Duration:about 3 hours
Tide: low up
Weather: Calm before the storm
Bait: Tasmanian Devils
Rigs: Spinning
Results: A few fish, Hopefully 2 specimens and 2 PB's
Report
With some heavy weather looming over the country and a serious case of Dry line, myself and the lads were looking for some fishing... Any fishing! Just a few hours out to shake the dry line was all that was needed. After a quick chat we decided that we would head to St Mullins after work and try for some Shad. It was a little early, but there had been some bid tides in the days previous so there was hope that maybe some of the Shad had started to run the river.
I managed to get to the river about 15 minutes before the lads, so I got the waders on and had a cast. The first cast in St Mullins is always something special. The anticipation in the air, will the fish be there?, will there be nothing?. It all runs through the mind before you start the wind of the reel. Luckily for me I experienced that hit from the "Baby Tarpon" on the first wind... I could feel the silly smile on my own face as I returned the shad to the water. First one since last year.
The lads arrived a few minutes later and I let them know that there was at least one fish out there.
We fished on for a few hours with the usual criac, banter and plenty of slagging. Time flies when your having this much fun and even though it was a very short trip we all caught a few fish. Myself and Rob managed a PB each so we were chuffed to bits as well. Rob's fish weighed in at 1.22kg and mine was 1.26kg. It felt like we had only just started but the light was fading and it was time to hit the road home...St Mullins is such a beautiful place to visit. In the words of Arnie, "I'll be back"
We were very lucky. The rest of the week brought wind and rain and very difficult fishing conditions. I'm glad I got the dry line sorted for a few days anyway
Shad are such beautiful fish, they fight hard and if your lucky they'll put on an aerobatic display on the way in as well. They must be the best fun on light tackle that there is in Ireland. They are also endangered and there are very few rivers left in Europe that they run to spawn. They are on the last leg of the journey, similar to Salmon. Please give them a chance. They are not a hardy fish, so unhook them as best as you can and try to keep them in the water for a period before you weight & release them. I have often found that if you release them lightly they can sulk on the bottom and sometimes go belly up. I have found that a GENTLE throw, head first back into the river will kick them back into action. Just a foot or two over the water and a little lob, normally does the trick.
I keep telling myself I must get a run down that way and try my luck...
like mine was last year 
