SilverDreamDave

Hey Digger hows it going, I have fished in Ireland on my local river to gr8 sucess this year and have found that double handed rods unless you use them all the time, and are fortunate to use them all the time, are a bit cumbersume. I have had about four or five salmon around ten pound this year and a good few more using my Diawa Whisker 11ft 6" Seatrout rod with a light large arbor reel. I can't get used to using a doublehanded rod, but then again I haven't had the cash to buy a really good expensive one. I know I have probably put a lot of stress on this wonderful rod, but I would be quite comofortable using this rod even for bigger fish. The kick and play on this type of rod for lively salmon is gr8 craic. And it ain't to heavy on the wrist either. Hope you find what suits you anyway Regards SDD

No good using a cheap rod for salmon I guess Sportsman, thanks anyway for the reply. Had a look at those rods at Swiftys, thanks for the link. Regards SDD.

Thanks Barry for the reply, No, split shot or beaded flys. Just not made for salmon fishing I suppose. Just have to use a stronger rod. Thanks again. Regards SDD

I was fishing a few weeks ago with my Ron Thompson Arezzo 9ft AFTM 7/8 I use the rod for rainbows and seatrout. When I was fishing in my local river I hooked a salmon. The fish took one run and I lifted into it very gently, as I saw the take. The fish took off and as I held against it, without undue pressure. The rod snapped in the middle of the top section, a clean break. Not only did I loose the top half of the rod, but the fish fly and the rod tip which shot down the line and into the river. Needless to say I lost the lot, the eight pound leader went on the secondary impact also. I was curious to know if high modulus carbon snaps clean? And my next request is, if there is anyone out there with a top section for the rod please let me know, and how much it will cost. Regards SDD

Not been on the site for some time, (to busy fishin) but my last post was of a salmon caught on a purple flash allys shrimp. The fish was around nine and a half pounds. And I just thought I would share these few photo's with the site, and anyone interested. Fortunately the salmon are still running in my local river, The Owenmore Bangor Erris Co Mayo Ireland, and I had another a few weeks ago below the town. This fish put up a good battle for about 25 mins before i lifted it out of the shallows. I never use a landing net it gives the fish a better opportunity and evens the odds a bit. I also returned three smaller fish to the river on the same outing. This fish was to 9.2lbs and fell to an orange shrimp. Last week on Wednesday the river started to drop and lots of fish were showing, so I again tried to see if I could get a bit of sport. I hooked and released one grilse of about 3/4 pounds, then hooked this fish of around seven. Although it had been in the river for a week or two it fought well. This fish fell to a yellow allys shrimp. All of the fish that I have caught on this wonderful river have been gr8 fun and sport, if you are interested in fishing this river please contact or post to me for more details. Regards SDD

Hi everyone, just like to share this beauty with you. I was fishing my local river last week and managed to hook up with this lovely nine, plus pound fresh run Atlantic Salmon. This was the third one I hooked this year but the first to kill. It fell to a Purple Flash Shrimp Fly. And took me about 15 minutes to subdue to the shallows. I was using a Diawa Whisker Eleven Foot Seatrout rod, with weight forward 7 floating line, and was a gr8 scrap. The fly I got the fish on, has a tendancy to be very bright in the dark brackish waters of the Owenmore River Bangor Erris County Mayo. If you would like to see the fish and the fly go to; photobucket.com and look for silverdreamdaves photos.

If you are still looking for info on that ireland trip contact me whever you like. Flyfishing for rainbows and wild brownies in Donegal, Salmon fishing on the Moy Mayo, Pike fishing in the midlands, Sea fishing from rocks or boats. If I can help I will, i used to ghillie on the river Moy also.