Mackenzie Pro Guide Jason O’Riordan looks ahead to the Irish Fly Fair in Galway where himself and Ken Whelan will be sharing their experience with the crowd. More details below.

Jason told us he recently spent a few days guiding Ken, Brendan and Lee for sea bass along the Copper Coast and around Dungarvan. He reports: We had some of the best bass fishing in a long time. It wasn’t just about the numbers of fish but the average size too. We had some seriously well conditioned bass.

When everyone had caught the boys were very generous and said I could fly fish for a while. I didn’t need to be asked twice because normally I never get to have a cast when guiding and if there’s one thing I love to do it’s catching bass on fly. I tie my own bass flies but also use some tied by friends of mine who are commercial tyers of predator flies. Andy and Paula of Chasing Silver Flies tie some awesome proven bass patterns. My pal Dougie from Scotland also ties stunning predator flies.
We caught bass just about everywhere we fished, shallow rough ground – deep channels – clean sand bars and beaches. Tactics were altered to suit the conditions. Changing colours for different light conditions. There is a lot to learn but what a way to do it! The Copper Coast was just on fire and it one of the nicest places to pursue this hard fighting wild fish.

Irish Fly Fair
Jason O’Riordan and Ken Whelan will be giving talks on fly fishing for bass and other species at the Irish Fly Fair at the Galway Bay Hotel on 12th and 13th of November. Link here: http://www.irishflyfair.com/talks.html.

By Nancy Hearne
Read the full report here.