BLACKWATER FLY FISHING & GHILLIE COTTAGE
Fishing Etiquette for Salmon Anglers
Follow these simple rules to ensure harmony and safety whilst Salmon Fishing.IN ALL SITUATIONS THE FLY FISHER HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY !!!!!!!
CARRY YOUR FISHERIES BOARD ROD LICENCE WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES ~ Fishery Board Officers make regular visits to the river to check licences.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ON THE CORRECT BEAT, THAT YOU KNOW THE UPPER AND LOWER BOUNDARIES AND THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF THE FISHERY ~ Do not stray on to other beats or onto the opposite bank.
LEFT or RIGHT BANK ~ This determines which bank you are fishing from. Look down river, if the bank that you are on is on your Left side and the river is to your Right, then you are fishing on THE LEFT BANK and vice versa.
NEVER START FISHING IN FRONT OF (i.e. DOWNSTREAM OF) ANY ANGLER WHO IS ALREADY ON THE WATER, EITHER ON YOUR OWN OR THE OPPOSITE BANK. ~ Go to the top of the beat and fish down behind the angler. This applies to ALL ANGLERS as each bank may belong to a different fishery.
NEVER WADE PAST THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER ~ It is not your ground. Ideally you should not wade more than one third of the way in. Cast further - rather than wade.
NEVER CAST BACK TOWARDS YOUR OWN BANK ~ It is not your 'water'.
KEEP WELL AWAY FROM THE BANK OF THE RIVER WHEN NOT FISHING
~ So that you will not disturb the Fish or any Angler already on the river.NEVER 'HOG' A LIE ON THE RIVER ~ Take two casts and then take a pace downstream.
By doing this, rods from both banks will be able to fish in harmony. When you have reached the downstream limit of your beat, walk back to the top, keeping well away from the bank and start again.DO NOT WEAR BRIGHT COLOURED CLOTHING WHEN ON THE RIVER ~Stick to Green and Brown which blend in with the surroundings and do not frighten the Fish !
NEVER LEAVE RUBBISH OR DISCARDED NYLON ON THE BANKS
~ Take it home.IF GATES ARE OPEN WHEN YOU ARRIVE LEAVE THEM OPEN
~ IF THEY ARE CLOSED KEEP THEM CLOSED.BEWARE OF ELECTRIC WIRES AND CATTLE FENCES ~ Carbon Rods are great conductors of electricity.
BEWARE OF ERODED RIVER BANKS ~ They might collapse or fall in on you.
RETURN ALL COLOURED SALMON ~ They are getting ready to spawn, to breed the future Salmon Stocks. ~ If you kill the breeding Fish, the species will die out!!!
RETURN ALL KELTS ~ It is unlawful to kill a Kelt ~ They have already spawned and are making their way back to sea.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOU WHO IS NOT FISHING ~ Please ensure that they do not wear bright clothes, as this will scare the Salmon. Keep your guests well away from the bank and ask them to be quiet and not disturb the peace of other Anglers.
© Doug Lock April 1999 e mail
Ghillie Cottage, Kilbarry Stud, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland tel. +353 25 32720 fax. +353 25 33000