where to fish on the famous shannon.

hi lads.im driving a mate of mine to castletownbear to pick up sumthing.we r stayin the nite on bear island and headin back to mayo the next day.im gonna stop off on the shannon for a cast as i have heard about the famous thornies there.so can any1 pm or give me an area to fish and help me catch on the famous shannon.im just gonna have mackerel and sandeel with me.any info wud be great lads

thanx and hope to get replies


Brian

Best advice is just dont bother.

The shannon is overrated and there is much better thornie fishing in Galway/Mayo.

If it was me I would actually just spend more time in Castletownbere, there is a chance of spotted and blonde ray from the shore down there as well as a lot of other species.

There will probably be a few on here to defend the Shannons "fantasic" reputation but in general it fishes sh1te.

The Shannon is long past it's heydays and people come down expecting it to fish like it does on the telly. There are a few consistant marks but even they seem to get worse every year. It needs a lot of time put in to find where the rays are and 100 yards each side of a mark may be no good at all.
If it is of any consolation the best fishing last year was the last two weeks of June.
If you are still determined to try it pm me and I will point you in a starting direction

Best advice is just dont bother.

The shannon is overrated and there is much better thornie fishing in Galway/Mayo.

If it was me I would actually just spend more time in Castletownbere, there is a chance of spotted and blonde ray from the shore down there as well as a lot of other species.

There will probably be a few on here to defend the Shannons "fantasic" reputation but in general it fishes sh1te.

If you know how to fish the Shannon and where to fish it you will have no problem catching fish I have been fishing the Shannon for 23 years and hardly ever fish the marks that are mentioned on the maps books internet etc its all about local knowledge experience etc

Big chunky baits and long flowing traces wishbone rigs etc are the way to go in the Shannon not the standard pully rigs that are common these days old school tactics work best in the Shannon with as I said big chunky baits....

nthclare,

Any chance sharing these 'magic marks'? I've given up on the estuary as I'm fed up of blanking, and even more sick of the pro's on both the north and south shore of the estuary posting abstract reports of secret venues that produce fish as if by magic.

the place can fish and well, but it's completely hit and miss. there's so much water, the fish can be anywhere and fishing unpredictable. Furthermore, take a stroll along any of the piers that are used by commercial boats, and you'll see tonnes of rotten ray and monk fish that have been dredged off the bottom for pot bait......disgraceful.

I used to fish the estuary alot more in the past, but i've drifted back to coarse fishing in order to enjoy my fishing trips, and actually catch a few fish, atleast with the coarse fishing, i just have to contend with littering, pike eating non nationals.


Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. PS if anyone wants any info on east clare lakes feel free to pm me.


Patrick

nthclare,

Any chance sharing these 'magic marks'? I've given up on the estuary as I'm fed up of blanking, and even more sick of the pro's on both the north and south shore of the estuary posting abstract reports of secret venues that produce fish as if by magic.

Noooo, Silly hobbits. There mine, There my precious,

Frodo Baggins...where in East Clare are you ?

Local knowledge on the Estuary is crucial...when Henry Gilby and a few others caught well for TV they were expertly advised. I haven't fished the Estuary much in the last 5 years due to other committments and moving house but I used to have great fishing near Kilteery, Glin and Tarbert on the south side and Labasheeda, Kilrush and Poulnasherry on the north side. I had up-to-date information and plenty of local knowledge but it can be a difficult place without that.