Fishing In Kerry, A Paradise For Anglers

Fishing In Kerry for a fisherman is the nearest thing to heaven. From the lakes in Killarney to the shores of Dingle bay, from the river Laune to Fenit harbour, Cloughane and the Flesk, yes the nearest thing to heaven for a fisherman is Fishing in Kerry.

If you love fishing, Kerry fishing is the place to be.

If you ever desire to catch a salmon or a brown trout, an Atlantic cod, skate fish, bass or even a shark, County Kerry Fishing is the place to be.

Fishing in Kerry is an experience, a memory to savour, something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

I remember catching a 3-pound salmon on the river Laune in Killorgin, (Maurice caught a 6oz trout) and got it smoked across the road.

River Laune

The river Laune Killorgin is in mid to southwest Kerry and an excellent salmon fishing river. Once you get your fishing and gear together, settle besides the rivers edge, and cast your rod, the salmon come looking for you, not you for them.

The Southern Fisheries Board have organised joint development programs with local boards to make the rivers and lakes more accessible to anglers.

The fishing boards also stock a number of lakes to ensure a successful days fishing.

The River Laune boasts a run of salmon and the river also drains the largest of the Killarney lakes, witch is known for its brown trout.

A small tip, when you catch a brown trout or a salmon in the Lakes of Killarney, row over to the ench and cover the fish in soaking wet newspaper, start a fire and cook it. When the paper is burnt, you will have the finest salmon you will have ever eaten.

Cloghane & Brandon

Cloghane and Brandon are situated on the northern side of the Dingle Peninsula, tucked in at the base of the Mount Brandon and washed by the sparkling surf of Brandon Bay.

The Cloghane-Brandon region is surely one of the greatest beauty spots of the world.

The area is a paradise for anglers. Cod, Pollock, ling, various spices of dogfish, mackerel, turbot, bass and shark, (not the size of Jaws but fairly big at that).

You can charter a boat or beach cast from the strands of cappagh and Fermoyle.

There is an abundant supply of bait, fish lures, and tackle shops in the area.

Bass are at their best during the winter season.

Further on, the magnificent valley set between Mount Brandon and Connor pass, the highest mountain pass in Ireland, provides unsurpassed game and fishing for Wild Salmon and sea trout in the Owenmore river and lakes.

For the fly angler sea trout fishing is excellent after dark.

Ballingskelligs

Ballingskelligs, 50 miles (65Km) South West of Killarney, on the ring of Kerry is another fantastic fishing spot of county Kerry.

The fishing, both sea and freshwater attracts thousands of anglers every year.

The Ballinskelligs region is particularly blessed with a range of lakes and rivers that together with sea fishing offer a full range of choices.

While in that neck of the woods, there is fantastic fishing in and around Kenmare and from Sneem to Killarney, with trout filled lakes and rivers beckoning you to try your skills at angling.

Waterville is a stunning fishing area in County Kerry for wild salmon and trout especially fishing from Lough Currane.

Killarney

The Killarney Valley fishing consists of 3 lakes and numerous rivers and streams.

The main river, Gearhmeen, rises in McGillicuddy`s Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland, and flows into the upper lake which is 1.5 miles long (2.5m) and 1 mile wide (1.5m).

Salmon run into the lakes in the early spring, the Grilse run begins in May of the year.

Catching methods on the lakes vary from fishing the fly to deep trolling. Local experience suggests that worming and spinning does the best on the rivers.

There is good brown trout fishing, wet fly, on both lakes and rivers in the Killarney area. Fish run up on average a pound.

Boats on the lakes are licensed for both salmon and trout angling. They comfortably seat two anglers and ghille.

Other great spots for fishing in County Kerry is along the river feale from Listowel to the Limerick border and along the Cashan from outside Abydorney to Lixnaw, to Ballybunion, where the Cashan meets the Atlantic.

River Feale

The Feale rises in the mountain district of north cork and flows westerly through the rural towns of Abbyfeale and Listowel to enter the sea south of Ballybunion. For the final 10Km (6miles) stretch it is known as the Cashen River.

Throughout its journey to the sea it flows through picturesque landscape of heather land, bog land, fertile valleys, rolling hills, racecourses and small villages, not to mention past great pubs.

The main river and its tributaries combine to form in excess of 160Km (100 miles) of fishing water, which is among the outstanding salmon and sea trout fisheries in Ireland.

The Feale is a fast flowing spate river subject to flooding in persistent rainfall (which you can get in Kerry). Large deep fish-holding pools dominate the lower sections. An important feature in the upper river and its tributaries is the frequency with which deep holding pools occur.

In times of low flow, the water runs clear but takes on a dark peat stained appearance. This is a big river, with gravel bed and overgrown, steep banks on many stretches.

The river gets equally good runs of salmon and sea trout and in a good season it is estimated to produce at least 1,500 salmon and grilse, and well over 2,000 sea trout to rod and line. There are fish in the river from the opening day on 1st March, with the best of the spring salmon fishing up to mid-April, depending on water levels.

Grilse begin showing about mid-June and there is always a dramatic improvement by mid-July, with good fishing with bigger fish from mid-August to end of September.

The best of the Salmon fishing is from the tide to Abbyfeale. Sea trout enter the system from early May and tend to run quickly through the middle stretches. The best fishing is considered to be either below Listowel or above Abbeyfeale in the Brosna/Mountcollins Club water.

About 50% of the main River Feale and its biggest tributary the Smearlagh is controlled by local angling clubs. These club stretches are some of the best angling waters, and each club offers day tickets for visiting anglers.

Have you got any fishing tails in County Kerry, or should I say tales!!

If you have e-mail the fishing tales man.

Sea fishing off the Kerry coast The waters off the Kerry coast, from Ballybunion`s Cashen to Kenmare are among the most productive sea angling grounds in Europe.

The many piers along the Kerry coastline and rocky ledges, the Cliffs of Duneen, the point at Brandon, Dingle and Cahersiveen, interspersed with lengthy stretches of rolling sandy beaches provide great shore fishing.

Bait can be collected locally on beaches, mud flats and rocky shoreline.

Deep-sea angling off County Kerry is the jewel in the crown for the fisherman who wishes to explore rich fishing waters. These pollution free waters are under-fished and continually provide great catches of a wide variety of species.

Specimen hunters are regular visitors. Further off the coast blue shark offer fantastic sport and challenges from June to October. There are fine fishing catches around Kerry Head and in Tralee Bay, famous for Monkfish.

Mackerel is the most popular bait for all kinds of sea fishing and a fresh supply is normally caught at the outset of each fishing trip. Calamari squid is another popular bait which is available locally and from tackle shops and supermarkets.

The major sea angling ports are Fenit harbour, great fishing from the pier, Dingle harbour, Cahersiveen and Kenmare.

Fully equipped and licensed charter boats with the most advanced electronics operate around the Kerry coast. All skippers have a thorough knowledge of their waters, as they have lived and fished here all their lives.

Have you got any fishing tails in County Kerry, or should I say tales!!

If you have e-mail the fishing tales man.

You waves, though you dance by my feet like children at play, Though you glow and you glance, though you purr and you dart; In the Junes that were warmer than these are, the waves were more gay, When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart.

The herring are not in the tides as they were of old; My sorrow! for many a creak gave the creel in the-cart That carried the take to Sligo town to be sold, When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart.

And ah, you proud maiden, you are not so fair when his oar Is heard on the water, as they were, the proud and apart, Who paced in the eve by the nets on the pebbly shore, When Iwas a boy with never a crack in my heart.

William Butler Yeats