SPINNING ON LAKES AND RIVERS
A spinner is an artificial lure and a good angler always keeps a good supply…
These lures are made from metal, rubber ,wood or plastic. They are manufactured to resemble and imitate wounded or dying small fish and good spinners look “lifelike” to attract the fishes natural hunger and interest. Some have a blade at the end that revolves in the water to give the impression of a real fish when the lure is being retrieved toward the rod. These lures are attached to a triple hook which can be fitted with a red piece of wool to make it extra effective. Nowadays Spoons are also used and they bobble to draw the fishes attention.
The rubber lure comes in various colours, black, yellow and red and in several shapes and imitate real fish. All these lures have wire going trough them, otherwise the pike would cut it with his teeth, and this is very effective bait for pike fish, which have very sharp teeth. Plugs are made by much the same materials as the spinners and resemble real fish. Some plugs work on the surface making a splashing motion, others work in mid water and deep water plugs work in very deep water and can be used approximately at depths of up to 10 meters which means they can be used in the boat in several places in Lough Leane.
I use various kinds of spin fishing, I use tobies , plugs, Dexter wedge and sprat. I also use meps, bubble and fly and worms…
When I go to the river, the first thing is to observe is the debt and flow of the water and whether it is up or down wind. This determines what I use when I spin. I step back from the bank 3 to 5 feet so that my shadow and rod remain invisible to the fish. I usually use a small Toby or meps to cast upstream. My first cast will be upstream from one to three o clock, continuing to work clockwise to cover all angles of the pool. My favourite Method is to wind the spinner four times and stop and then wind again and stop. This gives the illusion that the fish is dead. Then when you wind again , this is when the fish takes the spinner.
All salmon and trout face upriver because the water can flow through their gills to keep them healthy. All fish have a fine layer of film on them, therefore you have to wet your hand before you handle the fish because otherwise you will cause burns. In the case of catch and release or small fish which you need to get go, if you cause burns to their skin, they will die when you put them back in the pool. I always take a damp towel with me to catch the fish for this reason and they are easier to hold to get the hook out quickly. I find great fulfilment spinning for salmon, trout and pike.
Our first Salmon Fishing Trip to Ireland will never be forgotten. Our instinct to ring Mick O’ Brien from Killarney Fishing Tours was fully justified. Mick is not only a ghillie, he instructs, he advises, he gives you a generous amount of his time, his expertise, his flies and his equipment and his knowledge is unbounded. His unerring good humour as you “tangle” with the three or four flies he makes you fish with, seems to make the whole exercise a joyous experience!
Elizabeth Harrington
Killarney International Fishing School
Tel: +353 87 122 9352 • Email: info@killarneyfishingtours.com
