RAINBOWS IN THE HILLS.
by M. Melitnish
Free-lance Fishing Reporter.

Hill Loch fishing usually means a long trek. Often up the side of a mountain to a peaty barren little water rarely able to support anything over a few ounces.  There are of course exceptions to this rule, some hill lochs do produce some large fish, mostly brownies, but just occasionally you come across lochs that can support a higher weight of fish, rarely do you find those that produce big browns and rainbow. On a recent trip to Kerry our guide Mike O' Brien from Farranfore Fishing Guides Killarney took me to one of his favorite lochs - Loch Nakirka just outside Killorglin. At first glance Nakirka looks like any other hill loch, but it is very different it not only holds a good stock of native brown trout it also holds some very big rainbows.

Managed by the Southwestern Regional Fisheries Board, it is regularly stocked with adult rainbows that obviously start to feed very soon on the small rudd that also abound. Season from 1st June - 15th Oct. Day tickets can be obtained from the Capanalee Outdoor Education Centre which is just past the lake. Nakirka is 20 acres and fishable from most of its shore except the south western corner which is heavily weeded. The hotspot seems to be the boulders close to this weedy corner on the northern shore.

Knowing this loch contained rainbows I would have been happy to use our own stillwater tactics, a single fly or lure, but 'when in Rome......' . The cast guide Mike put up was horrifying, a point and three droppers made up on 6lb line armed with a mixture of traditional rainbow and brownie flies such as Silver Jungle Cock - one of Mikes favorites - Marha Lodge, Black and Red Alexandri and dirty great muddlers!. Needless to mention this lot was very effective, Mike's thinking being that when this lot lands on the surface the fish think a hatch has started !!! . Seriously, the muddler acts as a main attractor bringing the fish up to choose between the rest. Within minutes Mike and I were into fish, 'stockie' sized but hard fighting, funny finned little rainbows that are very unlike those in our own waters. Small browns begun to rise and we had a hectic few hours before the strong wind blowing from our right made casting dangerous, not only because you were in danger of hitting yourself but if you were on Mike's right as I was, his method of beating a side wind by casting low and well away from himself came very close to anyone on his right !

Moving to the southern bank, I found a nice sheltered point and quickly took a couple of bright brownies on a dry daddy, once you take a fish or two of these wild brownies you have to move on or rest the water. You cannot just stand there and flog away as is the norm on UK stillwaters, these wild fish spook easily and very quickly move out of range. These wild brownies really test your reactions, being used to competing for a meagre food supply they are fast takers - very fast! Mike explained that it is no use striking when you feel the tug, thats too late as I found out "YOU HAVE TO STRIKE WHEN YOU SEE THE BOIL" quipped Mike as he was into yet another brownie. Then came a much larger swirl and Mike was into a much bigger fish well over 4lb, but it threw the hook in a welter of spray after a few seconds. Don't be fooled by its rather barren looks, Loch Nakirka holds some very big fish to 17lbs, Mike has them to high doubles on a regular basis and the snaps to prove it.

Just before you reach Nakirka you will notice a small loch on the left and on your way past Nakirka to the Capanalee Centre to get your ticket is another pretty little loch, both of these hold wild brownies and can be fished without a permitThe first one is surrounded by a bog, so be careful keep to the higher ground and avoid low lying wet looking areas. The other is heavily wooded on its northern bank and only really fishable for part of its southern shore.

I spent an afternoon on both of these unnamed lochs and had almost instant sport with bright little brownies with a Black and Peacock Spider fished just under the surface and to a Dry Daddy fished on a 15ft, 3lb tippet tapered leader. You have to keep on the move, once you take a fish move on and cover new water, if a fish is there you will get a rise very quickly.

Remember strike at any sign of disturbance at the end of your leader or its too late! These hill lochs can be very windy so you may have to come up to a 6 or even 8 line in windy conditions but when calmer ultra light tackle will get you more rises. Well there we are, three lovely little hill lochs all within half a mile of each other two of which do not require a permit , one at IR£6 a day can't be bad can it - of course Mike's fee is extra, and we have not even scratched the surface of loch fishing in Kerry yet - but thats another story!

Come to Killarney.

by Sue O'Rourke.

Come to Killarney for the ultimate angling experience. Killarney and the surrounding district are an angler's paradise. The area is densely populated with rivers and lakes holding large quantities of salmon, brown and sea-trout - a catch is virtually guaranteed.
The River Flesk, being the top catchment river in Ireland, the River Laune, River Rourkdie, River Maine and Sheen Falls, together with a dozen superb top lakes mean the angler is spoilt for choice. An abundance of additional mountain lakes in the region are available for those wanting to travel further afield.
Enjoy Kerry's mild gulf stream climate with the "King" of fly fishing - Mike O'Brien. Mike and his family operate an approved Fishing School and Tackle Shop and he is also a qualified fishing instructor ( I.F.S.A ) with a reputation for friendliness and excellence. Use flies tied by Mike for that extra local knowledge advantage or purchase some new equipment from him on the premises well stocked tackle shop. Fishing with Mike will introduce you to techniques used nowhere else in Europe. Try night fishing too - an addictive speciality, or try fishing from one of the fully equipped 19ft boats.
"As a woman completely new to angling last year I was amazed how patient and immediately effective Mike's tuition was, so much so that we came back again this year for a week and had a fantastic time. The catch rose from last year, although one fish is still swimming in Barfinnehey Lake with my name on it! As it rose to the fly and I saw it's bulk rise above of the water the shock was such that I stumbled backwards and the line broke with the impact. Although disappointed with the miss it was, perhaps, a better result than for the lady whose surprise prompted her to walk off a rocky promontory in to the lake!! The thrill of landing a big fish and the near miss has meant that I have now become addicted to the challenge of fly fishing and will certainly be back next year at Farranfore Fishing Guides."
Sue O'Rourke, England