Estd. 1998

Adare, Co. Limerick, Ireland. Email info@celticangling.com Tel 069/68202 Cell 087/6525687 (Prefix 00353 from outside Ireland) Skype paddy.dunworth

SMS Texting : If you are using an Irish mobile phone then just text me on 087/6525687 or using a US Cellphone 011353876525687

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Frequently Asked Questions - Celtic Angling

NB Booking NB Season-Mar 1st - Sept 30th

NB Fly fishing experience NB

I've had go-betweens try to organise the fishing arrangements for their clients/partners/sons/dads, there's lots of information I need to help make their day an enjoyable one, so please please have the fisherperson make contact. I'm a one-man operation so advance booking very advisable. I sometimes take short-notice bookings but as the only all-inclusive service in the County I need at least 48hrs notice. I can best plan your day armed with info such as client's fly-fishing experience, wishes, expectations, limitations, age, mobility etc, plus I also need statistics such as foot/waist sizes for waders, collection/rendezvous time/location, left or right hand wind on a fly-reel etc etc.

I usually don't seek deposits so it costs nothing to provisionally reserve a day, you can confirm later as your travel plans progress.

Please let me know how much and what kind of fly-fishing you've done as this helps in planning locations for your day. Fly-fishing a few days a year does not count as experienced and there's a huge difference between basic entry-level fly-fishing a wetfly/nymph across and downstream (swinging flies) as against the more delicate and advanced upstream approach with dry-fly or nymph. Properly executed upstream fly-fishing is a massive step-up from downstream fly-fishing and is a skill perfected over time, it involves delivering a tight controlled line and leader with accuracy and delicacy, sometimes at distance and often into the wind, all this whilst deftly wading rocky streams where limited casting space is the norm. Being able to master this matters as it helps choose a location to suit your skill-level, we could lose an hour switching venues if you over-appraise your experience and skill level.

(See Links to some of my waters below)

Having advanced skills with many seasons experience with upstream fly-fishing approach are highly desirable from June on.

Summer months and climate change mean low/clear/weeded rivers and ultra-shy native trout, this is why we must target them with upstream approach.Our rivers can be narrow and enclosed by trees and bushes, riverbanks are wild and overgrown in many places so apart from excellent fly-casting skills one must also have a good level of rivercraft/fitness along with good wading skills. The majority of my locations are wild/challenging and only for really experienced fly-fishers, for beginners/novices/ improvers we use a user-friendly stretch at Adare,

this is for health-safety reasons and non-negotiable, however, this stretch also requires basic fitness levels. Pic here

NB High Summer+Climate Change: River levels can be ultra-low June-Sept, this affects prospects and requires advanced upstream skills NB

Skill-level : 1- 20 FULL DAYS + INSTRUCTION = BEGINNER 20-50 FULL DAYS = IMPROVER/NOVICE, 50-100 FULL DAYS = INTERMEDIATE, 100+DAYs + Upstream expertise= ADVANCED

Speaking frankly from 60yrs fly-fishing+30 years guiding, the vast majority of clients overstate their skills/experience and underestimate wild Irish rivers & trout.

Please be realistic about your skill level and consider all this advice, particularly where young/elderly, novice or infirm participants are involved.

Because our rivers are natural and brown trout wild and native, success is directly related to the fly-fisher's skill, experience and ability...don't blame your guide, this is Ireland, this is real fly-fishing for real fish in real rivers and in real challenging settings.....nothing artificial but the fly!

NB: YOU WILL NOT be fishing in easy artificial surrounds or for-tame/stocked fish, lack of success is usually down to the angler's fly-casting inability/shortcomings

Links to some of my waters - R.Maigue, Cherrygrove (Advanced) R.Deel (Advanced) R.Maigue at Adare (User-friendly)

What are the best Seasons - Time of year?

April-Sept would be busiest period as this is the open season for Trout, I operate from March 1st - Sept 30th, for March contact me. Brown Trout fishing more consistent as they are in the rivers all the time, given the choice I would plump for May or June, water levels are usually good, weeds not yet present, Mayfly is up etc. etc. Please be aware that from June on our rivers do get low and weeded and upstream fly fishing with advanced skills desirable. Those lacking these skills should opt for a half rather than full day.

Our trout rivers are comparatively small but wild, early months (Mar/Apr) would see good water levels, little weed and cooler temperatures. Fly fishing really comes into it's own in April/May and can be good right through to end of season (September 30th).

For more up-to-date weather for Adare area of Ireland see http://www.met.ie/forecasts/regional.asp?Prov=Munster

What might I expect to fish for?

(Subject to Seasonal factors/water levels etc.)

Due to the closure of many salmon rivers plus declining salmon runs I now limit my guiding to fly-fishing for native Brown Trout.

Left to right - R. Maigue Brown Trout , R. Feale Atlantic Salmon , R. Allaughan Sea-Trout, Shannon Estuary Sea-Bass, Glasha Lake Rainbow Trout , R. Shannon Pike

(All fish taken on fly by Paddy)

What should I bring with me?

Just a rainproof jacket. I supply Rods/Reels, 4-wh-drive transport,wet gear (incl waders), I also supply packed lunches, drinks, photos, Instruction, permits, licences etc.

My fly-rods are mainly fast action 9ft, 6wt rods by TFO of Dallas and our reels are top of the range by Ross Reels of Colorado.

I'm also a collector and have a large collection of Hardy Bros vintage/antique fly-reels and tackle.

I have over 40 fly outfits but feel free to bring your own gear although this does not alter our rates.

We supply nylon/rubber chest/waist waders but bring breathable waders if you wish.

Can we go as a group?

Often an angler will encourage non-fisher or inexperienced members of his group to tag along and in such cases the group as a whole will be treated as beginners and as such we use the user-friendly stretch at Adare. For various reasons, not least of all health & safety I will not guide inexperienced people to wild locations. 3 anglers maximum to an outing to ensure Paddy can deliver personal attention.

30 years guiding experience tells me that the vast majority of my clients totally underestimate just how wild our locations are

so please take note and be realistic when considering this, particularly where novice, elderly or infirm anglers are concerned.

Lady Fly-fishers always welcome, more and more ladies are taking up fly-fishing, very chic and a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

Can I hire fly fishing equipment if I want to go it alone?

Yes, I offer a hire service, click

The Fish?

As a tribute to those wild beauties that give us such sport we release 99% of our catch, keeping but an odd fish for the 'table'.

Safety/Insurance?

All my clients are covered by Public Liability Insurance PLUS Courtesy Car Cover whilst fishing and Travelling with Celtic Angling.

Automatically inflating life-jackets provided when fishing for Sea-Bass or on request when river fishing.

Transport?

I collect/drop clients from/to Hotel/Guesthouse if in or near Adare, or rendezvous with clients in Car Park at rear of Heritage Centre/Tourist Office in centre of Adare village. Clients may follow in their own transport if they wish, indeed, this is sometimes necessary with larger groups. Most fishing locations I use are 15-20 mins from Adare.

NB - I don't collect from Limerick city anymore as it involves 2 roundtrips which can total 2hrs if in peak traffic times.

When Emailing Me

Please include your cellphone , some of my email replies were not getting back to some clients recently (Inbox full or other) and they thought I was ignoring them, not so, for some reason their email provider was rejecting my return mail unbeknownst to the client. I can send an SMS message to that effect if I have a cell number.

If you are using an Irish mobile phone then just text me on 087/6525687 or using a US Cellphone 011353876525687 (Especially if you suspect I've not received your email.

info@celticangling.com