but I vouch for these lines which Nestor supplies, and no doubt I may do so for other makers. The "butler" knot I recommend is a slight modification of that first published by Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell, and ventilated in the Fishing Gazette by my friend Major Traherne. In that publication appeared another mode of making up a cast, common in Ireland and very suitable for the single-gut cast, but on the whole the (i buffer " knot is the best out. The illustrations explain it and the modification I adopt, which consists of the omission of binding Burrzfls. M£ CH0LM0N2L rPZMSCLS JWO K a a, outside the fisherman's knots, the small gut being cut off neatly, when the buffer between the fisherman's knots being completed, the ends a a are passed to right and left through the rolls of the fisher- man's knots. In single-gut salmon casts I make these latter knots double. The " water-knot," which is very old, is reliable to make as a single-gut cast, and in the hurry of repairing tackle it is the best substitute for the time-absorbing buffer or any other knot which needs binding. The best knots for attaching tail flies and droppers, and casting lines to reel-lines are, I believe, explained by drawings. No. 1 in this is the neatest, but the hold on the cast solely depends on the little knot on the fly gut, jammed between the fisherman's knots. This is obviously too weak for salmon fishing. No. 2 jams itself, is very neat, and is a buffer. It has also the advantage, Avhen using flies dressed on eyeless hooks, of being very easily detached. Nos. 3 and 4 are common enough, but have very unequal merit ; No. 3 being an excellent knot, whether used enclosing the fisherman's knot (drawn together), or enwrapping their double parts before being so drawn. It is jo How and Where to Fish in Ireland. then a buffer. No. 4 is only strong enough when used in the latter fashion. No. 5 is the usual way of attaching looped trout flies — it is clumsy. Its parts A B should enwrap both the fisherman's K?l. /VEATEST BUT fi/OT STflQ/VGEST. a i MS STRONG STROA/T.. knots or it should be put between them, as buffers. Indeed, I am not sure that in salmon fishing the dropper might not be always attached by a No. 5 or No. 3 knot, between two double rolled fisher- man's knots, to be left unbuffered on a cast otherwise buffered. cor loop PEEL LINE The attachment of the reel line is generally made too difficult to undo. The plan I suggest is as secure as any, and the greater the strain the tighter is the attachment. The end of the reel line should be passed upwards through the loop of the gut, then round the two parts of the loop and out of it and backwards by the side of its own part before straining the loop tight on the double of the reel line. To undo it and detach, all that is needed is to hold the reel line firmly to the left, 6 and pinching the ending knot between thumb-nail and index of right hand, draw it firmly to the right. The loop of cast then slips off easily. . With regard to hooks, shape is the first consideration. For salmon the Limerick pattern, if not too hog-backed, are I think quite the best, though there is something to be said for Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell's "perfects." For trout fishing the latter are doubtless the best made. I think if we could get good hooka well bronzed, it would be an advantage ; but I have not seen them. Eyed hooks for salmon are certainly an improvement, but mainly on account of economy, as the best flies are necessarily those which give out first at the loops; but Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell's turn- * Vide uppermost illustration on this page. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. II down pattern are not the only ones I should think of using. Their attachment is easy. Here it is. For trouting with really small light flies, I like the old fashion best • but I believe when the hooks with needle eyes just at the end of the shank, nicely rounded and ivith smooth eyes are brought out, "they will supersede all others. For the present, the chief discussions are about the mode of attaching the gut to those we have. AVith single gut and turned-down eyed salmon hooks, there is no attachment to equal the old-fashioned " figure of 8," and the one above, already well known. I don't think the last (a) will sit well but with single gut, and the size of the eye does not permit of any loop-fastening with double or larger gut. A friend who used eyed salmon hooks last season employed this arrangement. It looks insecure, but he assures me it never yielded a bit. For eyed trout hooks, this knot seems to me to equal any, and to make it less conspicuous it may be made without a final knot at (a). Another method for these small hooks is to pass the gut through the eye of the hook and back, making a roll over. This makes a very neat attachment when all is drawn tight and the end (a) is cut off close. In trout flies it is almost impossible to pass back the gut, therefore the loop over arrangement, for which we are I believe indebted to Major Turle, should be employed. Generally the gimp used in fishing is too heavy and conspicuous, and none but the best should ever be put up. There are many receipts for discolouring it to a proper colour. That which I foioic to be effective, and which does not injure the silk, is to carry coils of gimp in a pocket next the shirt with a bit of brimstone. The heat, exudation, and brimstone produce a nice dull black in the gimp. Whether the angler uses baskets or bags, and there is much to be said on their respective merits, the great thing is to have them 1 2 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. big enough. I have not myself seen any improvement on the basket of my boyhood but metal hinges and the arrangement for carrying a Mask and sandwich, though in practice I prefer carrying a metal, bait, gut, or fly box in the compartment for sandwiches, as I have a prejudice against raw fish as a flavour to luncheon. The leather straps to sling fishing-baskets are generally unsuitable. I prefer a short one of two and a quarter inch webbing, with buckles sewn at each end to take a strap passed through the basket by the orifices at back. Of bags, Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell's, and " the Field," are the best designed I know of. In boat fishing, and when I have an attendant, I find an ordinary " carpenter's bass" (tool-bag), with diagonal webs for strength, very useful, and it does not dis- figure large fish by doubling them up. Many anglers use fresh grass or nettles about their captures, and are wrong in doing so. The les3 moisture gets to fish out of water the better. Dry hay or straw is better, and, best of all, oaten straw, especially for packing fish for journeys, as this straw is very strong, and each st^aw is a cylinder of cold air. Dry heather makes a good packing for fish. The higher on the shoulder the bag or basket is slung, the better and easier will it be carried. If one must wear waders, they should be trousers, not stockings, and coming high over complete and thick woollen clothing : but with wading trousers in any place where an angler may be overturned, an inflated belt is needful to avert danger. Messrs. Cording, of Eegent Street, and El very, of Sackville Street (Dublin) sell very good contrivances, and I have suggested (to get the inflation as high as possible) a pair of hollow inflated cross-braces to sit over the shoulders. For anglers who don't care at all for an appearance as grotesque as a marine diver's, these precautions against drowning and rheumatism are all right, but I confess I prefer complete woollen clothing — a short Norfolk jacket, knickerbockers oj>en at knee, and two pairs of stockings. In the coldest weather I catch, nay feel, no cold, but I never confine the water. A nip of spirits is seldom of use, except to restore heat. To keep one warm it is useless, and hot tea or coffee is much better. This monition from an Irishman may seem odd, and is unlikely to be followed, but I must let it stand.* The perfect hat for an angler-tourist is the « " The wine of the country" is generally the best thing to drink everywhere. In Ireland it certainly is, and Englishmen have so little chance of getting that spirit good " at home " that they are often " played upon " in Ireland, where bad whisky is commoner than good, though it seldom deceives the natives. In economic Ulster they sometimes drink it new to get drunk at ae little expense as possible,- How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 13 double one, called " Terai." Graham, in Grafton Street, Dublin, •jells them very good and very cheap, and they are to be had in New Bond Street. The brownish drab keep their colour best, anJ between the double rims is an admirable receptacle for spare casts, flies, &c. The only waterproof I use, except in a boat (then I sometimes don a complete suit of oiled canvas, such as pilots wear), is an oilskin cape, of the police pattern, but grey. The tweed (for fishing suits) made at Lord Waterford's factory at Portlaw, Water- ford ; at the factories in Kilkenny, and at Donegal ; and that to bo bought in the market at Tralee and Sneem, co. Kerry, are perfect and very cheap. The postmasters at Sneem or Tralee will buy them by piece or half-piece for correspondents. The Castlebar and Ballina "home-made flannel" is also excellent. Campbell (the corner shop where Anglesea Street joins the quay) or his son in Parliament Street, Dublin, make the best fishing brogues in Ireland, except Tierney, in Foxf ord ; but the latter seldom works for a new customer. My final word on tackle is, use {he best. Never employ worn-out stuff or blunt hooks. Carrj r a small Turkey stone for the hook of a taking fly, which cannot be replaced at once, and whether you tie or not, carry a few fine feathers and furs — such as may not be pro- curable in an Irish village — for upo by the local man, who is often an artist without tools or materials. 14 Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. CHAPTER IL FLY-FISHING. Fly-fishing in Ireland divides itself into two heads, natural fly-fishing and artificial fly-fishing. The sub-heads under each of them cover (1) fly-fishing for salmon, (2) fly-fishing for trout (and its relatives, charr, &c), and (3) fly-fishing for pike, perch, and roach. 7 In writing of them I shall reverse the order. For roach, which are found all over the island, very small flies — a tiny black palmer, an equally small red palmer, and a white midge are best. The first is best tied on a rubber-body (drawn from the elastic of a lady's work-basket) or black horsehair body ; the red palmer oyer rubber or red-silk; the white moth with a lemon, or fawn silk body, a white hackle, and a white wing from owl or bittern. The sport scarcely repays the trouble in any place I know of, except at the Lake in Bally fin demesne, between Mountmellick and Mountrath (see Guide), where Sir Coote is very generous in giving permission on application. 8 A bit of gentle or a morsel of white kid-glove is, I'm told, an additional attraction to a " palmer " in roach fishing. A relative of mine killed many hundred roach, and of great size in Ballynn (over a foot long and six inches broad). For myself I care little for roach fishing ; but with the fly it undoubtedly ranks amongst sports. Perch Fishing with the Fly is renlly a sporting pastime, and I have the pleasure of giving my readers the result of the experience of a gentleman, who, in addition to being an excellent all-round angler and fly-tier, was especially the perch fly angler in Ireland. 7 I use " Roach '' because it is the name universally given in Ireland to the fish — " rudd" — common there. 8 There is a boat at Ballyfin Lake, but a special permission must be asked (and it is often given) to use it — as is the case if the angler brings a Berthon. "With a boat any number of roach can be killed, and some very large pike, and a great many medium-sizod ones. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. . I 5 "Tn the summer months perch will be found in shoals in shallow water, with gravelly or sandy bottoms in most of the lakes of Ireland, and at this time of year considerable sport may be had : baskets of two hundred fish to one rod in the hands of an expert, have occasionally been taken. A brisk lowering day is the best for this sport, but even when the sky is cloudless, weather warm, and breeze little or nothing, the angler need not despair of filling a basket if he uses the flies — descriptions of which are given later on. jb H This style of fishing is usually resorted to and carried out on lakes, but may also be successfully tried on rivers. " For this method of fishing a stiffish long rod is required, and the casting line may also be substantial, for very little law is given, a clean lift out being the most approved style, for if you have to play your fish through weakness of tackle or of rod, the confreres of your dupe will take timely warning and cut. I have several times taken over a dozen from a shoal m ones and twos at a time, but my sport was immediately spoiled by a badly hooked fish falling off, and communicating to the rest what a swindler I was. " Three flies are generally used, but two are quite enough — the tail fly shotted, to bring it down, as it nrust be let sink to at least half the depth of the water fished, and if you know your ground, to within a foot or so of bottom, and there it is likely to be more productive of good results. When you think the flies are sufficiently deep, lower the point of your rod nearly horizontally, and draw them through the water in regular, easy jerks of a few feet at a time ; ease the rod for a moment or so after each pull, and draw again, and so on until your flies are so near the shore or boat that a new cast becomes necessary ; and just as they come in the shallow they are most likely to be taken. The necessity for a stiff rod and fairly reliable casting-line will then be found apparent, as you cannot throw a fish from half to a whole pound, from under your feet almost, with impunity, using the modem light taekle, &c. Probably your fly may be taken in the deep water ; and it is well here to impress on the tyro that perch, in taking the fly, do not impart that ' electric ' current through the rod a trout does, and the bite may be mistaken for a weed (a common error), which, however, is easily detected by imparting a little more vitality to the next jerk, when the difference between a weed and perch will immediately show itself. Perch will, without taking it, follow the fly at times to the very gravel, and as far as the depth of water will allow ; thr j y will also take it in deep water, ami go away with it gently ; and to this I attribute the weed like feeling they impart on such occasions. However, if you have any 1 6 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. doubt on the subject, give it to the perch, and put the hook in him by an extra twist of the wrist. Once a shoal is hit upon, do not get flurried if you hook and laud a brace first cast ; recollect that if you have the misfortune to lot one go, your chances of making personal acquaintance with many more of the class are materially reduced ; and for that reason you should keep cool, and when you do strike, do it decisively. It will at times be found necessary to wade in some places, but never do so before you try the wateis as far as you can cast, and then as carefully fish in advance for every foot of progress you make. You will probably have waded f oma distance, and then hit the shoal ; and in bringing your prey to shore do not make too much fuss, and do not wait to reel up your line to pitch him out. Retrace your steps as quickly as possible, and if you have not mismanaged it, quite possibly the fish will have come in, and saved you tbe trouble of going out again for them. I bave often reached a shoal, when I could not wade, by long casting, with the aid of a boy to bring back tbe line, and hold the tail fly by the bend, between his finger and thumb ; and when the shoal has been once reached, I never had any occasion to cast quite so far again, as the shoal follow the flies, as well as those of its members which have been hooked, and are on the look out for them again. In a very short time proficiency can be obtained, and sport too. When salmon and trout are unavail- able in waters where the three species are found, a pleasant hour can sometimes be had with the perch, and on lakes and streams where these fish abound to the exclusion of all else save pike and eels, the pursuit of them with fly is so very far superior to fishing with floats or paternosters as to commend itself, and the sport is little inferior to small trout fishing. It is only necessary to carefully fish the water, moving step by step along the shore. It cannot be well managed from a boat, and the gratification from the feeling that one is fly -falling is in itself very comforting. Perch, however, like others of the finny tribe, have their peculiarities, and at times will /ot take the fly, though they will on most occasions follow it. In that case a change is desirable, and the minnow or worm should be tried ; but even if they do not take the fly, it gives the party using it an advantage in drawing the fish after it, and showing the angler where he may best use a minnow or other lure. " ' Jack ' ' are partial to perch flies, and very troublesome, cutting up flies and gut. One word more before I describe the flies. I found that covering the bend of the hook with a grub, which may 1 Only small pike, under 3 lbs., are called "Jack," in Ireland. Hozv and Where to Fish in Ireland. 17 be obtained under grass tufts by the roadside or in garden heaps, a decided advantage; and late in the season, Avhen the larvae take wing and become scarce, artificial grubs may be made of bits of chamois and used with more or less success. " Flies hook, No. 2 or 3 Pennell round bend, tag gold tinsel ; tail, few fibres of any bright decided colour, such as green (parrot's), blue, Indian crow, macaw, gold pheasant, or teal and mallard, dyed yellow ; body may be orange, red, blue, magenta, purple, puce or black, or mixtures of any or either; gold tinsel up the body; hackles, common red or blackcock's; dyed hackles, red, orange, yellow, claret, magenta, or blue; wings, mottled turkey (some with white tips), pheasant, common hen's, bright-brown feathers, if backed with some lively bits of macaw, or dyed feathers, so much the better. Feelers, as feelers, are superfluous, but the colouring is wanted; head, ostrich or peacock's harl. " Small salmon flies may be used for perch when no longer suitable for their legitimate work." 1 have only to add to Mr. McG 's paper on fly-fishing for perch a recommendation, founded on the experience of my boy- hood, that the perch takes the wasp-grubs and meal-worms with an avidity which repays the trouble of their collection. The best perch fishing I know of is on " Sauleen," or Station Lake, near j the railway at Castlebar, and by the reed beds on Lough Culk-n in the same county. The latter is free fishing; the former belongs to Lord Lucan, but permission to fish it or any of the proprietor's waters is never refused on application to Mr. Alick Larminie, his agent, in Castlebar. As " Sauleen " 2 holds very handsome and perhaps a few very large pike, its mention brings me naturally to Fly-fishing for Pike. This was once a favourite sport, but, like other Irish good things, has deteriorated. Perhaps the fact that it is not now popular with anglers may furnish some of my readers with a special desire to revive it, the more so because it is observed that all good fish, and even pike, have a womanly taste for novelties or re-established old fashions. Pike are not so indiscriminating in the selection of flies as is 2 There is no boat on Sauleen, and though it can be fished from the banks here and there, a Berthon, or collapsible boat is now needed to fully enjoy the sport it affords. This lake is one of those which have been destroyed as a trout lodgment by drainage operations. Five-and-twenty years since it was unsurpassed for the number and beauty of its trout. I believe there are left a few too big for master pike. 1 8 Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. thought, except in cold gales of wind, when the troll is certainly better than the fly. In the light breezes, when the latter is the best lure, a very gaudy fly, but not bigger than the largest salmon fly, is best. For such a purpose a worn-out salmon fly is just the thing, if a gimp trace be whipped along the lower side of the body and the original beauty of the fly not too much impaired. The troll and fall is the mode of fishing up and down the wind, and a "basking" hour the best, especially at the edges of the reed beds, for unlike salmon, the pike takes the fly for a fly, (the big "dragon " which comes oftener to the waterside in sultry weather than at other times). Pikes often takes flies very high, therefore on the fall down the fly may be danced, on the troll up it may be fished deeper, like a salmon fisher's. I know of no other coarse fish in Irish fresh waters which takes the fly. For Tbout Fishing with Fly, no country has more natural advantages than Ireland, and if the fish are not so numerous as a few years ago, there is some com- pensation for the fact in the better hotel accommodation and the increased facility in getting to the fishings. The fish are more discriminating too, but a sport, to be perfect, requires an element of diificulty, and the capture of a good wary trout by fine skill should repay one better than that of a score of incautious innocents by clumsy means. For true sport, rather a Leonard " split-cano " than a draught-net is needed. The subject of fly-fishing for trout divides itself naturally into stream fishing and lake fishing — with artificial flies and naturals. For the present, I may defer speaking of the natural. Of the arti- ficial, it may be said that four rules apply all over the island : — 1. Irish fish take winged flies only. 3 2. Irish fish generally take larger flies than English trout. 4 3 The only true palmer I ever saw kill a good trout was a " soldier j" a gentle on the hook-bend may have added to the attraction. 4 A few midges, the black and white, may have a place in an angler's book. The patterns are : — " Black midge " ( 1. No tail or tag. Body, black ostrich herl. Hackle, lapwing topping just at shoulder. "Wing, blackbird or darkest starling wing. (Or "gnat'') J 2. Substitute for ostrich body, black horse- hair or quill, or darkest rubber. White midge / No tail or tag. J Body, light lemon or salmon-coloured silk. 1 Hackle, white hen, neck. \ Wing, white owl or bittern. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 1 9 3. The best pattern of flies are not numerous. 4. A few of the flies best in England are useless. The hooks of the best sizes range from the small grilse to the No. 11 of Mr. Cholmondley Penneil's "round bends" or 13 "Limerick." Irish flies besides being invariably winged arc generally fuller bodied, especially at the shoulder, than the Scotch or English.* As Irish fly-dressers generally tie back their wings first, and turn them only before heading, the wings sit more upright than those tied in the simpler fashion. I think the same flies prevail on most Irish rivers, but at varying periods and in various sizes, and for these periods and for size, the only sure guides are the native fishermen. I shall set out in the Guide, opposite the locality, the sizes for brown trout, and as a key, I should wish it understood that small will mean about a 13 Limerick, large a 9, and medium between these sizes. For white trout and lakers v the 9 is the smallest useful, and the range of hooks upwards may well run to No. 4. (3) The best general patterns are covered by the following list. Afterwards, a few "specials" may be mentioned in connection with lakes or rivers. Here are eighteen standards. 1. The " May-fly " or " drake "—specially treated by-and-by. 2. The "blue-stare," " blue-bottle," or " blow-fly." Tag (if any)— fiat silver tinsel. Tail — rat's-beard or spines of lapwing topping. Body — royal blue silk (occasional ribbed flat silver). Hackle — black (stiffest) from neck of cock. Wing — starling's (hibernice stare's) wing. 3. " Eed hackle," " red rail." Tag (if any) — gold flat. Tail — rat's-beard (light-coloured) or spines of topping. Body — orange, cardinal red, or black silk, ribbed sometimes with black silk or gold very lightly, or brown quill or Indian rubber strained tight. Hackle — best cock's neck, or dyed blood red. Wing — landrail . 4. The "early March," "the March brown," "the sting." • Tag — gold or silver (very small if any). Tail — rat-beard. Body— light oak-coloured silk, ribbed black or brown silk, or black silk showing through ribs of Indian rubber. • As the black midge or gnat (foregoing) is the only fly tied with a harl, which I recommend, of course all the buzz flies and peacocks are excepted from my remarks. * The names of flies in Ireland and England seldom correspond. 2 20 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Hackle — black or woodcock (in smallest fly I have seen wren). Wing — starling or woodcock. 5. " Hare's ear." Ta g — none. Tail — rat's-beard. Body — hare's -ear mixed witb orange, yellow, or claret mohair (if ribbed, lightly with round gold). Hackle — ginger, or red, or dun ; but only under the shoulders. Wing — starling or rail. 6. " The grouse " (orange, green or black). Tag— (gold, if any). Tail — rat-beard (or lapwing topping). Body — silk, sometimes ribbed gold. \( In the south the spines of the r, J grouse under the body are cut off Grcmse S square. In the west and north- J L west never. 7. The " cow-dung." Tag — none. Tail — two spines fox fur. Body — ginger mohair. Hackle — ginger (only at shoulders). Wing — rail or starling. 8. " The black-rail." Tag — (very small gold, if any). Tail — guinea fowl, two spines, or teal two spines (the black and white showing well). Body — black silk or horsehair. Hackle — black. Wing — from the painted or black-rail mixed with guinea fowl, and showing slightly the spots. This fly is sometimes the most alluring in the Shannon run?, as at Killaloe, and on the Nenagh river it is exceptionally killing. It is not as widely known as other standards. 9. " The green wren." Tag — none. Tail — if any, rat's-beard. Body — light green silk, sometimes ribbed with gold very lightly. Hackle — wren's tail. Wing — wren or woodcock. 10. " The partridge." Tag — none. Tail — seal or rat's fur. Body — lemon or very light green silk. Hackle— the grey mettled partridge (the cock's feather is best). Wing — grey partridge] or woodcock, or rail, or starling, or finally the " horse-shoe" of cock partridge. Toe the " partridge " all these wings have advocates, but the wing How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 21 should be small and quite subordinate to the hackle — the latter wound on so openly as to show well the colour of the silk body. 11. " The white moth," only useful at night. No tail or tag. Body — lemon or green silk. Hackle— openly (to show silk) over all body, white hen or white owl (mottled feather now and then). Wing — white owl. This fly should be dried by waving it in the air before each cast over feeding trout at night. 12. " Black moth." No tail or tag. Body — deepest and brightest maroon silk. Hackle — the deepest and most purple of old cock grouse. Wing — brown owl or woodcock or bittern. In high summer at dusk a splendid fly for large trout. Almost ranking as a standard is the little olive, which I made acquaintance with only eight years since. It is tied with a rubber body, olive green hackle, starling or coot's (grey) wing. Martin Kelly made the first I used, with great success. It came from the book of a fine angler, Mr. Despard. With these I conclude my standards for brown trout on streams or lakes. Of course the first place must be given to the May flies. Their imitation has occupied the best efforts of the most talented fly dressers, and their productions have been too excellent and too varied for exhaustive examination here. 7 I daresay many of them are better than my patterns, but as I set out as a guide, I must say something for the patterns I know of as " effectives." " The green drake," " the yellow May-fly," " the primrose." Tag — none. Tail — " green drake." Body — primrose silk, or primrose silk ribbed with fine black silk or yellow quill (very fine), or tightest drawn clearest Indian rubber, or finally, body of vial cork. Hackle — (at shoulder only) green drake. Wing — green drake. The cork-bodied drake is a revolutionary, and sometimes kills amongst the naturals, when no other tied thing will get a rise. It requires a breeze — to tie it requires " dodge." When the tail is tied, the wing should be tied back, the tying silk then brought down to tail, the cork attached, and ribbed on (over shellac varnish) by the tying silk, when the wing is reached, the cork should be tied off and trimmed, the hackle run on and secured, and the wing 7 The May-fly fisher should buy Mr. Halford'a beautiful book. His spent gnats are simply perfect. 22 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. brought forward and tied off, and the fly-head touched with varnish. For White Trout the flies which I consider standards are (tied on from 9 to 4, Limerick hooks) — 1. "The Hawthorn." Tag — gold or silver flat, or orange silk. Tafl — teal, or spines of golden pheasant topping, or lapwing topping. Body — black silk or black horsehair. Hackle — black or port-wine-browu dyed. "Wing — brown, or dark, mallard, or black coot mixed with woodcock. Throat — (sometimes) a bine jay hackle. On Beltragh lake and all over Mayo, no other white trout fly ecpuals this. 2. The " green olive." Tag — gold flat. Tail — as in " Hawthorne." Body — olive (dyed; seal, or bear, or pig wool (sometimes ribbed very lightly with gold). Hackle — black or deep olive dyed. Wing — as in " Hawthorne." This fly is an excellent lake trout fly. 3. The " Desmond." Tag — orange, silk, or gold. Tail — golden pheasant topping. Butt — black ostrich. Body — maroon silk, ribbed black or gold. Hackle— blood red, black or purple only at shoulder. "Wing — as in " Hawthorne " or woodcock, and reddest rail mixed. Throat — blue jay, if any. 4. Same as " black fairy " of Badminton volume or Tag — gold or orange silk. Tail — topping. B<;dy — black bear or purple (dyed) pig. Hackle— black ; near head, blue jay. Wing — brown mallard. 5. A fly, as far as I know, quite peculiar, and only made by one professional at Newport, Co. Mayo. I cannot recall its name, nor that of its maker, who is very old, but an excellent dresser. It ia Jia most brilliant pale primrose, with a shade of green. Tag — primrose silk. Tail — yellow macaw (no blue at b?ck), or yellow swan. Body — primrose, rii»bed lightest brightest green silk. Hackle — golden pheasant topping. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 23 Wing— white swan, dyed greenish primrose. Head — yellow wool. The preceding flies {if headed) should have black ostrich heads. When the white trout run up first, this fly will kill, in the heat, when no other gets notice. 6. " Concealed death " : a charmer of surprising value, designed by Mr. McG (vide "perch with fly "). Tag — a little gold tinsel, then orange silk. Tail — Two fibres golden pheasant topping. Body — black silk, ribbed fine gold. Hackle — black ; at shoulder golden red. Wing — golden pheasant tippet, one at each side; over and half concealing tippets, pintail, a few fibres of which should drop hackle fashion below shoulder, no head. These exhaust all I should consider as universally " taking " ■white trout flies. Patterns of flies of equally conspicuous merit for occasional use will be found against the names of places in the Guide (Part II.). To fish successfully with .these flies on rivers, the same rules apply over the United Kingdom, and on large lakes in Scotland, the practices of the best anglers are identical with the Irish lake fishers. On the rivers in Ireland, surprises are in store for any angler who fixes the same limits as in England to the season when trout are in the best order. I suppose the milder climate has to do ■with it, but the fact remains that no absolute rule holds good, and after a mild winter (winter is seldom as severe as in even South England), strong streams will, in early spring, furnish lusty trout. Eat generally till May, the trout fisher may not expect the cream of the fun, except on a few stations, and these stations are mainly on southern rivers. The " Bride," affluent to the Cork Blackwater, holds an especially good run of Spring trout, and the "Funcheon" in a March gale, when the difficulty is to keep the flies on the water, affords grand fish and sport, which I have never seen surpassed. In spring fishing the best time is beforo eight a.m., and between eleven and four ; the late afternoon and twilight are not then favourable. All the advantages that can be got from the wind should be looked to, and fishing against it avoided whenever possible. No man casts best against the wind ; and the flies cast best are likeliest to kill most. But even the wind should be less constantly thought of than the shadow, and it is just in the "sun-bursts," which throw sharp shadows, that spring trout rise best. I am as sure as one can well be on anything dependent on the fickle temper of a trout, that when, say in March, the glass has indicated a sudden change from harsh dry weather, the spring fly-fisher will get better sport than at any other time. 24 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Just when the hills have caught the vanguard of ocean-bred clouds, and before the spate has come down, every trout in the lower waters glances hungry and expectant. And though few natural flies are seen, feather effigies of them, a little larger, and if the water be deep, brighter than the models, will entice fish which seem to have forgotten or abandoned all their wariness of the preceding autumn. In casting for these trout, the best method is to drop the flies — by an upstream (diagonal) cast — faraway enough to permit the com- pletion of the cast to cover the waters under the angler. The next cast should go farther and cover more, and so on till the opposite waters are fished-out, and the tail of the pool or stickle quite covered. And in this manner the river should be fished up till the spate has come down and the flies relegated to the box for the recurrence of a " beer-coloured stream." In spring the advantages of dry-fly fishing are not to me very clear. Trout then are not so wary as to justify even the loss of time which drying the fly takes. 8 "When a trout has risen at a fly, but missed it, even though he has not been touched, it is bad practice to cover him again instant er. If he be a feeding fish, waiting a minute is unimportant. If he has only been attracted by the beauty or novelty of the fly, the less the natural suspicion, he showed, by only flourishing, is excited the better. Marking well his lodgment, and what, and how cast was the fly which he came at, the trout should be again covered in, first, a little more dancing manner, and, if unsuccessfully, then in 8 The Gipsy " soldier servant," to whom T elsewhere refer, was the first to suggest to me the idea of dry-fly fishing (in 1857). I confess at the time I put it down as a useless fad, though I had the sincerest and highest opinion of the man's accomplishments and ingenuity in " snaffling" all fish, flesh, or fowl that were edible. Some years ago an article in the Field recalled the gipsy's injunctions, and I have since had an opportunity of testing their great value. In the " Mutiny year " parafin oil was little known, but "Pegg" made many raids on the bottle of "Burmese" oil, which I used for my guns. This was the "thinnest" oil then known, and he used it to steep fly materials before tying. These he dried, and though he lost some material by discolouration, he preserved enough for his purposes. _ Not thinking dry-fly fishing worih pursuing, I took no pains to acquire the niceties of it, and must store away with other regretable indiscretions of youth, my neglect in not learning the secret of making feathers "waterproof" (Pegg's word). In this connection may not the po- pularity of coot's, mallard's, teal's, and starling's feathers as wings be accounted for? They are all birds which have oil glands for lubricating their plumage. Kail's feathers also resist moisture, to enable the bird to comfortabK traverse the wet meadows, How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 25 drowned-fly fashion ; but an interval of at least a minute should be given to let the fish reconsider the bonne-bouche which he missed. If, during the interval, the light has changed by the intervention of cloud shadows or the like, a little time may not be lost by wait- ing till the status quo ante be restored, and when three or four casta have failed, if the trout seems a beauty — a very prima donna amongst trouts — it may bo worth while to try a change of fly to lure him. Unless on very small streams, the trout fly-gut collar should be three yards, and of the finest gut. The double fisher- man's " roll-over " is the neatest mode of putting the strands together. The attachment of the flies will be understood by a reference to another chapter. Where heavy trout abound, if one knows the taking lly, two flies are quite enough ; with small trout, three. I have seen Mr. Pepper (who " beat the authentic record ") put up five for the purpose of finding the charmer ; but he promptly reduced the number when he had identified her bedizenments. When three flies are used, I am at first careful that the tail-fly be the heaviest, if there be any difference in weight ; but this precaution need not be observed, except in an adverse wind, and at other times I mount that fly as tail-fly which I expect to be most attractive ; but as to droppers, I always keep in view that the effigy of a moth, small gnat, or other dancing fly, if used, should be third dropper (that nearest the hand), for this is the only position where an angler can simulate, through all the cast, the motion of the ballerina. Some anglers vary the length of the gut of the two droppers. I never do so, and invariably use five inches on fine trout casts, and with white and lake trout seven. Eight anglers in ten strike trout too boldly, and a larger pro- portion too soon. If the proper measure cannot be hit, as with some nervous men, it is better not strike at all, and let the fish do their own hooking. The golden rule is, don't be too soon, and meet the fish's grip by a delicate but firm check. To do this at all is the high art, and instinctive. For some it is impossible — for all it needs practice, and must not alone depend on feeling the " touch," which is transmitted from the hook up the line too slowly to guide the hand surely. When a fish is hooked, if he at once " flutters," he must be treated as if his mouth were mucous, and he will seldom be landed. In general, however, fish had better be well held ; and more of all sorts are lost by over-caution than by firmness. It must be remembered that every second between hooking and landing increases the chances of accidents in the fish's favour. Get in the fish as soon as the tackle permits. The rush of a fish seldom makes a " break ;" but when, after one, he daits to the surface and 26 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. makes a somersault, a tyro will lose him if the rod's point he not dropped, and, at the same time, enough check kept up to prevent a "shake out" hefore a new start. At such a time, ahove all others, remember the adage, Linea recta tutwsima. Unlike a salmon, once a trout shows his side, he seldom gets his " second wind," unless by "the rod's " fault ; but it does not follow that an mi ittended angler must endeavour to land him at once. If a nice shelf of sand be adjacent, I prefer leading my trout on to it to securing him by a landing-net, for when a fish is so much under the rod as to permit the net-bow being slipped under him, the fish has some circumstances in his favour not existent with a longer line. In using the landing-net the proper way is to dip it and draw it up-stream a little to fill out the bag. I attach to the very lightest net a split-shot at lowermost mesh to prevent its bagging up. The biw of the net should be slipped under the fish, and lifted neatly, but not in a snatching fashion. When the fish is landed, unless very small, he should get a tap of his " reverence " over the skull, and the flies will be found much easier to extract, and they will last longer than if clumsy efforts be applied to get them from the mouths of living, struggling fish. A great saving of flies will be gained by cutting out the flies with strong scissors (suitable nail pattern). Pairs which fold back, and are easily carried in the pocket, are sold everywhere on cards for one shilling. In trout-fishing (unlike salmon) the flies should never have more up stream movement than a natural fly might have in making a supreme effort to rise from out the water, or from its surface. When flies seem quite unattractive, and the fish off the feed in all the pools on a stream, an nuerlude, occupied by preparing for future operations, and some soothing tobacco, is commendable. Bat all the pools implies a good deal when the river winds about. For I have often noticed that next one stretch of water where no fin moved, another at right angles or so would "boil" with rises. I can only account for this by supposing that sometimes the flies on which the trout banquet, are precluded by some turn of the wind from being "brought to table," or that some effect of light prevents the trout seeing the insects served up. I think it may be taken as fixed that bright flies take in bright weather, and dark flies in dull ; but many Irish streams, which flow through " bogs" (peat), are dark when cleai est, and such streams require bright flies or tinsel. So true is this, that I invariably put up — and generally succeed on such rivers — a little fly, which on the bank at least resembles nothing natural that I know. I believe its name is the M silver magpie." It is tied with or without tail (rat's-beard), silver tinsel body, black hackle under shoulder, and starliug wing. Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. 27 If a fish, on being hooked, will obey an up-stream check of the rod, the angler should let him go up in preference to turning him down; for the force required to go up will be more, as will the exhaustion consequent on being later on wound-in down stream, with gill-covers opening, and the stream strangling him. In stream fishing most fish will be killed by an angler (always out of sight) who fishes all the waters with the shortest line needed to cover them. A bellied line is fatal to a safe hold. Now and then a fish will rush up- stream, and then suddenly turn down, a manoeuvre which will often get rid of the hook if care be not taken to have him in delicate touch and with very little spare line in the water during the upward voyage. When he turns, the line may generally be got in quickly enough, even if the trout runs underfoot (by a cool man, not afraid to raise his rod and back a little). When a fish is in a landing- net, borne by a wading an-ler, he will be secured by gently turning the net-bow up from the horizontal to the vertical line, and so enclosing the captured in a bag closed at top. What I have said of short line fishing on streams must be for- gotten when I speak of lakes. There, on the " fall " before the wind, is the killing mode. And a long line cleanly dropped and got in on a symmetrical quadrant, is best to secure trout. As trout in brooks won't take flies going up-stream, I am at a loss to account for their conduct before a boat on lakes. 9 But I speak from absolute conviction, that fishing against the wind is only successful with a trailing fly on a very long line and " drowned." When a trout is seen to rise to the fly before the slowest fall, he should be struck as sharply as possible, for the progress of the boat tends, even with the most careful fisherman, " to slaken the cast." In the playing of trout there ought to be a sympathy between the oarsman and the rod-man, and the former should get his boat moving the moment " in him " reaches his ear. A boat may hill a Jtsh as much as a rod — for remember, not alone the play and leverage of the rod is against him, but the leverage of the boat. If a proper accordance exists between the boatman, and the rod-man, the inrush of a fish is easily foiled, and the only anxious moment may be that when the landing net goes out, but this may be greatly assuaged if the landing-net be suitably large, and with a handle at least ten feet long. 9 When I was guilty of cross-fishing, no method of mine was so deadly as fishing up-stream with the points of very stiff rods abso- lutely in the water, so that the central belly of the cross-line was its highest point. The flies reached the top, and I have seen too many trout seize them when their passage up-stream was positively knock- ing up a white " wake." 28 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. The principles on which trout are taken with artificial flies, are nearly all applicable when they are fished for with Natural flies and floating-baits. At the head of these the May-fly, yellow and grey, flutters first. lie is found in rivers and lakes in all the four provinces, but by no means generally. "When he does rise, no other lure will compete with him during the earlier part of his visit. Later on the stone-fly is often more attractive. The date of his first appear- ance may generally be set down about 15th May, and 1 have noticed that the earlier he is reported on Westmeath lakes, the better is the sport that follows. I am bound to say that other anglers arrive at a quite opposite conclusion. The explanation of different views may be that their ideas of the best angling and mine differ. When "the fly " rises early, but few of them come up the first week unless the weather is very unusually Avarm. These stragglers have irresistible attractions for big trout, and as the date of the disappearance of the fly varies little, the later he comes the more limited is his period. Perhaps, one year with another, there is no great variation in the number of ephemerids hatched out, and that during an " early season " Nature's imperative word of command only throws the yellow host into review in small and successive detachments. In late, i.e. short seasons, the trout are gorged with their favourite food, and just when " the burst " is biggest good sport is not always to be had, and after it very little, if any. Ephemerids cannot be too fresh. The "gossoons" who exist about the Westmeath lakes, may be depended on to gather the best, if the gratuity during these poor children's only harvest be but proportioned inversely to their rags and squalor. To learn to judge of the fly's freshness, it only needs to compare one newly caught with another a day old. I don't know how old flies are best preserved, but they are never crisj}, and a flabby " drake " has no attractions for good trout. Those caught before the sun is strong are toughest. The hooks for the natural fly should always have thin shanks. I think one fly covering a small hook is best with a breeze ; two on a larger hook float lighter in light Minds. In natural May-fly fishing, more fish are lost by heavy striking than by not striking at all. When the yellow fly seems to fail, a change to the grey often excites the appetites of large anchorite trout, more austere or wiser than the frivolous youngsters. And when neither green or grey are noticed the stone fly seldom fails, How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 29 and, as the stone-fly keeps well, this " change-fly " should always bo at hand in a soda-water bottle with a very long cork pierced with a quill. 1 On rivers where the May-fly rises, the mode of dapping is similar to that employed with the other natural flies, and there is only one " secret " worth looking into. Let the angler not be seen and as little of the rod as possible. On the Barrow, when I dapped, not unsuccessfully, I asked an old and better fisherman Avliy he always beat my record and all others, though his flics were similar to ours and his appliances preposterous. His reply was, " Shnre, sir, it's the ould rod does it. That varnish o' yer honor's bates ye." I made the suggested amendment and reaped my reward in better filled baskets. Memo. — Avoid being nice in varnish of rods in use — of rods in winter-quarters I don't speak, especially in so damp a climate as Ireland. With the blow-line the click of the reel should be of the softest. No new reel is soft enough. On rivers, and in a less degree on lakes, the " bluebottle " (butcher's shop fly) is, every day of the season a first-rate "dapp." Though one sees numbers when not needed, the great difficulty is to get enough for a day's fishing, and I know no effective mode of trapping them which I can recommend. Paraffin has superseded " dips " in most districts, but here and there candle- works still exist; where they do, a shillingsvvorth of " blow-flies" will fill a couple or three soda-water bottles, and are the cheapest commodity I know. Mr. R. B. Marston's sliced hooks, which I did not know when dapping came in my way, supply a want which used to be met by turning back on the shank of the hook a second barb of a fine bristle or a bit of horsehair or the C^„ , end of the gut on which the hook was whipped. When a sliced hook is not available, this device answers equally well, or perhaps better, unless the slice be nicely made and the barb as delicate as one can make gut or a bristle by the use of a sharp knife. Use 1 The success of the stone-fly in exciting appetite in trout and this common mode of imprisoning him has, I suppose, led to his local name — " bitters." 30 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. two flies in rough streams, one in sluggish deeps. The house- fly sometimes kills, hut not well enough to merit special notice. There is a green bronze fly to be found in open woods (" sycamore fly "). Its iridescence is very marked, and fish take it more avidly than any other, but it is so tender that it melts off the hook, and can only be dropped over a trout once and for a second. This renders fishing with it too tedious, and I only mention the fly to put my leader up to a "wrinkle" which may secure for him a shy trout on a blazing day, when all other lures have failed. Cow-dung flies (easily captured just before use with a broad-bowed moth-net), are very killing, but for sunie occult reason trout will not take them except in pairs, and not well except in a breeze, when most anglers would be sorry to put aside the artificial. The " cow- dung " fly has in some degree the fault of the "sycamore fly," and melts off the hook. A "gossoon," who had mastered the arcana of fishing the river beside him, used bird-lime and a wrapping of one film of silk to attach the cow-dung, but he never ■wasted pains except to drop him over a lusty trout whose very inner life he had fathomed. To " Brineen Rue," too, am I indebted for my knowledge of the " horse-fly." He described it as "jist as sayrious for the throuts as for the garrons," 3 and justified his assertion by enabling me, after many failures, with other lures, to gratify an invalid's fancy for a bit of good trout. The grasshopper, and house-clock, come after the small flies, but not because of their being less effective. Indeed, a grasshopper or two is scarcely to be beaten on warm evenings. The house- clock (the cook's blackbeetle), is excellent at all times but very nasty to use, as are the true beetles which require their wings to be removed. The " daddy long-legs " is worth notice because the best trout may be killed with him, and the bird-lime dodge has removed the impossibility of attaching him. The bee-drone and hornet Avill attract trout, and the wasp-grub and chrysalis (cor-bait of Leinster streams) is so good that I am justified in prolonging by a line or two, this too long chapter, by describing how to work it, i.e. on a fine trace and gnat- hook, above a shot, and with a " give and draw " slowly from the very bottom to the very top of gravelly holes and runs. I speak of the frog in another chapter. It is the most deadly of all lures for large shy trout. In attaching droppers on fine gut casting-linos, the two knots I prefer are, first, the magnified one in illustration, and ' Anglico horses. Hozv and Where to Fish in Ireland. 31 then one such as is figured on page 66 to attach a plummet. Tho Tipper one (black lined) is not safe, as its strength depends alone on the knot at end of dropper. A final word : the dry ilyfisher will do best with no droppers ; if very expert, two flics are sometimes possible. 32 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. CHAPTER III. THE TROUT AND SOME OP HIS RELATIONS. in all Ireland the brook-trout is the most common fish. The supineness or want of knowledge of fishery commissioners, the mistakes of legislators, the selfishness or narrowness of the hank proprietors, and the unsportsmanlike conduct of almost all the community have done as much as possible to diminish the number of the bonniest fish the world knows ; yet I do not think there is a brooklet of a quarter-mile's length in Ireland without trout, nor do I think there are many lakes in which they have been extermi- nated by the pike. A hundred years since one might almost say every pool and rivulet held them. About that time some enthusiasts, who were as rash or as ignorant as those who would to-day bring the Silurus giants amongst us, placed numbers of jack in Irish lakes, and since their introduction they have multiplied exceedingly. Then the drainage operations of this century opened channels from the lakes and ponds to the rivers, and some which were excellent for trout lost their character. Fortunately, the pike has many enemies and no protectors. Every village lad knows how — and is permitted — to fish for them, and the heron (Hibernice, "Crane") does immense service in preying on them in the shallow waters of the loughs, where the " fry " and smallest jack are driven for shelter from their adult cannibal relatives. These solitary fisher- birds are, except when on their high-placed nests, to be seen every day of the year about the edges of the lakes and " pulloughs " l — where the perch or large pike cannot follow the small fish. In the reeds the not uncommon, though not often seen, bittern, the wild ducks, and other " fowl" harry the waters, and happily destroy much spawn and young pikes. There are many varieties of trout in Ireland, and I shall not endeavour to set out all separately, nor am I ichthyologist enough to classify them. Indeed I hold that surround- ing conditions of existence so change the members of the Salmo family that the number of truly distinct species may have been very » Shallow " broads." How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 33 much over-estimated. For the purposes of my hook I shall divide them into 1. The gillaroo, as a family as distinct among trout as even the Watkin-Wynnes among mankind. 2. The great lake Ferox, probably descended from brook trout. 3. The brook, or brown trout, and some poor relations. 4. The chair (two varieties). 5. The pollen, with relatives in Kerry and Donegal tarns. 6. The white, salmon, or sea-trout ; and possibly 7. The bull trout (Eriox). The Gillaroo is only found in the great deeps of the largest rivers, or in a few isolated loughs in all the four provinces. They run from 1 to 4 lb. I have never seen one larger than 4 lb., and never but two less than 1 lb. Where they spawn, and how the small or young gillaroos conceal themselves I know not, nor have I been able to authenticate their being captured even by the poacher's nets at the mouth of the Nenagh Eiver which debouches into Lough Derg, just opposite the most fertile gillaroo run in the great river. Compared with the Ferox or their other connections, they are neither very good to fight, to feed, or to be fed on. They seldom take a fly, when hooked are relatively mere slugs in their struggles, and unless when in the best season (a rare occurrence) don't often eat well. I have now and then killed them with the natural May-fly on the Shannon ; less frequently with its counterfeit and other artificial flies. Perhaps spinning a good gudgeon or a large minnow (the only instance in spinning where a large minnow will beat a small) on a " fall " with little wind and on the deepest waters will kill them, but the troll (a very large Devon bait is best: the Phantom no use) is the most fatal engine against the gillaroo. When spinning or trolling the natural bait must be sunk deep, and a heavy-swivelled plummet, such as seen on salmon trace (page 68) or of Mr. Pennell's pattern, at 5 ft., or even 6 ft., from the minnow is needed. When trolling, the heaviest " Devon " will be found of sufficient weight if rowing up the lake and against the wind ; but if there be pace on the boat, the swivelled plummet must be used. For completeness I refer to the gillaroo, but I do not think any of my readers should devote them- selves exclusively to his capture. If their taste so leads them I shall only be glad of their success as helping to destroy the only Irish trout which, perhaps deservedly, has a piratical reputation, only second to that of the pike. In many parts of Ireland all large lake trout — especially Feroces — are miscalled gillaroo, but when once seen the 34 Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. gizzarded trout can never be mistaken. I shall not trouble my readers with any descriptive details outside what may enable them to recognize the fish. They have a head more rounded and with per- haps squarer opereulte than the Ferox. Well-conditioned fish have red spots above and below the median line, frequently, too, on the head and on the adipose fin ; they are of a positive golden colour, never quite white ; and in Lough Derg, by passing the hand from the pectorals to the vent, the gizzard can be plainly felt. Once during luncheon, with the boats " killock " down, a friend, who could not sleep comfortably unless with the consciousness that some dodge against fish was at work, killed the most symmetrical gillaroo I have seen. His bait was a good gudgeon, on live-bait tackle such as I describe elsewhere. The fish took over ten minutes to play before showing his golden belly (gillaroo have more gold than any fish). He turned 3 lb. exactly, and was the handsomest small- headed gillaroo I ever saw. We examined his gizzard to be sure of his family tree, ate him cooked in greased paper over " turf " embers, and G chanted for funeral hymn the " Cruiskeen laun " to a "tumbler" accompaniment. I have said that, as a rule, a gillaroo trout is not good eating. Usually if brought home he can only be made so by being boiled in the softest water till nearly cooked. When cool cut him across into collops, dip him in batter (egg and cream), then in bread crumbs, and a finely-chopped eschalot, and brown him gently in pan with plenty of butter, oil, or lard at boiling-point. When cooked the collops should be placed before a clear fire, to run off the oil, before being served with Tarragon vinegar and cold butter. Finally, and to part from him handsomely, if eaten from the hook as directed later for lake trout, &c, even a gillaroo is on occasions food fit for demigods. In Lough Keagh the gillaroo is said to take the fly in preference to any bait, and a friend who confirms this gives me as a pattern : — Hook : No. 8 Limerick. Tag : Gold tinsel. Tail : Two spines of topping. Body : Olive mohair mixed with hare's ear, or green monkey fur ribbed with four turns gold (epaulet) 1 wist. Hackle : Red, from gamecock, back of neck, or lemon, dyed from white or dusky hackle. Wing : Grey bald-coot, or grey-brown mallard. Other lake trout or white trout patterns may be tried now and thtn, but the above is the charmer. The gillaroo is found in Lister, in Lough Neagh, Sheelin, Erne, Melvin, &c. In Leinstcr, I believe, it is not found, though I have h.°ard of it, and it may run up some rivers from the Shannon which borders the eastern Hotv and Where to Fish in Ireland. 35 province. The fish twice pointed out to me on the "Westmcath Lakes as giilaroo was simply the lake trout, Ferox, of good golden colour, and short. In Munster, the Inchiquin Lake, and others in Clare, Lough Derg on the Shannon, facing the Tipperary shore, Inchigilagh Lake (?) in Cork, and possibly some Kerry lakes — hold, or lately held, the giilaroo. In Connaught the giilaroo is comparatively common. In all the broad deeps of the Shannon, Lough Derg, Lough Ree, Lough Forbes, Loughs Key and Allen, in Corrib, Mask, Cullen, Conn, Arrow, and (Jill he is more or less abundant. In Donegal I know him not, and of the smaller lakes he frequents my readers must learn in the special description of Lakes given in the " Tour Guides." The Great Lake Trout (Sahno ferox). This fish abounds in the loughs of Ireland and in the profound " deeps " of the Shannon. In all the localities noted as holding giilaroo, Feroces are found, and in much larger numbers than their gizzarded cousins. They reach great weights. I have myself seen eight of over 20 lb. Since particulars have been authenticated and recorded by such observers as Frank Buckland, the heaviest on record was that killed by Mr. John Willington Pepper on the Shannon, Lough Derg. This was a very handsome fish, short and symmetrical, and brought down the beam wilh 29 lb. 4 oz. on the other side. There is no doubt many of over 30 lb. have been captured. In 1854, one which turned the scale with 32 lb. was presented to the Museum of Trinity College, Dublin ; and there is more than traditional evidence of fish of 40 to 45 lb., and of one from Lough ISTeagh, killed in 1804, which contemporary ob- servers recorded as a 52-pounder. I myself saw the skin, with the head complete, of a lake trout, then, recently taken in Lough Cor rib, and sent for preservation to the late Mrs. Glennon, in Suffulk Street, Dublin. It measured over all, though crumpled by transmission in sawdust, over 51 in., and was secured on a night- line by a boatman of the late Mr. Nicholas Garnier. When I saw the mutilated skin I asked Major Garnier (brother of the captor's employer) about it, and learned that the monster was taken in comparatively shallow water, and only recovered by an accident, after an unseen, but no doubt tough, struggle. (The unearthed peg of the night-line had tangled in a stump.) . The owner of the night-line was afraid to tell his master of the catch, but by the advice of a confederate poacher, a soldier-servant of Major Garnier, 1 1 This man was a gipsy, an excellent *~ldier, and as excellent a D 2 36 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. the captor skinned the " pike," and they ate him. The skin was to have been sent as a trophy to England by the gipsy, who, on consideration, made a clean breast to his master. The adipose fin of the "pike" made his skin a curio of price, and hence the attempt of Mrs. Glennon to restore it. The brothers Garnier are both dead, and I know not what became of the " big Corrib trout." If when living he were of such condition as the brook trout exhibited by Nestor, of Limerick, at the Fisheries Exhibition — over 21 lb. — he must have weighed over 45 lb., and if he approached the shapely corpulence of a Lough Carra trout (noticed anon with that lake) 101b. more would not balance him. I have elected to treat the lake trout (Salmo ferox) as a distinct fish from the brown trout (Salmo fario), because Thompson and other naturalists have done so ; but the outward distinction between some at least of these varieties is not nearly so well marked as is the step between the lake trout and the gillaroo. In the Westmeath lakes the largest trout seem to me to be giant " brookers." In Loughs Mask and Corrib, the Shannon, Loughs Cullin and Melvin, the " big ones " have quite distinctive features — at least, for rough observers — to separate them from the trout of the streams. On the contrary, iu Lough Conn, though it feeds and is fed by Cullin, many of the largest fish seem brook trout, and I have never taken, or seen taken, outside Pontoon, in the bigger lake, a trout which gave me the impression of his being Salmo ferox. This question of the dis- tinction — if there is one between lake and brook trout — is for the solution of comparative physiologists, and all that is needful for me now is to point out when and how the great trout may be captured. As to the where, I shall avoid repetition by referring my readers to the " Tour Guides " (Part II. of this book) ; but as the best mode of fishing varies in localities, I must endeavour to point them out with some detail. In a general way, trolling baits kill most lake trout, and the biggest, but everywhere the fly kills them too. I set aside for the moment all reference to the fly, and for conve- nience divide trolling under three heads : — 1. Trolling with natural baits. 2. Trolling with artificial baits. 3. Trolling astern, and " falling " combined. Amongst natural baits, the minnow, the stone loach, the gudgeon, a small " trimmed " perch, a troutling, a small eel, or eel's tail are all good baits. The par (called in Ireland salmlet, graveling, fry, servant for a sportsman, but the most pestilent poacher of all preserves to which his master had not access. I refer to him else- where concerning a device of his in dry fly-fishing. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 37 laspring or rudeen) is deadly ; but no sportsman, such as I wish to guide, will prostrate to baiting a being which might become a 50-pounder parent of millions. Trolling from behind the boat in shallows and deeps, the minnow is, every day of the season, best of all baits (if confined to one) : bat on shallows, when the big trout come in to feed, the gudgeon kills better. Where gudgeon or minnow are not native the trout cannot resist a graceful personal introduction to them. I dismiss the small perch, disfigured by the scissors which removes his back fin. The stone loach (the " colloagh," or " callac rue or roe " of Ireland) is good in the absence of gudgeons or minnows on the shallows, and a small trout is the best of all in the deeps, but only on a good feeding day. I shall reserve for special places particular mention of the eel's tail and eel. I may, however, say that, as a change, there is nothing better for deep or shallow. The mode of fishing with natural baits varies, and should be governed by locality, season, and weather. The trace I use for trolling with any of the foregoing baits is exceedingly simple, and will be easily understood on reference to illustration. I have used Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell's successfully, and those recommended by other anglers, and have found them all effective ; but like the pig-headed man that I am, I prefer my own pattern, or, I may almost say, Mr. Francis Francis's pattern, as he has made public one very similar to that I had arrived at before reading his most able book. How I use it will develop itself as I go on. For the troller who has taken up quarters by those of Sahno fcrox, the conditions of success are : — 1st. Being where Ferox is, and when Ferox's appetite is keen. 2nd. Having for Ferox's palate a tempting morsel. 3rd. Presenting the morsel with all the arts of a gay deceiver. Of the second of these conditions I have already written ; the first will, at the outset, greatly depend on the knowledge and disposition of the local boatmen — later, on the knowledge of the angler and his guide ; but it may be assumed that when trolling, or trolling and falling, is at all the proper mode of fishing, some- thing like the following fingerposts will be safe guides for him. The earliest time when the lake trout should be fished for is at the end of March (better later), when he rushes daily from the deeps to feed on the shallows, their edges, or, best of all, near, or by the wash of, debouching streams ; and if the wind blow softly after or in rains, the troller may keep exclusively to the shallows. A small minnow, a loach, a gudgeon, or a bright, very small eel- tail will be effective. When in' shallows or at river mouths at such a season, the trace should not carry any (flying) tail-hooks, 33 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. as the streams bring down much flotsam, and a fully-armed flight makes frequent entanglements. If the wind be very strong, trolling against it may make an extra steadier of lead needful ; but I recommend attaching it as seldom as possible, and I barely ever LOOPED BACK TRACE. BOOK [---OF MAIN TRACE SPINNING TRACE AND FLIGHT. do so myself. In bright sunshine, when the wind is boisterous, the leaded flight is needed to sink the bait, but as at such a time I seldom troll except on the way up the wind to get the fall down on it afterwards, I generally use one or two rods How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 39 with loadel flights for the troll up, and others without lead, or with very little k j ad, upon the fall. At this early season, and only in warm winds, do the large lake trout frequent light waters during the whole day; 2 but they seem ever on the alert to leave the deeps in any change to balmy weather. They enjoy ("?) at this season the keenest appetite; and one desirous rather of weight of individual trout than the aggregate weight of his creel's contents, will keep to the margin of the deep-water fishing, with, iii prefer- ROLL-OVER "*- AND LOOP. .RUBBER RING PUN DOWN ON HEAD. HEAD HOOK. BACK HOOKS. LARCE BENDING HOOK. MINNOW MOUNTED. ence to a minnow or any other bait, a small trout with tail hooks in the flight. The flight I recommend is as illustrated. It is made up of one large hook to bend the minnow, loach, &o. ; a triple hook for back (just above the turn) ; and a head hook to come out at back of the head. The head hook and back hooks are on a short looped trace. ! These remarks are general ; specialities will be written of against localities. 40 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. "When the " bending " hook has been run through the bait, the weight if used will be run down into the belly. I find the best weight is a smallest-sized " Devon," with the fins filed off, and whipped (at W) with silk, or surrounded by a tiny rubber ring there (a touch of the file makes a bed for it). Then the head hook is attached and the back hooks fastened in, one of the gill covers being raised with the knife to admit the trace ; finally, the knots are drawn all taut (when the traces, having been made snug), and a rubber ring (E) passed down over the head to grip close to the gill cover. The ring is an improvement on the tie commonly used, and those in the little, foreign, paper " vesta " boxes (the springs) are perfect for the purpose. No swivel should be ever nearer this bait than two feet. If a flying trace be advisable, it will be only a continuation from the back hooks' mouuting. Later on (in May) the troll is pitted against the fly, and in the middle of the day the fish will generally beat the feather, and the gudgeon, which the minnow outstripped in the earlier months, begins to be more attractive. When the May-fly (green drake or grey) or stone-fly prevails, spinning a bait in any way during lale May or early June will be of little use, though very late, after twilight, at night, even in moonlight, or very early in the morning, the big fish in the deepest waters will "go for" a well-spun gudgeon, especially " on the fall." In July the lakers are killed by trollers in the deeps by day, and in the shallows at early morning, dewy eve, and on still nights, and I know of no time that one enjoys their capture so much as in the soft twilight, trolling up on the verge of the shallows, and " falling " down a little more in or out. At such a time one rod should work a very small trout, a collough, a gudgeon, or a minnow (this the order of precedence of July). The companion fisher should use white trout flies, or those of the pattern moths set out in another chapter, for employment in the localities set out in "Guide Book" (Part IL). As for trolling with artificial baits for Ferox, one rule may be accepted as almost universal. The Shannon requires the largest, and the great loughs baits proportioned not to their waters but to the strength of the streams or rivers which feed them. Thus, the monsters of Lough Neagh are taken with Devon spoons, Phantoms, &c, smaller than those baits found best on the Kerry lakelets, which are fed by torrents. In a general way, the Devon will be found the best killer in Conn aught, the Phantom the best in Kerry, as it certainly is in the Shannon. These baits about divide honours in Ulster, and in Lcinsterthe Devon (except with some limitation in "Westmeath) How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 41 is practically as useless as — has been for some years, and for some occult reason — the spoon. Of this, the spoon, once the best of all artificial lures, I do not know that I may recommend it for trout anywhere, and but for pike on the lakes which run from Island Eady (on the Westport-road) to Castlebar, on the neigh- bouring Rehan's Lake, and on the Castlebar river. These lakes are for trollers, like well-mended kelts for French cooks, nearly as good as the real article — a virgin lake — and the spoon slaughters on them as it may on a few other places of which I have not heard. 3 The same rules as to trolling in shallows and in deeps with natural apply to artificial baits, and I may wind up my obser- vations on them by a particular commendation of the " Caledonian," " Exhibition," and " Protean ;" but still more of the horn-made minnows, which I obtained from Bowness's, in Fleet Street, and from Nestor, George Street, Limerick. For capture of lake trout in the shallows, or of river trout, no bait surpasses these, especially the last. In the Devon I omit some of the hooks of the armature as it is generally sold (the flying three behind). I do so for the same reasons I have pleaded elsewhere against too many hooks. I may be wrong ; but I have the sanction of many able fishermen, for lessening the number of hooks. In deep waters after August, I prefer artificial to all natural baits, except trout (larger in size, and on a larger hook each week till a large salmon- hook is reached). Towards the close of the season a trout of 3 oz. will not be an atom too large to tempt a Corrib, Mask, Neagh, or Conn deep-water Ferox, especially during bright daylight. On the shallows smaller trout do better, as do minnows, which seem to renew, towards the close of fishing, the charms which they lost in late July or August. As to troll and fall-fishing. This is the " ideal " way of fishing in Ireland. Will my reader accompany me about 20th May, on Massbrook shore (Lough Conn). A pleasant westerly wind (from the starting-place in the great Atlantic summer ice-race) is ruffling the lower shore. Pat Roche and his son " Mick " are at the oars, the "Doctor" is at bow, " Hi Regan " astern, the one with a small minnow, the other with a brace of lake flies. (For patterns, see Conn, Part II.). The boat is kept just at the edge of the deep water and broadside on, the inshore man dropping his flies in front with as long a line as he may, and getting in his 3 Since writing the above, a competent angler tells me that Lough Melviii, Arrow, and Lough Sheelin fish have shown in the two past (dry) seasons a return to the love which Miss Spoon enkindled in all fishy hearts at her debut. 42 Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. slack at just a little more than the boat's rate of travel, but in a quadrant to cover the water. The rod is kept well up, with the dropper occasionally dancing, not always on the water. The minnow man in the stern and lakewards makes his throws (well in front, too), and works the bait with wobble or spin (I have seen both serve and equally well) till the drift demands a new throw. " Hurrah ! Habet ! " says the Doctor. " Y're in him, surr," from Roche, who within five minutes " gives the last rites " to a 4 lb. beauty, albeit he has a bigger head and less shoulder than a Westmeath Aphrodite of equal weight. Meanwhile, as the trout fought, the boy "Mick" has steadied the boat, and a bigger and a better one has the minnow in his jaws ; or, again — happy Fates ! — both fly and bait provoke the dances which precede the " wakes " 4 of trout on Mayo loughs— and thus the drift goes on to opposite the "Rabbit Hole "Wood," where the Doctor lays aside in the thwarts the (No. 2) Shannon rod to substitute a No. 5 for the pull up against the wind. An unloaded gudgeon (unless the fish are very keen on one sort, the baits of the fishers should vary), and without a flying hook, trolls over the inner station on as long a line as possible, as does the bait on the outer station. I do not know why (other fishermen disavow any preference), but on the troll up I think more trout are to be killed by the inner station, and on the fall down more and better on the outer. If I be right, I conceive that the fish in the shallow (the inner) side are all there to feed and avid to chop the bait ; but on the outer the veteran trout often account a little fish drawn by a boat as too steadily pro- gressive to be good eating. 5 As to the treatment of lake trout, tastes differ. Cooked by the lake side between roasting stones, or on turf embers, when en- wrapped in nicely greased paper with no projecting "dog-ear" edges to catch fire, or roasted on a timber-spit (arbutus wood best of all), he makes a delicious addition to luncheon. At home he is decidedly best boiled in almost as much vinegar as water. He is not as good, however, as a comely brook trout of over 1 lb. weight. I may take the opportunity to say that, in order that your captives may eat well, they should be killed the moment they be taken in — and bled, too. My instruments are a knife and "His Reverence" 4 " Wal-es " shorn of full sepulchral honours without the libations of **' Glass Island " whisky. • Trout do rot often take the minnow or other bait in th. direct wake of a boat. If a " drowned " fly be trolled the wake is a good water, but not quite as fertile as just on its edge. Hozu and Where to Fish in Ireland. 43 (vide illustration), a little cudgel of lignum vita?, a tap of which above the nose settles the fish before the hook is extracted. Then, just behind the opercula on the median line, insert the knife till it touches the back bone, and from the orifice the blood flows freely. For bleeding, a blade of the common oyster knife is the most suitable if sharpened keenly. I have spoken of large troutlings as bait and approved them, but must warn my readers that their best season is only a short one, and just before the close. Of fishing for Ferox with the fly, 1 have little to add to that which I enjoin on May fly-fishing and white trout. No fish gives better occasional sport than the lakers, none disappoint more frequently. There is the consolation, however, that where they are found an alternation in the pursuit of other .SLING — -BLADE. yfJS?: ' WHIPPING LENGTH Or J^ OF WIRE. SHAFT 14 INCHES.>£#^ \ s Jpr HEAD DIAMETER I l[ s INCHES. " HIS REVERENCE." sporting fish is seldom absent. Local men in the boats have many dodges, some good, some useless, some bad. They should be all noted, but not all followed. " Pat" or "Dan" have killed trout since their boyhood at so-and-so and with such-and-such ; therefore, to all time, " S. and S with a Claret Hackle " must kill at " S and S," and " divil a use in these other wans." The Irishman is of Eastern (Arian) blood, and in many respects resembles an Afghan. His Conserva- tism and his courtesy are points of similarity. If Mr. Marston or "Hi-Regan" knows a better fly or bait than the "Aides-de-camp," one or all of them will not have worse sport by respecting the conservatism, and practising the courtesy ; but the stranger must be very firm in conveying the knowledge that, sport or no sport, he will have his own way. I have seen no more pitiable man than a soft Saxon in the grip of an Irish professional. 44 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Mark, too, a kind word will do as much, as whisky ; a bright smil« and a firm command, more. Ferox requires the best tackle. His rushes are stronger than those of a grilse of a third more than his weight ; and his guile is greater. He knows his ground, too, therefore should get the butt from the first moment if possible. With a good boatman to help him, and get away on his inrushes, the rod (if of Shannon pattern) may be killing him from the "stroke." I have a 12 ft. "Winchester rod (from Mrs. Cox, Parchment Street) of three joints, and very light, which has worn out some beautiful fish ; but I prefer reserving it for the special treatment of the brook trout. In reading my tours some idea may be formed of the ravages of the pikes ; but here my pleasant duty is pointing out how the trout may be best caught. As I have been speaking of spinning bait for Feroccs, I shall continue to deal with them as lures for brook trout, and my reference, further on, to worms for brook trout may be taken as applicable, so far as circumstances permit, to their use for lake trout. 6 In fishing for brown trout, the minnow is certainly the best general spinning-bait, and the only exception I can make to this is at night (in warm weather especially), and again in such streams as hold immense numbers of minnows and few loach. In minnow-spinning the very smallest, brightest, and most foreign-looking minnow is the most killing. In streams where minnow have not been introduced (I don't think they are native Irish fish) they are simply irresistible to trout, and the only drawback is that one never has enough of them to satisfy the craving of the trout, great or small. Therefore, as a change of fare the loach is valuable, as he also is when no minnow, as may often happen, is available. The gudgeon is not, I think, a good bait for trout in streams, and I shall not discuss him now ; I think his absence from most Irish rivers argues his being an importation, like the minnow. The illustrations of a flight in the foregoing pages on " Ferox fishing" explain one fit for stream fishing, and I may at once say that I think any flying hooks on a brook trout flight out of place and destructive of sport. Nearly every angler spins the minnow on too heavy tackle ; and the angler's skill may, I think, be gauged, not in- accurately, by the measure of his powers of working a light minnow on light tackle. Of course, the gossamer casting-line of a dry fly- fisher will not do to spin any bait, and I have, in recommending the lightest possible tackle for the sport, only to appeal to my 6 The strength f the tackle, and especially the size of the hook, may be increased when worming for Ferox is worth following. 1 am rr.vseJ not so enthusiastic an admirer of the worm as to be persuaded that it ever is a good lure for him. Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. 45 readers to employ good sense in selecting, and patient endeavour in using, as light gut as is possible. A flight, to which I am indebted, I believe, to the author of a book called "The Secrets of Angling," is, on the whole, the best I know in spinning for brook trout. Flights very similar are used on many rivers, but the perfection of this is not often attained. The drawing I give very accurately conveys the flight, which has the singular merit of permitting a change ot weight, or an exclusion of any weight at will. It° is very simple, and the only improvement I can suggest is the use of a rubber ring (as in the ferox flight) to be shoved down on the head of the bait to hold in the shot. The weight being in the head, 46 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. with this flight the minnow spins with a very attractive, plunging movement, the more natural if the swivel be at a good distance up from it. It is now some years since I adopted this flight, selected from an admirable book, which I lost. In it were several useful flights, and I wish I were so certain of the name of the book or the author as to be able to recommend them as in many things my best advisers. 7 Next to using a good flight garnished with a handsome minnow, I know nothing which demands more the attention of an angler who would succeed than his mode of throwing. The proper mode is so easy, that I cannot but think it is not always adopted only because most of us before we try to spin have been fly-fishers. For the spinner there is no such thing as the over-hand cast. The casting-line should be held in the left hand just above the bait, the rod in the right, with a little less line between the bait hand and the top of the rod than between the top and the rod hand. To be clear, I shall explain in detail, and suppose the angler standing some few feet from the left bank, and wishing to cast to under the opposite bank of the stream of a few yards breadth. (Here I make no account of up-stream or down-stream fishing.) His rod is of 15 ft., Shannon pattern. He holds it at 2 ft. from bottom in his right hand, and has his right shoulder and a little of his back turned to the spot to which he wishes to direct his bait. Under the fore- finger of his right hand he has a coil of reel line of as large a " round " as he can conveniently keep off the ground and adequate, with that part already out, and the casting-line, to permit the minnow to reach it destination. In his left hand ho holds the trace just above the bait, and draws it back as far as the spring of the rod will permit, and against the strain of the right hand holding the rod (with top not above the height of the eye). Then the eyes are thrown back to the spot where the bait should drop, and almost simultaneously the bait is released with a sort of swinging move- ment, of the rod and body, to the right. At the moment the right foot, which had been raised as the rod was sprung, is put down firmly, with the toes towards the river (at least a " facing " or quadrant to the right of the former direction), and the left foot is brought round at once. During the half second which has elapsed the bait should have swung round in an arc, and as the line has straightened from the rod's point, the forefinger of the right hand should release the coils, the first to go being that nearest the point of the finger, the second that at next joint, and so in sequence. When the swing-off 'was made, the right elbow, which had been cluse to the ribs, ought to have been ' A friend writes to me that the author's name is Moffutt. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 47 released, and the fore-arm raised to guide the flight, and just before the drop of the bait a slight dip of the rod-poiut will assist in making it fall lightly. A great object of the angler should be to get his minnow 011 the move the instant the throw is accomplished. To do this the rod-point should be turned up-stream, but lowered at the same time, and the spin should be continued in a semi-circle to the angler's bank. Avhen frequently a trout which has followed it across the stream will take it just as it seems withdrawing from his reach. Indeed, no method seems to succeed better than drawing in the completion of the cast with a somewhat jerky motion of the min- now up-stream, and then letting it, before being finally withdrawn, tumble down-stream as an exhausted little fish might do after a fruitless fight with the current. The explanation of doing what .depends on a number of synchronic actions is very difficult, and it may be that a final sentence as to throwing a minnow will be clearer than the foregoing explanation. A minnow must be thrown from the spring of the rod underhand, and when the weight of the flight draws the line to correspondence with the direction of the rod the slack should be available to permit the bait to run on. For those who fish Nottingham fashion my direction has no application. I have never done so, and must refer those who would learn to some competent instructor. Many truly good anglers never seem to be able to get rid of the coil without kinks. To meet them I have to suggest nothing better than the "coil horn," which deserves more notice than lias been given it even by the few who have seen it used. Mr. George Loudon, of Mayo, was, I believe, its inventor, and it certainly deserves consideration if only in recognition of one of the finest anglers that ever wet a line. He employed it in salmon-fishing, but it is equally useful to trout or pike- fishers. The illustration explains the contrivance, which should be strapped over the left sleeve of the fishing-jacket. From experience, I can vouch that it requires little practice to give off the coils with perfect precision by throwing forward the left hand deflly when using a single-handed rod, or by bending out the wrist a little when both hands are employed in a " double-hander." In spinning a minnow, the most successful will be the angler who can drop his bait farthest off lightly, and spin deepest on the longest line, and with a line always taut. There is in spinning no ride for " striking " of any use that I know of. Practically, if the flight is a good one, and properly set up and worked, a trout will hook himself. I have remarked, though I can't furnish any explanation for it, that when a trout has been killed on a minnow his fellows seem to take more alarm at the commotion than when the fly has been the ag>. nt. Therefore, I recommend to the spinner 48 Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. as summary processes as the tackle will bear; and, as weeds are never cut in Ireland, instant execution has additional merits if the patience of the angler is not of impenetrable proof. In spinning the collagh (loach) there is always need to tie it even when salted and toughened. And here I may say that unless the minnows be absolutely killed on the moment (from the bait-can), and when in their brightest condition, I don't think that they are How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 49 ever quite so good as those from the salt, which are certainly tougher than the fresh fish. For night-fishing the loach will, I think, generally beat the minnow ; but at the season when night- fishing is really worth the loss of sleep, the tumbles, and other dcsagrcments which attend it, the fly will generally beat both, and when the frog (of which more anon) is in, no other lure will compare with it. As the minnow is rarely found in the West of Ireland, and as it is murderous there, one word of warning to the tourist in Connaught is needed — " By night and day look after your minnoics and bait- can." In playing the minnow (always xcith a loiv top) the motion should be such as to simulate a little fish struggling to make head- way against the rushing waters, and therefore in the calmer places the lure must be spun with less jerk ; but as it is in calm water that a trout can best judge the deception of the lure, something must be substituted for the nice and too regular spin which ensues when "jerking " is inadmissible. A sort of sink and draw, not too much of either, I find best — just enough to make the minnow appear a demented minnow — a lost innocent in unwonted bad company. As to the best place to ply the " spin," I have little to add to what I write on worm-fishing in other pages ; but I would impress, that less even than a worm should a minnow be kept in play in too strong water, and that all the arguments for fishing always out of the fish's sight and far off are applicable, are worth application by the minnow-spinner as they are by those who may go worm-fishing for trout. Finally, in very deep water, which harbours lake trout, a min- now, armed with double hook, and sunk as far as it may be out of the shadow of the boat, dipped and drawn up and down, will often succeed when all other methods have failed. These hooks should be attached back to back, and the shanks taken through the minnow with a baiting-needle so that the barbs may project at either jaw. When the trace is attached the minnow should be tied at tail firmly to top of hook shanks. Nor should we despair of killing a salmon thus with a minnow any more than with the prawn, in using which the " dip and draw " is quite the most alluring way, though spinning is the more usual and very often successful. The flights used in Ireland with prawn vary much ; that which I believe best is to be got at the Cork tackle-shops, 6 and possibly in Dublin. Bowness sells it in Fleet Street. It is called the " Blar- ney," and its peculiarity is the use of a pointed wire nearly as long as the prawn, which is looped over the prawn tail, and when it has been run through the prawn it is caught and secured on a 8 Mr. Haynes makes thera beautifully. 5o How and Where to Fish in Ireland. loop tied on the lower hooks' shanks. Prawns need not he boiled unless to use fresh, when they are sufficiently tough, and the bright red is an advantage. Salt is the best preservative, not glycerine, which takes away all toughness. Besides, salt reddens them. Each prawn should be wrapped in s>dt, under and over, and kept in separate papers, because if stored together one " rusted " prawn will make them all "smell." The top hook, which should be as large as either the lower hooks, should come out in back between two scales, and at its issue is the proper place for a tie with housewife's thread dyed red. The Charr. 9 In Ireland the charr is certainly found in three provinces : I am not aware of its having been killed in Leinster. Where it may be oftenest killed will be found in the Second Part ; the how I shall briefly endeavour to describe when I have spoken of the peculiarities which, it seems to me, distinguish some of the Irish charrs from those which I have seen exposed for sale in London, aDd figured in pictures for the guidance of naturalists. 9 These sweet fish are possibly found in other waters than those I mention. I ppeak of authentic haunts of theirs. How and Where to Fish in Irelcuid. 5> In Lough Melvin, where they do most abound, I have seen " reddish charr," " grey charr," and " silver charr," but none of them were very red ; and I have known English anglers and others who had seen the Windermere and Swiss Lake fish declare they were not such charr as those in Melvin. In that lake, I am told, charr seldom or never run above 1 lb. in weight, though they are broader than English fish. In Lough Conn, where a few yeais since charrs were unknown, I have killed and seen killed monsters (for charr), 2 lb. weight, and have been told that or a little under is " the run." How these fish have got to Conn is difficult to explain, as there is no lake near which holds them, and it somewhat taxes one's belief to say they were carried as fry or eggs from Melvin or some other remote lake by cormorants, which made no such beautiful deposit in other and nearer waters. The charr in Conn, besides being so large, are, I believe, never red. They are only found in the great deeps outside Glass Island, and the mode of capture I adopted, with some amount of success (for a charr-fisher), will guide such anglers as may wish to kill the most delicious of all freshwater fish. Where a charr has been, captured, fair or foul, the local boatmen know of it, and can place their boats. The fish are very sedentary, and take best in a briskish breeze, after rain, or in sultry weather, very early in the morning, or just at sun-down. The lightest-drawn gut cast is proper, with a No. 7 shot at the end ; above it two or three dropper flies on 3 in. very fine gut links set out from casting-line by an inch or so of hog's bristle, thus : — e 2 52 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. The bristle b b and the fly link are knotted together as near the end as possible, then at 1 in., or l|in., the link is again attached to bristle with " roll-over " knot, outside which the bristle is cut off. The fly, when attached through the fisherman's knots a a on casting-line, will stand out when drawn through the water from near the bottom. 10 The shot should be a foot from the lowest fly. The only flies I believe good are a small white moth of strongest cock hackles tied over lemon silk, or silver tinsel body, owl for wings, or " black silver magpie" of silver tinsel body, black hackle, or " hackle " of lapwing topping, dark stare's wing ; or finally, reddest red hackle over red silk body (palmer), and with all these a gentle on the hook is an additional attraction — at least, I believe so, as, catering for them thus, I once killed five charrs in about an hour, and have heard of no such success since. In the Fishing Gazette some time ago there was the drawing of a contrivance by an angler, long since with the majority, which, I think, might suit for a charr-cast. This is it : — *6— — *^ ^^ -^5 «^b What I have said for charr-fishing applies to Pollen, which is still found in such quantities in Lough Neagh as to make the capture of it by angling an ambition worthy of the best fisherman. I have been recommended by a capital practical angler, who has killed them (in the fashion I directed for charr) with a very small silver-bodied gnat, hackled at shoulder, with blue tip and a tiny Aving of blue chatterer, and the whole dis- figured with a gentle. He has also killed on the Wasp " Caddie " — sunk and drawn up gently from the bottom. In Lough Derg and some of the Kerry lakes is a fish possibly identical with the Powan of Loch Lomond, but of this or the Vendace (?) of Kerry this book need not speak more fully than to mark their established presence. The White Trout, for which I claim a place of honour equal to, if not above, the salmon's, is killed all round Ireland, and when in best season they evince a nicer taste than all their relatives by refusing anything but the fly. Of course, they do occasionally take worms, minnows, and other baits, but not as the brown trout or the salmon, and it is only with the fly they should be fished for, unless to get a first fish in the estuary on a very small eel's tail, which is irresist- w Mr. Marston has shown me a fly dressed on very fine wire which might perhaps be useful for such a " dropper." How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 53 ible to them. In the chapter on flies, and in the tour guide, will be found descriptions of the best patterns I know, and I must dismiss the subject of the fish, which is my prime favourite, with the monition that, to have him at his best on the table, a white trout requires prompter bleeding than any of his congeners, and if one has not a knife handy, a gill-ray or two should be torn out the moment the fish has been knocked on the head ; for a white trout left to " cool " without bleeding loses all his curd and best flavour. And now we come to The Bull Trout, which, on the authority of naturalists (Thompson, the best of all Irish, amongst the number), I must set down as being Irish. I have not myself seen it ; or, if I have, have not recognized it. Thompson has assigned it an Irish habitat, embracing all the coast rivers from Killala, in Mayo, round Donegal, and all the maritime Ulster counties. To question so great an authority is a position I shall not accept; but I have fished the Moy discharging at Killala, and most of the rivers northward, and I never saw any fish of the salmon tribe which I could distinguish from the real article, or white or brown trout. Nor did I ever kill, or see killed, a white trout (S'thno trutta) of greater weight than 5 lb. (and of that only one in Beltragh), a weight quite under that of the bull trout of the Tweed and Coquet. In this lamentable state of ignorance, I can only say to the angler for bull trout in Ireland that B. T. (Eriox), has, I am told, the appetite, if not all the other good qualities of his high relations, and will, I believe , take all the salmon and grilse flies which tempt them, and prawn, eel-tail, and spinning baits, natural and artificial, even more ravenously. I am anxious to exhaust bait-fishing by mentioning the eel-tail, the frog, and such others as occasionally prove attractive to trout. As to the eel-tail, it is, except the fly, the most effective lure used against salmon. Next it comes the worm, and then the prawn, fresh or boiled, or boiled and salted, or preserved in glycerine. With trout it is only rarely relished, but often enough to deserve mention here. The Eel-Tail bait is not so generally well known as it should be. It is very easily made, and has one signal recommendation — it is better when preserved than when fresh, because the salt toughens the skin, and if carefully looked-to one eel-tail may kill a score of salmon without re- quiring repair. I extract from Mr. H. Cholmondeley Pennell a clearly- written method of preparing it : — " Skin the eel downwards to the 54 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. third or fourth inch. Cut the "body off there, together with a small piece of the spine bone below the level. Then pass a large salmon- hook in at the orifice, and run it down the middle of the tail . . . bringing the point out one and a half inches from the end of the tail. . . . Tie the loose skin tightly and closely round with a piece of waxed silk just over the top of the hook shank ; then turn it downwards towards the end of the tail, and cut off all round at a point about one inch from the last-named lapping. Now sew the rough edge of the turned over skin carefully down with Holland thread or red sewing silk." 9 I have hut to add that for trout the eel-tail should be made from a very small eel, and that I think from experience an improvement is the addition of small eyes of red glass beads. Finally, the swivel in eel-tail fishing should be as far from the bait as the casting-line will permit, for the spin is best in a sort of wriggle, not a regular roll. The addition of a swan drop (shot) as a plummet at the head of the shank of hook and inside the eel skin, will not injure an eel-tail bait. The Frog ("the Dancer"). In sultry weather, when the small frogs first appear, there are no lures which can be more successfully used for big trout. I have killed many with the frog, and cannot recall an instance of its attracting any hut large trout. The flight to be used is simply two flight hooks and a lip-hook (with shank broken off short) secured through upper lip. The lower hooks should be passed through and out the same place in upper lip, and taken over back of frog and then downwards each side and under the thighs, and inserted so that the barbs should just project on the lower side of frog's buttocks. The hindmost hooks should be inserted under the skin with as little in- 11 The shank of the large salmon-hook used with eel-tail should be short. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 5 5 jury to the frog as possible, for the more lively he is in kicking the better chance of sport. 10 Where a big trout is known to feed the frog should be dropped in just as if he had jumped from the bank — from the " docks " — or alders which overhang it. When the frog is taken the trout should not be struck quickly, nor till the first shake ; but then, low and sharp is the maxim. My instructor in the uso of this uncom- mon lure was so careful that he would measure a cast across stream during daylight, and having taken out line enough, would recast with a heavy shot at dusk to assure himself of overreaching the opposite bank. Then he would attach the frog and send it deftly across to the other bank, and after an interval, if froggy did not himself flop into the trout's jaws, would draw him gently till he did so nolens volevs. Of course for the near bank no such proceeding is needed, and it is under banks that this lure is most useful. At twilight, in sultry weather, and in warm summer nights I have seldom seen the frog fail to kill those " anakim " among trout, too wise for the collagh, minnow, or fly. The Grasshopper, the Clock, and other naturals I mention under the heading " Natural Flies and Floating-baits " (Chap. II. ). 12 In the illustration the flight is too large for the best frog, which is the very smallest to be got. 56 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. CHAPTER IV No fishing is more generally misunderstood than trout-fishing with the worm, and yet none is occasionally better done. In Ireland, the poorest anglers are the best, and their mode assimilates in most respects to that which Mr. Stewart has placed within the reach of the English readers of his excellent book. 1 In my childhood I made my first angling essays with the worm, and in all conditions of water. Till lately, however, I did not re- turn to my early love, and I find that I have little to add to what my first preceptor told me, except that the lest season for such angling is much shorter than he thought, or I, till corrected in the matter by a student of Mr. Stewart. The directions I venture to put forward will, in some respects, differ from that gentleman's ; but I rely upon my practical experience, and therefore recommend them in preference to others which I have followed for comparison. The armature I adopt is of only two hooks, not tied back to back but as in illustration. 2 I have seen used, and used myself, one, three, four, and even five hooks, but with less success than two. At least two are needed to keep on a worm. More, my experienco tells me, increase the chance of entanglement of weeds, &c, with- out enough compensating advantages in the entanglement of fish. This two-hooked Avorm trace should be made of the finest gut, be at least 5 ft. long, and attached to a foot line of 4 ft., smoothly whipped to the winch line. I speak of what is absolutely needful. I myself fish with a trace of 9 ft. of the finest gut, and attach it to the winch line by a knot so small as to permit the gut to be drawn (though I have never so used it) through or out of the top rings without jamming. In clear-water fishing, any leads, except in torrents, are worse than useless. In floods, leads are, I believe, sometimes necessities ; and even in the brown waters of clearing rivers a shot or two attached, as I shall direct, is now and then not 1 Mr. H. Cholmondeley-Pennell's remarks on worm-fishing should be read hy all anglers. 2 In the magnified worm flight the engraver has made the hook to appear whipped on a twist instead of single clear gut. Of course this is never done. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. $7 without useiul purpose. In very speedy currents (torrents, such as WORM TRACB AND ARMATURE n; 2 (looped) HOOK WORM MOUNTED THE LOOP SHOWN AT A. WORM FLIGHT MAGNIFIED TO SHOW TURN OVER KNOT ; AND MODE OP LOOPING IN N? a HOOK. mountain rivers sometimes show), and in such places as cannot he fashed without the immersion of the reel }i&e t the worms must he let 58 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. run just as fast as runs the stream at the bottom. To effect this, the reel line should be always kept low behind the gut, and not over- running it, but almost doing so. Some years ago I used a heavy shot or two, the better to keep the worm down ; but, on the whole, I now prefer the evil of its running too high to its going slower than the stream. The mode of baiting the hooks is exceedingly simple, and may be learned by any one with a little practice if the principle be kept in view that the most sport will be got with the liveliest and best-coloured worm, and not with the most firmly attached. The angler's object is to catch trout, not to save his worms. My preference for two hooks rather than for three or more being solely based on the belief that catching all the trout (though mouthing the worm, not hooked, on account of the smaller number of barbed points presented to their jaws) would not compensate the angler for the greater number of entanglements which occur near the bottom in Irish rivers, through the use of many hooks, I am con- strained to ' fix the armature of my worm bait in that way most effectual to hook fish, and nothing else. For a long time I believed that the upper hook No. 2 should hang by at least an inch- of free gut from its attachment to the trace on which the lower hook was whipped (vide illustration). Undoubtedly I found that of those that took the lure, I hooked more trout with this arrangement than any other ; but the reasons which induced me to adopt two hooks in preference to more forced me to abandon this mode of rigging my hooks, for the liability to entanglement was increased, because trout often took the upper hook, and appeared to have a genius for entangling the lower hook in any, even the smallest, obstruction in the stream ; and, again, the too great tension of the upper hook on the worm often broke the worm — indeed, always when the stream had force enough to belly it outwards from the lower hook. Unlike Mr. Stewart, I recommend covering the lower hook with the worm before piercing it the second time with the upper. The hooks require to be very finely whipped on, and the shanks should be of the lightest wire consistent with needful strength. I have never been able to buy hooks of good shape and sufficiently fine that did not require to be clipped a little (off the end of the shank). In Ireland the blue-heads (Ilibernice, black- heads) are the best worms to be got. They are to be found under the road " scrapings " everywhere, and they can be cleaned sufficiently quickly by the process described later on. Brandlings, or " bramblings," are much used in Ireland, and are the very brightest and most attractive of worm lures when scoured; but they are much too tender and smell offensively, and I do not re- How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 59 commend their use in preference to the blue-head or another. In rainy weather, the village gardens, which have been over-manured for centuries, all yield an excellent worm, which can be used with- out scouring or other preparation. I know it by no other name than the '' garden worm," and refer to it because it is always to be had, and is a capital worm if only tlie very smallest be used, and ihose alone which will be found under old flags, slates, or other solid rubbish. It has more vitality than ony other worm, even the black-head, and is so superior to the brambling that I think the Irish worm-fisher may confine himself to the use of the scoured black-head and little garden worm, and to the latter in flood time, when they are to be got everywhere, and trout do not look for the no doubt superior attractions of the cleaned and brightened black- heads. The garden worm has no knot, but is the richest red colour, paling to whitey-grey, and the very smallest and reddest are the toughest, the most killing, and easiest got. The " gossoons " on the river, whose tackle is generally monstrous, place the garden worms in turf (peat) ashes for five or ten minutes before use (dropping one or two worms, for future use, into the ash-bag each time they extract one or two to renew the lure). This no doubt toughens them a little, and assists in slipping them up clumsy hooks ; but it destroys their vitality, and, in some measure, the brilliancy of the worms. All that is needed is to gather them of the proper size and colour, and drop them, when washed in fair water, into the scouring-moss of the worm-bag or canister. Having already, in an early chapter, spoken of the rods most suited for each kind of angling, I need but explain here my preference for other than an ordinary Shannon " peel-rod " to fish for trout with worms. A good fish being hooked, no rod will kill him so quickly and securely as a Shannon rod. This is due to the spring of the weapon, which " gives and takes " to the very button, and so effectually eases (a Killaloe man says ''modulates") the strain on the tackle as to permit a constant and killing pressure. "With one exception, a man who knows a Shannon rod can do anything with it. The exception is throwing a tender worm without injuring it, on a small hook against the wind and across stream. This I have seen no one accomplish, because, no matter how deftly the worm may be got across, the bach spring of the rod (all Shannon rods have it) will chuck, and generally spoil it, just as it starts on its journey with the current. For this reason alone I adopt and recommend a rod of a proportionately stouter pattern towards the butt, and I know of none more suitable than that I have on a former page numbered 5. With such a rod, and a reel corre- 60 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. sponding, — a plaited dressed line, a bag or canister of scoured black-heads or garden worms (or both), a spare foot line or two, and half a dozen or more two-hooked links, the angler should not have any fear on account of appliances ; and on any Irish trout stream, be the weather bright or dull, the water low or bank full, there will be during the season some hours on every Irish trout stream when good fish may be taken. Recent experience, however, teaches me that the best sport is only to be had — first, at the early floods of the warm spring ; next, when the rivers are "dead low" and bright (where the May-fly has been, trout com- mence at the worm with the conge of the last fly) ; and lastly, during, and just after the first good freshets from the St. Swithin (July) rains. In Ireland the lusty late summer trout and early autumn trout do not take the fly freely during the day. They cannot be easily killed by feather except " after dark " at night, or very early when the rivers are clear ; when dirty, of course the fly is out of the question. By the riverside a sportsman must be guided by wind, weather, and water. For brevity, I shall only speak of three conditions of rivers : the flood-water, the clearing, and the cleared. Correct worm-fishing varies under each condition, and each presents individual advantages and special drawbacks. In strong floods all fish are disposed to run up-stream, and they are at all times compelled to so head to resist the stream (salmon, grilse, sea trout, feroces, &c, all ascend to breed ; but at this place I speak of feeding not breeding fish). This disposition to run up floods is, in the case of river-trout, probably dictated by appetite for succulent food, and affords no evidence of a proneness to needless exertion in fighting rushing water for mere exercise. The trout at such times looks for his food ivhere he can get the most and the best of it on the easiest terms ; and during strong floods, the where is, (1) on 1he upper edges of such " sharps " (stickles or shallows) as break and turn the force of the rivers and streams, or just at their tails when the water deepens, (2) where the water swirls back under banks or by boulders, and (3) at the outer edges of the strongest streams. But at such various places trout, being wise, "behave accordin'." In the slowest deeps, under the banks, and in the back waters, very large trout await the banquet the waters bear them, with no more exertion than the current demands. These back-Avater banqueters are generally large, often elderly, but not always handsome trout, and they are guarded by a ripe experience, which tells them of the decep- tive beauties and dangers of worms carried by the swirl of swift- rolling waters. Years, and it may be short-sight, lumbago, or other a"e-bred ills, direct them to the calmest refectories when their How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 6 1 world is all arush. To keep his place and his head well up-stream, to look out sharp and be ready for all succulent flotsam, is the affair of the moment for each trout in a strong flood, and though all attend to it with assiduity, the patriarchs are always cautious. Therefore, after some hours of heavy water, any worm that may whirl into their lodges with, pirouettes unbecoming in demure worms only gets contemptuous notice, or, at best, a mouthing. A big trout, however, has an aldermanic capacity en a rising flood, and seizes, in his hunger, any nice red worm that rolls gracefully into his harbour. Bearing these things in mind, it is well in back waters or slow deeps to watch well the first stoppage of the line and strike briskly, for fear that the worm may be mumbled and then dropped. Under the banks, streams seldom run so slowly as to call for very sharp practice ; but in the situations I now write of more fish are lost by the slow than by the quick twitch. I have seen some good anglers adopt the slow mode ; my experience supports the quick. Of striking with worm tackle, I believe it may be said, the most effectual method is, as low " along the water " as possible, and against the direction in which the worm is seen or felt to be moving ; but striking trout effectually is a nice accom- plishment which no book can more than hint at. Practice, a good eye, nerve, and a sensitive touch are the requirements to be perfect ; but perfection is seldom attained. For trout-fishers a common aphorism is reversed, and "Handsome is that handsome does" becomes " Handsome does that handsome is," for indeed the boldest- feeding, strongest, most active, and most combatant trout are found to be the most perfect in shape, condition, and colour, and propor- tionately the heaviest, if not the largest. Such fish are taken on the lodges outside the quiet places and on the edges of the strongest streams (vide supra, 3). To attract them the worm should come down in the boil and rush, and tumble out naturally where the expectant fish battle against the " mid-water " — i.e., that on the marge of the most impetuous current on the one side, and the slow and back waters and the eddies on the other. Trout must be very apt and vigilant to see worms coming down in such places, and being most alert for their prey in the water below, no doubt they observa all changes in the air above. Considering this, and their enforced position of combating en face the force of the river, the need to fish up-stream is quite clear. It is not always easy, especially if the throw must be made to some distance. When the worm has been dropped well up in the rush uninjured and before the line, and in the exact spot, the difficulty is but half overcome. The other moiety of trouble lies in getting the worm sunk to a proper depth, and at the same time preventing the line overrunning and preceding 62 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. the lure as the stream brings both down. The principal action to eifect this is to raise the point of the rod in exact measure to tbe speed of the rush, and without the least check on the speed of the worm ; but by a judicious coil of the line (to be taken in with the left hand as the stream brings it down), the operation becomes much easier. Practice and common sense should govern the angler, who must conquer if he keeps in mind that the worm should seem to come to the trout's larder, naturally, and that the trout should know nothing of the presence of a two-legged monster on the bank or in the water. This difficulty (of keeping the wurm first) is the gravest which confronts the up-stream fisher, aDd I have dwelt upon it because up-stream fishing is so necessary to any signal success. In fishing up-stream, the tails of the pools should be starting-points ; and seeing the importance I have attached to the angler's keeping out of ken of the trout, it is clear the nearest waters should be exhausted before the farthest be fished. Of course, there are narrow places on many large rivers where the throw which covers the further water may not excite panic in that nearer, for the angler, or his shadow, need not in narrows reach the river brink ; but the golden rule is, fish the nearest water first. As to fishing the " sharps " (1), a few words will serve. The angler who measures his success by numbers will give more time to them than to the deeps, and with reason, for a full creel of "herring size" trout will reward him. Now and then heavy trout will be found just on their verge, and more rarely inside on the very shallows. Heavy trout hooked in such situations are of the haute-noblesse, heirs-apparent and cadet lords and ladies of the elderly dukes and marquises of the pools. I have observed, and I think correctly, that such trout in flood time frequent the shallow, or edges of shallows, only when the sun is overclouded or on a lowering day. On such a day, or when the deep cloud shadows spread abroad, they rush up from their harbours to harry the waters, like the sea adventurers of " Good Queen Bess's " reign, and the Spanish main for them is on and about the shallows. When the rivers are clearing they order their conduct contrarywise, and only when the sunlight is fiercest hunt the shallows often in a few inches depth. In flood-time, I think, the trout feed best from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at evening twilight I have done less with a worm than at any other time. What they do at night I reserve for a separate place, but in it I shall not concern myself much with worms. Next to facing the sun so that no shadow may fall on the water, keeping back from the stream, or otherwise concealing him- self, and fishing up-stream as far as he may, the angler should give weight to the use of the wind, I have killed trout in all How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 6$ winds, and I lean to the view that there is no condition of wind in which, at some hour of the day, trout may not be taken, but that no wind is so favourable as to induce trout to feed at all hours of the twenty-four or even of twelve. No doubt, in many streams, fish generally feed best with, at least, one or. two points of the soft south in the breeze ; but I know of places where a north or north-east wind is distinctly and universally more favourable. In a general way, the best wind for the worm-fisher is the wind which enables him to get his worm over most water, and into most places, without any injury to it. And I hold the condition of the worm as a consideration so weighty that I think the difficulty of casting against the wind without injuring the worm should be avoided at all costs, with the exception of the cost of the angler fishing in his own shadow and with his back to the sun. The bends of a river can often be taken advantage of to utilize the wind, though, of course, at flood-time they serve less in this way. No trouble should be spared to fish against the sun, with the wind, and up-stream, with an unmutilated worm in front of the line, and travelling at stream's pace. If these conditions be attained by an angler who conceals himself, I shall bear the responsibility of his failure in flood- fishing on the rivers mentioned in my index. Of fishing in Clearing Rivers the procedure is somewhat different, though the underworking principles are identical. The first variation may be in the tackle, which in very rapid rivers in flood required a shot or two to keep the worms down in fishing them. (I have not recommended the use of lead, and don't often use shots myself ; but the experience of some most excellent anglers sanctions them, and they are needed now and then. ) In clearing rivers, shots are never necessary, except, perhaps, in the very deepest strong waters — not eddies ; even in such waters their use is doubtful. In eddies they are fatal. The second difference is that I refer to in a preceding page, as to the heavy trout feeding on sunlit shallows. When rivers are clearing, most anglers in Ireland will abandon the worm for the fly, though, in fact, the likelihood of a full creel is not much augmented by the chaDge during those months when the fish are beat-con- ditioned. Trout, indeed, in beer-coloured water frequently rise well after a freshet, and I recommend the adoption of my own practice at such a time, when I confess my preference for the fly influences me not a little. When the smaller natural flies attract the trout on a clearing river, I put aside the worm, and if good sport rewards me while using the fly, am grateful, as a sportsman 64 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. should be. If I cannot fill a creel with the fly by day I know that the trout are satiated, and are only taking the flies as dessert — bonnes bouches, to fill up interstices. At such a time I try the minnow (the loach and gudgeon will not do so well), and with the minnow I often get sport. Trout are, I think, epicures in a way. When they have had much of one food (say worms), they try an alterative of beetles or flies ; and when they have had enough of those, such tempting morceaux as bright minnows win their attention. Thus, when the rivers were full, the worms came down from every drain and rivulet with caterpillars, beetles, and other small deer. Whatever flies were out were invisible through the veil of muddied water, and in the rivers they frequent, the gudgeon and minnows were driven up back waters, dykes, and to other such places where trout were unable or unwilling to follow them. But when the river commences to clear, the fastidious gourmet of the river looks out lazily for dancing flies or the sdvery minnows, once more tenants of the brightening main waters. In the plenteous flood-time, they were like the Worshipful Major Dalgetty, keen to " provaunt the garrison" and now their appetite lacks edge. If the flood has been a strong one, and has held for three days or more, the fly is likely to serve ; if not, the minnow is the best lure. Why the loach or gudgeon fails I know not, but till the water be quite clear neither will effect much in daylight, nor will the gudgeon then. House clocks (the black beetles of our kitchens) or grass- hoppers are deadly in clearing rivers. When rivers are Cleared and Low, in fact, at their lowest, and fly-fishing even at night fails to secure trout, the worm-fisher has brilliant sport. The disagreements of plashing along in soaked clothing, which so often attend the angler by flooded or clearing rivers, are absent, and his enjoyment crows as the voice of the stream sinks lower and lower on its sunlit journey to ocean. All the care of the angler to avoid making shadows, or coming within range of the trout's eye, the finest tackle, the smallest, brightest, and freshest worms, are now called for : but with due precautions about these, on the shallowest murmuring stickle, or in the deepest pools, where a worm can roll along, he may look forward to good sport. The angler's proverbial patience will be needless ; and each pool and run must be fished up from whatever side of the stream affords most shelter from the ever vigilant outlook of Salmo fario. The windings of rivers fished, as I enjoin, make frequent How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 6$ fordings needful ; and in many, especially in the case of bare-banked streams, wading is the best mode of getting one's creel full. Of the equipment for doing so I elsewhere write, and may dismiss it by quoting a compatriot's wise words : " The best wader is the man who gets most fish witn least wading ; the worst, the man who gets fish with wading which could be got with- out." Usually every nook of a river can be got at by the throw of a judicious wader, and the annoyance of fouling in hidden stumps, rocks, or roots, is the only one which should count against the too-little-known delights of worm-fishing in low water. On another page I describe my contrivance for releasing entangled hooks. In trout-angling, with a good take on, I prefer an immediate "break" to delay. If the tender armature required in "rowling" for trout cannot easily be released, much valuable time may be lost in recovering hooks often pointless, or a frayed trace ; but "the ring" will break the latter close off to the hook ; then rigging a new hook need be but a moment's work, and an undisturbed pool ahead counts, I think, against a lost hook or two. " Bole- Armenian " and other worm nostrums are, I think, valueless. The only scouring I recommend for worms is pumping upon them gently, or holding them under a small fall of water as soon after capture as may ba. Then place them in a flower-pot (on, and under, a slate) or earthen jar, in green wood moss, picked perfectly clean, wetted, and wrung out between the hands a dozen times. Each day the live worms should be shifted to a fresh pot, and the dead removed, a relay of fresh worms and fresh moss taking their place. A bag made of coarse flannel is a very good means of carrying worms; and a "Column's" mustard-tin, pierced like a pepper-box on the top, and carried in the creel still better. When worm-fishing I have a little peat ashes in a handy metal matchbox, and by aid of it can mount a worm in a second. The ashes easily wash off the worm and my hand before the first throw with the new 7 worm — a quarter to half an inch is enough length of worm to come above the hook. Mr. Bowness will show the trace armed as I have found best ; but an attentive look at the illustration will guide any angler. The hooks are — 1, delicately tied on a imk of finest gut • 2, on a longish loop of gut equally fine. To bait, pass No. 1 into the worm something below halfway down, and out again, when the worm covers all the shank without straining ; then pass No. 2 hook into the worm downwards towards the shank of No. 1, and out, when the upper part of the doubly-impaled worm covers all the shank. A roll-over A knot is now made on the 66 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. link of gut of No. 1 hook and over the loop of No. 2 hook, then the link of gut No. 1 is passed through the loop, and the roll-over is tightened. The link is now attached to the foot line. When a trout is hooked on No. 1 the strain will be directly on the link ; when on No. 2, on the loop which ride3 it. When rebaiting is required, if the new worm cannot be slipped on easily the link is easily detached, and the flight reset as at first. A worm should not be pierced through his very bowels ; just under the skin is sufficient, and he will be lively " as long again." An obvious modification of this flight is suitable for salmon worming. For salmon, No. 1 should be the large hook on salmon gut — voila tout. The little illustration (with the gut much magnified) shows the sort of plummet I use — a split shot attached at home to a bit of rottenest fine gut, and attached by a little knot above a knot of the casting line 18 in., 2 ft., or more. With a dozen of these in his pocket the fisherman is quite prepared with plummets for the longest day. If two are needed, they can be attached together (one above the other), or separated by a knot's distance. In case of catching in the bottom, a break can be made by mere loss of a shot and the rotten gut. My mode of attaching leads is this : I use small ones (No. 5 or 6 shots), preferring to add one or two to increasing the size. I split the shots at home, and attach them then to little strands of rotten fine gut, by closing the splits on a knotted end of the gut. When I want to use one, I attach it above a knot of the trace by the knot shown in the (plummet) illustration. The lowest shot should, I think, never be nearer the worm than 2 ft., though some anglers think a less distance better. If more than one shot be required, the second may go close to the first, and the third knot higher up. Before leaving this branch of fish-capture, I must refer to Tee Worm Flight for Salmon. This tackle is simply an improved contrivance embracing all the merits of that commonly used in Ireland " to rowl a worm." I have found it most effective, and in describing it shall be greatly assisted by the illustrations which face the text. On Fig. 4 is an How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 67 incomplete trace, 3 fitted with but one swivel, a plummet, an under water float, and worm hooks. Its use requires much delicacy, and thus it deserves to rank among sportsmanlike appliances. The first swivel (omitted in drawing) is merely of the ordinary kind, whipped on a single gut line made with Mr. C. Pennel's buffer knots. The second swivel, C, is one which, unhappily, finds a great sale with cross-liners. To it is affixed the plummet of a size graduated to suit the force of various streams. In strong spates (Hibernice, "floods," " freshets," " freshes ") — and there is no time when salmon and large trout take the worm more boldly than during their occurrence — the largest plummet may be needed ; but anything heavier would strain Fig. 4. much, and probably uselessly, for I have found that salmon lie higher in spates than in " easy water," except when sheltering by rocks or stumps. The swivel C is not whipped to the gut on either side, but secured by the trusty figure " of 8 " knot (vide illustration next page). This is for the expeditious change of plummets in waters of different force. The plummet B, if held in delicate touch, will trip along the bottom (or nearly so), and will not overrun the float, which should dance some two feet or more in front of the plummet, and with a nice restraint on the worms which ought to lead all. This float must, of course, be larger than that in above drawing. In all cases, the more buoyant it is the better. The best floats are made of strong, thin quills, of the old-fashioned yellow sort ("clarified"), to be got at law-stationers. Both ends should be stopped with cork, and made watertight with " fly-dressers' " varnish ; and it will make the quill less conspicuous, and accordant with the colour of the river flotsam, if the float be 3 A second swivel is not always needed, but I prefer two to one. v 2 68 Hotv and Where to Fish in Ireland. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 69 finished by bl>er, and this it very thin. A perfect varnish is r erhaps not yet known. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 95 Disgorgers of the scissors pattern are very needful, and an angler should never go on lake or river without spare thole-pins or row- locks — an aneroid barometer and a pocket compass are excellent aids in Ireland — a revolver is quite redundant — a. pocket flask is quite efficient. Note. — The above cut is inadequate to show the best splice in all its beauty, but it illustrates the principle of open bindings made by several successive " double-turns " and " half -hitches." The local names of fish in Ireland vary, but the following are those commonly used : — Salmon (S. salar): "Bradhan" (sounding Bradhaun); "Breac- mor;" "saumon;" "a fish;" "lax." These names apply generi- cally. The first three are Irish, and only used where the native language still prevails. The last is a word which survives in Ireland, though lost in England, whence it came. Unclean fish are called "kippers" (rarely), " slatts," "kelts," "slangers" (in Mayo), "red-fish," and "sojers" or "soldiers." A " well-mended kelt" is a fish which has spawned, and grown vigorous, but which has not actually reached the sea to recuperate. A hen-salmon after spawning is often called a "hag" (hibernice, "callac"). A hen- fish actually on the "redd" is called " Ban- a-thee" (mistress of the house). Grilse are called "peel," "pale," " grills," "grilse :* and, on Lough-Derg, "first-fish." The parr is called " gravelling, " "sprat," "fry," "parr," " laspring," and "rhudcen" not to be 96 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. confounded with " crudeen " (the large lake-trout, when it goea up the river to breed). Sea-trout (Sahno-trutta). The sea-trout is called "breac-fin," u -white-trout," "sea-trout," and "salmon-trout." Trout (Salmo-fario). The trout is "breac," "brown-trout," " red-trout." Lake-trout (Salmo-ferox). In Lough-Ncagh, the large ferox is called " Boddac " or " Boddagh ;" elsewhere I know of no othei name than " lake-trout," or " Gillaroo," which is often improperly applied to all large trout found in lakes. The true " Gillaroo " is the golden fish with the induration called a gizzard. A large trout about 22 lbs., caught in Lough Conn by Mr. Scrope, is declared to be a true bull trout (JEriox), and this discounts my opinion expressed at p. 53. The "Hobbin" (perhaps "vendace"), a pollen-like fish of some Kerry lakes, is locally called " brcae-bui." Anglers should be alert to examine these queer customers, and submit them to Mr. Gunther or Dr. Samuel Haughtor's successor at the Natural History Museum, Trinity College, Dublin, who will classify these yet unclassified ealmonidcd. END OF PART I. HOW AND WHERE TO FISU IN IRELAND. Part U. WHERE TO FISH IN IEELAND. Angling Ireland may be divided into six districts. They are, starting from Dublin — 1. The Central. 4. The Western. 2. The South-eastern. 5. The North-western. 3. The Southern. 6. The North-eastern. 1 Of these the Southern, the Western, and the North- western are the most important to salmon fishers and trout fishers. The Central used to have the best May-fly fishing, and some salmon and much brown trout-fishing ; but few white- trout are found there ; and now Lough Derg, Lough Mask, and Lough Cong afford quite as good May- fly fishing as the best Central districts. Tho South-eastern has some salmon, very little white- trout, and abundant brown-trout fishing. The North-en stern has some good salmon, a little white- tro it, and good brown-trout fishing, with pollen in Lough Neagh, seldom caught by rod. All tne districts may be entered by railways, but the North-west and West districts hold many fine waters which can best be got at by car, and both till lately afford less comfortable quarters than are found in the other four. The Central District. Dublin is for angler-tourists the headquarters of this district which as I set it out, embraces nine counties, viz., Dublin, Kildare, Queen's County, King's County, West- meath, Longford, Cavan, Meath, and Louth. In Dublin County is the Liffey, a tidal river which flows Co.Tublin. through Dublin city and the County Kildare from its head- R. Lijfey. 1 It is so long ago since I fished the N.E. district that I have to accept my friends' statements too frequently in lieu of my personal knowledge. They all say " it is on the whole improved, but flax waste often destroys all sport." 98 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Lublin Liexlip. Lower Lifey. Sallins. Athgar- van Bridge. Upper Liffey. waters in the County Wicklow. The Liffey holds salmon, but not in large numbers. Owing to a cleaner tide-way than used to be, they are increasing, and promise to restore the ancient good name of Anna Liffey as a great salmon river. The best stretches are just below, at, and above Liexlip. The fishing is not private property, but the approach to the river is at all the best places restricted. 1 Permission of the bank proprietors is seldom refused, and Mr. Martin Kelly, the fishing-tackle maker, of Sackville or O'Connell Street, can give all needful aid to salmon fishers. The flies which do best are the reputed " standards " which Major Traherne describes in the Badminton Library volume, but of small medium size in spring, and extra small in autumn. The only " specials " I would record are the " Blue Jay " (Pennell's pattern), " The Silver Grey," the " Black Fairy," and the " Fiery Brown " (Rogan's pattern). Large trout are to be killed in the deeps of the Lower Lifl'ey up to Sallins, and occasionally above it as far as Athgarvan Bridge. 2 Thence in the Upper Liffey, near, and in, the Wicklow hills, many dozens of herring-sized and spratt-trout reward the patient angler, who hits off a day when there is any water. But the stream runs down instanter, and a worm is then the only dependable lure. The flies are — The March brown ; the blue-body, black hackle, starling's wing ; hare's ear and yellow ; red hackle rail's wing ; cow dung ; green wren ; orange grouse ; olive dun ; (green grouse late in summer), and very occasionally the " silver magpie." The best Liffey flies run smallish in spring, and very small later on. The Accommodation. Lower Liffey. Hotels in Dublin, generally better than some time ago. 03 a 1 o ' Rail to Sallins and intermediate sta- tions: Tramcarsto Liexlip: Cars. Mid Liffey. Inn at Celbridge. Hotel at Naas and Newbridge. Rail or car. Upper Liffey. Hotel Blessington. , Van to Blessington. 1 Permission is not now so freely given as when this book first appeared. 1 A really expert " dry-fly " angler should do very well Such anglers are not common in Ireland. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. gg On the way to Blessington by van, a lough (McDonnell's Co.T)ublin, mill) is passed, on which is a rickety boat. There are a few very large trout of great craft. 1 There is no difficulty in Blessing- getting permission (on the spot), and the use of the boat ; &>«• but the game is barely worth the candle. The King's River is, from Blessington, easy to reach, and is very good for small trout. The liies are the same as the Liffey, and the trout mature early. The Upper Liffey, near Kilbride, gives good sport when there is water. The Vaetry Reservoirs are within easy reach. The smaller is at Stillorgan and within the Dublin suburbs. The upper and larger reservoir is a very pretty lough. Both hold trout, and the upper many fish of great beauty, size, colour, and dash. The fishing is at present " free " to those who can get it. It is hampered by an absurd regulation that a " permit" must be got from the Corporation, one of whose members must accompany the angler. 2 An effort is now being made to really open the fishing at a small daily charge. The Liffey flies do, but of larger size. Spinning the natural minnow, or the " Ex- hibition," or " Caledonian," kills the biggest trout. The Dodder used to be an excellent small trout stream. It seems quite destroyed, but it is worth the tourist angler's notice from Rathfarnam up, as the scenery is bewitching. " Mrs. White's " River at Killakee hill, overhanging Dublin, holds trout, and a few Ktildkee. are corpulent. One of them exhausted all the wiles of the best Dublin fishers for some seasons, and was- then caught foul by a novice. The trout had no eyes. The locals called him Gibraltar, " because he never was tuk," the girls " the ould bachelor." The Tolka is the nearest stream to the north of Dublin. This once Tolka. good stream is now ruined near the mouth by factories. From above the Botanic Gardens it improves, and in the 1 Very few, if any, now left, the pike having prevailed. * I hear that the regulation is now modified. Mr. Campbell, an ex-M.P. (the Town Clerk), is a sportsman, too good not to contribute as far as he can in helping other anglers. 100 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. property of Mr. Hamilton, who is very generous in giving Co.Dubiin. p Grm i ss i on to fish, it is a sweet, small stream. The members of the Anglers' Ciub (in Parliament Street, Dublin,) are good brothers of the hook, and bent to assist in all ways strangers who present cards. The Tolka may be reached by car or train, or rail to Blanchardstown Station. There are three small rivers, the Santry, the Mayne, and the Portmarnock, which deserve little notice, and then further north Is the Swords Rivee, The where a salmon now and then is spoken of. It is a good Swords R. white-trout river, holding them, as other eastern rivers, in spring ; and I have been told in greater numbers in autumn. It is preserved (perhaps without absolute legal authority) by a club, but there is no difficulty in getting permission to fish. 1 All the white-trout flies mentioned in Book I. kill here ; for brown trout, the Liffey patterns suit. Excellent accommodation is to be got at the Hotel Malahide, where the river joins the sea. 2 From Malahide (nine miles from Dublin by rail) there is easy access to The Turvey River, Th e which is a splendid white-trout river after full waters in TvrveyR. autumn. The approach to the river is by the Dunabate or Rush Railway stations, and permission is required from the - bank proprietors, who are not churls in acceding it. Still northwards, and running through the County Meath, are the Nanny and Delvin rivers, which hold very nice brown, Skerries, and occasionally some white-trout. Skerries is very central fur these streams, and there is a hotel there, and very nice lodgings, and good sea bathing. The Liffey flies suit, but should be small. In the County Meath Co. Meath. is the Boyne, a noble salmon stream; out most of its Boyne. waters are taken up by rod fishers, who hire the "rights," as 1 A friend supplements what I have to say of Swords : " The river is strictly preserved by one of the oldest fishing clubs in Ireland. Each member can procure a 2s. 6d. ticket for self and friend for one day ; but no ' licetise,' no angling, is a strict condition. Whether the Loch Leven trout lately put in have done, is not yet sure, but the fishing is improving — more than 30 white-trout have been taken from the " pit pool " within 90 minutes. March and April are good months, but best run of large fish in autumn. 2 Malahide affords good sea fishing, and under the bridge black bass give better sport than any I have seen elsewhere. How and XiHiere to Fish in Ireland. 101 fox as they go, from the bank proprietors. Near the mouth, Co. Meath. at Drogheda, and here and there in open stretches, the Drogheda. fishing can be got on very easy, or without any, terms. The best flies are, I am compelled to confess, Major Traherne's standards ; notably the " Evangeline," " Blue Boyne," and " Jock Scott." The compulsion is evident to all who have heard of his wonderful sport on Ardnamurchan, not the best length of water on the Boyne. Drogheda and Navan afford hotel accommodation, and Navan. are both reached by rail, and Kells is central for the Boyne Kells. and the north (Boyne) Blackwater, which holds some salmon, Boyne. and some nice free trout fishing. 1 The Moynalty river, which flows into the (N) Blackwater, Moynally holds very good trout and a few " fish." Its trout are very river. plucky feeders, and give more sport than do usually those found in streams running through fat lands. Two stations further than Enfleld, at the " Hill-of-Down," Hill-of- the " Dale," which runs in from Westmeath, gives excellent Down. sport, and perhaps more continuously than any neighbouring Dale B. rivt r. Midway between the " Hill-of-Down " station and Kells the Stoney-Ford river runs into the Blackwater, and Stoney- gives good sport too. Ford river. The Delvin {vide ante Dublin) separates the counties of Delvin. Dublin and Meath. Where it flows through Lord Gormans- town's park it affords excellent fishing, and a request by letter, is almost uniformly answered by permission to fish. 2 The Mattock joins the Boyne, from the north, about four MattocTc. miles above Drogheda, and divides Meath from Louth ; and Co. Louth, to the north again are the rivers Dee, Glyde, Fane, and the Dee, Castletown, and some other small streams, which run into Glyde, the sea at Dundalk. All these hold, besides salmon, early Fane, white-trout, as do, in Ireland, only eastern rivers. There Castletown is an autumn run, too, which commences about July. The rivers. brown-trout fishing is in some of them very good, and though there is not much " hindrance " to free fishing, it is scarcely worth much trouble, if time can be spared to go further south or west. But at times these are sporting rivers, and from Nobber, where there is an inn, one can be Nobber. repaid by good fishing, and the station-master at Dunleer Dunleer. 1 The southern (Boyne) Blackwater is better approached Boyne. from Enfield (on Midland Railway), and is, from its source, (3) B\'atk* one of the most sporting trout streams in the province, water. _ though it harbours the pestilent pike in its deeps, and some Enfield . salmon, which are duly poached, in close time especially. 2 In the absence of Lord Gormanstown as Governor of Tasmania, the river is, I hear, gone back, nor is permission so easily got as when the proprietor, a keen angler himself, was at home. 102 Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. ip said to be a sure guide to anglers. Turning west from Dublin, and beyond tbe Liffey to Co. Kildare, the best river Co El- dare. Barrow. Greese. Monas- trevan. New- bridge. Kildare. Upper Barrow. Monas- trevan. Monas- trevan to Athy. The Barrow (the upper), and then the Greese, the Rathangan river, and in the extreme south, the Castle-Dermott river. The best part of the first of these is about Monastrevan (some thirty-six miles by rail from Dublin) ; but there is no good hotel there, and unless one is prepared to sacrifice the early morning fishing, Newbridge, or Kildare, from which the early angler can drive, affords the best quarters. The early spring trout fishing is excellent. It falls off a little late in April, till the May-fly comes on. Upper Barrow trout attain condition almost sooner than any I know in Ireland. The Monastre- van fishing is done in cotts, which can be hired there. A civil letter to the head-constable of Police, or the station- master, will secure a cott in advance. The best bank fishing is from between the " Old " bridge and " Belaw bridge ; " and again, below the village, through Lord Drogheda's park. Permission to fish from the bank through Moore Abbey park must be got from the agent. He resides in the town, and seldom refuses. The right to fish from a boat is not questioned and is availed of by every one. Lalor, the best of cottsmen and sportsmen, is dead, but he has successors. In early spring the flies must have tinsel on them, and they should be busked full and with colour ; indeed, the least turn of blue jay at the shoulder and one spine of golden pheasant topping in the tail are not adornments too attractive for brown trout in this strong river. The minnow spun in the deeps here is destructive, and in the nights of late summer and harvest, the smallest frog to be got deserves the first place. In brightest weather worm 6shing below the shallows and weedy, gravelly banks is "the charm." The May-fly rises on the Upper Barrow, and some years plentifully. When it does, nothing else is for the time the least use. The ephemerides don't run large, and the " artificials " do best when made with bright bodies (lemon silk ribbed thin black or brown) and wings rather too brown for May-flies in general. From a short way below Monastrevan the pike seems to have got command of the Barrow. There are, however, exceptional spots here and there, and giant trout too strong for Esox. Below Maganey, near the mouth of the Greese, the trout are, I am told, plenty ; but I have no personal knowledge of this part since a day long ago, when I was agreeably astonished by a grilse which took a big hare's-ear trout fly and gave me forty-five minutes perfect and delicate play before giving in. In winter the pike fishing is only too good from Monastrevan to Athy, where is a fairly good hotel, and from it access is easy to How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 103 The Greese, a most sporting stream, which is also commanded from the Co. Kil- little Quaker town Ballytore, where Mrs. Hemans lived now dare, and then, and Mrs. Leadbitter, Maria Edgeworth's friend, Ballytore. was born. The trout in this little river condition them- selves in April. Perhaps the best fishing is about and below Moone Moone Abbey and Mills (near Timolin), and there is no Abbey : difficulty 1 as to leave to fish, except for a few days before Timohn. the hay ripens and at the verge of meadow-lands, when the sport is generally not at its best. Some of the river runs through enclosed " grounds," but the exercise of good breeding in sending up a card always meets responsive/ courtesy. A shilling gets a reliable "gossoon " to carry such; messages and the creel and landing-net. All the Kildare rivers yield best to a fly fisher in a breeze. The Greese ought to be a perfect river to worm fish, and perfect for " dry-fly." I regret to hear some pike have got in lately. The minnow and collagh do well in all. The Rathangan river does not Rathan- mature trout so early as the Barrow and Greese, requires half gan river. a gale, and smallest, sober flies. It is best got at by " con- vayniency of car " from Newbridge.* The Castle-Dermott river is only fished by locals. In the Queen's Co. the Upper Barrow from Portarlington, Queen' sCo. where there is a fair hotel, to Mountmellick, where there is Portar- a better, affords fair sport with the fly, and when in spate in Iwgton. dark weather, or when very low in the brightest weather, Uo V: ' the worm flight does satisfactorily with a nice-sized run of mea%cli - trout. On one reach (through Garryhinch demesne) per- mission is needed, but is never refused by the owner, Mr. Warburton. At and near Mountmellick The Triogue and Ownas give some little sport, but even the former and better of them scarcely deserves the attention of any but local fishers. Mount- From Mountrath, on the G. S. & W. Railway, where is a rath. 1 Since I wrote this permission has been restricted. Mr. Shekleton (of the Mill property), and Mr. Carroll (of Moone Abbey) being generous in reply to applicants. 2 The Rathangan is the only Irish stream in which I ever did very well with a fly of pure English nationality. It was a red soldier Palmer, small but brilliant, and that its effect was not mere luck I now learn, because Mr. Cholmondley- Pennell's red fly without wings has been lately proved most astonishingly (to the natives there) destructive. 104 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Abbey- LictB. Lnug\ Armagh. I King's Co Tul a- viore. Brosna. Little Brosna. Clodiagh. hotel, the Upper Nore 1 can be fished, and affords fair sport very early in spring and very late in autumn (at night, all the season). The salmon there can only be killed with flies of the white-trout size and pattern. The king of all the brown-trout flies is the olive. (Mr. Despard's, vide Part I.) 2 From Abbey-Liex (on rail), which has a clean inn, the Middle Nore is to be got at, and yields good trout. The best salmon patterns are, perhaps, those of the Liffey, with the addition of the blue grub (vide ante Boyne). Th3 fishing may be said to be free over all the Queen's County rivers. There is at least no difficulty in obtaining permis- sion from the bank proprietors. 3 There is in, or bordering this County but one lough (Annagh) which affords fishing, and that but for pike, which run very large there, but it can be best approached from its King's County shore. Tulla- more (on railway) has a comfortable hotel, and in winter Lough Annagh will give the pike angler sport. The Brosna, Little Brosna (dividing King's County from Tipperary), Clodiagh, and other rivers, all hold trout, and though the Shannon bounds the county to the west, and is within easy reach of Birr, it cannot be said to have any great attractions for a fisherman, except he combines winter pike fishing with 1 The Nore is now spoilt — the pike and poachers prevailed. Mr. Despard's herd killed (at Coolrain) a monster pike 42 lbs. I let the old text stand, but only as contrast to a reliable correspondent's words, — " We have no fishing at all in the Upper Nore now, not a trout in every mile of it ! some of the smaller affluent streams still hold a few good trout . . . but . . . not worth anyone's coming a distance to fish for. Some few years ago . . . there was tolerably good salmon fishing, now, however, ' the game's not worth the candle.' . . . Fish could be got when they come up to spawn ; now the greater number never reach the sea again. They are destroyed by hundreds up the river ; even at Ballyragget, where the club strictly preserved a very good reach, there is now practically no fishing — this is entirely due to the over netting at the mouth. Unless something is done we will not have a fish in this country at all in a few years." 2 From Abbey Liex or Durrow (clean hotel) the Gully, the Erkina, the Goul, and the Aubeg can be got at, and after rains they all give good small trout fishing. These rivers are often known by the Borris, the Rathdowny, and the Ballina- kill rivers, and with these names guides are to be got who will point out the streams. Permission is seldom refused anglers. 3 Near Mountrathis Ballyfin, Sir Charles Coote's residence. In the demesne is a lake, mentioned in Part I., famous for roach and pike fishing. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 105 mixed winter shooting, for which there is no better locality in Ireland. 1 The King's County borders Westmeath, which, though it has not many good rivers, is one of the best Co. West- known to foreign anglers. This is due to its glorious meath. lakes. Before speaking of them, I shall dismiss the rivers. There are many of them which yield some sport. The chief of them is the Inny, which rises in Meath ; but it is Inny. not a good stream there. It then touches Cavan County, divides Longford from Westmeath, which it then traverses southward, and, before again turning westwards, trends windingly through Longford, and into the Shannon at Lough Lough Ree Ree. This is a first-rate river, but its best salmon-reaches are in Longford. Throughout its course downwards, by Lough Shielin, in Cavan, it holds many and beautiful trout. Lough The May-fly rises on it, but not generally in such numbers Shielin. as to destroy the gout of its trout for all else. The best trout flies are in spring busked heavily, but they should grow smaller each day to September. For salmon, the Shannon patterns (special) flies do not seem to kill so well as those (Rogans) which will be found described against the Erne and thereaway. The " Spade-guinea " and " G oshawk " are fatal {vide Tipperary and Mayo). For natural bait, the collagh is said to do better than the minnow. I never had so good an hour on the Inny as one evening, when I put up very small frogs which had just got rid of their tails. The Dale, which was mentioned in Meath, is better in Westmeath ; but tho trout are not large, and compare very unfavourably with those of the Brusna, near Lough Ennel (Belvidere, as it is Belvidere. best known in foreign parts). The Lakes 2 are— first Bane (bordering Meath), Glore, Leyne (near Castle- Bane. pollard). The two former are small, and maybe passed over Glore. without much notice. The last is larger, and I believe only Leyne. wants protection and care to take rank with Ennel, Owel „ ^ and Derravaragh (par excellence, " the Lakes ") — Loughs ^? |" r * Shielin and Kinane, which touch Westmeath, and Iron . 3 '!T r i which is in it, need only to be known and appreciated <,7n'elt« 1 On Lough Annagh are found most of the waterfowl which have been recognized in Ireland. The crested grebe breeds, and is found there at all seasons. 2 The Westmeath lakes have now dapping rivals at Loughs Derg, Mask, and Conn, mentioned on other pages, — and as one expects in young beauties, these loughs are now held in more esteem than their older sister loughs. 3 A most excellent pik e " lake " — yet holding trout, accord-;/ intr to Mr. Tuite of Sonna. I Kinane, 106 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. West- meath. Cavcm. Lough Ennel. Behidere. MulUngar. Owel. Derra- varagh. Castle- pollard. Bally- more. Multifar- nam. B. Gaine. Shielin will be noticed in Cavan, and Kinane in Longford. For Lough Ennel or Belvidere, Mullingar is the best station. There is fairly good hotel accommodation there, and cleanly lodgings can be got. On the other side, and equidistant with Lough Ennel from Mullingar, is Lough Owel ; but Ennel must be got to by car, and the railway drops passengers near Owel, though at somewhat inconvenient hours. Fol Derravaragh, Castlepollard may be called the most central " quarters," and it brings the angler within reach of Kinane and Shielin, and not quite too far away from Owel, nob to speak of Lene, where one may break water new to most but local anglers. At Rallymore is a very nice little lake, and through the county others which I need not more than mention. Multitiiiiiam is exactly half way between Loughs Derravaragh and Owel, and I prefer it to any other station, though there are, or were, not good lodgings, and only a little inn. My preference is due to a little river (the Gaine) which, running through it, gives plenty of troutlings and, I believe, minnows for bait, to use when the big trout may be gorged or tired of the May-fly ; l and this often occurs at early morning or at evening. In dead, bright weather, on all these lakes a spinning bait on very light tackle, when rowing slowly to windward to get a fall, often gives sport ; and once on Ennel I did very well with a drowned large a silver-magpie " between the falls. In all the Westmeath lakes trout differ much in character, size, and beauty. Ennel trout are certainly the prettiest, and perhaps most toothsome, though I think Owel 2 trout 1 The best dye for the May-fly wing is locally said to be got and applied thus : — The feather, when washed well with soft water and soap, and thoroughly cleansed of the latter in fair water, is boiled in a pint of water, in which J oz. of alum has been dissolved. Finally, when quite free from grease the feather is simmered in an infusion of fustic, to which a very little copperas or sulphide of iron is added for a green or greeny-grey shade. With one of the finest Westmeath fishermen, Blacker's pattern (pale yellow silk, ribbed with brown, to show from under the goldbeaters' skin wrapped over the silks), with light ginger hackle and dullish wing, was the favourite artificial ; but this fly is not buoyant, and I prefer a cork bodied. When I use Blacker's pattern, I substitute the clearest varnish for goldbeaters' skin. Walnut peels make an excellent dye, but I have not been able to fix it well. About the May-fly dapping see later on, where I speak of the artificial May " dry " fly. 2 In Lough Owell there were the largest charr in Ireland, but seldom taken : this is said to be no longer the case. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 107 equal them in the latter respect ; they certainly run larger. The trout of Derravaragh are more ferox like, but they make up for comparative ill looks by their pluck and ravenous appetites, and, on the whole, they are not much, if at all, behind their neighbours. By " blowing," the best run of trout is killed in all these lakes; and I have only to say to novices in this method, get the best blow-line silk, fish with it trippingly, and without a particle of gut in the water. In fact the " natural," with or without a hook, which is out of the water oftener than in it, is that which attracts most, and any flies which seem not quite slaves of the wind have less relish for trout. I can, however, teach here nothiug which the boatman cannot impart in a few words. If the " Singing Inny " be fished from Westmeath, it is to be reached best from Castlepollard or Multifarnam. I give only one fly special to itself — tag little gold ; tail, rat-beard, body olive dun hackle overlaid in ribs with tightly-drawn indian-rubber (very tight) ; the hackle, near tail, showing little, but full near shoulder ; wing, brown mallard tied upright. 1 All the trout flies I have mentioned in the first part, as standards, do in Westmeath, and at night the collagh, small frog and white moth. Indeed on the lakes, and even in the middle of the Drake season, I have found the white-moth with lemon body deadly (vide ante). The Drake season (May-fly) varies more than one might expect, but a fisherman cannot be much out if he finds himself in Dublin between the 15th and 20th of May. Indeed, Sir Richard Sutton used to say the season varied with the Derby-day, and did so to spite him, and keep him from it. Martin Kelly, or Flint of the Quay, will always know and tell of the fly's appearance. In many of the farm-houses near the lakes lodgings can be got. They are not luxurious, but some of them are clean, and from Mullingar everything can be got (preserved meats, &c.) to supplement the fowl, fish, &c, which are the native products. When next I go 1 Sometimes the rain comes in tropical downpour during the rise of " the Drake." At such a time it is worth a thorough soaking to persevere with fishing, but the effective mode is to cast a heavy artificial May-fly (on fine cast) in front of the fall, and let it drown very much, and then draw it. This method secures the largest trout. I don't approve of natural May-flies put up in pairs, but it is fair to say many of the best fishermen think otherwise. In this various opinions guide in various localities. Mr. Stewart likes three flies well wetted. I go for one as dry as it can float, and a dry-fly (touched up with paraffin) will, in saving time to renew flies, beat all naturals if floated well, with cocked wings or wings spread out in imitation of the " spent gnat." io8 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. long. ford. Gowna. Gulladoo Kinane. Derna- gollia. ' Armagh. Saints' Island. Newtown- Forbes. Clan- dragh. Litigh. Forbes. Go una. Gulladoo ito Westmcath, if I ever go, which I doubt, I shall camp out, and for those who enjoy a tent, I know no better place, if one takes the precaution of asking permission from the occupier of the land, where he could pitch it. In the Westmeath lakes the perch grows very large, and give excellent sport of their kind^in the bays. Pike fishers don't do themselves and the community half justice in neglecting these waters. In Longford County there are no first-rate rivers or loughs, but Loughs Gowna, Gulladoo, and Kinane, to the north- west, border it, and Lough Ree is to the south-west. On Lough Ree, of the boatmen who supply boats and know the fishings on the Longford borders, the Fox brothers at Dernagolia, the Mulrys and the Foxes at Annagh, and the Clarkes at Saints' Island are the best : and from the village of Newtown-Forbes (where is a clean little hotel and lodgings) a guide can be got, and a boat at Clandragh, for Lough Forbes, which holds salmon, feroces, gillaroo, broion-trout and perch, piike and roach, as does Lough Ree. For salmon, the Erne, not the big Shannon pattern flies, must be used ; the latter patterns don't suit above Lough Derg. Loughs Gowna and GuDadoo are little known, except to local anglers, but they are worth exploration, and I have heard the brightest accounts of th ;m. The former holds charr, and certainly very large feroces. I know not of them personally. The Erne flies {vide jtost) do best there. Of the Longford rivers, which all hold trout, the Inny is the best after it leaves Westmcath, and becomes a river of weight. It holds many fairly large salmon and the nearest station for fishing it is Ballymahon, where I found a i hotel, which I used on the recommendation of a native, who told me of it with a twinkle in his rye. "It's a very passible hotel if ye don't like it, and will be a very passible hotel if ye do like it, and the bacon and eggs." Really it was tolerably good, and by the aid of Jemmy Hyland, the only reliable butcher there, one easily appreciated the truth of the western landlady, who declared that " bacon and fowls is illegant trimmings, but there ; is grand shel- ther in beef." Most of the best fishing there Captain Shuldham claims, but permission is very generally given on application by holders of rod licences, and on no part of the river are such licentiates interfered with by the Board Shnde. of Conservators. Near Shrule Mills sport is certain in a strong south wind. In Longford (town) there is a hotel somewhat better than ordinary, and many fairly good lodgings ; and from thence the Rinn and Black rivers on the northern bounds can be got at, and afford sport on the way to Gulladoo, should any one wish to try it, and stop at Arvagh. Arvagh, where there is a " pub." with " entertainment for man and baste." Granard is the best quarter for Lough How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 109 Gowna and Kinane, but just over the border, and beyond Co. Long, that lough is Finea, where one can get boatmen and boats f°«l. for it or for Lough Sheelin, and fair lodgings, or really Finea. good accommodation-in an old-fashioned pub. near the bridge. Sheelin. Lough Sheelin is in The County Cavan, and it, as Lough Ramor, has merits which nearly make up Co. Ca-an. for the dearth of other first-rate lough fishing in Cavan. Ramor. Both these lakes yield excellent sport, and on neither are the fish put oft* all other food by the May-fly as in Weat- meath. In Sheelin 1 the small spoon is still said to be the charmer. Finea is the true station for Sheelin, and Virginia for Ramor. The former is to be reached by rail Virginia from Ballywilliam station, or by car from Oldcastle (on the for Ramor. Kells line), which is also the station for Virginia. The river Erne meanders about Cavan, and some of it when it splits up into what is called Lough Oughter, gives very Quqhter. good sport, and can be reached by car from Kellishandra, Ktlli- Cavan (town), or Belturbet, in all of which anglers can shamlra. put up. Cavan is the central town of the three, is got at Cavan. by rail, and Mrs. Kennedy, of the Farnham Arms Hotel, Belturlet. makes her customers very comfortable. The fishing on the Erne till it runs into Fermanagh, and on all its branches, R- Erne. broads and ana-branches, at Lough Oughter, is mainly open, but the complication of many claims to reserve the right of fishing makes it difficult for any but the local guides to assist tourists. The salmon flics are the small Erne patterns, and the trout take the standards too, espe- cially early and late in season, and on days the " orange grouse," and the hare's ear, and yellow " and (Irish) " red hackle and rail's wing." 2 In Cavan every stream abounds in crayfish, and the town of the name is the only place in the island where one sees them exposed for sale (at one shilling the sack, about two bushels). In Lough Oughter the trout feed on them, and it therefore is not odd that in Cavan one Cavar* sometimes hears of gillaroo of superpiscine excellence. Behind the town of Cavan are some little lakelets, one of I 1 The Sheelin fishing is not all as generally good as it used to be. The pike have multiplied and extended their quarters ; yet there are localities better than the old trout anglers ever had there. 2 That fine angler, the late Mr. John Loch, tied a special fly for Lough Oughter, which he called the " Cavan black rail." I never fished for it there, but on his recommenda- tion I give it hopefully. Tail, a spine of lapwing topping ; tag, gold tinsel ; body, black silk ; hackle, very little black, and one turn under wing of guinea fowl ; wing rail. no IJoxv and Where to Fish in Ireland. which holds many and aldermanic perch. I have proved this. Near Cootehill, and nearer Shercock, are three little lakes, which have the repute of holding the sweetest small trout and many. In all this central district the price of boat accommodation is already more or less fixed by custom, but the tourist should, in justice to others, if not himself, always see to the charges before accepting services or accommodation. Castlepollard charges may be taken as reasonable and on the average. In the lake district, bed, board, car-hire, and a boat can be got there for three guineas, or sometimes less, per week. The boatmen and carmen should get douceurs, which are best given in a lump at parting ; but luncheon and whisky are expected to be shared with the former, and a " bit of baccy " freely given, or an occasional . shilling at the obsequies of a big trout makes friends and sport. In King's County, Westmeath, Meath, Longford, and Cavan there are many lakes and tarns which I have not mentioned, nor indeed do I know of them more than that it is certain they only need to be fished in, and though they are hard to be got at, I am sure they would repay any sportsman prepared to rough it, and ply them from a collapsible boat. The (2) South-east District Co. "Wick- embraces Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford. The nearest county low. in this district to Dublin is Wicklow. It may be credited with no salmon river, though salmon are said to be taken in Bray. the Bray river, and breeding fish go up the Slaney every season by Baltinglass, Stratford, and so to the Hills ; but above Hacketstown salmon fishing in these uppermost waters does not repay any one but local fishers (vide post). In the Bray river there were white-trout of such excellence and number as to win them a distinctive name, the " Bray trout." l They are now neither very good nor very numerous, and do not repay much work ; but Bray is a beautif id spot, and tourists, from its excellent hotels, may do worpe than ask permission, which can be easily got from the bank Powers- proprietors. In Powerscourt demesne there is a very nice court. run of trout, and Lord Powerscourt (or his agent) is sometimes generous in permitting many fishers there. The Enmis- hotels in Ennis-Kerry are moderate, and Miller, the pro- Kvrry. prietor of one of them, is a safe guide as to how the fishing 1 I think the " Bray trout " is now extinct — each year fewer salmon run up to the feeding rivers of the upper Slaney or its own upper waters. It is easy to see that, unless matters change and measures be taken to protect the upper waters and restrain the selfish depredations in the estuary waters, the Slaney, like the Nore, will soon cease to be a good or even a poor salmon river How and Where to Fish in Ireland. in of all the lakes is to be best managed. Loughs Dan Dan-Lug Luggelaw, the Vartry, (already mentioned in Dublin), gelaw. Glendalough, the Dargle, the Avonmore and Avonbeg (via Glenda- rail), Rathdrum and the Avoca river, from the excellent l° u 'jh- hotel at Wooden Bridge, all afford nice sport. The last Da ^9 le - river abounds in small trout, none above a pound, a herring . von '" inre - size, a little above the average. In Glendalough and -ty^n.*®' Luggelaw the fishing has improved lately : some of it was ^ rur ^ spoilt by the lead works. I do not know if the Glendalough ^ roco " trout continue vocal, but the tradition is that they lament Wooden on capture their extradition from — Bridge. " The lake whose gloomy shore Skylark never warbles o'er." In the Deerin, an affluent of the Slaney, which flows through Lord Fitzwilliam's park at Coolatin, there is very Coolatin. nice trout-fishing, which can be got for a day by a note in advance, and it is worth the asking. The Wicklow trout flies need to be used small, and of the ordinary patterns, the wrens and grouses for preference. Flint, of Essex Quay, has certainly most excellent patterns for these rivers, and all the central district waters. 1 Carlow, Wexford, and Kilkenny counties make, with the Carlow. foregoing, the South-eastern district. Wexford. Kilkenny. In Carlow the rivers are the Barrow and its affluents, the Lerr, the Co.Carlow. Burren, and the Slaney and Derreen or Derry (vide Wicklow), its tributary. The town of Carlow, in which are good lodgings, and a good hotel, commands the three former. Hacketstown is the best station for the upper part of the Slaney, and Tullow (with a fairly good inn) is near enough Tullow. for the Slaney lower down, and the Derreen near its junction. The whole of the Slaney yields good sport, 2 and at Hackets- town and Tullow there are local professionals who can give advice and guidance worth more than any I can offer. The Bairow yields better sport in this county than it gets Barrow. credit for, but the fishing is generally not an agreeable sort. The approach to the river is closed at many places along 1 Few people require to learn that the Wicklow scenery l is charming. I know no place where the trout-fisher, who is satisfied to fill a creel with nice little fish in the environ- ment of bewitching pastoral pictures, can enjoy himself more. The folk there are kindly and honest, and if their shyness be broken through, show in their oid-world lore that they have not lost the simplicity and poetry of hillmou inspired by the gnomes of the clouds, the woods, and the streams. * See preceding page. 112 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. tho banks, and it is not easy to point ont where in such a Baynals- book as this (in Caiiow and Bagnalstown all the free town. stretches can be settled on) ; but the railway almost accompanies the river from Athy, in Kildare, through Carlow and Kilkenny, to Ballywilliam, in Wexford, and the river is easily reached from Carlow, which is thus central. Much of the fishing is done from cotts, which can bo engaged, and the flies are " Standards," of smallish size, even in early spring. " The Doctor," the " Black Fairy," the " Blue Jay," the " Fiery Brown," and the " Evangeline " all represent those which a successful local angler has supplied me with, and the " Spade Guinea," which I describe R.Nenagh. later on for the Nenagh river, is perhaps the btst of all. The trout flies are those standards which do on the Liffey and Barrow, and the Cavan rail (vide ante) is known to be excellent. The small affluents afford some sport, but do not require special mention. The Barrow is rather sluggish Slaney. as compared to the Slaney, and holds many and big pike in its back-waters and stiller pools. The Slaney throughout its course through Carlow is a bright, sporting river, and affords excellent and varied sport; but perhaps the best about the junction of the Derretn. The flies are the same as those for the Barrow, with one or two not very valuable tt , , exceptions, which I abstain from mentioning. At Hackets- town ' town, Bagnalstown, Leighlin-Bridge, and Wexford, local artists are to be found and are known to the hotel-keepers, who are in all these places quite trustworthy people. Following down the course of the Barrow we arrive in Kilkenny, Co. Kil- which is an excellent fishing station of the second class. kenr.y. The Nore 1 may be said to be its special river, and is good for Nore. very handsome trout and nice, medium-sized salmon from the Queen's County border on the north, to Ringwood (S.E.), Barrow. where it joins the Barrow, which is the main eastern boundary of Kilkenny, as is the Suir its southern. North of Kilkenny city the river is called Upper Nore, and there it is joined by the Freshford stream and the Dinin, nice streams which hold trout. Below the junction of the latter the fishing becomes better, or at least the fish run larger ; and I am informed that lately arrangements have to be made in Kilkenny for permission to fish. Mr. Morris, of the Club 1 1 regret to have to qualify all said here about the Nore. What I said on a former page (104) is too painful to repeat, but if legislative action to curb the policy of killing the goose for immediate golden eggs be not taken very soon there will be an end to salmon rivers of any value in Ireland How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 113 House, the best hotel in Kilkenny, does everything to JJotel in facilitate those who stop in his very comfortable house, and Kilkenny, a local fishing-tackle shop supplies patterns which are special. None of them are, however, so attractive as the " Ponsonby," which is Tag — silver and orange. Tail — Topping and a little Indian crow. Butt — ostrich. Body c 1 f grey seal's fur with thin silver tinsel J 2 I ribbing and j , f white-bear dyed light blue, silver tinsel W [ ribbing as in first half body. Hackle — black run with the ribbing, and blood-red hackle with the black over the blue section of body. Shoulder — a little jay or chatterer. Wing — mixed, brown mallard, bustard, and black and white turkey, over all topping at each side. Horns — red and blue macaw. Cheeks — jungle (small). Head — ostrich. Below the city of Kilkenny, at Thomastown, there is an Thomas- inn, and a very good guide to the streams, Power. Inifoum. Colonel Tighe's demesne, Woodstock, 1 there is a capital reach, and above the town another at Mount Juliet, but to neither is there much difficulty of access for a licensed rod fisher who writes for permission, and this remark applies ] on all the Lower Nore and the Barrow, from Gtaignamanna faraigna- or Borris, downwards to near Ross, below which the fishing wanna. is only to be done in cotts, and it is to my taste not nice. Borris. From Carrick, on the verge of Tipperary, to Waterford, the Tipptrary Suir is banked to the north by Kilkenny, and there are many good salmon casts in it, but except in one or two places some one demands payment for their use, and they can only be well fished from cotts. They are, however, worth some expense, and used to yield especially well in the autumn. Special information is to be got only in Kilkenny or in Carrick. Near Piltown, which is adjacent to the latter place, I have known excellent sport to be had, but I can only commend the " fiery brown " (vide Erne), the " Ponsonby " (a native) and the " spade guinea" (vide Nenagh). Through Wexford County the Slaney runs to the sea, and is joined from the east, Co. Wex- above Enniscorthy, by the Bann, and by the Boro and Ura ford, on the west. The Boro is best known as connected with R. Borot 1 His not now easy to get permission to fish at Thomas- town. 114 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. a delightful book on the folk-lore of its banks, but it holds nice trout, like the Ura, the Bannow, the Duncormick rivers in the south, and the Camolin river in the west. 1 The Bann harbours really good ones, a few salmon and grilse ; and the Slaney many and sporting fish. There is, perhaps, moro difficulty about free fishing from the banks of the Slaney than Ennis- ' any Irish river but the Boyne. Below Enniscorthy, however, eorthy. there is a good deal to be done from the cott and in the very tideway. When the fishing opens and at the commence- ment of the summer and late autumn runs, good sport is sometimes to be had from the cott. Enniscorthy and Wex- ford are headquarters. In both are hotels ; and in the latter, one (White's) that used to be excellently kept. The trout fishing in the Slaney is not so good as it has been. In hot summer weather the little frog is very killing. The trout flies are of the standards, getting small as the season advances. The rivers flowing through Wexford are very R Boro. clear, and thus require the finest tackle. The Boro, near Lord Carew's place, was, and probably is, very strictly preserved against all who do not ask for a day. The Slaney and Duncormick river hold some white-trout in July, and the Camolin a few ('tis said) early and in autumn. From Waterford. this county the step is easy to Waterford, but I shall reserve no' ice of this latter county, and then only touch on it lightly when I have dealt with Cork, from which county its greatest and best river, the Blackwater, runs to it, making a short turn to the westward at Lismore. The (3) South District takes rank with the West and North-West, and considering its superior accommodation and accessibility, most anglers will consider it the best of the three. I divide it into six Tipperary. counties, — Tipperary, Cork, Waterford, Kerry, Limerick, C<>rk. and Clare, and the first of these naturally (from its water- Waterford. shed) divides itself into two. The whole is intersected by Kerry the Great Southern and Western Raihvay and the Water- Limericlc. f orf j an( j Limerick lines, and the track of the former Clare. separates the North and South Ridings of Tipperary very Co Tip- approximately. Tipperary may be said to have no lakes. perary. There are a few mountain tarns, and some of them on the Y^aterford side will be mentioned cursorily. The rivers Lo»nK with a northern and westward outflow run into the Shannon berg. (Lough Derg), and all are breeding-beds for salmon. The Brosna. first of these is the little Brosna, which separates, a little 1 In all these rivers the expert dry-fly angler should do well. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 115 above the Lough, Tipperary from the King's County. 1 It is not as good a river as the Ballyfinboy, which runs from Ballyfiw Borrisokane by a short course to Derg. In autumn, about boy. August, the grilse commence to run into it, and are mostly killed by night poachers. Further on, with the late autumn and winter floods, the larger fish come up and find safer quarters in the fuller streams. The flies which do best are those which suit the next river, which is naturally one of the best of those affluent to the Shannon. This, the Nenagh, having received the Lattcra and another stream, ^enarjh. both of which have wound north-westwards from the a eja " " Devil's-bit " mountain range, runs into the Shannon by Dromineer Bay. The Lattera and its sister-stream abound Bmminsef in nice trout ; the Nenagh in larger and better, but so wary Bay. from constant fishing that they require delicate angling. If one be prepared for this, the Ballyfinboy too gives excellent sport throughout the whole season. The salmon angling at Nenagh is not good in the spring. In autumn the stretches at the Fox-1 orough, near the town, then below Scott's and Dunne's mills, at Mr. Waller's demesne, at Ballyartelaghj and from thence to the Shannon, all afford capital grilse fishing, and, just before the close of the season, heavy and. game salmon. In Nenagh are three hotels. Good lodgings are to be had (when vacant), but they are few. The hotel is not the best ; either of the " Commercials," especially O'Brien's, is better. There is a nice club, of which the managers of the banks often make strangers honorary members. In Nenagh fair tackle can be got at a gunsmith's and at a watchmaker's, near the hotel, and there is a very honest old guide (Pat Hayes), a capital sportsman, though now feeble, who ties the best patterns for trout and salmon. The special amongst trout is the " black rail " and the " hare's-ear and claret." For the salmon, the " black fairy," the " blue jay," and the " spade guinea." 1 Since this book first came out, permission to fish has been steadily and each season restricted in just a similar ratio to the falling off in the fertility of the fishings. "Where any- one might fish in old days and get fairly good sport there are now few or no fish ; yet leave to angle is withheld and often by people who really have no legal title to restrain fishers even if they preserved (by regular keepers), which they do not. About these parts in King's County and North Tipperary happily there has not been much change either in quality of the waters or undue restrictions : of course there is some falling off owing to the impolitic selfishness of the netting bodies on the lower Shannon of which the rivers I write of are breeding grounds. n6 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Tip- The " Spade Guinea," peiar7. Tag — gold tinsel, blue silk. Tail — topping. Butt — black ostrich. Body — deep plum-red mohair, ribbed fine gold. Hackle — near butt blood-red, then claret, then golden ; blue jay at shoulder. Wing — mixed brown turkey, mallard, strips of tippet, blue, green, and red swan, and peacock's herl ; over all a topping. Horns — blue. Head— black (a bit of chatterer at cheeks does well). All these Pat Hayes tits very well, but it is well to supply him with good hooks (he sometimes runs short). Sergeant Kirby, a veteran Indian soldier, ties all the Shannon patterns beautifully, and for nothing, therefore he is not always at command. Nenagh has a very great advantage, of which many avail themselves. It is easily got away from ; Dromineer. to Dromineer, from which boats can be got on Lough Derg. Loujh Lough Derg is frequented but little by anglers for salmon, Derg- though such fish are often killed there. It has quite a fame \ for other fishing, and the best authority tells me that for dapping with the natural fly it is each year better and more popular ; indeed, more anglers go there now than to the Westmeath lakes, heretofore so deservedly appreciated in the " Drake season." Mr. Peebles has not got one trout over 8| lbs. but Captain Smithwick (of Youghall) has credit for several over 14 lbs. ; Mr. Pepper's was a monster trout (nearly 30 lbs. killed in winter and trolling), but a neighbour of Captain Smithwick killed the latest " record " fish, of 19 lbs. The " Drake season " here usually begins between the 18th and 25th of May, and lasts some three weeks. On a " fair " day the sport is mostly very go> >d. The fish are seldom under 2 lb. and the average is probably Si lb. Portumna is now the best headquarters for Upper Lough Derg ; Taylor's, of two hotels, is the most frequented. Both hotels are fairly good and moderate in their charges. Boats are easily got except perhaps when " the cream " of 'the fishing is on. The price for boats is 5s. to 6s., including 1 I boatmen, and this is the price all over the lough. The next . station is also on the Galway side at Mount Shannon. There is a moderately charging and comfortable hotel there (Water- stone's). It has accommodation for about 25 anglers, but it is quite necessary to secure rooms in advance, as every bed is occupied at the best season. There are many islands about which give shelter and enable one to fish in even the stormiest weather. To the south-west of Lough [Derg the river Shannon runs out, and there away, at Killaloe, are several hotels, Hurley's Royal Hotel — 'Renaghan's. Grace's , and one lately built by the Shannon 1 KJXu^e How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 117 Development Company. Quite recently another hotel, the Co. Tip- " Lakeside,'' has been opened. They are all close to the water per&ry. and reasonable in their charges. The new hotel will be quite ready for the " 1900 season " and promises to be a very up-to- date establishment ; however, the older hotels are very fair indeed. The evening trout fishing (with a white fly or moth) is often pretty good. Salmon too are sometimes killed on the small stretch of quite free water. For the Tipperary side vide ante. Many of the residents about receive paying guests during " the dapping season," so a week or fortnight may be enjoyed on more economical terms than when stopping at a hotel. The perch fishing at the end of June, and indeed whilst the warm weather lasts, is very good. Fifty fish are very often got, occasionally up' to 3 lb. I have known nearly 100 killed by one rod in a summer day. The rudd (not roach, as he is called locally) is common. There is near Dromineer a new hotel (Burgess's) which is well spoken of, where is the best gillaroo fishing I know of. Westward is Newport, which has the advantage of Newport. a hotel, and good lodgings at a " pub." at the cross, and a sweet river, which is well looked after, and without hin- drance to rod-fishers with a licence. In Lady Bloomfield's river, above this (the Ciamaltha), great sport is to be had Ciam- with worm and fly (" grouse " is the fly all the year round). 1 altha. There is another river, the Youghall, which discharges in Derg, between Dromineer and Killaloe, which holds grilse, late salmon, and beautiful trout. This, the Youghall river, is said to be preserved, but mythically, as some of the claimants have no more right there than Paul Kruger. The " standards " (small) do well ; the specials for trout and salmon are as in Nenagh. Lough Derg can be fished from a ' Portumna (a hotel, and boats), Mount Shannon (clean hotel, Portumna. <& f:trm-house lodgings, and boats), JSenagh (Dromineer, and Mount £ boats), or Killaloe; and occasionally Portroe, a village near Shannon. s>> the slate quarries, affords "shelter" for anglers who affect '^ t ., n / a ? the Youghall and Newport rivers, with easy approach to the T> ? oe ' beautiful bay of Derg at its foot. The best accommodation ^ roe# to be got there is with Mr. Grace, the station-master, but it is unfortunately limited. If I now qualify this because of the New Shannon Development Hotel, it is not because Grace's has fallen off. I am told there are more and better lodgings to be got now than two years ago. The fishing of the Derg is done by boats, and 1 In all the rivers of North Tipperary, Limerick, and Clare, the grouse flies should possess one peculiarity, with- out which these (there) universal flies fail — the turns of the grouse feathers which come under the shank should be cut off square, so that, when pressed down, they just touch the point of the hook, wing fashion. u8 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Tip- Mr. Grace is a very good guide about them. The bridge per-r/. fishing is all carried on in cotts (I have seen enthusiasts wade). On one side it is claimed by Mr. Spaight, of Deny Castle, but there is no difficulty for even a salmon fisher who is commonly civil. The Abbey water, the other side, is let to Major Scott. 1 a resident" Sassenach," who has done more kindnesses in Killaloe than can ever be forgotten. He is most generous with his fishing, and his boatmen (Lyons i3 one of them) are very good fellows, and experts. There are other cottmen there, and all deserve a good word, though they are inclined to a " fisherman's bigotry " as to their own ways and dodges. Of them I can recommend the Johnsons, in whose cotts I have had excellent sport. The trout fishing / near the bridge is best early in the season, or after the first autumn floods ; but there are two heureux quarts d'heure, between daylight and dark, each morning and evening of the season, when the trout seem to take the flies as fast as they can be served with them. At such a time the only bother is the number of small beasties, who won't let the big ones Newport have their own way, and the angler's. The Newport, Annagh, A nncufh. and Bilbo are all to the south of Killaloe. The first I have Bilbo. spoken of, the others will be read of in Limerick. In all the .streams of North Tipperary, and probably in the Shannon, the worm flight kills perhaps more salmon (not the biggest), and certainly more trout than all the other devices. The Nenagh river holds minnow in quantities, and few of the others any ; therefore it should be used as a larder to delude the fish of neighbouring streams. The Nenagh trout them- selves are so well fed and accustomed to minnow that they require great delicacy of approach. Let me commend this river to dry-fly fishers. At Killaloe, and at the mouth of the small rivers, the prawn is deadly. On Derg, the blow-line must be used when the May-fly (" drake ") is in ; at other times, all the standard white-trout flies (vide Part I.) do well, but olives best. In Tipperary (South) Buir. the Snir is the main river, and swallows up all the others. Borroso- There are none of them so good as the Shannon affluents I kttffc. have spoken of, but the Borrosoleigh, the Multeens, the Ara, tftdteens. am i Aherlow all hold trout ; and the latter is worth explo- A ra - ration for the supreme beauty of its glen. The Suir itself is Aherlow. a S pi en did river, but it is dreadfully hacked, and Templemore Barracks turns out more rod-fishers than its upper waters Bnly should well satisfy. At Holy Cross, however, it commences Cro$3. to be a good salmon river, and above that, good and very 1 Since this was written Major Scott died, leaving behind him in Ireland a memory of a thorough, gracious gentleman, with a big and irontlo heart. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 119 many trout lie in each deep. From Holy Cross to Golden Co. Tip- most of the river is open (to licensed reds), and from that to peraiy. Cahir, which affords better fishing, there is little hindrance Cahir. which cannot be overcome by a request or a crown. Thurles, Tipperary, Cashel, and Cahir are all accommodating, and' have endurable hotels. I like of these Tipperary best, and the Limerick Junction Hotel, three miles off, more than any of them. In the Upper Suir the Nenagh river flies do very well ; but there is an artist, rod and watch-maker, fly-dresscr, and admirable Crichton resident in Templemore, named Hilliard, who dresses flies more attractive than any others I know on the Suir and all its tributaries : the best of these, on the Tipperary side, is the Anner, which flows in from towards Anner. Fethard, being joined by a stream from this little town, near Clonmel, the headquarters of anglers on the Lower Suir. Clonmel. From the south, the Neir, a good trout stream, flows in near Cahir. At Clonmel the fishing is open, but approach to the banks is often barred ; and on either side of the town, for some miles, the best casts are secured under " claims ; " but notwithstanding this, a stranger who puts himself into the hands of " Mrs. Bradford," or "Jim Mara," the local pisci- captors, is likely to get good sport, and with big fish. The trout fishing is free on all parts of the river. The " black rail," the " hare's-ear and claret," and the " orange grouse," and " orange " or " green wren," are the special favourite?, but the other seasonable standards all come in, tied large, as becometh big waters. Limerick is, for the salmon fisher, one of the most attractive of Irish Co. Lime- counties. These reaches, which extend on the Shannon from "6*. a little below KiUaloe to near Limerick, are all taken up, K illal °*- with more or less claim, by those who let the fishing to anglers. Their advertisement is not properly a part of a ruide, and yet it would not be complete without reference 10 them. These fine waters hold an abundance of salmon, Ind running of a size not surpassed by any in the United "Kingdom. " Hading " (trailing) from cotts is their general modo of capture, and with the largest and most brilliant flies, f or with the prawn or large " phantom." In the centre of this! ^y superb stretch of water is Castle Connell, where Enright 1 [Castle has his rod factory, and a better managed hotel than is fonnell. generally found near good fishing. There are some lodgings to be let, too, and at the " World's End " especially, com- fortable ones. The charges for fishing are not exorbitant the right to charge at all be granted), as compared with 1 Since I wrote this he died, but his family keep his busi- ness going, and they (his sons) are most reliable people, and keep a too small hotel next their tackle and rod factory. 6° I m- World s (if (End. 120 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Lime- Scotch water-ronts. The fishing is nearly all done from rick. cotts, and the flies and baits used are very large. Of the latter, very big " phantoms " and the largest prawns do best. The salmon flies vary exceedingly, and are remarkable for their great size and splendonr. Some Indian crow, the brightest silks, and from six to twelve toppings make up a common gaudy yet harmonious fly. In preparation for this book, I asked some experienced dressers in Limerick to supplement my own knowledge in the matter, and their patterns, various, but often called by the same name, con- vince me that " colour and all you can of it," are all the E Dints in common which good fly-fishers there think well of. festor, in Limerick, ties or gets tied the best and cheapest salmon-flies' I know of ; and I should recommend all anglers who put up in Limerick to place themselves in his hands to obtain the fishing below Prospect (" Mr. Powell's water ") and above Corbafly, where the charge for the rods and boat, will amount to about, and not much over, £1 a day, with a prospect of killing, in spring, many large fish. Nestor him- self, in 1884, broke into the season with a catch of seven fish, of 153 lbs. weight ; and Major Armstrong beat him by 9 lbs. next day. The spring fishing is of course the best, and the fish heavier than in summer or autumn ; but the latter are livelier months. Within a few miles of Limerick are the Mulcaire. Mulcaire, Bilbo, and Dead rivers, all good from the opening Bilbo. of the season for brown-trout (very large in the Mulcaire). Dead. rp} ie two former hold many grilse and a few white-trout in the autumn (July the earliest). The standard white-trout flies do. I know no one of special merit, but — Tag — gold or silver tinsel, and gold silk. Tail — topping. Butt — ostrich. Body — half golden silk, half dark purple, ribbed silver slightly. Hackle — purple, blue jay at shoulder. Wing — topping and summer duck. Horns — topping. There is admirable sport in the Mulcaire with minnow and with its imitators, the Caledonian and Exhibition baits. The Devon takes well, but fouls too often. The Bilbo and Mulcaire are quite first-rate for " trout rowling," where I 1 All Shannon salmon-flies should have little or no har k'es on the bodies till near the shoulder. In fact, attenv.a-ed bodies are the " acceptables." And this peculiarity being attended to, I set little value on the variations which each local angler claims as needful characteristics of each Shannon fly. Size, glitter and colour are the real needs. Nestor's window shows the right indescribables, but every one believes in his own particular bunch of colour. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. i?i first heard the expression from a local artist, staggering Co. Lime- under a creel filled to bursting. 1 Passing by, for a page or rick, two, the Maigue, the Dheel river, which runs into the Lower The Dheel. Shannon, holds capital salmon, and more in proportion to its size than the greater river. The fishing from a cott there is open (I believe) ; and, in any case, it can be got on very moderate terms. The prawn beats the fly here, and the largest blue " phantom " all other lures. There is a hotel at Askeaton, and the conveniences are all to be got, but, I believe, at a smart price. The Dheel trout are bonnie, as are those of its tributaries, the Ehernagh, Orra, and Owenskaw, but not in great number, near the best salmon pools about Askeaton. Further Askeaton. up about Rathkeale, where one can be fairly put up, the Rathkeale. trout and autumn grilse fishing is very good. Mr. Pigott's agent, Mr. Robert Reeves, throws no obstacle in the way of licensed anglers. At Glinn there is a nice open river, Olinn. and the Knight of Glinn, when written to, is most kind in permitting, as far as he can, strangers to have acces t > it. Between the Dheel and Limerick city the Maigie runs Dheel. out — a river which to know is to love. Its upper waters are Maigue. fed by the Camoge, the Morning Star, and the Loobagh, all Carroge. nice rivers, up which run spring salmon, fewer summer fish, Morning many grilse, and a few white-trout. On this margin, accom- < i tal "- modation of more than average kind can be got at Adare °° ^ ' and Kilmallock, and even other places, if one wants to beat ~o ", the river thoroughly. Most of the fishing is free, and all of ^ ocfe it can be got. Flies as at Nenagh ; trout flies as Mulcaire and Nenagh (vide ante). The Morning Star is the best night Morning river I ever fished. The collagh, the minnow, the small Star. frog, and the white and lemon moth, are all murderous after dark. At the south-west, the Co. Limerick is bounded by the Feale, which separates it from Keiry. Into it run three pretty nursery streams— the Galey, the Oola, and Allaghaun, which in July hold grilse, white-trout, and ever sweet brown- trout. I particularize the Feale with the Kerry rivers. R. Feale. From the Co. Limerick side, these tributaries and the main river can be best got at from Abbeyfeale, which has an inn not Abbey- quite comfortless. Newcastle is the nearest railway station, feale. At the other corner of the county, the Funcheon divides Newcastle, south-eastern Limerick from the beautiful and fish-abounding * uncheon. Co. Cork. This county's chief rivers are the Blackwater, the Loe, Co. Cork, and the Bandon river. (There are other and smaller rivers Black- which discharge themselves in the ocean, but those receive water. Lt'e. 1 I regret to say I am now told to qualify this very much. Ban-Jan. 122 Hoiv and Where to bisJi in Ireland. most of the inland waters and most fish migrating from the 6ea. Concerning the Blackwater, the upper waters of this fine river have for the last few years gone back, but now strong efforts are being ma'ie to improve them and with good pro- spective results. There are many fisheries (the better from Fermoy to Lismore) by the season or by the month. The rents vary from £15 to £50 per mensem. Trout fishing is mostly free and excellent on the main river and its tribu- taries. Hotel accommodation at Milstreet, Mallow, Fermoy, Kilavullen and Lismore : at Lismore the " Devonshire Arms " is the hotel, All the waters belonging to the Duke of that ilk are free, but the tish must be given up. A very trusted correspondent writes to me (and I quite agree with him), — " All the salmon fisheries worth fishing are strictly pre- served," . . . nearly all proprietors, on all the rivers, let their fisheries, and any really good pieces of water fetch fancy prices (from £20 to £~>0 per month) ; but by taking a piece for the entire season a considerable reduction is of course made. Excellent fisheries can be had at from £50 to £100 for the season. Trout fishing is to be had as of old. lit is only necessary to ask for permission, to get it freely, Even from the few proprietors who preserve it. There are a few good free quarters (or nearly free) — these are attached to hotels, where by paying small sums one can get fairly good sport, — salmon, sea trout, and brown-trout. In this connec- tion, Waterville, in the County Kerry, is notable " (vide Co. Kerry )TTTae writer of the above adds to local remarks, — "There has been a Government inquiry into the state of the Irish rivers, but whether any good will result I do not know. If gentlemen who own large properties on the river banks, and who receive high rents fur their fisheries would . . . subscribe a reasonable amount, and not trust the pre- servation to the paltry sum raised by licence money, things would mend very rapidly. . . . They pocket all they can get, and let the lessees do as they please as to preservation." For the upper Lee the Cork and Macroom railway serves ; for the middle and lower waters the Cork and Coachford tram lines. As for the Lee, some few nice bits can be had for short terms — £10 to £15 for a month; good fisheries with water enough for two, or even three rods, can be had for £40 to £80 for the season. Furnished residences are to be had (in connection with fisheries) at (including some servants) £40 a mi mth. At Cork and Macroom is hotel accommodation, and fairly good at Coachford and Dripsey. The sea trout fishing on the Lee is confined to a small stretch of water between the waterworks weir and the city of Cork. Pleasure boats disturb it much, and it cannot be fished except from boats. Messrs. Haynes, of 63, Patrick Street, can negotiate for fiflliings and are entirely trustworthy. The Blackwater runs How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 123 out at Yousjhall, where it divides Cork from Waterford. Co Cork. Its main affluents in Cork are the Bride and the Glan Bride. on one bank, and the Funcheon, the Arraghn, the 6'' a «- Aubeg and the Dalia, on the other. The Glan and Dalia luncheon. join it high up, near Kanturk, are small, quite free rivers, Arraglin. and of little worth except to " locals." There are several r/V- ;/ ' other small trout streams about Kanturk. The Arraglin j ^ rraa \;, l is within easy reach of Fermoy, runs through lovely p trm0 y ' scenery, and affords a trout-fisher beautiful sport with the worm in spate, or in its few pools in bright weather. Tho Funcheon, which runs into the Blackwater below Moore Puncheon. Park, near Fermoy, holds a few salmon and grilse, and is i quite free, though it is only courteous to ask permission to pass through the Moore Park demense and Colonel Teulon'a grounds, which bound the stream. From Ballyclough ' Bridge to its mouth the Funcheon holds magnificent trout, but I never succeeded in making a grand creel with flies, except in a gale (up-stream best). Dapping with the natural blue-bottle I have done excellently, and in a very dirty freshet a great number of fine trout can be taken with the worm. At night, the collagh (late in summer, the small frog and the white and lemon moth) kill well ; and the banks permit easy night fishing, except under the rocks, opposite Colonel Teulon's house, a place I always reserved for dapping. The best fishing does not extend far above Bally- clough bridge. The flies are the " hare's-ears," the " March brown," till Mav ; the " cow-dung," the "grouses," and " wrens," the " red-tail," and the little " blue dun " and "olive" (Despard's pattern). There are few rivers which gave me as much sport as the Funcheon, and it has the farther advantage that it is so accessible from Fermoy, where Sheriff keeps one of the best hotels in the south of Ireland, and charges very moderately. There are often good lodgings to be had in Fermoy, and it commands the Upper Bride, which affords beautiful brown-trout fishing during the whole season, but especially early and towards tho close of the season. Occasional fish, and pretty often grilse, are to be got above Rathcormick, but between that and Conna there is better sport. At Conna, Kirby's Hotel Conna. affords cheap and comfortable quarters, and from there the river fishing of the Lower Bride to and by Tallow is all free. It is often worth while to try a biggish olive white- trout fly, or a "hawthorn," with a bit of blue jay at the shoulder, in the likely pools in this water. Salmon in the early season, and grilse later on, often reward such an experiment. The blue jay has more charm for even the brown trout on this stream than any other I know. The cream of the fly-fishing for trout on the Bride is only to be Bride. got when it has just cleared from one flood, and just before the river duties with another. "When it is full and dirty, 124 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Cork. Tallow. A"beq. Balla- huoly. Co. Cork. Lombard' s town. Qortmore. Carriga- Clifford. spinning, or the worm, will do better; and the worm or natural dap (blue-bottle), cockroach, clock, and grasshopper, answers when the river gets very low in bright weather. Night fishing, as in the Funcheon, repays trouble. The salmon fishing below Tallow is free to those who sojourn at the Devonshire Arms, where one can be made very com- fortable at moderate charges. The Aubeg is within easy reach of Fermoy. It joins the Black water above Balla- hooly, and is just the stream in which dry fty-fishing and delicate, bright worming, will be rewarded. The writer has killed many score good trout in it. The flies which its denizens love are the " green wren " and " orange grouse," late in the summer ; the " March brown," and very small hares-ear and yellow, before then. Local flies, to be got from Haynes, of Cork, and in Fermoy, do very well. The little "runs" from its mouth to above Dr. Mansergh's house hold very lusty trout, and I hope yet to try them with the worm flight in bright summer weather. On the whole, there is not a better trout river in Ireland than this little one near which Spencer sung the noble Blackwater (the Awin-dhu of Elizabeth's day). It is little changed since he lived at Kilcolman close by. Some years ago its pools were all free ; much of it now is, but the best are claimed, and their posi- tions and rents are as follows : — Mallow. Lombard's town, half-hour from Mallow by rail. Very good in high water, but not quite sport-yielding when river clears and runs low. Rent about 50J. for season. 1 Gortmore, half-hour from Mallow. Some good streams. Condition as Lombard's-town. Very easily fished. Rent 60/. Near Castletown-Roche, which touches the Aubeg, is Carrigacunna, which is by rail or car half way from Mallow to Fermoy. Excellent spring fishing, and some autumn. Length, one mile. Rent, 100/. Clifford, which is the north side of the river (the last was south). Two miles, with pretty house and offices. 200/. for all. Carrig. I do not know if this beautiful water be free or not. I think it entails a small charge. It is only two miles from Castletown-Roche, where one Mrs. Fitzpatrick has a little hotel where she puts up and does for anglers, at too moderate a rate. The great drawback to these waters is the existe~hce of a local night poacher who never sleeps in his bed. When he has been " tackled," the sport will be as good as any in Ireland of the extent of water. If I 1 The rents given are those of 188G — they are probably much the same now : not higher. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 125 were lessee, I should compel him to fish with me by day, Co. Cork. and all day. The hotel near the station at Mallow is excellent, but the charges are high. Lower down, near Fermoy, is Convanmore. Lord Listowell reserves the portion of this which runs through his demesne. He is, however, very kind to his friends. For three miles or so outside his grounds, he lets the fishing at 200/. a season, and this covers the rent of a large and cosy house in the village of Balla- hooly. North Crag. North side river only. A mile of good water. 60/. a year (two miles from Fermoy). South Crag, half mile other side, very good, with full South river. 30/. a year. Crag. Carysville. Superb fishing. Two miles both banks. Carys- 600/. a year. Fine house, furnished, 150/. a year (two miles ville. from Fermoy). Kilmurray (five miles from Fermoy, by car), only beaten Kil- by Carysville. Over two miles. 200/. a year. murray. Kilbarry. Opposite a part of last. Only a quarter-mile, Kilbarry. but has the Lug pool, which always holds fish. Just below Lug Pool. the Lug is the Kilbarry run, which is as reliable as any in Ireland. MacoDop, adjoins Kilmurray. Ten miles' fishing, north Macollop. side, half way between Fermoy and Lismore. Was to be let. with fine house, 300/. Marstown, close by Ballyduff station. Beautiful piece of Marstoivn. water a mile long, the south side. Rent 40/. The station- master puts up lessee at very moderate terms. At Cappoquin the Blackwater changes its due east course Cappo- directly to south, and is joined from the Waterford side by quia. the Feenisk river (a nice stream) opposite Lismore. On a Li>flior». foregoing page I have written something of the Lower Black- water. The right to a several fishery on this portion of the river, and to the sea, has been established by the Duke of Devonshire, together with the fact that such another right had not been given by any deed under due authority in Ireland. The Duke is most generous. The fishing is free 1 1 to all sojourners at the " Devonshire Arms " or " Blackwater Vale " hotels, which are comfortable, and with low tariffs. The best part is that known as the " Scholar's throw," made familiar to so many who have read Dr. Peard's delightful book. Then there is the "X Hole," the "Island," the " Bull,' the " Powder Butt," and others of equal merit. In the Blackwater it is usual to employ a professional aide, and often a cott. These fishermen are men of exceptional probity, and are all so good, that I hesitate to individualize one. They have only one fault, their love of preposterous long rods, which are needless in a cott. Unlike the Lower Shannon, the Blackwater requires only smallish flies even in spring. No. 3, 4, 5, 6, &c, and the first is generally too 126 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Cork, largo. The local fly-dressers are finished artists ; I give, however, a few patterns which I know to be good, though, perhaps, not of their list : — Tag — gold lace and scarlet silk. Tail — topping, and morsel Indian crow. Butt — ostrich one turn. Body— in three: 1st, light blue; 2nd, green; 3rd, very deep red, all dyed, seal's fur or pig's wool, ribbed with gold lace (from epaulet). Hackle— a dyed hackle of deepest bottle green, nearly black, to red, and then black ; shoulder, jay. Wing —tippets two, and over these, mallard bustard, golden pheasant's tail, and a strip of red ibis mixed. Horns — toppings. Cheeks, small bits of chatterer. No 2. Tag — gold twist, red silk. Tail — golden pheasant topping. Butt — ostrich. Body — green mohair, deep blue mohair, red mohair (underwing), dyed seal's fur, mixed with mohair and of these shades, is even bettor. Gold tinsel separating colours. Black hackle or plum hackle. Mixed wing. Bustard, grey mallard, over toppings ; shoulder, jay. Pointers — blue and red macaw. Head — ostrich. No. 3. Tag — silver tinsel, purple silk. Tail — topping, blue chatterer. Butt — ostrich herl. Body — rough grey bear and pig's wool half way, then blue bear, all ribbed over with broad silver, blue jay hackle under wing. Mixed wing as in No. 1 ; pointers as in No. 1. Sides of wing, large-eyed jungle cock and small blue chatterer each side. Head— ostrich. En passant, all Blackwatcr flies may have blue jay at shoulder, and there are no better flies than the "Jock Scott "' and " Butcher," of Mr. F. Francis' pattern, with the jay added, and none so good the season through. A few white-trout run up the Blackwater about the end of Juno; I believe most of them get into the Tourig, the Finesk, the Lickey, and Clashmore rivers, at least they are not often killed in the Blackwater or its Cork tributaries. Fish killed about Lismore are to be given up ; but a fair !\ mount of them are always placed at the angler's disposal, free of charge. r lee. After the Blackwater, the Lee is the most fish-holding of Couganc- the Cork rivers, and gives good sport from Gougane-Barra harra. to its discharge in the Cove of Cork. It rises amid lone- soinest rugged beauty, and joins the soa in Bcenery still t» Or 4 * How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 127 bewitching. At Gougane, 1 all round the island, there is' Co. Curk. nice free iishing for brown-trout, but I do not think salmon are often taken there. Boats can be had. Good trout are to be had in following the Lee down to Lough Allua (the Inchegelagh lake of tou;is's), which affords capital trou' Inchcge- iishing, and an occasional " fish." Th< re is a very fair hotel lajh. at Inchegelagh, and nice boat3. " Brophy's" is a fair hotel, \ and Inchegelagh isa^good spot for pike anglers. "lis all free fishing there, and from May not bad angling is to be got even for salmon, and it is a proper starting-point (from the Cork side) for the white-trout rivers which run into Bantry Bay {vide Glengarriffe in Co. Kerry notes). Macroom' 2 (on railway Macroom. from Cork) is, however, a better quarter for salmon fishers, for it not only commands the Lee, but its upper tributaries, which carry salmon. The trout fishing is free, and Haynes, of Patrick Street, Cork, makes easy arrangements for salmon Cork. fishers. Between Cork and Macroom, there is a cap tal Macronm. JXift&L trout river, the South Br ide, the best in west or south Cork. ® V™ ^U^o l{.**k* Near where it joins theTiee is the Dripsey, which runs in zP. (^^ / from the north, as do the Blarney river (the Shournagh), r 'P s( "y- and its fellow, the Martin. Coachford is not a bad place for Coachford an early start to the Lee or Dripsey, but the accommodation might be improved. Blarney is a delightful place, and the Blarney sanatorium there is a pleasant standpoint for the observa- tion of the oddities of humanity. Good stories abound there. The proprietor is one of the finest anglers in Ireland. South of the Lee, and like it running mainly eastward, is jr^ e# the Bandon, which is, I think, the livelier salmon river of Bandon, the two. The fishing can be got through Mr. Haynes on very reasonable terms. Like the Lee it is a spring river, but not so early. It is said to be the least fickle of streams, and it certainly keeps up a fair head of water more con- stantly than most Irish rivers. The flies for it and the Lee Lee. are of the same patterns, but those who know these rivers well recommend smaller patterns for the Bandon. 3 On both Bandon. 1 The scenery at Gougane is superb. The brown-trout fishing above the average, though the fish are not generally what a Lough Derg man would call big. Mrs. Cronin keeps a " shebeen " on the lake side, which I'm told is " comfortable," and certainly her charges for boats and boat- men are moderate. 2 The trout about Macroom run small, from \ to \ lb. 8 The Bandon River is mostly preserved, but the best stretches are to be let (by the season, from £30 to £60). The trout fishing, in places excellent, is nearly all free. The lower waters at Innisshannon (all tidal) hold sea-trout (" white ''), brown and slob trout. The hotel there and that' at Dunmanwayare fairly comfortable and moderate in charga. During a "wet" autumn the rivers, Hen and AfrigadeeaJ 123 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Coik. Dunman- v ay. Bally nean. Bandon. M-ib- berren. (Han lore. R. rten. Glandore. Ballyde- hoK Boaring- Wilt IT. Glassha- boy. Awin-a- Curragh. Castle- martiir. Pi- sour- Midd' eton. the size of the proper fly varies not so much between the early and late season as between flood water (clear, of course) and very low water. Thus the " yellow Anthony " may be tied on No. 4 or even 3 for a full river, and a week later on No. 8 for low water, but medium flies generally do best. Mr. Haynes supplies all the patterns in great perfec- tion, and I append a list of them and a description of how a few of them are dressed. Dunmanway, Ballynean, and Bandon afford quarters. Ballynean is the most central. In spring I should take my chance for the best sport there, but in autumn Bandon I think best, as more white-trout are there to vary the game. From Skibbereen or Glandore, capital white and brown-trout fishing is to be had after early July. From the former the River Hen is got at. It holds spring salmon, a summer run, grilse, white and brown- trout. There is a hotel as at Glandore. The latter was a model of cleanliness, comfort, and cheapness, and I have not heard that it is changed. From the Ballydehob river, near Roaringwater, to the old head of Kinsale, every stream discharging in the sea holds numbers of white-trout, but they must be sought for the moment the floods begin to abate. Eastward of Cork the Glasshaboy, the Awin-a- Curragh, the Castlemartyr, and Dissour all afford sport : some few salmon, white and brown-trout, but not so many or so good as the westward rivers. Middleton is a good centre for these (rail to there). The Lee, Bandon, and West Cork salmon flies are — 1. The " Black Goldfinch" (a low- water pattern). 2. The " Blue Palmer " (do.). 3. The " Golden Olive " (do.). 4 The " Claret Palmer " (do.), and 5. The " Orange Anthony " (do.). 6. The " Lee Blue " (do. when tied with silk body and small). 2. The "Half grey and brown " (high water). 3. The " Lee Blue " (high water). 4. The " Orangeman " ( Generally good in all con- 6. " Tandy " < ditions of water (sizes 6. " Yellow Anthony " I varied). Of these flies — The " Yellow Anthony " is perhaps the most fatal. Tag — silver tinsel, yellow silk of the exact shade of the tail. Tail — topping. bold lots of small salmon, 6 to 8 lbs., and fine sea trout. Skibbereen and Clonakilty hotels are better than one expects there. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 129 Butt — one turn of black ostrich. Body — silver grey fox or silver seal, shoulder golden (dyed) seal, or golden hackle, ribbed silver. Wing — mixed bustard, bittern, brown turkey, golden pheasant's tail, swan (dyed) magenta, red flamingo, a few spines of tippet and a morsel of the red feather from golden pheasant's flank. Head — black ostrich. Hhe " Orangeman." Tag — silver tinsel, orange silk. Tail — topping. Body — blue dyed seal, hackle fashion, then a roll of silver twist, then blue again, then tinsel, then orange red fur, then tinsel, then deep red, then tinsel, then grass green fur, tinsel, silver grey fur, and finally under shoulder cardinal red fur or hackle — the tinsel should divide each colour of body in ribs. Wing — mixed golden pheasant's tail, brown mallard, blue dyed swan, flamingo, and summer duck. This is said to be a wonderful good fly in all the Cork waters. The " Tandy." Tag — silver tinsel, claret silk. Tail — tippets. Body — in three equal parts — 1st. Yellow silk under golden seal fur or hackle ribbed silver. 2nd. Sky-blue seal fur or hackle ribbed silver. 3rd. Silver grey seal ribbed silver. A claret hackle burked full at shoulder. Wing — tippet (not much) to project over tag, then green parrot, red swan, golden pheasant's tail, summer duck, very little blue swan, and brown mallard. Head — black ostrich. The " Lee Blue." Tag — silver and golden silk. Tail — topping and tippet. Butt — black ostrich one turn. Body — sky-blue seal or white bear (dyed) ribbed broad tinsel, golden fur at shoulder below rise of wing. Wing — mixed claret swan, orange swan, green swan, blue swan, golden pheasant's tail, brown mallard. Head — black ostrich. The " Claret Palmer." Tag — silver tinsel, claret silk. Tail — topping. Butt — black ostrich (full). K Co. C r*. 130 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Body — claret silk ribbed silver from below 2ml rib. Hackle, sky-blue or blue seal picked out ; shoulder, py- Wing — bits of tippet, golden swan, claret swan, golden pheasant's tail under brown mallard. Horn3 —blue macaw. Head — black. The " Half grey and brown," the formula of wh-ioh I know not exactly. These six flies represent in some measure the modifica- tions and shades which prevail in the rivers near Cork. Haynes, in Patrick Street, is a very reliable man and moderate. There are other local men about, whose dressing is probably good too. In Cork there is more than one good hotel, the Imperial is first-rate ; Queen's-town is excellently provided ; and at Passage is one where they have very good hot salt baths to boil in on an off day. The clubs in Cork open their doors readily to any introduced strangers. Ex- perts all say the Cork rivers have the peculiarity of giving most sport to salmon fishers who fish high with somewhat a less drowned fly than usual. In the Blackwater I can say there is no trace of this oddity. In the Lower Bandon and Lower Lee the prawn does excellently, and the best tackle is due to the invention of Dr. B , a Cork man. Cork is happily not infested with pike; there are, however, many good perch lodges ; charr are said to be f omul in Inchegelagh. I don't think there are many, but I believe the mountain lakelets in West Cork and the Kerry border should be credited with some queer customers not unlike pollen. I never saw but one, and the pseudo-captor called him a " hobbin " • (hibernice " briac-bui "). This was an evident misnomer, as the fish was black (dhu), not yellow (bui). Sea fishers should try this coast, which teems with the spoils they seek. Kebrt Co. Kerry. j s a county fertile in fish. 2 The salmon are not very many or very large, but their distribution is general. The white trout are excellent, and in all the streams. There are a few feroces or big-headed brown trout of the ferox pattern, Queen' s- town. Passage. Bandon. Lee. Inchege- lagh. 1 Can this be the Hautin of old writers ? 2 A correspondent who knows this county well warns me that, like all Irish fishings, those in Kerry have fallen off since I first wrote of them. I would add that at Waterville and thereabouts the angling restrictions are said to have been extended, and I'm told that now the keepers try to make anglers for "white trout " take out the local salmon licence. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 131 numberless true brown trout, charr (probably) or a lake fish Ci>. Kerry. like them, and special pike andjperch. Most of the fishing is preserved in~a sortToi a way, and there is none of it which can't be got for a small charge. Owing to the streams of tourists which its scenery attracts, the accommodation is, for Ireland, exceptionally good. Long drives by car must be undertaken to reach many good waters, though there are railways to Killarney and Tralee. To the north the first JJ™ 1 ** important river is the Feale, which we touched on in pp) Limerick, whence it runs. Near its mouth, after receiving J;* „*" e ' the Galy, it changes its name to the Cashen, and soon dis- R ' n a ^ n charges into sea near Ballybunion. This little place affords j} a \iy_ lodgings ; but Listowel, a flourishing little town, is a better & MW 'on. place to get to this river, and it covers easily the southern Listowel. tributaries, the Smeralagh and the Shanogh, which are all Smera- breeding rivers, which hold some grilse and many white trout lagh. in autumn. The Feale itself has many salmon of medium Shanogh. weight, and very game. Listowel furnishes guides and fly- dressers. The flies resemble the Bandon patterns, but with a little more colour, and the " Jock Scott," and " Butcher," with blue jay (vide Black water) and the silver grey, and a very deep orange grouse kill well — hooks 5, 6, 7. The hotel at Listowel is comfortable, and cheap. The Feale salmon Feale. at low water seem to affect spinning (natural) minnows, indeed low water seems generally the proper time for this lure. In the Feale I first saw used a single fly shotted, and played " sink-and-draw " fashion for trout and white trout ; at night for the former. It is very killing, and they call this mode the " Clare style," from the county where it was general. From Tralee the rivers Lee and Maine are accessible. Tralee. Both rivers hold a few salmon, more white, and many Lee. and nice brown trout. Thence too, access is easy to the Maine. barony of Corkaginny. a peninsula which, pushing out north Corka- of Dingle Bay, has many rivers (Finglas, for instance) 9^ n7i y- which hold in autumn white trout in number, and ever so * in 9 i ' as ' many brown trout. A tour through this wild barony with a pony and " Berthon " would repay a fisher of " virgin " streams, and there is a big tarn to be reached from the town of Dingle, near Beenaskee, another near Anauscanl, and three or four further west which should be tried Eecnatlcee. by adventurers provided with a Berthon, or collapsible Anaus- boat. The Maine flows down to Castlemaine harbour caul - from about half-way (by train) from Tralee to Kil- Maine. larney, and when it has been fished down to the sea, Kil- lorghlan, which has an inn, is a stepping-t'tone to fish the Laune from Killorglan (on it) back to Killarney. Colonel Amphlett exercises "rights" over the Maine, the lower ^fune. reaches of which are very good, especially for Avhito trout ; * s -™°' fm June, July, and August being the best months. There is " an * little difficulty in making terms by the week or month, I 132 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Kerry, believe; but over most of this river 1 Mr. Herbert's successor Lord Ardillaun, of Mucross, exercises a claim, which Mr. H was wont to transfer to his tenant (Colonel Amphlett, of Cahirnane, Killarney), who did not permit fishing, except on terms which were not high. From Bally- meallis pool down the fishing (as good as any on the liver) is free, except a short " stretch," for which the proprietor, Mr. Charles Johnson, never refuses leave. The fishing on the lakes ! is all free. The accommodation there is excellent at several h< .tols, the "Lake," the "Mucross," the "Railway," and others. The tariff is about 12s. per diem, or from 41. a week. The • charge for boats is Is., but the proprietor of the Lake Hotel says, " but we can give a boat free, so that the hire to an angler would be simply 3s. Qd. per day, which is only the boatman's hire." Such an arrangement can, doubtless, be made with the other hotels ; as a matter of fact. I have found 6s. a day cover my boat expenses (whisky not included— many of the men are total abstainers). The best fishing is got with the troll or spin. May to August are the best months for salmon, but the cross lines get most of the not too numerous " Salars." Herring- sized, and now and then big trout, are to be got in any number on a good day, near Brown Island, Victoria Victoria Bay, and the north shore under Lake View House Ba y. to the mouth of the Laune, and round the opposite (Toomies) Lake View shore. June and July are the best months for trout. The House. " Spoon," the "Devon," the "Exhibition," "Caledonian," and Laune. "Phantom" blue and brown, all do well, the small natural Toomies.^ minnow best of all, unless where big fish are known to ^vc *^_ harbour, and the acquaintance of the boatmen with them is • rt/ t/ / " ct ^ wonderful. The small trout is not generally useful, but here *v^v>^^ and there the troutling attracts his big brothers. 2 From r U Killor- Killorglan to Glencar is about 7 miles, and the mail car glan. /charge is 2s. 6d. for each passenger. At the Glencar Hote l, Glencar. Mrs. Breen makes her customers very comfortable, and they Carragik | g e £ f ree fi s hi n g on the river Carragh from Carragh Lake to Lake. Cloon Lake, and on the tributary Bridagh and Carraghbeg r ° n (over ten miles). The best side of Carragh Lake is held by Jiridi h ^ rS- Breen, and on the opposite side Mr. McGillicuddy Carraqh- Eager lets his fishing, either by season or month. The best l eg% ' salmon fishing is not after April. The Carraghbeg is a sweet trout stream. The grilse come in May, June, and July. 1 Sir M. J. O'Connell is lessee of the Dunloe portion, and Major Oliver Day Stokes is lessee of Ballymallis, and leave is given by them to persons bearing introductions. I am informed that under new arrangements the Laune and Flesk fishings may be, this season, taken by arrangement by the ticket buyers. The Laune is best after June. * For convenience I refer my readers to list of Kerry special flies at the end of the notice of the county. How and Where to Fish in Inl.ind. 133 The trout are not large, except in the Carragh Lake, which Q\ Kerry. holds many over 3 lbs. All these lakes (Carragh, Cloon, and Coos) by Glencar hold salmon, and there are trout-holding tarns innumerable. The car fare to any of the lakes is five shillings out and home, and the boats one shilling per diem, and two shillings with a meal per man. The hotel charges are equally reasonable. Rossbeigh Hotel (O'Shea's) is about the same distance from Killarney and Killorglin as Glencar. It is by the Beigh river, which is excellent in autumn, and less known than the Carragh and the other waters which are fished in, alike from Glencar and Rossbeigh. Carragh is, I believe, the earliest white trout river in~Kerry. About four miles south of Rossbeigh is Coomisaharne, a mountain lake full of brown trout and perhaps charr. The Honourable Mr. Wynne is the proprietor here, but there is no hindrance to anglers from the hotels. Mrs. O'Shea provides boats on Carragh, perhaps at the same charge as Mrs. Breen. The white trout run up these waters to the last day of the open season. A few charr are got in all the small lakes. <1^£ South of Glencar (about twenty miles) is Waterville— all Water- ^^^^ the Waterville fishings are open to those who put up at the ville. fay «-*^ good hotel there— a delightful fishing quarter, which has two hotels, the Hartopp Arms at Lough Currane, and the Butler Lough Arms in the village. The fishing on Currane is free, andl Currane. boats can be hired there. The largest salmon are killed in spring, and after the loth of May not many heavy fish arej creeled. The minnow, the spoon, and all natural or arti-1 ficial contrivances kill. In fact, Waterville fish seem hungry' for novelties, which should, however, be of moderate size (spoon two inches, minnow or Devon three inches long). The fly does best in August and September, and the patterns are those of Carragh, blue being the taking shade for grilse, which run to the very last day of the season (15th October). The permission to fish the trout lakes must be got from Sir Maurice O'Connell, Bart., of Lakeview, Killarney. The run of brown trout are small, but pretty. In Currane they attain thickness, strength, and weight to four pounds. The white trout do not run very large, but are beauties. At the head of Currane is Coppul, a free lake, which is a capital but very late white trout lake, and with numerous, but very small, brown trout (Isknagaherig is another name for this lough). The Cummeragh is also a nice Ctimme- river, but the Inny has greater claims, and gives as good rajh. sport with white trout as does its namesake in Longford and Westmeath with brown. The salmon here seldom bring down a counterpoise of more than twelve pounds. They come early, the grilse and white trout late. 1 1 Fishermen should know that in the hamlet of Sneem, Co. Kerry. Water- ville. Ardshel- lauii. Sw-em. B'ack- water. Firiridhyi Kenmare. Hheene. Iloughty. Ardshel- laun. Black- water. Lough Brian. Headford.' Anna Cree. Belmiagh. 134 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. White-trout brooklets and the tarns in Iveragh are countless. I shall only mention the Fartagh, the western- most river in this barony. It runs in near Cahirciveen, and on it and other streams about, capital white-trout fishing is got, the Knight of Kerry making no objection. Turning eastward from Waterville through Sneem, and having crossed the Ardshellaun, the Sneem, Blackwater and the Fiririahy rivers, one reaches Kenmare, at the head of an estuary into which those rivers and the Sheene and Roughty discharge close by. The Lansdown Arms is the best hotel, and there is good and cheap accommodation at the Black- water Bridge, some six miles south-west. The fishing is preserved, but given on request. The Roughty is perhaps the best salmon river, but it certainly is not as good for trout or white trout as the Ardshellaun or Blackwater. If this river were looked after it would be excellent. It is, however, each season poisoned with herbs by poachers. The white trout fishing is late in all these streams — July and succeeding months. Mr. David Mahony, of Dromore Castle. is the local proprietor about Lough Brian, which has charr and good trout, but spinning is the only mode to take the largest of thorn. Sear Headford (G. S. & W. R.) runs the Anna Cree, a good brown trout river, which discharges into the Flesk, a beautiful salmon and brown trout river, which passes Killarney into the large lake. The river is preserved, but arrangements can be made for it as far as Pap Lake (brown trout and charr). A little but good river (Belmiagh), joins the Anna Cree, and there are other (the Loo, the Clydagh) sporting streams within easy reach. For brown trout gaudy grouse seem to beat all others, and Kerry trout love a bit of tinsel. No county is more charming to fish in than Kerry. The poorest persons there are courteous to strangers. The charges for boats and cars are very moderate, and that for accommodation reasonably so. The local fly-dressers are unsurpassable, though it is very difficult to follow their written descriptions. Mrs. McCarthy, wife of Tim McCarthy, High Street, Killarney, supplies beautiful, durable, and most taking flies for all the rivers of the county, and I think there is more variety in the local patterns here than anywhere. Haynes and the other Cork tackle men have and tie excellent patterns. Orange, green, blue, and claret prevail in Kerry flies, with dull wings and tinsel, in the salmon, white trout and brown trout. Like the smiles and forms of close to Waterville, grey "home-made" tweed of great excellence is to be bought for a trifle from tho poor women who weave it. For its like one has to go to another wild country, Donegal. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 135 her lovely mountains, the rivers of Kerry are very fickle, a Co. Kerry. charming characteristic, as there is no day there without some few sporting hours. The last fishing I commend in Kerry proper is Loughs Guttane, Coomclogherane, and Guttane. Car ran two lull. All these hold noble red trout, for which Coomclog- the small " Fiery Brown," " Olive " and " Dun Grey " (bodies), herane. under claret for the first, and bottle green hackles for the Currant- others, is the charming fly; but spinning is better for the u '° largest fish. Kerry is reached in the centre by the Great Kerry. Southern and Western Railway, northward from Limerick by Abbeyfeale or Listowel, and from the south-east through lonely Glengarriff, which is in Cork officially, but in Kerry Glen- for fishermen, to whom it gives white and brown trout in 9 arn ff- great numbers, and many salmon of average size. There are very good hotels (Eccles' and Roche's) ; the proprietor of one of them lays himself out to suit anglers. There are at least five lakes which give excellent sport. The Adragoole, Adragonle. the Camoola, the Ouvane, and the Mealagh all give sport, Cavioola. and are specially good for white trout, which run from early ®? vane : in July to the end of season, and grilse with them. The ^ (a ' a 5 f/l - Barlylough, Ballilicky fishings are to be got for nothing, or ^ ?~ a very trifle, through Roche, of hotel. The best salmon ^oJitHcfcy. fishing time may be said to be September. The prawn is not often tried in Kerry ; I can't but think it would do well, and will try it in the Roughty after a spate in September, when that river is ever kind. The difficulty of describing salmon flies from the descriptions of the best dressers is often insuperable. I give a specimen which was sent me by an artist : — Body — orange floss silk. Hackle — jay hackle, red under. Wing — mixed. This fly may be made with hackle blue or green if required. The following will, however, be understood : — For white trout. 1. Grouse hackle, orange or olive bodies, with or with- out mallard wing. 2. Claret body busked big, mallard wing, black hackle. 3. Black body, blue hackle, silver tinsel, mallard wing. For salmon. Greys, as a rule, brilliantly tied and with plenty of jay. 1. Tag— silver; tail topping and hood with sprig of green parrot. Body — two or three twists of orange pig wool, then a turn of blue, remainder grey monkey-ribbed gold twist. Hackle — Orange. Wing — brown turkey or bustard backed mallard. Horns— blue. 136 How and Where to Fish in Ireland, Head — black ostrich. 2. Tail topping and hood (strips). Tag — silver. Butt — twist of purple and twist of black ostrich. Body — a fourth yellow mohair, rest blue-ribbed gold. Hackle — jay up all body, orange hackle over all. Wing — mallard, red macaw, turkey, golden pheasant tail, mixed. Head — black ostrich. Mr. Haynes, of Patrick Street, Cork, has very kindly fur- nished me with seven patterns for the Kerry lakes and rivers. 1. Tag — silver tinsel, orange silk. Tail — tippet and topping (strips). Body — light blue hackle halfway, then light grey ribbed silver tinsel over corresponding furs. Shoulder — blue jay. "Wing — (mixed) tippet, very little golden pheasant tail, red flamingo, over all brown Mallard. Horns — blue macaw. Head — one turn black ostrich. 2. Tag — gold tinsel, orange. Tail — topping. Body — very deeply dyed reddish purple seal, with blue jay hackle from middle to shoulder, ribbed gold. Wing — as in No. 1. Horns — blue and yellow macaw. Head — as No. 1. . Tag — silver and deep orange. Tail, wing, horns, head, as No. 2. Body— first half blue seal, second half purple red seal, blue jay at shoulder. 4. As 3, but body deepest red purple seal under, good red hackle from tail, blue jay at shoulder. 5. Same as 4, but with body of black seal under deepest dyed red hackle, ribbed gold jay at shoulder. 6. Tail— tag as No. 2. Wing — more topping than in 2. Body — half blue seal, half grey seal, claret seal under shoulder ribbed silver. 7. Tag — silver tinsel, light blue. Tail— topping. Body — grey seal ribbed silver, blue jay hackle at shoulder. Wing — mixed, as 1, but a bit golden dyed swan next flamingo. Head —black. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 137 The County Clare does not afford much sport. Its best waters have been! Co. Care. 1 spoilt bypikes and net-poachers, but yet the natural capa-j bilities oithe lakes and rivers overcome these enemies to' sport. Salmon, white trout, and trout are to be got in the rivers, large feroces and pike in the lakes. The Bunratty Bunratty. river is the nearest to Limerick, from which I presume some of my readers will reach Clare. The Sixmile Bridge Station is near the river, and the spring fishing is worth going for, and it is to be had on the easiest terms. I cannot for tho moment say through whom, but I believe Mr. Stafford O'Bricsi, of Cratloe Woods, preserves the lower waters. The autumn grilse (white trout are few) and the trout fishing throughout the season is good. The same may be said of the Fergus, a river which ought to be first-rate at all times, but after spates it is best. Ennis, the county town, is Ennis. situated upon it. I can't say much for the hotels, but lodgings are procurable, and the Club House is one of the few remaining shrines of old-fashioned Irish hospitality. From Ennis Lough Inchiquim is easily reached, and very large trout may be taken in it. Corrofin, in which there is Corrofin. an inn, affords tolerable accommodation. The greatest difficulty on this and the other lakes which extend north from it to a little railway station on the boundary of Galway, is the lack of good boats. Were this supplied Clare, would Clare. repay even an exigent fisherman. At present this chain of r na j is lakes and Loughs Graney, O'Grady, Tadane, Inchicronin, Q ran(1 , Cooleenahelagh, and Roscroe, all good waters, are virtually Q'c,t(vIij closed to anglers, except those, residing near, who have Tadawe, private boats. Westward the Cloon flowing into the inchicro- Shannon, and the Coorclare, the Creagh, Annageragh, win, Doonbeg, Annagh, and Coolenagh into the Atlantic, all Cooleena- hold many white trout in autumn, and deserve attention, helagh, They are all practically free, and can be got at, the first Roscroe. from Kilrush, and then by Kilkee (fair hotel), Miltownj <-'loon. Malbey (fair hotel), and Ennistimon (inn), to Ballyvaughan., Coorclare. To an angler with a pony trap and collapsible boat Clarej / ta ^ l ' 1/ opens a beautiful and almost untried field for anglers. The) _ anaae ' 'J Kerry and Limerick flies do for trout and white trout, but'j )( ^ \ they should be busked full. I have found an introduction j^ nnn A ' to a member of the county club as good as a circular letter, Coolenagh. commanding (by all lakes and rivers) boats, bed and board. Kilrush. Waterford, Kilkee. though the county by which the fine rivers Suir, Barrow, Co. Water- and Nore run out, is not at all first rate for fishing. For ford. 6almon the Suir, which divides it from the counties of Suir. 1 There is a hotel, the " Golf Links," now open at Lahinch, where some fishing is to be had, and delightful views &?$> other attractions. 138 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Water- Kilkenny and Tipperary, is the only river which may be ford. considered. Most of the fishing is quite free on both banks, Clonmel. and when it is closed on the Waterford bank, it is not at all Carrick. difficult to obtain permission to fish. Clonmel, with good Coolna- lodgings, excellent hotel, and Carrick with a very comfort- mnck. a Y,\e hotel and lodgings, are the best headquarters. The Anner. (Joolnamuck, the Anner, the Clodagh, and the Glan hold "' 9 • g 00 ,3 brown trout, but for heavy tish Stillogues, Cooma- Stilloiues «uallagh, Mohr, Coomshuigaun, are loughs which really Coo.na- ' deserve to be worked, Stillogues and Coomshuigaun duallagh. especially. 1 Mohr - . Galway — Mayo — Roscommon, and Leitrim, Coomshui- _ . gaun. make up the Western District. Its eastern watershed first goes to the Shannon, its western to the Atlantic. The feeders of the former hold salmon, brown trout, and pike. The direct Atlantic-going rivers have white trout beside. Co. The county Galway is approached from the east by the Galway. Midland and Western Railway, and from the south from Athenry Clare by rail also (via Athenry Junction). On the jour- J unction, ney from south no good river will be passed, nor any (Forapor- adjacent loughs, but Oughter (Lord Gough's) and Rea, tion of the and neither are of much value. At Galway one reaches fishings good fishing of a sort, and two fair hotels, Mack's which lor- w hich is small and cosy, and the Railway which is large der Gal- an( j c ] ean ; the provender in both is very fair, and the •way [at charges not quite as unreasonable as in some other Mount Connaught hotels. The salmon fishing in Galway proper p m J l " on > , j s actually in the town ; the prison behind the rod, and or urn j ^jgh buildings on the other side the stream. The fishing Tipve'rarv ls om "y over a rew hundred yards, and is conducted from a North.) ' gravelled walk bounded by a wall which drops sheer to the water. At the foot of this " stretch " is a bridge, and in this 1 Did I believe much of the varieties of trout, I should put down the " breac-mohr " of the last lough as a corpu- lently distinct branch of the salmon connection. There is little fishing between April and July. The pike fishing about \i is too good. From Clonmel the Tar, which runs from Clogheen is easy. It used to be a capital brown trout stream to end of season. The best trout on record at Clonmel was killed last season on the Devon bait (8 lbs.). At present Mrs. Bradford, in Clonmel, is a very good guide in matters piscatorial. The Duke of St. Albans reserves, but not churlishly, some of the Anner. Mr. Cooke, Lord Donouuh- more and Mr. Bagnell preserve the best salmon water. Withal Clonmel is a good fishing-station, especially to those who obtain entrance to the very hospitable club. "Jim Mara," if alive, is the best professional aide. The worm beats all flies on the Suir. ( Vide ante Co. Tipperary.) Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. 139 bit of water one is privileged to fish at about £1 a rod per Co. Gal- diem (monthly or weekly terms can be made). The numbers ^ay. of salmon seen, and sometimes sea trout, is prodigious, and now and then one or both give excellent sport, especially to prawn fishers, but it lacks the poetry of sport on a wild lough or river. 1 No better place can however be selected for novices in salmon casting and lacking fish-lore, as adepts in art and story are often there, ready to relinquish their newspapers to put a tyro up to dodges — never, you know, told other mortal ! All the standard patterns used in Ireland do well when they do at all. The " Jock Scott," the " Butcher," and " Captain," for choice. Mike Hearne's " Goshawk " has killed there. In early spring No. 3 is about the best size of iron ; later on the hooks should gradually be used smaller till just before the close time. Application for " a rod" should bo made to the Honorary Secretary of the Angling Club. The specials in which Galway fishers profess to place faith have olive or orange bodies, mixed wings, and a good deal of green feathers and blue jay about them. The local tiers make them well and cheaply. A day or two spent in the pic- turesque old town is seldom thrown away, as one can hear there all the gossip and wrinkles of the western fishings to Ballina. Close by and north of Galway is Lough Corrib, L. Corrib. in which are many salmon, though it seldom yields many C " good days " except to trout or pike anglers. 2 Perhaps no lake in the Island holds such monster pikes and lake trout, J and for them, not salmon, T would commend this lake to j tourists. Indeed, whenever accomplished pike fishers, Mr. Jardine for example, tackle this lake in winter, we may expect the authentic record to be broken. The biggest lakers are killed with the fly oftener here than elsewhere, but a small trout, a minnow, or gudgeon, kills them oftener, and an eel-tail (large) has an advantage above them all, v as ferox and pike take it avidly, and it beats every other lure for the salmon found there." I believe most salmon are got in early spring, but I should prefer the Corrib fishing from July to the end of season, when of course pike may be taken. The following five flies do for the lakers, the white trout, and now and then a salmon in Corrib, and generally about as good as any on any of the lakes in the western district. 1. Tail — two filaments golden pheasant topping. Body — floss silk (orange) ribbed with black silk. Hackle — lax-gest grouse. Wing — largest grouse. 2. Tag — gold tinsel. 1 Hypercritical people say many fish are hooked foul. 2 Nicholas Browne and Lydon arc the local quid-nunca in Galway. 140 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Gulway. Oughter- ard,. Ah ford. A wonrijf. Boss. Maam. Conne- mara. Ballina- hinch. Galway. Clifden. Oughter- ard. Tail— gold pheasant topping. Butt — ostrich herl. Body — maroon-red silk ribbed with black oetrich and very fine gold twist. Hackle — claret. Wing— grouse with Guinea fowl over blue macaw pointers. 3. Olive j |^|j' w ° o1 ' J Body ribbed gold tinsel. Brown mallard wing and tail. 4. Tail — golden pheasant topping. Body — red hackle over black bear. Wing — teal over two golden pheasant. Tippet — feathers, one each side. Head — black ostrich. 5. Body — black silk or horse-hair. Tag — orange silk. Tail — golden pheasant topping. Wing — grey water hen over a small hackle (red). Head — ostrich (black). At Oughterard is a comfortable hotel, from which are reached the best casts on upper Corrib about the islands and under Ashford. The Awonriff river (at the door) is worth attention in a strong autumn spate, or after one, in a storm which would make the lake unpleasant. There is a lake (Boss) which holds nice fish ; I think the proprietor of tho Oughterard Hotel arranges for it, and the tarns, full of trout (a " collapsible," or coracle, is used for these). Maam is the next station, and the north-eastern key to Connemara, as is Ballinahinch the south-western, and Clifden the western. There is a snug hotel at Maam, within easy reach, loughs and tarns without number, and all free and full of trout. 1 Five shillings a day is the highest charge for boats on Corrib. By the mail car from Galway to Clifden (8*. all tho journey), the Ballinahinch fisheries are reached, Oughterard being about half-way to the Recess Hotel,' 3 which accom- modates the anglers. Besides the Recess, there is now, I believe, a hotel at Glendalough, which is very comfortable, and within an easy distance of the Ballinahinch fisheries. The quarters here are very comfortable, and the fishing 1 As I write, some arrangements are said to be on foot to obtain " rights " for the sojourners at Maam. I should want none there, but what a mountain pony, a guide, and a portable boat would give me. 2 The Recess Hotel is now run by the M. G. W. Railway. It is extended, improved and moderate. O'Laghlan's Hotel (the Zetland Arms) at Cashel is very good, and in a sport- giving country. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 141 admirable. The largest salmon run is in spring, but the Co. Gal- splendid white and brown trout fishing after about 10th July, way. varies the sport charmingly. To my taste, the rule (for an idle man) at Recess should be woodcocks and wild shooting Recess. from the opening day to 15th March, varied by fishing for large salmon to 15th April. Sea trout, brown trout, and flappers, July and early August. A few grouse, many white and brown trout, grilse, snipe, and running fish to close of season. This can be all done from a very comfortable hotel, where the " nicest people " are always met. The charge is 12/. a month, 6/. 6s. a fortnight, 3/. 15s. a week, or 15s. a day. Boat and man, 2s. per diem. The best flies are the Galway cfaltvay. and Beltragh patterns, for white and large brown trout ; for small trout, the Mayo (river) patterns. For salmon, take {Patterns the experience of an old patron of Recess. " At Recess, I offiics have fished with perhaps every fly used in the Usk, and vide Co. all the Blackwater and Ballyshannon patterns, and would Mayo.) not care a pin which, except that I should vary the fly in accordance with the season, and the weight and colour of the water. Early spring, big flies. Autumn, small. Heavy water, bigger than when low. In bright weather, bright feather. In thick water, tinsel. The Moy flies jointed are very good, but they must not have the winglets." 1 The authority who writes this is so high, that I leave his dicta without comment. Mr. G. J. Robinson, of Ballina- hinch Castle, will supply further information of Ballina- hinch. This fishing-station commands numerous lakes beside the waters on which a charge is made, and good brown and sea trout fishing may be got there as j cheaply, and perhaps with as much comfort as anywhere. The country about is singularly wild, and has attractions for artists, botanists, geologists, and sportsmen. At Clif den, Clifden some ten miles oft', lodgings are to be got, and there is a hotel (Mullarkey's), from which fishing excursions to several I mountain lakes is possible, and on none of them is there a charge. To the south, towards Roundstone (good, rough Round- accommodation), which is easily got to from Recess or stone. Ballinahinch, is Lough Faddha, and numerous sister lakes, Faddlia which are little fished, and afford beautiful sport. To the south-east again, in the peninsula between Bertraghboy and Kilkeirran Bay, are lakes and rivers into which salmon and \ white trout run, and which may be called " virgin," but the explorer must be prepared to rough it with the poor and kindly people who exist there. Again, by the coast road, which runs from Casla Bay to Galway, are half-a-dozen J rivers scarcely surpassed for sea trout, and their head- R, Bally. water lakelets are as good, and hold beautiful brown trout, new. These — the Bally-new river and lake above it, the Awinriff Amnriff. 1 For winglets, vide Ballina flie3. 142 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Gal- way. Ou-en- boliska. Louglikip. S piddle. Kylemore. Leenane. Letter- frack. Kylemore Lake. Lough Mask. Cong. I Portumnai Banagher. Meelick. Bnnowen. Shivena. Bnllin- asloe. and lake, the Owenhnlieka river and lake, and the Loughkip and linked river which run out at Spiddle, 1 are all best got at directly from Galway. They should certainly be fished before starting on the north-west, via Onghterard, Ballinahinch, and Clif den, beyond which the upper half of Connemara is reached from the upper Kylemore and Leenane road. 2 Mainly on the left of this road, are several lakes not much fished, and perhaps most accessible from Letterfrack, where there is some rough accommodation. Kylemore Lake affords capital sport, and Mr. Mitchell-Henry, the kindly gentleman who has done so much for this neighbourhood, is not too exigent to sportsmen who are civil enough to ask per- mission in advance. Lough Mask, which touches Galway County, and is separated from Corrib by a narrow neck at Con g, will be dealt with in the notice of the next county. The best fishing onthe eastern side of Galway is confined mainly to the Shannon along Derg, and from Portumna to Banagher. 3 In both these little towns are hotels, and good boats and skilful boatmen, and at Meelick there are really some ad- mirable casts, which in early spring and in autumn yield sport. Farm-house lodgings are to be got there, and there is a cosy little inn. Summer fish come up in June, just after the disappearance of the May fly on Derg, and therefore Meelick deserves attention. In any interval which may occur between the May-fly and the summer run, gillaroo may be killed in Derg, and capital brown trout in " the run," and about the islands, at Meelick. 4 Above Banagher, the Suck runs in ; it holds salmon, trout, arid many great pike, but is dreadfully poached at night. Its best tributaries" are the Bunowen and Shivena. None of them deserve much atten- tion from anglers, but no doubt winter pike fishing in the . Suck would be exceptionally good, and the best head- quarters for it would be Baliinasloe, where is a good hotel, : and presiding convivial souls known to all Oonnaught. 1 There is a lodge at Spiddle, which I am told affords accommodation on payment. From it Costello can be easily reached. This is a nice salmon station, and not much surpassed anywhere for white trout, especially Screebe. 2 There is a clean hotel now open at Asleagh which is con- venient for the Errive and lakes. The Leenane Hotel, on KiJlarty Bay, is good and central. 3 A number of salmon pass through Lough Derg and run up the Shannon; the best place to try for them, of late years, is on the Ford at Portumna, but they are occasionally taken in other parts of the lough — vide Co. Tipperary ante. * The Meelick grilse and trout like "grouse," and a epecial, called the " Major " (after the late Major D ) It is claret pig's-wool body, golden pheasant tail, and a bit of Bummer duck for wing (body, ribbed gold tinsel). Hoiv and Where to Fish in Inland. 143 Into Mask from Galway run the Owenbrin and other rivers, but they need only be mentioned as being near Leenane, by which the Connemara road enters the County Mayo, and soon touches the Errive, a beautiful salmon river, in Co. Mayo, which the fishing is let at very moderate prices (7s. 6d. a Errive. day, or 8/. a month), through the proprietor of the hotel near by. (The charge for trout-fishing is, I believe, abandoned.) Thence are reached Loughs Nafooney (within the Galway Nafoony. border), Glendawaugh, and Tawnward, and the Awinduff Glevda- below, and the Glendawaugh rivers above it, and the Fin, waugh. Doo, Glencullen an>i Cullen lakes, at Delphi Lodge, beloved Taun~ and praised by many anglers. On these, and the river ward. which joins them to the sea, large salmon in spring, summer fish, grilse, white trout and bro.vn give sport as varied as excellent. I am told there is now a moderate charge made, but Lord Sligo, or Mr. Powell, of Westport, his agent, are very generous with per- mission to fish and use the lodge, which is now to be let. To the right of the Westport road, the upper Aille gives exceptional sport to a worm fisher, and Lough Mohr to any owner of a collapsible boat. Westward, behind Croagh Patrick, are the Colony, the Carrownaviska, Car™wna* and the Bunowen (the Louisburg) rivers, and some moun- ^* M ' tain lakes — Lougall, Nacorra, Garveybeg, Altora, and Muck. Lo™^™' All these lakes are full of trout, but lack boats, and can't be i ouaa n fished without. Of the rivers the Louisburg is the best, and jv acomt \ a very good one. Mr. Garvey, of Tulley, makes easy terms Qarvey- for some of the upper waters, and Lord John Brown gives t e7 . occasional permission for the Louisburg, which is a very late Altora. river, but, when it is not too low, as good for its length as Muck. any I know. Mr. Berridge, who purchased the remnant of the Martin property, has the bank on one side of part of this river, and his agent, Mr. Robinson, would possibly let the fishing ; and Mr. Powell will probably do so on Lord Sligo's part. The " Major " (vide Meelick, Galway), and the " Jock Scott," with blue jay hackle at shoulder, are the best flies for this stream I know. A light fiery brown and silver grey do well too. It requires a stiff wind, and one up stream from the north is almost as good as a south-west, which is best of all. There is an inn, and lodgings over a shop at j Louisburg, the cheapest hamlet I know for eggs, fowls, and potheen. Across Clew Bay is Newport, which is best got to Newport. by driving round the bay under Croagh Patrick, and through ( roagh Westport, a tumbling down, but most picturesque old town, Patridt. by Lord Sligo's Park, where runs a stream into a lake, both full Westport. of small trout. There is little difficulty in obtaining leave to fish these. Mrs. Gibbons' hotel in Westport is one of the 144 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Mayo, best in Ireland, with only one drawback, the beggars of the town, and the unpaid attaches of the hotel. They are count- less as locusts, and as hungry. Less than nine miles from "VVestport is Newport, 1 with a cosy inn, and some late spring salmun and late grilse fishing ; but it is as a white trout fish- Newport ing quarter that it claims great attention. The Newport river. river in the tide-way very often gives sport ; higher up, how- ever, it runs down so quickly that little is done on it, but Beltraah some seven miles off it emerges from its mother lake, Bel- tragh, and from about the first week in July to September the 20th, this lovely water affords such white trout fishing as \ no other place I know. The fishing cannot, without trespass, be got to on the western shores, but on the east the lake is bounded by the public road to Crosmolina. Major Knox owns one shore, and Sir Roger Palmer the other. Sir George O'Donnel used to claim a several fishery oi the lake, and though it may be let, there is no difficulty in asking a permission, which I have not heard of his relative, Mr. Thomas, refusing, Beltragh. for he is good-natured. The brown trout in Beltragh are small, and don't take a spinning-bait, nor do the white trout touch anything but the fly. About the mouth of the lake a grilse is not unfrequent, but the white trout fishing is the sport there. They run from 1 lb. to 5 lbs. Take this as an example — Flies first wet after two o'clock : on the way to Castlebar, at 7.40 p.m. Fish killed by one rod in the interval, twenty-eight white trout, one of 5 lbs., four of 4 lbs., two between 2 lbs. and 3 lbs., four under 4 lbs., and all the others between 1 lb. and 2 lbs. ; add four herring-sized brown trout, and a grilse of 6 lbs., to complete the creel, to remember which is to think tenderly of beautiful Beltragh. 2 There is but one comfortable boat on Beltragh, and that is the property of the police, who have a station at the point where the lake touches the Castlebar road. On the opposite shore, Qlcnheslc. near Glenhesk, a man called Colleran has a roomy and not uncomfortable boat for an angler, provided with waders' boots or trousers, and a four-gallon vessel for constant use, 1 About a mile from Newport is Lough Furnace, a lough very good for salmon, and very good for " white " (sea) trout, but leave to fish must be obtained from the proprietor. The New Hotel, which is run by the M. G. W. Railway at Mulranny, is excellent, moderate, and in the centre of sport. Lough Furnace is quite accessible from Westport, as there one of " Balfour's railways " is now running. I hear the rail- way hotel is fairly good, if not quite the rival of Gibbons'. 2 I have no alteration to make in my remarks on Beltragh but that it is said not to be so easy to get permission as when Sir George lived. His niece, Mrs. O'Donnel Thomas, succeeded him. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 145 by a gossoon employed to bail. Crofton, 1 keeper to Major Co. Mayo. Knox, had a boat which was better, and when he can be gut for the day, .\e is a most respectable and reliable fishing companion and oarsman, with perfect nerve in " keeping up " a boat, or gaffing or landing a fish. He has a bed-room to let in his little house, and it would be worth while to st'.>p there when the irout are running in. Those of the head of the lake seem to lose their beautiful sea-acquired silver, but not their condition. The flits I commend are the five which I mention at Corrib {vide Galway), and they do equally well Corrib. for brov.n and white trout. A friend stnds me the following patterns : — 1. " The Hawthorn " (vide ante). 2. " Torc-lan " (boar spear). Tag — orange. Tail — one spine of topping. Body — black pig's and orange j ig's wool in two parts. Hackle — black and blood-red at shoulder. Wing — brown mallard, little bit of tupping over all. Cheeks— veiy small jay. 8. " The Olive Snare." Tag — silver. Tail — mallard. Body — green monkey and olive mohair, ribbed lightly or not at all. Hackle — ginger or olive dun. Wing— mallard. This fly is a capital brown trout fly on a'l the western waters, and all the varieties of clarets, purples, and fiery- browns, but with a very little tinsel, though showing well.* 4 " Hidden death." Tag — red or orange. Tail — topping (two spines). Body — black silk. Hackle — red. Wing — small tippets, back to back, and covered with brown mallard. In Achill is a very clean and comfortable hotel (Sheridan's), j The prop r ietor, a good naturalist, has the angling or Keene (lake), wdiich holds plenty of smallish brown trout. When : the river from it forces its way out, while trout run up, and ' the fishing is very good. It usually breaks through ia August. This hotel (the Sleivemore at Dugort) has been 1 I hear Crofton is no more there, but that his successor is his counterpart. 2 Since the publication of the first edition of this book the May-fly has extended its flutter over Loughs Mask, Cullen, and Conn, and is now as common and plentiful on western waters as in Westmeath or Loughs Arrow or Derg. L 1,46 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Kayo, lately enlarged, and it is a delightful place for a short ; sojourn. Fishing, 2s. fid. a day, boat included. Extra for the '» liver. Rail to Achill Sound, car and sea thence to Dugort. L, Foddah. Of the bog lakes, Lough Fo ldah (not to be confounded with its namesake west of Newport), on the Castlebar side of Cullen, is the best in Mayo that I know for very la- go, powerful, but ill-coloured trout. The orange grouse, after the 10th May, is good all over the Mayo waters. As a rule, wor 1, mohair, or seal does better than silk in Mayo trout-flies. Beyond Newp rt are the Burrishoole lakes. Mr. Kennedy rents them, but Lord John Browne reserves something for his fiiends, and both he and the lessee are inclined to be most free in permitting fair angling for salmon or white L. F»r» trout or brown in Loughs Furnace or Feeagh above it. The nace. 1 salmon flies used with most success are Hearne's patterns, L. Feeagh. and that (Dr. Leonard) from Foxford. For white trout and L. Belt- brown trout those for Beltragh do. ragh. Above these Burrishoole lakes the feeding rivers give L. Bums- sporty as c | those (westward) along the coast to Mulranny. wo e. The best of these is the Tyrena river, which is now, I believe, Muiranny. boimded by tbe pr0 perty of Mr. Stoney, of Rosturk Castle, who makes no difficulty about fishing. Dr. Peard celebrated Lakelet this first-rate white trout river. In a little lakelet, about a behind mile from Beltragh police barrack, and touched by the road Castlelwr ^ Castlebar, a gross of small but beautiful trout can be a?; a killed in a short day, but there is no boat, and the reeds Beltragh. ma ) £e cas ting from the bank impossible. In the "half- L.Clogher'V^sh" (Lord Lucan's property) is a lake (Clogher ?) of which the same is true, and these two lakes almost justify the purchase and porterage of a collapsible boat for them- selves. The former is free. Mr. Alick Larminie, of Castle- bar, permits fishing in the latter. Castlebar. Castlebar is the county town of Mayo. There are lakes on both sides, but since some drainage operations they have been destroyed for trout fishers. Time was when L. Lanach. i t }, er u Lanach " (" Church Lake ") or " Sauleen " (" Station L.Xuuleen. i^k^ ") afforded beautiful trout fishing ; now there are no trout, except perhaps some monster ferox which dominates the pikes about him. 2 In Castlebar there is a very comfort- able hotel (Murtagh's), where may be met many persons who will give roliable and nice information as to the where- abouts of fishing ; and Mr. Sheridan, the postmaster, is a sure guide and a most obliging gentleman. Tho " Church Lake " extends from the river which cuts the town to others Island which run to Island Eady, below the road to AVestport, for Eady. i Vide ante, p. 138. 2 This hotel ha* changed proprietors (possibly not for the lit i , bu1 it is sure not to be much below par, and may be excellent). How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 147 some miles. All these lakes hold monster and many pike,' Co. Mayo, which are little fished for. The proprietress of the hotel! can horrow a boat, if she has not one ; and the pike fishing \ will repay an angler in winter or summer, and during the ; season the spin may very occasionally secure one of the very I large trout, remnants of the declining race. No salmon run up there now, but from opposite the prison down the river to Ballynew mill there are a few very nice trout. In 1 Sauleen, near the railway station, there is some of the best : perch fishing in Connaught, which "no one bothers their j heads" about." In the first part a friend describes the flies for their capture. I do not know that there is a boat on it, but the pike would certainly, and a big trout might, repay the trouble of transferring one to it. At Rehans, on the right of the road to Beltragh, is Mallard Lake — a capital one for Lough pike ; and about the same distance from town (two miles), MdLiard. on the Pontoon Road, is Tucker's Lake (boats there), which affords, morning and evening, beautiful sport to trout fishers with red hackle, olive, or silver magpie flies. The trout are small (a pound fish the largest), but they are very plucky and pretty on the side away from the road ; near it they are earthy in flavour and dull in colour. In the little lake behind the bridge they are still smaller and more numerous, and there are legions of small perch. Over the hill to the right of this, Ballavilla Lake has better but .few trout, and above it, on the Mountain Road, in Lough Nasplenagh, are beautiful golden trout, only to be killed with bright flies from a boat. Near the end (at the rocks) are beds of fern, rare even in fern-bearing Mayo, and Ferns. rivalling, perhaps surpassing, those of Killarney. The Clydagh, which runs down from this on its course to the Moy, is a lively little stream, holding trout and an occasional salmon, but except for an artist, its claims are, in such a fishing neighbourhood, not worth much attention from anglers. Between Turlough and Ballyvara the Castlebar Tur!n<-gh: river harbours large, and to eat, remarkably good pike ; as remark- does the Broad at Ballyvara, glorious in autumn for its ab ' e flapper shooting, and in winter for its waders, snipe, and roun ^ ducks. Back from Castlemar (fourteen miles) is Ballinrobe, i °'.[ or ' a comfortable quarter, and the headquarters for fishing * Lough Mask, and the sweet little rivers, the Robe, the Aile, L. Ma*h and the Tourmakeady, winch feed it northwards. 1 1 Since this book first came out the fishing on Lough Mask has been popidarized, especially because a Mr. Joyce lias built a most excellent hotel on its shore at Mount) Gable (Clonbur), and provided a much-needed retreat for \ anglers and tourists. I have the most gratifying accounts of the hotel, the charges, and the superb * sport at all 148 How and IV Jure to Fish in Ireland. Co. Mayo. The flies described for Beltragli do best, the Devon beat of artificials, and the minnow and troutlet best of natural baits. Of late years a few green drakes rise on Mask ; when they do, nothing else does much good. Tha early I morning is the bept time for gillaroo in Mask, pike in high noon. Mask is a place where fish seem to localize — lsoElte themselves — more than any I know, and the stranger is therefore very dependent on his boatman. I think under Captain Boycott's home, around the islands, near the mouth of the Aile and Tourmakeady rivers the best spots, but the particular runs can only be learned from the locals or experience. Ballinrobe has a tolerable hotel, and its charges and boats are moderate. Near Ballyhaunis, a little town on the railway, are two lakes holding trout, but with more attractions for winter pike fishers who care for mixed shooting and angling with it. Pontoon, Eight miles from Castlebar by car is " Pontoon," where L. Conn, the little cut which separates Loughs Conn and Cullen is L. Cullen. bridged over. Before reaching the bridge is the Pontoon Pontoon^ « Hotel," built by the late Lord Lucan to aid sport. 1 Hotel. Beside it is a police station, behind, Benrevagh, lovely in the purple and green brocade which covers her breast like a Venetian lady's robe. A self-planted oak copse backs the buildings, and Cullen smiles in front. There are capital boats and capitally well kept, and the Pot and boatmen who serve them are admirable fellows. The elder Mick* . Roche. seasons, but specially at May-fly time, but even October is not too late for sport. 1 This hotel has now been remodeled, and is outfitted with a special view to serve anglers. Its proprietor does a great deal for them in boats, &c, and at reasonable rates. As I speak of his hotel I should not pass over other " accommoda- tion " to be got on Loughs Cullen and Conn, especially Mrs. McHale's (very good for the upper part of Lough Conn), and Fitzgerald's, at Errew, and Clarkes's, at Cloghan. A friend praises both. Mrs. Murtagh, of the Moy Hotel at Ballina, had also a house at Rinagry devoted specially to the use of anglers. It is to be let as I write. Those who prefer to stop at her hotel in Ballina are conveyed by car to the lake each day free of charge. And the managers of Flynn's Hotel, at Ballina, are equally accommodating. Both hotels deserve more praise than the run of Irish hotels ; yet the arrangement, which a correspondent (an English yearly visitor) gives me, as now adopted at Mount Gable (see above) should prevail in all, i.e. a fixed weekly charge. It is only £7 (to cover all) at Mount Gable, which is about seven miles from Ballinrobe and three from Conn to where the L. Corrib steamor runs from Galway. 8 Drowned, alas ! since I wrote of him. How and Where to Fish in lie land. 1^9 is full of stcrias of the lakes, knows every turn of them, Co. Mayo, and amongst other virtues is incapable of getting drunk and capable of lighting a pipe with the last match in a Lough Conn cyclone. Cullen, the smaller lake of the two, / is yet very large. Its pjke are. monsters.;.... what trout ' are in it are very large and very good, and its perch as large as any I ever saw killed. There are really only two salmon casts in it; one under the big rock at the bridge, and the other a little way out at the " Garraun-bui " (yellow Tlie Rock horso), a big rock which rears itself up where the stream cast, avd from and to' Lough Conn turns. 1 Gwrraun- The trout in Cullen are oftenest killed spinning. "With »*• ca ^> flies one had better run under the bridge to Conn — after he P° n i°°n- has carefully covered the rock and Garraun casts with the " Goshawk," " Black Goshawk," and " Dr. Leonard," the latter tied by young " Devanny " of Foxford, and named in honour of his patron, the presiding sportsman and good fellow of thereabouts. For spring fish in Mayo, from April 1st to May 20th is best time, but no day in the season are these easts without two fish — I have never heard of three being got up. Outside the bridge, in Conn, from the bridge end, Freashlin, or Corryaslin, Massbrook shore, and the mouth of the little 2 river which runs out at the Abbey, and that of the Castlehill stream, and so on up to the Deel river, are the best stations, but if the bays and shallow edges on them be well fished this will be too long a course for one day. The Deel mouth is the onty cast outside the Pontoon which I think valuable for salmon, but one cannot say where ,j good trout, good_pjk,e, a charr or white trout may not be If taken. I have not killed or seen many white trout in Conn '« or its rivers, but I must trust others that there are many. The brown trout satisfy me there. For them the Beltrpgh flies, a natural minnow, a small trout, an Exhibition minnow (big), or large Devon, all do well, and an eel's tail superbly. The pleasure of trying the prawn at the Rock has yet to come for me. To the right of the bridge, and between " Class Island " and the Ballina road, is a capital run, and in the deep water under the high rocks a grilse often takes the Grilse. spinning bait, and from Rinagry, along the east shore to opposite the chapel, a long drift in a south wind is delight- fully creel-filiing. Behind Glass Island, with Nephin bearing due N.W., and Rinmore Point N.E., is the spot for charr. Charr. 1 The stream into Conn from Cullen runs up one side, and another of equal force from Conn to Cullen on the other. I don't venture to explain. Credo. 2 This, the " Adrigoole," is a very good stream in spate or just clearing, which takes but a short time. The Deel takes longer, and is therefore more dependable and more fished. 150 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. Mayo. The patterns for Conn, the Moy, and all the lakes and May and rivers in Tyrawley and Erris are for salmon : — Erris flies. The " Goshawk," « The " Black Goshawk," The " Grouse and Orange," The " Lightning," The " Green Gosling," The " Caraamore " (" Owenmore " of Francis), The " Dr. Leonard," And the " Maxwell's Memory." 3 Three of four of these have been put together by Hearns, of Ballina, and he has more claim to their " invention "' than have fly-dressers usually. The " goshawks " and " lightning " especially, he ties beautifully and cheaply, and is the best Ballina. guide to the fishing at Ballina. 3 There are three hotels there, which anglers find satisfactory (I stopped at Flynn's I and was well treated). The fishing is open, but it is under- stood that the fish caught belong to the Messrs. Little, the ■ lessees. They are, however, most generous — ten shillings a day about covers all expenses for boats, men, &c, at Ballina. The spring fishing is best in April, but June commences the season proper to Ballina and lakes com- bined. The Beltragh patterns do well in addition to a very 1 Moy flies are dressed in joints, and from each of the joints a wing (of mohair), which sits under the real wing like a mane, is often tied. 2 This fly was tied by the late Mr. J. M. S , a fine Mayo angler, in honour of Maxwell, author of " Wild Sports of the West," who chronicled Louisburgh and Ballycroy. Its formula is : — Tag — silver, Tail — topping, Butt — ostrich. Body — alternate joints green and black silk. Ribs — silver separating joints. Hackle shoulder, ginger (golden) and jay. Wing — topping over mixed brown. 8 The Bunree river barely touches Co. Mayo, but as it is always fished from Ballina it should be mentioned here as very good spring salmon, grilse, white and brown trout. The proprietor of one of the Ballina hotels, the " Moy," has lately acquired the exclusive right to fish a stretch of the River Moy (Mr. Vencoyle's water) two miles long, from above the weirs. The charge is three guineas a week, exclusive of cotts, which cost 5s. per diem at Ballina. The Imperial Hotel at Ballina also runs that on Lough Conn, the " Gortner Abbey." Walshc, a baker in F oxford, ties excellent flies for Conn and the Moy River. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 151 large orange grouse with a tail of gold and tied with the Co. Kayo, largest feather, especially the wing, which may be increased with golden pheasant tail. For brown trout the grouse and wrens after May, before then the " olives," " hares' ears and yellow," " March brown," and red brown hackle are best. Hearns in Ballina, Devanny in Foxford, or Martin Tierny (a shoemaker and artist in all crafts he adopts), in the latter town dress beautiful flies. Hearns and Devanny work professionally — Tierny only for sportsmen he likes. Foxford may be said to be central for Moy fishing. About there are few good throws, in what used to be the late Mr. Standish McDermott's water — he never refused an angler. Above him I have seldom heard of sport, though why beyond the Ballylahan Bridge the sweet Bally. trout stream does not give up many salmon is incomprehen- la'-an p.ible. What used to be Mr. McDermott's fishery extends from Bridge. there by his house at Cloongee to Foxford. There is a fair \Cloongee. hotel at Foxford (Coghlan's), and comfortable lodgings over 6hop near the hotel. I was very well treated in a rough way in Foxford. Many anglers in summer, and pike-fishers and wild-fowlers in winter, stop there, and with afixM scale of charges for car, boat, boatman, bed and board, "Mister Pat's " Hotel will be found comfortable. Within a short distance (four miles) is Mr. Evans' lake " Callow " — it gives abundant L. Callow. sport. The fish run to about half-a-pound, but there are some larger. No stranger is prevented fishing. The flies are " olives," u grouses," " big wrens," all busked full. The Kiltimagh, the Gueestaun, Owen Garvey, and Charlestown R. Kilt- rivers, all cover salmon grilse and brown trout (sea-trout mugh. but few), but they scarcely demand notice from any but local &• Guees- anglcrs, nor does the Lung near Ballahaderin. Below Fox- t aun - ford Bridge the salmon fishing with rod is freely given away, ^- Owen. nor is Captain Pery, 1 who owns the next stretch, wont tojp.^'^* refuse a civil applicant. Devanny, the water-bailiff, and I. . ar es ~ his son are capital "coaches." "Pat" (the Hotel) an< -lj^' ov ' another man, whose name I forget, are capable and obliging./ « coa( .^ cs •» From Killala Bay on the east to Broadhaven on the west j^ or ^ there are numerous little known but nice rivers which afford fyrably salmon, grilse, and trout brown and white, but they require and Erris. to be caught at the happy moment as they go down quickly. The Cloonymore is the least fickle river of these. All of them are crossed by the coast road to Belmullet, via Bally- 27^ castle, where there is an inn. Beyond this, most of the Mullet. rivers and streams are preserved till Belmullet is reached. — In the wild peninsula of which this is the fitting chief town, there are but two rivers which yield sport. They are those 1 Captain Pery (some time since he added Knox-Gore to his paternal name) has just died, to the grief of many sportsmen. 152 How and Where to Fish in Ireland Co. Mayo, in Glendarra and another near Bingham Castle. Except as a change from superb sea-fishing, the fishing in "the Mullet" Bangor. is not valuable. Back towards Ballina is Bangor, in the Erris. centre of Erris, which has many good rivers and one fine lake. The fishing has, on most of them, to be paid for, but the terms are not unreasonably high. Mr. Smithwick, of Bally croy. Croy Lodge, Ballycroy, 1 makes arrangements for the letting of the Owen-duff and the southern fair-sounding river, with the euphonic name Thaursagaunmore. The terms are not high considering the excellence of the fishing, which is best (I think) after the 10th July. Mr. Achill O'Mally, to be found in Ballina, will be useful to consult as to these fishings, and a Mr. Scott (brother to the late Mr. James Scott, who had most of the land agencies and fisheries of Erris) ; these will doubtless be able to let the fishings of the Owenmore, the Glonamoy, the Munhin rivers, and the sporting rights of Messrs. Atkinson or Shaen-Carter. The inn at Bangor is not insupportable, and is the centre for the above rivers and Lough Carrowmore, or Carramore, which is, I believe, free. There are few good boats on it The Munhin end of the lake gives excellent grilse and white trout after 1st July. The big trout there are veritable feroces. There are none here of those called gillaroo. The " Maxwell's memory," the " Owen More," and " Doctor Leonard," are perhaps the best flies for Lough Carramore and rivers. On the lake, large flies do better than elsewhere. There are several other rivers which afford sport, but the tourist angler needs not their names. To a man who will rough it and explore the county with a portable boat the fishing resources of Mayo are illimitable. All classes are hospitable, and it is perhaps, externally and internally, the wettest county in Ireland. , p * c . as * There are several lakes and a few nice rivers eastward of of Ballina. g^Hma which properly belong to county Sligo, but which Loughs are most accessible from that town. Loughs Easky and Easky and Talt are perhaps the best. They lie about ten miles east- Talt. ward. The pike fishing of the latter is, I hear, excellent, and its trout I know are so. The patterns hereabouts are of Mayo rather than those of the north. In Mayo the eel-tail and prawn are little known, yet there is nothing so good. Of artificials the Devon is the best bait. I have not seen May-flies north of L. Mask. Roscommon Co. Eos- can scarcely be considered a good angling county, and yet there common, are many good loughs in it, and its whole western boundary is the Shannon. The station for the lower portion of the Athlone. Shannon, which " marches " this county, is Athlone, where 1 Now (I hear) " there is no free fishing near Ballycroy or Belmullet"; there certainly is not so much as there used to be. Hozv and Where to Fish in Ireland. 153 there are two average hotels and ofttimes good lodgings. Co. Ros- The boats there are better and more skilfully managed than common. on most fishing-stations, and Lough Ree, at the foot of Boats. which Athlone rests, has great beauties and affords good Lough Bee. sport. 1 The salmon fishing in spring or autumn cannot bo said to be good, and I think few are got by fair fishing, and cross lines and otters prevail. The feroces of Ree are excellent, and (by the Westmeath shore mostly) gillaroo, Gillaroo. bedecked in brightest gold and red, are caught by spinning, and, I am told, by the fly, even the May-fly, in due season. This is the birthplace of eel-tail angling, and though all Bel tail the baits (Devon's for choice in the deeps, and Phantom in avd other shallows) do well, the tail is still supreme. The flias to get baits. good trout are those of Mellick (vide Galway) and Beltragh (vide Mayo). For small trout, those for Lough Callow (vide Mayo). For salmon the Nenagh patterns, but large. From Athlone to Shannon Bridge the pike fishing is better than aught else, and a hardy man could be worse employed in winter than after the pikes and wild fowl thereabout. From Wi u y ou ,j_ the head of Lough Re9 to Lough Forbes, the Shannon can be best fished from Longford (vide ante); and Roosky or, preferably, Carrick-on- Shannon which commands Lough Carrick- Bodarg and the intricate extensions which terminate south- on- ward in Kilglass. The gillaroo here are good specimens. Shannon. Pike harry the small fish. Perch abound' in still waters, Lnv.jh^ but there are few salmon, and as a local says, " they are too B "' a J?., d d particular in baits, and too d d'coneaited for a '' dAit - flies.' " From Bodarg, however, to the Broadwater, opening ^ ass ' to Rockinham, a good many are killed, and autumn is the best time on Ballina patterns for choice. From Carrick to Drumshambo I believe few fish are brought to creel, but at Battlebridge, where the Ballinamore river runs in, I have heard of a really good and free cast. Westward of Carrick- on-Shannon is Boyle, a comfortable little town, and of Boyle. course near good fishing, else why would its abbey have Kockin- been a western glory. One can be very comfortable there ham. and reach easily the Oakport and Coote hill water, and*\ splendid Lough Key in Roscommon, or lovely Arrow or LoughKey. Gara in Siigo (vide post). I commend Boyle to trout fishers, and during all the season but especially in j early June. The lake fishing is all free, and even where the rivers are reserved. The Mayfly rises here. The Boyle boatmen don't work so well as those in Conn or at Athlone, but they are civil and tractable, 1 The water-bailiff is a good adviser as to " runs," &c, 10s. a day covers everything in boats. Moran, of the " Winepor't," and Gilligan,the publican at Coorsin, are good authorities. Since 18Sb" the Roscommon fishings have much improved. Lately they have somewhat gone back, I hear. 154 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co Res- and moderate in charges (5s. per diem, never more than common. 7s. 6tf.). To the south-east the Castlerea district opens. Castler. a. There is a good hotel there, and like Athlone, Longford, Carrick, and Boyle, it is touched by the railway, but neither Lough O'Flyn or the other lakes north-west of it are Lough worth much, except Lough Glin, on which the May-fly Qlin. rises an( j creates sport, and after that Glynn yields big trout to the spinners. In the south of the county, Lough Finxhan- Finshannagh is within easy reach of Athlone, and has, I'm iiagh. told, been provided, and not an hour too soon, with a couple of useful boats, which can be hired from the owner in Athlone. The County Leitrim Co. Leitrim. L. Rinn. Drum- shambo. Ballinw- •more. Fike. Gillaroo. L. Allen. is the last county I include in the western district. It is not generally spoken of as a good place for fishing, but its lakes afford sport, and the Shannon bounds it to the south- west. Of the former, Lough Rinn is the best, in the southern barony; it is free, and the May-fly rises on it in some numbers a little later than in West Meath. Carrick-on- Bhannon, or Mohil, affords accommodation ; Mohil is close by it. The boats are pretty good, the boatmen better, and the prices moderate (about 5s. a day). From Drumshambo, which has accommodation, a number of smaller lakes, excellent for brown trout, is easy to reach, and Ballinamore covers Lake Garradice, famous for good pikes, beautif id gillaroos, and brown trout. The spoon bait still slaughters there (I am told). Drumshambo is at the foot of Lough Allen, the last of the large lakes through which the Shannon runs. It affords good sport as Lough Derg, and late in the season the Foorish, Arigna, Yellow and other in-flowing Shannon rivers give lively sport to the indefatigable local fishermen. The flies have, however, changed to the Erne patterns (mde post). Manor- Hamilton northwards, on the Sligo R lilway, is a cozy little place, and gives access at some few miles to Glenade and Belhavel loughs, the former to the north, the latter southwards. There are charr in both, and good trout fishing. The North-West District is quite first-rate. I include in it the counties Sligo, Fer- managh, and Donegal. Geographically, North Leitrim intervenes between the two former, but for only a little breadth. Sligo Co. Bligo. itself has great advantages, as being easily reached by train, and its best waters are within short drives from good L. Oara. quarters. To the South Loughs Gara and Arrow are within L. Arrow. a few miles from Boyle (vide ante, Roscommon), which is in How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 155 a triangle, of which they and Lough Key ("Roscommon) are Co. SU»o. apexes! Gar a is said to send up its May-flies earlier than Arrow or Key; I don't think it does. The 15th to 20th May may be said to date the earlier ephemeral rise on all three, but a beneficent natural arrangement produces a variation in the " Drake season " on all three too. On Arrow " Drake the Drake rises till 20th June at least. Gara is a good deal season." poached, and its trout run smaller than Key or Arrow, but any "big ones" which reward industry will be really whoppers. Bait kills most of them after the Drake is off, or as a change then. The best fishing is round the islands at the mouth of the Boyle river, and by the old Castle on the Sligo side, according to the wind. The trout seem to know that the delicate May-flies can't go far against it, Trout, the therefore in the west wind the western shores are best, and "*'"*'. in the east vice versa. Very few salmon are taken on Lough Ma 'J-J l ^s. Gara, and I doubt if any on Lough Arrow. The flies for the trout on both are those which suit Meelick and the Upper Shannon. In my notice of Mayo I spoke of two lakes which are within easier touch of Ballina than of any as good quarters in Sligo. Of these I prefer Talt, because of the exceeding beauty (they don't run large) of the trout of this rock-bound little lake. Easky is a nice lake too, but the pony and collapsible boat equipped here should p " n V and follow down the river of its name, and fish out all the rivers coiiapstO.e from Enniscroree, on Killala Bay, to Aughris Head, on Sligo oa ' Bay. White trout abound in all of them, after spates especially, and they are only fished by locals. August is perhaps the best month. The hamlet of Easky affords shelter, and Enniscroree has lodgings designed for " say bathin'." Easky, Talt, and all three rivers are practically Fasky. free, the exceptions are only to be learned on the spot. Emm- Eastward again, towards Sligo town, comes the Ballisodare c £ !??- river and its tributaries, all holding spring salmon (not Balhso- much before May) and a fine run of grilse and white trout ~**?T"' er after 12th July. Mr. Cooper, of Markree, exercises some Vf u ^ t rights, but the terms, which can be learned (I believe) from •» Mr. Alexander, in Sligo, are not at all onerous, and the river is a very good one. It depends on the arrangements made annually whether fishing for short terms can be got except by the grace of Mr. Cooper, who reserves some " rods " for his friends. 1 The little lakes at Tobberscanavan and Bally- Dawley hold trout and perch, but I only mention them on account of their splendid pike, which give excellent wintor- sport. Lough Gill is just above the town of Sligo. Its Lovgh beauty is entrancing, and its fishing was at one time not Gill. 1 Sir R. Gore-Booth is said to be easily dealt with as are other local proprietors. 156 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co. 8U70. unworthy its beauty. 1 To the north is Glencar Lake, Glencar teeming trout water, with flies corresponding to Melvin, and Lake. just as reliable for the troll or spin. The troutling is the best for large trout, and now and then a salmon will not let I it pass. An eel-tail is murderous, but unfortunately attracts the large pike, which is its only drawback from the view of trout fishers. The great pikes in Gill take very large baits, and gape to be looked to by winter anglers, of whom thoie are few about. About the same distance from Glencar is the Dromcliffe river, and another which runs (also into Atlantic) by the Police Barracks at Grange. Of their merits as white trout rivers after rains, I have had great Hotels in accounts. There are at least two hotels in Sligo, the Si! go. "Victoria" and the "Imperial." In one of them I have been nearly comfortable. Sligo has better lodgings than most Irish towns, and more than one club hospitable to strangers. The boat charges in Sligo will not be (all included) more than 10s. per diem, a not unreasonable sum, as the boats are very nice, and there often is an influx of tourists during the fishing season, of which on the whole the autumn is the best part. Lough Gill is not supposed to be a free lake, but the trouble of asking leave, which is never refused, should not be too much for strangers only passingly interested as to whether several, or any, rights of fishery exist there. Fermanagh Co. Ferma- is blessed with fishing very superior to Sligo. Southwards 1 agh. from Cavan the river Erne runs in, and recruited by the Castle Sanderson and Woodford rivers, spreads itself into the many tortuous bays and windings which make up the Unper Upper Lough Erne. This upper loch holds here and there Lough a spring salmon, autumn grilse, and everywhere good brown Em •J* trout. Of its trout flies later. Newton-Butler, Lisnaskea, Ennis- Maguires Bridge, and Enniskillen are all near. The last has k inert, very good hotel and lodging accommodation ; the others all habitable inns. The fishing is practically quite free. From K>sh. Enniskillen the Ballyshannon railway runs round by Kesh, vni i r . an " Bundoran, and Bellcek to its terminus. In its course the railway rounds all the north side of the lake, and drops 1 There are now no salmon in Lough Gill, and (I'm told) few trout if any. 2 The salmon fishing of the Erne is most strictly pre- served by the Ulster Fisheries Company. To get even a rod for smart payment, one must (at least for the best months) " engage " a season in advance, but the Messrs. Moore, the managers, are at least rigidly impartial, and the angling i3 generally as good as in the more lax time when Dr. Sheil ruled the water. Belleek is of course headquarters. Bdleek. Hew and Where to FisJi in Ireland. 157 passengers at the three hamlets, all comfortable quarters, Co. Ferma- within easy reach of the lake. The Enniskillcn end of the naga. lake (Erne) has not for anglers as much attraction as the Belleek end, and Belleek has the additional advantage cf being close to Lough Melvin, and the Drowes and Bradogne rivers. Enniskillcn, on the other hand, is near the Belcoo Lakes (inn there), rightly called Upper and Lower Macnean. 1 I shall have a word of the salmon fishing later, when I have dismissed the sport common to all these lalces, fishing for trout. In all of them the May-fly rises, and later than Mayfly. Westmeath. In Lough Erne the 10th of June is early, and it lasts three weeks. During that time the fun is fast and furious. The other lakes are earlier, and the fly is not so abundant. Trolling in all these lakes does well ; the minnow and troutling vexy well, the spoon well too, especially that made by Rogan (of Ballyshannon). April and May are the best early months for Erne trout. In tho middle of June the night rise comes on, and gives splendid sport : and even on the river permission is never refused. Of trout, the Erne holds brown trout, gillaroo, and feroces, which deserve their name. Many pike too, and perch in countless shoals are there. It is said to have charr in its Charr. depths. Melvin has certainly many and fine trout, which Melvin recall the line, " buxom, blythe, and debonnaire." There are trout. good boats and skilful boatmen on all these lakes ; for McNean and Melvin 6s. 6d. a day, whisky and lunch, is the charge. On Erne perhaps a shilling more. The Melvin trout affect a little tinsel, olive and claret bodies, and red, ginger, and black hackles. The eel- tail is everywhere worth a trial, a " casual " (salmon or grilse) being grateful to trout fishers. Of arti- ficials (baits), I can make no choice in these lakes. The „, ,, Erne open on the 17th May, and till its close (30th September) s /^ ; ^" on one can always depend on this river for sport, the height of the water affecting it less than many other salmon rivers. The terms are four pounds a week, the angler retaining but two fish, and paying for any others he pleases to keep at market price (about 7s. a lb. for angled fish). No. 1. — Rogan's " Parson." Tag — silver tinsel, ruby floss. Tail — a topping, Indian crow, and bit of chatterer at butt. Body — three parts golden pig's wool, one part fiery brown, ribbed with flat gold and silver twist. Hackle — pale yellow, from 1st tinsel. 1 1 regret to say Lough Macnean holds pollen, because they are not to be killed angling, and afford an excuse for netting. t^8 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Wing — two tippets 1 extending to butt under idve toppings. Shoulder — deep claret hackle. Cheek — chatterer. \ Horns— blue and red macaw, black head, jfo. 9.—" The Black and Claret." Tag — silver twist and orang9. Tail — a topping, and bit of chatterer. Body — black silk, ribbed gold tinsel, silver twist. Hackle — dark claret from 2nd tinsel rib Wing — mixed tippet, pheasant tail, ibis, green parrot, macaw, gallina, and brown mallard, under two toppings. Shoulder — jay. Horns — blue. Head — black. No. 3.—" Pink and Orange." Tag — silver and ruby. Tail— spriys of tippet, green parrot, and a topping. Body — one-third orange silk, two-thirds light claret, ribbed gold and silver twist. Hackle — claret, from above orange. Wing — mixed gallina, ibis, tippet, pheasant tail, mal- lard and green parrot, under two toppings. Shoulder — jay. Horns — blue. Head — black. * No. 4 — Tag — silver tinsel, blue silk. Tail— topping, Indian crow. Body — orange floss, covered with golden hackle, and near wing red hackle, then over these, 1st claret hackle, then blue hackle, all ribbed silver tinsel. Wing — two tippets, under golden pheasant's tail, wood duck, and brown mallard, over all topping. Horns— blue. Head — black. Cheeks — chatterer, •tfo. r>.—'< Golden Olive." Tag— silver twist, ruby. Tnil — a topping, and sprigs tippet. Body — golden olive fur, ribbed flat gold and silver twist. Hackle — golden olive from second rib. Wing and shoulder — as No. 3. 1 Rogan describes the wing in this fly as " Cock of the Rock."° I presumed this was tippet, which I have always Been in " Parson," and I was wrong. 2 I do not know if Rogan ties this pattern. I hear great accounts of it. It is difficult to dies.-*. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 159 Messrs. Rogan, of Ballyshannon, tie at moderate prices, Co. Ferma- excellently, and I have preferred giving their patterns to E £g^. others. In Ballyshannon anglers are made very comfort-, ahle at moderate prices at the " Imperial " or the " Erne " hotels. There are some lodgings. A few miles from Bally- shannon (rail between) is Bundoran, a little watering-place, which commands great sport. The Marine hotel has good accommodation. Lodgings, and a few small houses are to be had. At Loughside, at Kinglough, or at Rossinver there are inns. The Bundoran fishing comprises, besides the lake, the Buvdoran. Bradogue, the Drowes, and four miles of the Bumiduff. The Bradugue latter is a small river, but in August and September it rivtr. affords nice sport, though the salmon are small. Running Drowes through a bog as it does, it requires dark flies. The pro- r £ ,ir ; prietors are Captain Barton, Major Dixon, and the Hon. Lu ™ dn $ Evelyn Ashley. The two latter give, I am informed, u lave rwe1 ' for the axin," and Captain Barton's keeper levies a small daily fee and acts as guide. I append three successful patterns. 'No. 1. — Tag — silver and orange. Tail — topping and tippet sprigs. Body — dark fiery brown, ribbed gold. Hackle — dark fiery brown. Wing — small tippet under brown mallard. Shoulder — jay. Head — black. No. 2. — Tag — silver and orange. Tail— topping and sprigs gallina. Body — dark cinnamon, seal ribbed oval gold. Hackle — light cinnamon. Wing — as No. 1. Shoulder — little fiery brown hackle. Head — black. No. 3.— Tag— as No. 2. Tail— as No. 2. Body — black seal, ribbed oval silver. Hackle — deep claret. Wing and head — as in Nos. 1 and 2. Hooks from 2 to 4, as water calls for. The hotel at Garrison is the true headquarters for beautiful Garrison. Melvin and Lough Na Veigh (Mr. Maude's), and Scott or 1 The Drowes is the best white trout river about here, and a small copy of this fly is the most generally killing on it. The Beltragh patterns do well. Curiously the rivers here are not as good as in Mayo, to S., or in Donegal, to N., (for white trout). As on all other Irish waters permission to fish is not so easily got near Bundoran as when this book was first issued. 160 Hoiv and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co.Ferma- His successor does all he can to make his clients comfortable, nagh. Lord Ely, Mr. Johnston, and Mr. Stubbs, the proprietors, "have agreed to issue a joint ticket "for all their reserved Charges waters at 2s. 6d. per diem, or 10s. a week. The Rogans, at there. Ballyshannon, or the hotel, issue the tickets. It is well to write in advance to Scott, who makes a cheap arrangement — Boats. 25s. a week for boats and men. 1 — -The early fish at Melvin are not large, and the grilse fishing there, though good, is not Eilcoo perhaps quite up to that in the Kilcoo river, which runs into river. it. In dead calm weather more salmon are taken in Melvin Natural with natural and artificial minnows than with fly. Of course and other the natural is best. Amongst local anglers I hear of parr baits. tail, but hope none of my readers will adopt it. If they sub- stitute the eel-tail or prawn, they will deserve more luck. I accept Rogan's patterns for salmon as the best, though I know all the standards, and most of the Kerry and Lee flies do well. (Rogan's) No. 1.— The " Gill." Tag — gold twist. Tail — mallard, gallina, and pheasant tail (strips) Body — three-quarters black seal, one-quarter honey coloured pig's wool. Hackle — red (cock's) dyed olive. Wings — mixed strips pallina, tippet pheasant tail, sword feather, teal and ibis, under brown mallard. Shoulder — jay. Horns — blue. No. 2.— The " O'Donaghue." Tag — silver and yellow. Tail — topping. Body — three-parts : 1st yellow, black middle, claret at shoulder. Hackle — medium claret over black and claret body. Wing — tippet, under mallard. Shoulder — jay. Horns — blue. Head — black. No. 3.— The " Robber." Tag and Tail— as No. 2. Body — three-quarters honey colour (pig), one-quarter deep claret (pig), ribbed oval silver. Hackle — coch-y-bondhu dyed olive, only run on under rise of wing. Wing — as No. 2, jay at shoulder. Horns — blue. Head — black. 1 This is possibly changed. * Since commencing " How and Where to Fish," I learn that the Melvin gillaroo rises freely to the fly. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 161 TTo. 4. — The " Fiery Brown." Co. Fer- Tag — silver and deep orange. m»nagh. Tail — topping, sprigs of tippet, and green parrot. Body — fiery brown (seal), ribbed gold oval. Hackle — fiery brown from 1st ribbing. Wing — tippet, and pheasant tail under brown mallard. Shoulder — jay. Horns— blue. On 1£ to 3 hooks. From mid-March to the end of May is the spring season Bfst sea- on Melvin, and first week of June the grilse may be looked sons on for. The free portion of the lake covers 14 miles. The Melvin. Bundrowes or Drowes river, of which the greater part belonged to the late Chief Justice of Ireland, the lessee from Major Tom Dixon, is a capital river which opens with the year. The best spring salmon months are before May, when Best sea- the grilse fishing commences and continues for six weeks, son on The weather and state of the water makes much difference Bun- in this river, but it gives sport to the 30th September. Per- drowea. mission to fish is easily got at Bundoran from the lessee, or in another portion of the fishing, from Major Dixon. The best patterns are — No. 1. — " Rogan's Favourite." Tag — silver and orange. Tail — a topping, sprigs of topping and mallard. Body — half golden olive seal, half orange pig, ribbed silver and gold twist. Hackle — golden olive over the pig. Wing — mixed sprigs, tippet, mallard, gallina, pheasant tail, red pheasant, green and red parrot, teal and peacock wing. Shoulder — jay. Horns — macaw — black head. No. 2.—" Olive Fiery Brown." Tag — as No. 1. Tail— ditto. Body— half golden olive seal, half medium fiery brown pig ribbed oval gold. Hackle — over the pig wool, fiery brown. Wing — tippet and pheasant tail, mixed mallard over all. Shoulder — jay, macaw sprigs, black head. No. 3.—" Black and Orange." Tag — gold and yellow. Tail — a topping, sprigs gallina and ibis. Body — black seal, ribbed oval silver. Hackle — medium orange half way. Wing — mixed sprigs, tippet, ibis, green parrot, phea- sant tail, under brown mallard. Shoulder — jay. II i62 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Horns — two red and two blue macaw. Head — black. No. 3. — " Orange grouse." Tag — silver and orange. Tail — topping and sprig tippet. Body — medium orange silk ribbed oval gold. Hackle — mottled cock grouse. Wing — as No. 2. Shoulder — jay. Horns — red macaw. Hooks to fit water, 1 to 4. I should recommend all Bundrowes fishers to try Hayne's Kerry and the Blackwater patterns for change. In dealing with those fishings I have really trespassed on some which geographically belong to the C">. Dene- L. Derg. Donegal. The Basic lake and river. The Tany more, or Tnver river. County Donegal, which affords the wildest shooting and fishing, and at the most moderate rates. From the little town of Pettigoe close by the northernmost part of Erne, Lough Derg and half-a- dozen lakelets are got at, and as for some fishers there is a charm in departure on little trodden parts, these waters afford them a nice change. Their trout are excellent, and some of the Derg ones very large. Minnow or small trout do best. Rogans' "fiddle" is said to be excellent. The little hotel at Pettigoe is comfortable and cheap. The town of Donegal is away N.W., some fifteen miles. Halfway one crosses a river (the Ballintra, I think) which holds grilse in June, and a few fish in late autumn. I say nothing of spring, but it has white trout in August and brown trout throughout the season. Probably the Ballintra accommoda- tion would not be good, but at least there ia some, and Pettigoe or Donegal are not too far off. At the latter old town there are really good lodgings and very fair hotel accommodation. Into Donegal runs a little river which connects Lough Eask with the sea. The river holds salmon and plenty of white trout in and after autumn spates. The lake itself gives sometimes very fair sport, not before July, but the grilse are small. The white trout fishing is excellent and the brown trout (feroces too) very numerous and game ; charr abound there, and not fished for. There are two good boats. None of these fishings are free, and there are many claimants of the fishing rights, but a sojourner in the hotel there has no difficulty in getting permission to fish. A little ' way westward the Eanymore and Eanybeg, near Mount Charles, yield a few salmon and many white trout. 1 Indeed, 1 To save writing, I may say that in every water in Donegal are more brown trout than are needed for sport. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 163 when these are full no better little rivers can be found, and Co. Dene- the salmon are very game. Lord Conyngham, mainly the gal. proprietor here, is very open-handed with permission, but it must be asked. From the Inver river round to Ardara Ardara. there are numerous little rivers which all partake of the same character, and hold a few spring salmon, and less (if any) sjsring white trout ; but in the autumn run they all give delightful sport in fitfully wet weather. At Ardara is Neil McNele's Hotel, and the place is the centre of the Donegal Cottage Industries, which has done more good to the poor people than more pretentious nostrums. The Dungloe, Ardara, and " Rosses " fishings may be summed up together. They are mostly in lakes, namely Dungloe, Tully, Meenuknatore, Meenmore, Meenbam'd, Lough-na-more, and the Rivers Crolly and Derrydruel or Owenmore, and all of them hold white (sea) trout, though in some of the lakes it has been found hard to catch them. The fishing last year about Dungloe beat all former records. Boyle's and Hanlon's Hotels give excellent accommodation, and at reasonable rates. £'2 a month is the charge made by Mr. Herdman of Lion Hill for all the Rosses fishings. There is a third hotel, Sweeny's, I daresay as good as those already mentioned. Fintona (Donegal light railway) is the nearest station. The best parts of the Crolly River have as proprietors General Twigg, Lord Conyngham, and Mr. Peebles. There is a small inn at Crolly Bridge. There is very good salmon- fishing on the Inver River, but permission is not easily attainable. Leave to fish for brown trout is sometimes given by Mr. Doringlen, the owner. Killibegs, six miles off, is the Killilegs. nearest town, and there is a good hotel there, but the rail- way from Donegal crosses the river within a few yards of the bank. I cannot leave Donegal without telling of Carrick, where is the best rural hotel I have seen in Ireland. When there is water there are countless sea trout in the adjacent river. Killibegs should be the headquarters for these rivers, of which perhaps the Glen river is the best. It is about ten miles westward, and further off towards Glencolumkille there are some wild lakelets, which are simply stuffed with fish. Hitherto they have scarcely been fished (for most the collapsible boat is needed). In Killibegs is a very snug little hotel, and at Ardara another to accommodate anglers of numerous little lakelets towards Sleeve-toey and the Owen-tocker and Owenea rivers, which are crossf d by the road to Glenties, 1 a hamlet, with a nice inn. About nine Olenites. 1 From the Glenties, Lough Fin, on the Letterkenny road, is got at, and should not be neglected. It holds charr and the largest gillaroos and feroces. In Glenties can be pur- chased home-made tw'eed and hosiery which are just suited to anglers. 164 How and Where to Fish in Irelatid. Co. Done- miles off is Dungloe, the Ultima Thule of anglers in Ireland, ral. and surrounded with lakes full of fish and practically un- Dungloe. courted. There is an inn there now. When I knew it the coastguard's or police oflicers' or " his revermce's " hospitality gave the only assured hope of shelter. With a collapsible boat one can have supreme enjoyment there. Even without it there is some of the best autumn fishing in the island. Olives and clarets do best here for trout, and one of the former die sed with seal with a golden hackle over it, and a symptom of gold thread ribbing and brown mallard wing, was productive of a great creel for the writer. In brightest calmest weather (seldom seen there) a minnow spun in the loughs about Dungloe is very killing. Dungloe for most anglers is untried. Gueedore the next station, is better known, and has a hotel, built by the late Lord George Hill, which leaves little to be desired by sportsmen. 1 Its charges are very moderate, and the fishing, which is well looked after in stream and lough, can be had for a no large sum by the day or for longer. There are very good boats and men at unusually low rate. So much is honestly done for anglers at Gueedore that it is unnecessary to be prolix about tli9 L. Lagha. fishing there, but there is a little lake, seldom tried, east of Derrybeg, which should not be left unfished after heavy autumn rains. From Gueedore to the east, to Rathmelton or Letterkenny, it is difficult to guide on account of the Lovghs wealth of waters and fish in them, but the " Beagh " on one Beag 1 and s j c | e ^j ie ma j n r0 ad, the river to the Glen Lough, and the " ie ' u Lough itself, afford splendid sport. On Beagh at least there is a boat. I believe that some rights are claimed by the trustees of the late Mr. John George Adair, but there is no practical difficulty about leave to fish. The real draw- back about here is the want of where to lay one's head at night. Some sort of accommodation is to be got near Gartan Church Lough (at Church Hill), and from there the Leannan river Hill. can be fished down to sweet Lough Fern and Rathmelton, L. Fern, by a route with reaches for salmon, white and brown trout, 1 Mr. A.Robertson manages this hotel very well, and one can lish during the best months (for four weeks) June, July, August, at 10s. a day. Weekly or monthly tickets are issued at greatly less rates, but none except to those who put up at the " Gueedore Hotel," which is moderate in its charges. During April, May, and October the fishing is free. In September the rates are low. Boats are 2s. ; boatmen 2s. 6d. for the day, and for the lakes above the hotel (for brown trout and always free) one must have a boat. Occasionally the salmon fishing is extraordinarily good. For the present the nearest railway station is at Letterkenny, but the extension to Gueedore is in actual formation. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 165 to mark the way. 1 The hotel at Rathmelton is comfortable, Co. Done- and the trout fishing all free. For salmon fishing there is gal. no difficulty in getting it without charge. From the 1st July, all this western and north-western Donegal offers abundant spoils to fishers, but its spring fishing cannot be said to approach the Blackwater, Lee, Bandon, or many other southern and western waters. Not that there are not fish of a certain size (sixteen pounds about the biggest), but the rivers of ever-showered-upon Donegal are seldom in good order in spring. Loughs Fern and Eask, and one or two near the sea in the Rosses, do afford spring fish, and it is well to remember that lake fishers are greatly independent of the colour or thickness of the water. The fishing in Lough Fern is all at the disposal of the landlord of the Ratiimelton Hotel. He has boats there to be let at a very moderate clairge. There are numerous tarns and streams full of trout, and some charr. Some of them hold salmon and white trout too. At Letterkenny the Swilly runs into Letter- ed estuary called by the same name. It holds spring Unny. salmon, white trout, grilse, and is practically a free fishery, as is the Finn, which, running from beyond, and by Stran- orlar (hotel there), passes Litford ; and so with the Mourne R.Mourr.e from Tyrone, into the Foyle and to ocean. Lifford is the Lifford. frontier and capital town of Donegal. 2 It has a fair hotel, and either from it or from Strabane excellent fishing can be got free, or by mere request. Beside the Mourne, in The County Tyrone, there are not many rivers which call for particular mention : Co.Tjrono they hold a few spring salmon, some grilse, and some autumn white trout. But well-watered Tyrone has at least eight brown trout rivers, which in many places would be sufficient to sustain a high reputation. A large number of these are preserved, but not against fair angling. Newton Stewart has an excellent hotel, and there is a lake there (Lough Catherine), which cannot be fished but by leave of Lough the Duke of Abercorn, which repays the pike fisher. Those Catherine. who would fish the Mourne, the Derg, and Shrule rivers for an occasional salmon and more numerous white trout will be repaid after May. The really good fishing of this county, for those who count their success by the weight of single 1 North of Rathmelton, on the peninsulas which project an each side of Mulroy Bay, are numerous little rivers, and some loughs which give great sport, especially with white trout. All of them are free, or easy to get fishing on. 2 In Donegal the Erne patterns prevail. I have seen the Moy and Cork ones do just as well, and the Standard Trekernes too. 166 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co/Tyrone, captures rather than by number, is to be got in "Lough L. Neugh. Neagh," which is an inland sea spoken of later on. Beside Newton Stewart, Dungiven, Omagh, and Castlederg afford accommodation. No county has a greater variety of water, rapids, turns, and deep pools. Lord Castlestuart, Major Hamilton, and all the proprietors give the fishing freely. But before leaving it I would draw the attention of anglers to the Augnacloy river, which I can personally vouch holds lusty brown trout. 1 The County Londonderry, Co. Lon- to the west, has a fishing river running out near Ballinagard d>t)derry. station, which is a good autumn river of the second class. Newton It is easily reached by rail from Newton Limavady, 2 as is the Limavady. better river, the Roe. Spring salmon, with white trout and grilse in autumn come up this ; but this county is raised Bann. from second class by the Bann, which discharges below Coleraine. Coleraine. Below the town, which has good hotels, the fishing is quite free, but only practicable from boats ; and they are very well manned, and cheap. Above, the charge for fishing is to be arranged locally, and amounts to something like (I am Portrash. told) about six shillings a day. At Portrush, about seven miles away, there is a capital hotel, and the fishing of the river above Coleraine, where the preservation is very strict, can be arranged from there (the landlord being empowered) on very easy terms. The Bann is, perhaps, one of the best rivers in Ireland, and its fish were heavier than most of those on the north or north-west coast of Ireland. 3 The upper waters are very sporting. From the 2oth June Kilrea* to the 8th August is the best time. At Kilrea there is a little hotel, and about there capital sport is to be got in LoughBeg. Lough Beg. But this latter can be reached from Lough Neagh. The Bann flies locally used are peculiar, but I think the Standard, "Jock Scott," "Doctor," &c, are as good as any, and I am sure the Erne and May-flies do well. The eel-tail and prawn are excellent lures there. I pass over in a short way the counties Monaghan, Armagh, and Down. The two first have many rivers and a few loughs which afford sport, but only with brown trout ; and I don't know 1 The Derg is a splendid breeding salmon river, but it is remarkable that no salmon ever runs out of it into the lake of the same name, from which the river issues. 2 Made immortal by Thackeray and Peg. 3 I hear that the Bann fish are not large now, but in greater number than ever. * The hotel here is not at all the w T orst in Ulster. How and Where to Fish in Ireland. 167 of any in Armagh which deserve special mention but the Co. Blackwater river (which divides this county from Tyrone), Armagh. and its neighbouring loughs, and Lough Gullion by the L.Gullion. Bann above Portadown. But in the County Monaghan are Lough Muckno, and near it Lough Ross, which hold ^°- Mon ' 1 - good trout and capital pike. Every stream here has trout, If?* , but none of a size to attract a tourist fisher, even in streams ' uclin0 - running through the grounds of landowners. The County Down has plenty of small brown trout fishing, but I don't know Co. Down, one of them worth much attention but the Ballinahinch Ballina- river, on which I believe Capt. Ker makes no objection to hinch. fair anglers. The best of its lakes used to be Lough Aghery, between Dromore and Ballinahinch, and I know that near a little watering-place called Newcastle there is one which gives excellent sport to brown trout fishers. Most of the lakes are enclosed in private parks. The Blackwater river, which runs into Strangford Lough, justly celebrated for its wild fowl shooting, gives a few white trout in spring and is better in autumn. I believe the fishing is Lord Dufferin's, but there is no difficulty in getting the needful leave to fish. I cannot say that I know any " special " for the trout of Londonderry, Tyrone, Armagh, Monaghan, or Down. I am told the Liffey patterns and, for a change, a green grouse do best. In the County Antrim, which closes the N.E. district, and my tour of Irish fishings, Co. the Bush, the Bann, the Ballycastle, the Glendun, the Antrim. Glenarriff, and Glenarm rivers all hold spring salmon grilse, Glendun, and white trout. The Bann (vide ante) and Bush are, of Ghnarrijf, course, the best of them. Both hold good salmon, but with jf^ rm a blusterous north-west breeze I think the palm should go to the Bush. The fishing on it cannot be got free, and it lets well, but all things considered it is worth looking to, and I don't know any late season fishing in Ireland which is better. The flies should be smaller than in western streams. Mr. C , who has been most successful on it, kills on Erue flies, but his best day was with the " Lightning " (a Moy-fly, vide ante). From Ballymoney, where is a comfortable inn, the Upper Bush can be fished out. 1 1 Mr. Hutchinson, of the Manor House, or it may be the trustees of Captain MacCartney, of Lissanoure Castle, make easy terms for the fishing. Bradford of Belfast supplies good fishing appliances to North of Ireland fishermen. rivers. The Bush. iG8 How and Where to Fish in Ireland. Co.Antrim. Tho Glenarm river holds spring salmon and white trout, and autumn salmon and white trout too. Lord Antrim's agent makes no objection if leave be asked. The BaUycastle river gives good sport, and Sir Frederick Boyd and Mr. John McGildoney, who, I hear, claim the sporting rights, L. Neagh. are not difficult in the matter of leave. Lough Neagh is best got at from the Antrim (E.) side. Randalstown, Antrim, Lisburn, Lurgan and Dungannon (this in Tyrone), Toome all are points d'appui for it. But Toome Bridge, 1 which is Bridge. on the railway, and beyond Randalstown, is perhaps the best station of all, as the little lake (Beg) just above it affords capital and constant sport when the Great (an inland sea) Neagh is too boisterous or sullen. Taken on the whole, the Antrim shores are much the best. The flies which attract the " Bodagh " (great lake trout are so called there) must be of grilse size, but spinning is really the only mode by which they can be often circumvented. It is said that the May fly sometimes rises on the Shanes Castle shore. I doubt it ; but the number of small trout in Neagh which can be captured in all the little bays, with a chance of a charr now and then in the deeps, and the certainty of monstrous trout at the edge of the deeps (spinning), makes Neagh a really delightful place for those who wish to fish with ever- lasting expectation and a certainty of surprise. There are very large pike and perch in all the still bays. The boat- men are the worst I have met in Ireland, presuming to know everything, and very ignorant. They are, however, honest and kindly, and not extortionate if they be not encouraged. Parts of the lake are full of pollen, and how to take them in a sporting way is a problem I would set out for anglers. This north-eastern district, with which I end my tedious volume on tours, is naturally not so good as many others in Ireland, but being better preserved it will repay a tourist, especially a trout fisher who is fortunate to know somebody who knows anybody a member of the hospitable Ulster Club, in Belfast, where are found most of the proprietors who good-naturedly protect waters and seemingly for the advantage of " strangers by the way passing." The kind spirit this Club's members show, is but of a piece with what any gentleman may expect from rich or poor in Ireland. Irishmen are not identical with Englishmen ; great ills have occurred to both from an impossible endeavour to force 1 The O'Neill Arms Hotel at Toome Bridge is comfortable, with a moderate tariff; the fishing, however, of Lough Neagh has fallen off, and will never be restored without active measures be enforced against the net men, especially tho "pollen" n->* men. II uw and Where to Fish in Ireland. 169 them to be so. Both have, however, some good qualities in common : kind hearts and open hands. I hope this book may encourage many Englishmen to trust and try my countrymen. In Ireland their first greeting will be certainly " Caed-mil-failthe." 1 I mistake much if the parting words of the kindly tourist-angler be not as mine to him, " Bannath Lath."' LICENCE DUTIES PAYABLE IN EACH DISTRICT BY ROD-FISHERS. 1. Salmon 2. Cross District. Rods. Lines. & ». d. £ s. d. 1. Dublin 10 2 2. Wexford . 10 2 3. Waterford 10 2 4. Lisinore . 1 2 5. Cork 10 2 6. 1 Skibbereen 10 1 6. 2 Bantry . 10 10 6. 3 Kenmare 1 10 7. Killarney 10 2 8. Limerick . 10 15 9. Galway . 10 2 10.1 Ballyn'akill 10 2 10. 2 Bangor . 10 2 11. Bnllina . 10 2 12. Slisro 10 2 13. Ballyshannon 10 2 14. Letterkermy 10 2 15. 1 Londonderry 10 2 15. 3 Coleraine 10 2 16. Ballycastle 10 2 17. 1 Droghcda, . 10 2 17. 2 Dundalk . , 10 2 The general charges in Ireland for accommodation, fishing, and boats, and boatmen are higher than they were wont to be. In few do they run to beyond five guineas a week, and such a charge is exceptionally high. It would be only a gratuitous advertisement to set out the tariffs of each hotel. 100,000 welcomes. 2 May the Lord keep thee. TABLE SHOWING TEE CLOSE SEASONS FOR SALMON AND TROUT IN No. and Name of District. Boundary of District. TidaL Fresh Water. 1. Dublin . 2. Wexford 3. Watcrford 4. Lismore 6. Cork 6 1 . S Mb he- reon 6 2 . Bantry . C3. Kcnmare 7. Killaraey. Skerries to Wicklow. Wicklow to Kiln Bay, EastofBau- nuw Bay. Kiln Bay to H e 1 v i c k Head. ITclvick Head t;>Ballycotton. Ballycotton Head to Gal- ley Head. Galley Head to Mizen Head. Mizen Head to Crow Head Crow Head to Lamb Head. Lamb Head to Dunmore Head, in- eluding Blaskets. Between Howth and Dalkey Island, be- tween 15th August and 1st February. Between Dalkey Isiand and Wicklow Head, between 30th. September and 1st April. For remainder of District, between 15th September and 2nd March. Between 15th September and 20th April, savein River Slaney, which is between 29th September ana 1st April. Between 15th August and 1st February. „ 15th August and 1st February. Prom Ballycotton to Barry's Head, be- tween I5t,h August and 1st February, and from Barry's Head to Galley Head, between 15th August and 15th February, save in Bandoa and Argi- deen Rivers ; between 15th August and 1st March for Bandon, and be- tween 31st August and 1st March for Argideen. Between 15th September and 1st May, save in the Hen River, 30th September to 1st May. Betwuen 30th September and 1st May. „ 15th September and 1st April. Betwroen Dunmore Head and Inch Point, embracing the Blasset Islands and ail Lakes and Rivers and their Tribu- taries running into the sea between said points, 31st August and 1st May. Between Inch Point ami Canglas Point, and all Lakes and Rivers and their Tri- butaries running into the sea between said points, save the River Main and its Tributaries, 30th July and 17th January. in River Main and its Tributaries, 15th September and 1st May. Between Canglas Point and Bolus Head, and all Lakes and Rivers and their Tributaries running in o the sea be- tween said points, 30th September and 1st May. Between Bolus Head and Lamb Head, • and all Lakes and Rivers and their Tributaries running into the sea be- tween those two p >ints, save the River Inny and the Waterville River and their Tributaries, 14th August and 1st May. Same as Tidal, save be« tween Dalxey Inland and Wicklow Head, which is between 15"i/ August and 1st April Same as Tidal. Same as Tidal. Same as Tidal. Same as Tidal. ■ Between 31st July and 1st Mtiy, save in Hen. Same as Tidal. Same as Tidal. Same as Tidal. Note.— The 21st section of the 2Gth & 27th Vic, c. 114, requires there shall not be fewer than 168 days CIofc Season in each Fishery. * As the " districts" in Ireland change their " Seasons," and the publication of changes are often belated, these pages are only approximate, but are sure to be »° THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN IRELAND ON 31st DECEMBER, 1805. Angling with j Angling with Single Rod and Cross Lines. Line. Date of last change. Same as ting. Net- Same as Net- tmg. Same as Net- ting. Same 118 Net- ting. Same as Net- tmg. as Net- Net- Samo tmg Same ting. Between 16th October and 1st Aoril Same ting. as Net- Between 31st October and 1st day! 15th October, 1874. of February, save Broadmeadow 21st July, 1&S2. Water and Ward Rivers, between 27th January, 1883. 14th October and 1st February. Between 30th September and 15th March, save River Slaney and Tributaries, between 30th Septem- ber and 1st March. Between 30th September and 1st February, save River Suir and Tributaries, between 15tb October and 1st February. Between 31st October and 1st Febru- ary. From BaPycotton to Barry's Head, between 12th October and 1st February, and from Barry's Head to Galley Head, between 12th October and 15th February. Between March, 31st October and 17th Do. do. Between 31st Ootober and 1st April. Between Dunmore Head and Inch Point, and embracing all Lakes and all Rivers an I their Tribu- taries running into the sea between those points, 31st October and 1st April. Between Inch Point and Lamb Head, and including all Likes and all Rivers and their Tribu- taries flowing into the sea be- tween those points, save the River Main and its Tributaries, 15th October and 1st February. In River Main and its Tributaries, 31st October and 1st April. 2G.d 15th April; for Gwee- barra, between 30th Sept. and let April. For Trawbreaga Bay, between 30th fc ept- ruber and 1st July. For Owenea and Owentocker Rivers, between 31st August and 1st June. Between 31st August and 15th April. 19th August and 4th February 15th September and 17th March Detween 19th August and 4th February, save Sligo River, which is between 31st July and 16th January. Same as Tidal, save Bundrowes, which ie between 31st July and 1st February. Between 19th Angus* and 1st March, Crana or Buncrana River Leenane and Gwee- barra Rivers, same at Tidal. wenea and O wentockei Rivers, between I9tb August and 1st June. Same as Tidal. 19th August and 1 March. Do. 17'. Diogheda Skerries to Between 15th August and 1st February. Same as TidaL CI gher Head / Between Clogher Head and Bal'yghanK Point, County Louth, embracing all ' La'> * 6 7 6 5 2 Ditto Four n 8 6 8 Ditto Five >» < 9 7 6 7 10 Ditto Six It 10 10 8 8 Ditto Seven n . 11 7 6 9 2 Ditto Eight » . 12 9 12 Available for Returu on any day WITHIN ONE CALENDAR MONTH. The time of these Tickets can be extended upon the terms stated in the Company's Tourist Programme. N. 15. —Tickets to KILLARNEY can be obtained at the principal Stations on the London and North- Western, Midland, Grrv.t Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire, Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, North Staffordshire, Caledonian, and North British Railways, and Railways in Ireland. KlNGSBEIDGE, DUBLIK. CAB AND CAR FARES. In Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Belfast the car fares are fixed at special rates. The drivers must show (on demand) tickets inscribed with distances and charges. Elsewhere the rate for one horse i» fixed at Eightpence a mile, and half fare for return journey (same day). For two horses the fare is One Shilling per mile both ways. The driver is paid by " tips " from passengers. INDEX. Abbeyfeale, 121. Abbey-Liex, 104. Achill, 145 et seq. Adragoole, R., 135. Adrigoole, R., 149. Aharlow, R., 118. Aile, R., 143 et seq. Allaghaun, 121. Allen, L., 154. Allua, L., 128. Altora, 142. Anauscaul, 131. Anna-Cree, 134. Annagh, L., 108. Annagh, R. (Clare), 137. Annageragh, 137. Anner, R., 119, 138. Antrim, 167 et seq. Ara, R., 118. Ardara, 163. Ardshellaun, 13"4. Arigna, R., 154. Armagh, 166 et seq. Arraglin, R., 123, Arrow, L., 153 et seq. Arvagh, 108, 122 et seq. Ashford, 146. Askeaton, 121. Asleagh, 142. Athenry, 138. Athgarvan, 98. Athlone, 153 et seq. Athy, 102. Aubeg, 123. Aughnacloy, R., 166. Avoca, 111. Avonbeg, 111. Avonmore, 111. Awin-a-curragh, R,, 128. Awimiff, It., 110, 141. Bagnallstown, 111. Ballavilla, 147. Ballilicky, 135. Ballina, 139, 14S et seq. Ballinahinch, 140, 141, 142. Ballinamore, R., 153, 154. Ballinasloe, 142. Ballinrobe, 149 et seq. Ballisodare, 155. Ballitore, 103. Ballybunion, 131. Ballycastle, 151, 168. Ballyclough, 123. Ballycroy, 152. Bally-Dawley, 155. Ballydehob, 128. Ballyfin, L. (roach), 104 Ballyfinboy, R., 115. Ballyhaunis, 148. Ballyhooley, 124. Ballymahon, 108. Ballymeallis, 132. Ballymoney, 167. Ballymore, 106. Ballynean, 128. Ballynew, R., 141. Ballyragget, 104. Ballyshannon, 157 et seq Ballyvaughan, 137. Baltinglass, 110.' Banagher, 142. Bandon, 121, 127.. Bane, L., 105. Bann, 166 et seq, Bannow, R., 114. Barly, L., 135. Barrow, R., 102, 111. Beagh, 164. Beenaskee, 131, Beg, 166. N 178 Index. Beigh, R., 133. Belhavel, L., 154. Bcllcoo, L., 157. Belleek, 156. Belmiao:h, 134. Belmullet, 151. Beltragh, L., 144. Belvidere, 105 et seq. Bertraghboy, 141. Bilbo, R., 118-20. Black, R., 108. . Blackwater (Boyne), 101. Blackwater (Cork), R., and flies, 121 et seq. Blackwater (Kerry), 134. Blarney, 127. Blessington, 98-9. Bodarg, L., 153. Boro, R. 113 et seq, Borrisokane, 115. Borrosoleigh, 118. Boyle, 153. Boyne, R., 101. Bradford, 119. Bradogue, R., 159. Bray, R., 110. Brian, L., 134. Bridagb, R., 132. Bride, R. ( 126-7. Broadhaven, 151. Brusua, R., 104, 113, 114. Bumiduff, 159. Bundoran, 159 et seq. Bunowen, R. , 142 et seq. Bnnratty, 137. Bunree, 150. Burrishoole, L., 146. Bush, 167. Cahir, 119. Cahirciveen, 134. Callow, 151. Camoge, R., 121. Camolin, R., 114. Camoola, R., 135. Cappall, Cummeragh, Ls., 133. Cappoquin, 125. Car-fares, 177. Carlow, Co., Ill et seq. Carrabeg, R., 133. y C a rra.yh, L ., 132 et seq. jCnrramore, 152. Oarrantwohill, 135. Carrick, 163. Carrick-on-Sliarmon, 15J. Carrick-on-Suir, 138. Carrig, 124. Carroonaviska, R., 143. Carysville, 125. Cashel, 119, 140. Cashen, R., 131. Cashla, 141. Castlebar, 146 et seq. Castle Connell, 119 et seq. Castlemaine, 131. Castlemartyr, 128. Castlepollard, 105, 106, 108, 109 Castlerea, 154. Castle Sanderson, 156. Castletown, R., 101. Castletown-Roche, 124. Cavan, Co., 97, 107 et seq. Hotel, 109. " Black Rail," 109. Celbridge, 98. Central District, 97 et seq. Cliarlestown, 151. Church, L., 146. Ciamalthe, R., 117. Clandragh Point, 108. Clare, Co., 137 et seq. Clashmore, R., 126. Clifford, 124. Clifton, 140 et seq. Clodagb, R. (Kerry), 134. Cloghan, 148. Clogheen (Waterford), 138. Clonbur, 147. Clonmel, 119—138. Clonakilty, 128. Cloomaduallagh, L., 138. Cloon, Coos, Ls. , 132 et seq. Cloon, R., 137. Clooneymore, 151. Clydagh, R., 147. Coachford, 122, 127. Colony, R., 143. Cong, 142, Conn, L., 97, 148 et seq. Conna, 123. Connemara, 140 et seq. Convanmore, 123. Coolatin, 111. Coolenagh, R., 137. Coolenahelagh, 137. Cooleraine, 166 et seq. Index. 179 Coolnamnck, 138. Coomeragh, 133. Coomcloghrane, L., 134. Coomisharne, L., 133. Coomshigaun, L., 138. Coorclare, R., 137. Cootehill, 108, 153. Coppal, 133. Corbally weir, 119. Corkaginny, 131. Cork, Co., 121 et seq. Cork patterns, 123, 124, 125. Corrib, L., 139 et seq. Corroffin, 137. Costelloe, R., 142. Crag, North, 125. , South, 125. Creagh, R., 137. Crolly, R., 163. Cullen, L., 148 et seq. Cummeragh, 133. Currane, L., 133. Currantwohill, L., 135. Dale, R., 101. Dan, L., 111. Dargle, 110, 111. Dead, R., 120. Deerin, R., 109-10-11. Delphi Lodge, 143. Delvin, R., 97, 100-101. Derg, L., 113-14-16, 157 et seq. Derg, R., 165. Dernagollia, 108. Derravaragh, 105 et seq. Derrybeg, 164. Derrydruel, 163. Dheel, 148. Dheel, R., 121. Dingle, 131. Dissour, 128. Dodder, R., 99. Donegal, Co., 162 et seq. Doo, 143. Doonbeg, 137. Down, Co., 166 et seq. Dripsey, R., 127. Droghecla, 101. Dromcliffe, R., 156. Dromineer Bay, 113-14-16-17. Dromore, 167. Drowes, R., 159. Drumshambo, 153-54. Dublin, 97. Dugort, 145. Duncormack, R., 114. Dungiven, 166. Dungloe, 162 et seq. Dunleer, 101. Dunmanway, 127. Durrow, 104. Eanybeg, 162. Eanymore, 162. Early white trout on eastern coast, 101. Eask, L., 162. Easky, 152 et seq. Ehernagh, 121. Engfield, 101. Ennel, L., 105 et seq. Ennis, 137. Enniscrone, 155. Enniskerry, 110. Enniskillen, 156. Ennistimon, 137. Erne flies and baits, 157 et seq. Erne, L. and R., 109, 156 et acq. Errew, 148. Erris, 152. Errive, R., 142 et seq. Faddha, L., 141. Fane, R., 101. Fartagh, R., 134. Feagh, L., 146. Feale, R., 131. Fergus, R., 137. Fermanagh, Co., 156 ct seq. Fermoy, 122. Fern, L., 164 et s < £S a. d •y < Q) a Si -: ^ ■*• a <9 — o tt © S 0) 5 J//'. J. J. Hardy makinj his Record Cast. HARDY BR05.7 *"i»>ick. enoland. Manufacturers of " PALAKONA " Cane-built Rods, with and without Steel Centres, Greenheart and Whole Cane Rods, Reels, Lines, Flies, and Tackle, for all kinds of Fishing in all parts of the World. Betail ("LONDON: 61, PALL MALL, S.W. _ ] EDINBURGH : 5, S. ST. DAVID STREET. urancnes (MANCHESTER: 12 & 14, MOULT STREET