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Fly Fishing on the Dodder

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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,107 ✭✭✭flanum


    dunno what tiny fly your fishing, but i found "gink" works well... very sparsely... a tiny drop on your fingers and rub it into the fly.. then blow like feck onto th fly to dry it into it... then just drop the fly into the water at your feet to let the oil out... youll see the film of oil... then retreive it up again.. give it a few false casts or swishes then cast out again... should be sittin lovely within the film of the surface then.. above and under!!


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    Thanks lads i tried the 3lb leader the other day on the dodder had a few rises to my dry midge fly but they are fast feckers kept missing them but great crack.


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    DickieBowe wrote: »
    Have to say CJ is bang on the money, as far as line thickness goes, clearly a case of "less is more"

    Might i make one suggestion, that you walk up from the Spawell towards
    the South and try near the Boxing Club.

    Hope this helps.

    Hi thanks were is that boxing club whats it near


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 b.w.ollie


    I find it is not so much the breaking strain of the line that counts as the diameter for example i use ''frog hair'' tippet. 4.9lb (5x)frog hair is as thin as 3lb ''maxima'' nylon. love the stuff. ''Rio'' is a close second (''stroft'' I don't like. it tend to hold kinks I find) i'm sure others have their favourites too. one thing is NOT to use fluorocarbon tippet dry fly fishing as it tends to be very flashy above the surface as all above are available in ''fluro'' as well as copolymer ''poly' go for the copolymer for dry. unfortunately frog hair is expensive and comes in only 30yd spools.but dodder trout are worth it. don.t go under 3lb as they take fast and you will end up snapping them off on the strike. for leader length if you use straight through go about a rod and a quarter length as a good start. one tip if you are fishing in rough water in the weirs or at night you can shorten the leader right down to around 5ft this helps judge where the fly is if you can't see it (trout are less careful at night) tapererd leaders do help presentation but I use a poly leader &tippet but thats just my preference 'hope this is some use to you.tight lines


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    b.w.ollie wrote: »
    I find it is not so much the breaking strain of the line that counts as the diameter for example i use ''frog hair'' tippet. 4.9lb (5x)frog hair is as thin as 3lb ''maxima'' nylon. love the stuff. ''Rio'' is a close second (''stroft'' I don't like. it tend to hold kinks I find) i'm sure others have their favourites too. one thing is NOT to use fluorocarbon tippet dry fly fishing as it tends to be very flashy above the surface as all above are available in ''fluro'' as well as copolymer ''poly' go for the copolymer for dry. unfortunately frog hair is expensive and comes in only 30yd spools.but dodder trout are worth it. don.t go under 3lb as they take fast and you will end up snapping them off on the strike. for leader length if you use straight through go about a rod and a quarter length as a good start. one tip if you are fishing in rough water in the weirs or at night you can shorten the leader right down to around 5ft this helps judge where the fly is if you can't see it (trout are less careful at night) tapererd leaders do help presentation but I use a poly leader &tippet but thats just my preference 'hope this is some use to you.tight lines

    Hi thanks for the advice could i use a straight through 3lb poly leader and would it turn over ok


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  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 3,455 Mod ✭✭✭✭coolwings


    I would always use a straight through leader when the wind is behind me. Double the end over and tie the doubled 3lbs to a 10-12lb wear & tear collar of line on the end of the flyline with a 4 turn water knot, or double uni knot.

    For fancier presentation in a headwind: tippet 4' length 3lbs Maxima would be my standard choice, off 5' of 6lbs, off an 18" 10-12lbs permanent collar on the end of the flyline.

    Those setups would be for single fly presentations. I suppose they are simple setups compared to what some people use, but they work for me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    Just a couple of hours this afternoon. Had to use my lake rod as my river rod had been broken a few weeks back. It made casting a bit awkward but nothing I couldnt get around. The little brownies were rising everywhere I missed a good few rises and managed to land two of them. They are cool little fish they go bonkers when they are hooked. All of them were hooked on small black midge patterns using a 9ft tapered leader with a 4lb tippet.
    Photo0199.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    coolwings wrote: »
    I would always use a straight through leader when the wind is behind me. Double the end over and tie the doubled 3lbs to a 10-12lb wear & tear collar of line on the end of the flyline with a 4 turn water knot, or double uni knot.

    For fancier presentation in a headwind: tippet 4' length 3lbs Maxima would be my standard choice, off 5' of 6lbs, off an 18" 10-12lbs permanent collar on the end of the flyline.

    Those setups would be for single fly presentations. I suppose they are simple setups compared to what some people use, but they work for me.

    Thanks coolwings will give that set up a go


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    jack01986 wrote: »
    Just a couple of hours this afternoon. Had to use my lake rod as my river rod had been broken a few weeks back. It made casting a bit awkward but nothing I couldnt get around. The little brownies were rising everywhere I missed a good few rises and managed to land two of them. They are cool little fish they go bonkers when they are hooked. All of them were hooked on small black midge patterns using a 9ft tapered leader with a 4lb tippet.
    Photo0199.jpg
    nice spot.


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    coolwings wrote: »
    I would always use a straight through leader when the wind is behind me. Double the end over and tie the doubled 3lbs to a 10-12lb wear & tear collar of line on the end of the flyline with a 4 turn water knot, or double uni knot.

    For fancier presentation in a headwind: tippet 4' length 3lbs Maxima would be my standard choice, off 5' of 6lbs, off an 18" 10-12lbs permanent collar on the end of the flyline.

    Those setups would be for single fly presentations. I suppose they are simple setups compared to what some people use, but they work for me.

    Hi Just meant to ask you would you use floatant on your leader or dry fly and would it be even worth putting gink on a dry midge fly.


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  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 3,455 Mod ✭✭✭✭coolwings


    It's personal but this is "my" system:
    I use grease on the end of the fly line for dry, emerger, and nymphing the top.
    The grease is put onto the leader (top part only) down to a knot, if I want to fish just under the surface film. the leader below that is degreased with a "sinkmix" to dull it's colour, roughen it's surface, and generally get it down.

    The depth of emergers is managed by partial greasing the leader upper sections, and a "infinitismal slow crawl" retrieve to manage the angle of the sunken "hanging" part with the fly on it.
    For this reason I only rarely put on a float/indicator. Nymphing without is more skillful and more difficult than using a bung, but well worth learning because once mastered it is more effective in most conditions, since slight movement of a buzzer pupa locks the trout's attention better than exact imitation with a more static presentation.
    When you grease the top of the leader, degrease the tippet and middle, and retrieve at 1" per 5 seconds, a take is registered sooner giving a more leisurely response, and more fine tuning time for the strike. The leader seems to disappear down a hole in the water surface, an optical illusion, and the line tip moves towards the fly. I firmly believe that this is a more sensitive way than indicators, and takes are observed that go unseen with the other way of doing it.
    So leader grease with sunk presentations and sinkant with floating presentations, and both with sub surface just below the film stuff.

    And you're right - Gink on a dry midge works great on the Dodder.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    What are the main fly hatches on the river? I saw some quite sizeable flies hatch off the water yesterday they were brownish in colour?


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    coolwings wrote: »
    It's personal but this is "my" system:
    I use grease on the end of the fly line for dry, emerger, and nymphing the top.
    The grease is put onto the leader (top part only) down to a knot, if I want to fish just under the surface film. the leader below that is degreased with a "sinkmix" to dull it's colour, roughen it's surface, and generally get it down.

    The depth of emergers is managed by partial greasing the leader upper sections, and a "infinitismal slow crawl" retrieve to manage the angle of the sunken "hanging" part with the fly on it.
    For this reason I only rarely put on a float/indicator. Nymphing without is more skillful and more difficult than using a bung, but well worth learning because once mastered it is more effective in most conditions, since slight movement of a buzzer pupa locks the trout's attention better than exact imitation with a more static presentation.
    When you grease the top of the leader, degrease the tippet and middle, and retrieve at 1" per 5 seconds, a take is registered sooner giving a more leisurely response, and more fine tuning time for the strike. The leader seems to disappear down a hole in the water surface, an optical illusion, and the line tip moves towards the fly. I firmly believe that this is a more sensitive way than indicators, and takes are observed that go unseen with the other way of doing it.
    So leader grease with sunk presentations and sinkant with floating presentations, and both with sub surface just below the film stuff.

    And you're right - Gink on a dry midge works great on the Dodder.


    Thanks for that info much appreciated


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 b.w.ollie


    Hi thanks for the advice could i use a straight through 3lb poly leader and would it turn over ok
    ''polyleaders'' are short (about a yard long) tapered leaders that have a loop on one ,sometimes both ends . they are made by ''Airflo'' they go on the end of your flyline to taper it to a finer line. They replace the first or butt section of homemade tapered leaders. they come in a range of floating. sinking, fast sink etc.some are made by covering heavy nylon with a pvc type coat. others are a braided section. I like to use the floating braided ones with a 4-6ft length of tippet.depending on rod length, wind ,current etc.they come in clear ,white and hi-vis orange for the floating. and dark colours in the sinking. I prefer the nylon/pvc in the sinking. now for a tip.get a fast-sink polyleader and keep it in your bag/fishing jacket. the next time your out dryfly fishing and there is not much on so you want to fish wetfly you can stick the fast sink polyleader on and turn your floating line into a sinktip to fish nymphs etc. note that this is only for shallow waters like rivers.but it can save you carring around a spare reel and wetline or having to walk back to the car to get it.
    another tip if you miss a fish.fail to strike and he refuses to take again CHANGE THE FLY, same pattern size etc. if they have not been nicked by the hook or too spooked they'll take it.and also take up fly tying most shop flies for the Dodder are too big.tying is not difficult.and it improves your casting!..if you have a few flies of the same pattern in the box (and can tie more) you tend to cast more confidently into over hung areas.If you've got only one fly of that pattern... Sods law guarantees you'll get it caught on the bush/tree..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 b.w.ollie


    sorry I forgot to mention ''Polyleaders'' are not used alone but you add on a leader /tippet at the thin end use about 3lb breaking strain for the Dodder.


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    Thanks for the info. Is there anybody heading out to the dodder for the wkd what lovely evenings for fly fishing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    I'll be out at some stage over the weekend for sure. Cant miss out on the good weather. I'll be guy sweating his head off in his neoprene waders probably.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 3,455 Mod ✭✭✭✭coolwings


    I will likely pop down for the evening rise too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,362 ✭✭✭fourmations


    i'll be down as well

    dodder park rd area as usual

    cheers


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    Was down in clonskeagh area of the dodder again today rain was a bit much as I forgot my rainjacket. Managed two small brownies out of the same section had a bit of an audience for the second one. Need to get myself a small landing net as well. Anyone got any tips for fishing the deeper pools below the weirs?
    Photo0214.jpg


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  • Registered Users Posts: 121 ✭✭cj salmon


    well done,you brave the weather and got a reward,must be in flood by now??? pretty little brownie ,wet fly???


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    Ye it was high enough when I was fishing its say its flooding now. Managed to get them on dry fly and wet. Got the bigger of the two on a size 16 black midge and the one in the pic on some grizze hackle fly not sure what its called.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32 peter74


    Recent rain on Sunday made river down below Ballsbridge college look like not flushed toilette. River is now full of toilet paper hanging from every stone in the river.:(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    Thats really annoying, it must be coming from around the Ballsbridge area because I was fishing from Herbert Park up towards Clonskeagh over the last few days and there was nothing apart from the usual rubbish there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32 peter74


    This is the case of pipe just under Ballsbridge college from where all the sewage is coming from.I already sent email to fishery boards. hopefully something will be done.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    What email did you send it to? I'll send them one as well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭ironbluedun


    peter74 wrote: »
    .I already sent email to fishery boards. hopefully something will be done.

    someone pick me up off the floor..........i have keeled over with a bout of outrageous uncontrolled laughter……..


  • Registered Users Posts: 117 ✭✭katy39


    Hello all , I was with my boyfriend while he was fishing the Dodder along the Dodder road section, when a woman threw her dog in where he was fishing , he protested at this but she dismissed his protest because she said she was a resident and perfectly entitled to let her dog swim in the river ,does anyone know what is the Law, rules , etiquette is in this regard ?
    Thanks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    katy39 wrote: »
    does anyone know what is the Law, rules , etiquette is in this regard ?
    Thanks.

    Common sense would say that she should find another spot to move on to but that rarely happens. It happened me the other day. Nobody owns the river so she cant say that she has more rights to it than anyone else.

    Was there this evening as well caught a nice trout my best one so far anyway put up a serious scrap on the new rod he was about 12" long.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    Another little brownie from the Dodder. Hooked four fish in the same spot only landed this guy. They were all jumping like mad and gave a lively fight.
    Photo0226.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 b.w.ollie


    katy39 wrote: »
    Hello all , I was with my boyfriend while he was fishing the Dodder along the Dodder road section, when a woman threw her dog in where he was fishing , he protested at this but she dismissed his protest because she said she was a resident and perfectly entitled to let her dog swim in the river ,does anyone know what is the Law, rules , etiquette is in this regard ?
    Thanks.
    the dog is in a public place and therefore should be kept on a lead, being a resident gives her no special rights to the river.when it has happened to me I usually point out that I pay to fish the river and when they pay to swim their fido then I'll give way. Also you could helpfully point out that there are a lot of rats on the river and you hope their dog has had its annual shot for leptospiral jaundice (a horrible disease for a dog to die from) got from rat's urine in the water. (there is a very, very slight chance of this but hopefully she wont know this and most dog owners have heard of it).. still as an old guy I used knew used to say ''there's not much use in being ignorant unless you can show it''


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    jack01986 wrote: »
    Another little brownie from the Dodder. Hooked four fish in the same spot only landed this guy. They were all jumping like mad and gave a lively fight.
    Photo0226.jpg
    Nice trout what fly did you hook him on?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,157 ✭✭✭Compton


    not a good idea to put a trout on rocks like that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    shblob wrote: »
    not a good idea to put a trout on rocks like that.

    Cool I'll remember that for next time (need to get a net). It swam away no problem just held him in the current and he went off like a rocket.

    Im not sure of the name of the fly but it was a size 18 deer hair dry fly with an olive green body and silver rib. Hope that helps.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,157 ✭✭✭Compton


    wet grass is fine, but best to release in the water. Also, wet your hand before touching fish. (Unless you intend to keep it then it doesn't matter :P )


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 375 ✭✭fisherking


    youll get a cheap catch and release net (like a macenroe tennis racket...) on ebay for peanuts....


  • Registered Users Posts: 121 ✭✭cj salmon


    b.w.ollie wrote: »
    the dog is in a public place and therefore should be kept on a lead, being a resident gives her no special rights to the river.when it has happened to me I usually point out that I pay to fish the river and when they pay to swim their fido then I'll give way. Also you could helpfully point out that there are a lot of rats on the river and you hope their dog has had its annual shot for leptospiral jaundice (a horrible disease for a dog to die from) got from rat's urine in the water. (there is a very, very slight chance of this but hopefully she wont know this and most dog owners have heard of it).. still as an old guy I used knew used to say ''there's not much use in being ignorant unless you can show it''


    i went through a phase early season of getting into arguments with dog walkers.if its fishing season people should have respect that there is a chance of people fishing the river during this time.and to have a bit of respect.
    you wouldnt go into krufts show waving your fly rod around!!!!
    well thats a bit far fetched ,,,,you get it fetch!!!!! :rolleyes:

    anyway as pointed out above,you pay your licence and they are essentially breaking a bye law without a leash.
    ive had to walk away from a pool as every fish in it had been spooked by a tennis ball and a golden labrador.i like dogs as much as the next person,but they aint all that nice swimming across my fishing outing i have waited all week for.

    ok rant over cheers


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32 peter74


    Had a nice late evening on Dodder yesterday. Caught 6 brownies and salmon parr after 9.30pm. All on dries.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    Thats a nice evenings fishing. Did you see anyone fishing in the competition yesterday? I thought about entering but couldnt get off work.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32 peter74


    I think it was competition for juveniles. And l am a bit older.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 187 ✭✭wgsten


    peter74 wrote: »
    Had a nice late evening on Dodder yesterday. Caught 6 brownies and salmon parr after 9.30pm. All on dries.
    Nice fishing, great to hear of Salmon parr in the Dodder.

    wgsten

    http://www.irishflyfisher.ie/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    peter74 wrote: »
    I think it was competition for juveniles. And l am a bit older.

    Ah I see Im no juvenile either:). Nice fishing all the same, nice to see the salmon parr showing up.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,186 ✭✭✭Kippure


    peter74 wrote: »
    I think it was competition for juveniles. And l am a bit older.

    Was looking at the fishing permit card and the miami cup and o conner cup were both on wednesday night.

    Does anyone know how many fish were caught for the competitions?

    Couldnt get down to it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,186 ✭✭✭Kippure


    peter74 wrote: »
    Had a nice late evening on Dodder yesterday. Caught 6 brownies and salmon parr after 9.30pm. All on dries.

    The river is full of salmon parr at lower levels.....I,ve seen spent salmon after spawn floating down to the dart bridge and lingering in the tides for days before an otter gets to it, or the rats....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 b.w.ollie


    peter74 wrote: »
    I think it was competition for juveniles. And l am a bit older.
    two competitions are fished the same night the Miami cup is an open fly-only for all. and the O'Conner cup is for fly only for juniors .
    also I hear there is a river 'clean up' on wednesday next meeting at dropping well car park.??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 b.w.ollie


    good lot of work done on wednesday.Another clean up being held on monday(weather permitting)5th july,meeting at Orwell bridge.about 7.00pm c'mon lads give something back to the river..also as I said on another thread it is a great opportunity for you new to fly fishing to pick up some hints and advice as after the work is done most hang around for a chat, and there ar guys there who have fished the Dodder for decades and are only too willing to advise you .So come along and pick up some rubbish (from the river)and some tips (from the lads).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    Pulled a wheelie bin and its rubbish out of the river in clonskeagh. Someone had set it on fire and threw it into the river. Fish didnt seem to mind. The amount of rises I missed was crazy I think the hooks were too big size 18. Ordered size 20 and 22's to tie up. Gonna need a microscope.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭jack01986


    Popped out for an hour this evening had tied up some elk hair sedges and wanted to try them out. The colour matched what was hatching pretty well so was a bit hopeful. Got two little ones just up from the dropping well had a few more throw the hook as well. Size 16 still to big I think.
    IMG_0075.jpg

    IMG_0076-1.jpg

    IMG_0077-1.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 27 love to fly fish


    Could anyone tell me what is the best wet fly and nymph to use on the dodder and the size. I was out fly fishing the dodder today in the rain no rising fish but enjoyed it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 101 ✭✭bonzer79


    Well had my first visit to The Dodder this evening and glad to report that the weather held up and after an hour of blanking and chopping and changing flies I decided on a move to near The Dropping Well and BANG success, bites galore but it being the first time out for 3 years I was out smarted by the cunning trout! Its getting dark and I revert to old faithful olive fly and finally into a Monster! well all 5 inches of angry Dodder trout:D
    Within 10 minutes the second was landed and was just under 9 inches :eek: I'm thinking please keep em coming before I have to hit the road, Well that was the end of my night but I did have a chat with a fellow sadist who had been out earlier and was just walking the dogs(Well trained I might add! The didnt enter the water)
    So I guess if the weather hold I might bump into a few of you fellow Dodder anglers soon and hopefully the odd trout too!!


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