Ballyreen, Co. Clare, 12th June

[corbyeire]

People: 2 others and myself

Duration: 12.45 - 19.45

Tide: last hour or 2 filling then on the ebb

Weather: overcast humid - 1 vvvvv light shower

Bait: mackeral, mussel

Rigs: 2,3 hook flapper, pulley, 3 hook boom, legered spinning, wire trace, float

Results: 2 conger, 4 pollack, 1 doggie

Catch and Release:: No, 1 pollack kept



Report: having bait from the day before wanted to hit a good mark for fishing on the bottom - got down after a good look of the blue pool (mesmerised) - to marks around 45-48

first few casts with flappers got murdered on the bottom - which looked sandy to us

the current seemed to be pushing the rigs back onto the ledges - we were hitting the bottom and were out about 80 yards

moved down to around 40 - tried there - got the sand - but again lost the rigs after a while - not a budge stuck as soon as the rod was lifted from the rest

mate hooked a 2lb pollack on the float during this - a start

i decided to give up on the distance stuff - chucked in a mack head - on the light spinning rod and then started to bait the other

big hit on the small rod - missed it - head gone

next stuck on the the remainder of the mack from filleting - big hit again - and this time struck and hit - and big!

was worried my raggy rod wasnt able for this but eventually got a 14lb conger out - happy out

couldnt get the hook out - so had to cut the trace

mate had persisted with the flapper and he got a bite - a 3.5 lb strappy (methinks we were still on rough ground !!!!!)

i had continued with the float with mussel - had a few bites no connection

put the rubber fish on the other - and the pollack were going for it

was letting it hit the bottom and then spin up - had a few lunges and then a connection - 4lb pollack - happy - back in with him

mate then pulled in a doggy on the flapper - in between losing another rig

floating didnt seem to be getting much results - just started to freeline for the sake of it

moved down to the 30s - started to hit better ground - the third party started spinning the rubber fish

he struck a 3lb pollack and kept it - his first, delighted for him

then i struck a good doggie - more than likely a huss - got it to the surface where it fipped and got away

headed down to the blue pool - mate started harping on about his grandfather saying you could get a fish there anytime of the year etc. etc. he cast in his pulley and got a 3.5lb pollack first cast - will have to hear about this now forever

even in these dead calm conditions there were swells bringing the sea up 3-5 m - so we left it

at this stage had enough and packed up

there were 2 bashers there at the start, got a couple - it amazes me - 2 more arrived and basically started casting right beside them (in on top of them !!) - and the place was empty!!

then they left another crowd came later and got a couple more

lots of tackle losses for these people aswell

then another 2 came and decided, out of the whole place the best spot was to stand above our heads and cast over us - very cerebral

always amazes me this logic

the place was a tip - filled a bag with rubbish - another genius decided out of the whole place the best spot to defacate was directly at the edge of one of the marks - right beside where you fish

good enough session overall i suppose

[fishinmidget]

first few casts with flappers got murdered on the bottom - which looked sandy to us

in the depth of water you get at ballyreen, blackhead and the blue pool, you cant tell the difference between sand and rock unless your really good

Oh yeah........well done on having the cop on to go to a good mark and breaking the blank chain!!

[corbyeire]

i had also trailed a weight a couple of times when we got to the spot first - they came in unhindered aswell - thats why i was thinking it was clear

more likely it bounced off the snags on the way in

thanks for the encouragement - you know me im stubborn

but would rather loose all those traces discovering a new mark etc.

[fishinmidget]

next time drag a hook through. that will sort the snags out.

[MAC]

I do the same thing myself Corby, If you use Braid as well you will get a really good feeling of where the sand meets rock or weed. This can be excellent way of putting a bait in exactly the spot you want.

Kev

[corbyeire]

thanks for that

[marno]

Have wanted to fish the blue pool for years (My Dad told me the same stories as your mates Grandfather ) but they say only go with someone who fishes there a lot. This has my wife somewhat spooked and since the gassuns arrived I do take more care of my wellbeing.

I like to take walks there and I have to say there are always a good few in their vests on the pop at 9am fishing one of the most dangerous marks around.....FFS! I said to a mate last year that someone will die there and sadly I was proved right. Maybe there are language issues but someone should tell the Polish lads that the cliffs around Clare are very dangerous places - a few casting lessons wouldn't go a miss either.

Perhaps as such a large ethnic minority (with poor English) they don't have the need to mingle* with the Irish and so these essential snippets of saftey info don't get passed on.

*I have to admit I allways feel the E.Europeans to be stand offish but any I have got to know even slightly have been good craic so maybe it my fault

[corbyeire]

i have noticed this year that a lot of the eastern europeans - come up on their own and ask about the fishing etc.

prior to this it was always packs and tinnys and it was very intimidating - but it seems some of them are getting into the fishing in a better way

[marno]

Last weekend there were two groups one to my right and as chatty as their English would allow and asking me questions (God help them)another group to my left on the p1ss casting on top of me (didn't bother me much as I was mainly fishing close in or on the bottom). The Family I was talking too had a little girl of 2-3 who just sat back on her Ma's lap for hours as good as gold.....if I had my two with me one would be on the top of the mountain and the other would be in the ocean or pegging stones at the cars

Those lads do love their fishing and show that Lidl gear can be as effective as any. I hope there will be no more deaths because of lack of knowledge (3 last year in Clare IIRC). I suppose when you hear a mark can be so productive you just head out when sometimes the dangers really have to be hammered in.

[marno]

oops shakey fingers again

[bigkev]

While out on the estuary 9th June, the coastguard put out a look out as a load of fishing gear and clothes were apparently discovered at the cliffs by the blue pool minus their owner!!!

Since I heard nothing on the news, I am assuming the owner showed up!!

Kev

[corbyeire]