Lough Swilly

While alongside at Rathmullan in my navy days and having pints in the White Harte I always wanted to have a go at fishing the pier. Since the girlfriend roped me into going to visit her friend in Ballybofey the rods were quietly put into the car on Friday evening and we left Dublin in the rush hour traffic.

On Saturday afternoon I slipped away and got up to the pier at about 2pm. I found it quite exposed with the wind blowing hard from the south up the Swilly and plenty of white horses on the water. I set up the stand trying to nestle the two rods in behind a concrete pillar but even at this I could see bite detection was going to be tough with the rod tips shaking in the wind. I set up two rods with a pulley pennell baited with sand eel on the multiplier and a two hook flapper with rag on the fixed spool. I had heard that there is a serious current in the lough but even with 6oz grip weights I was surprised to see the strength of it with baits being dragged from north to South every cast against the wind. Managing the two rods proved difficult with the lines constantly overlapping. I missed the first bite with a dogfish deeply hooking itself. The winds began to ease and I faired a bit better with the bite detection. Highwater was at 7 but had to leave half an hour before due to time constraints. All in all I was happy enough with what I caught. 4 dogfish and a gurnard fell to the sand eel and a small flattie to the Rag. The first Ray still eludes me but a return trip is on the cards hopefully before the winter sets in proper.

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Welcome to the hallowed Swilly lol. I'd say next time come May - July and if it's rays you're after, you shouldn't be disappointed. I'd say they're clearing out now but in season the ray fishing can be spectacular.

Finally getting the hang of the multiplier!

Eh, just how far out did you cast, to empty the spool like that? How did you get on finding bait?

smaller tides and a calmer day is the key, can get busy with goon anglers and fluff chuckers though when it's a nice day lol

Haha there was only about 120 yards of line on it from previous birds nests. A few of them lads showed up alright but sure what can you do. Got a couple of packets of frozen Sandeel off your man on the Ramelton road for fear it would thaw on the way up. Grand shop in fairness.


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Tis a low tide mark!..seems to be teeming with dogs at the moment too