LOUGH SWILLY

[fagan]

im heading to lough swilly next week to try and catch my first ray. whats the best tactics, and were is the best mark to fish for them????

thanks

john

[The Austrian]

Simple tackle and easy baits are the key tactics for Thornies as far as I'm concerned. Try to find a mark which has a decent tidal flow and start fishing about 2 hours before full and 2 hours thereafter. Evenings and mornings are always best.

An ordinarily, standard beach rod, capable of casting 5-6oz and a medium-sized casting multiplier in the Daiwa 7HT Mag or Penn 525 Mag range are the perfect kit, while 15 – 18 lb or 0.35 – 0.40 mm main line mono more than suffices.

For rough ground fuss-free pennel pulley rigs with a 30in snood of 40-50lb mono and 2/0 or 3/0 Kamasan B950U hooks connected up to 5oz or 6oz breakaway leads are all that's required. On cleaner ground you could try playing with up and down or loop rigs and two different baits, especially when the tide is running strong. Use gripper weights to hold ground.

Baits are no mystery either, sandeel, mackerel, squid all are good options. Sandeel/squid wraps are something of a confidence ray bait when there are lots of dogs about but meaty mackerel and squid baits bound together on the hooks with bait elastic would do well enough.

Hope this helps and tight lines!

[weedave]

well said Austrian!!!!

Fagan - as for marks - Fahan beach past the stream you'll see marker bouys for the boat channel anywhere along there. also buncranna pier or leenan pier/beach all produce fish. few other marks to but those are the most popular.

go early or late to the piers as mac bashers will be out!!

may be going then myself so keep in touch.

dave

[fagan]

Simple tackle and easy baits are the key tactics for Thornies as far as I'm concerned. Try to find a mark which has a decent tidal flow and start fishing about 2 hours before full and 2 hours thereafter. Evenings and mornings are always best.

An ordinarily, standard beach rod, capable of casting 5-6oz and a medium-sized casting multiplier in the Daiwa 7HT Mag or Penn 525 Mag range are the perfect kit, while 15 – 18 lb or 0.35 – 0.40 mm main line mono more than suffices.

For rough ground fuss-free pennel pulley rigs with a 30in snood of 40-50lb mono and 2/0 or 3/0 Kamasan B950U hooks connected up to 5oz or 6oz breakaway leads are all that's required. On cleaner ground you could try playing with up and down or loop rigs and two different baits, especially when the tide is running strong. Use gripper weights to hold ground.

Baits are no mystery either, sandeel, mackerel, squid all are good options. Sandeel/squid wraps are something of a confidence ray bait when there are lots of dogs about but meaty mackerel and squid baits bound together on the hooks with bait elastic would do well enough.

Hope this helps and tight lines!

thanks for the info m8, u couldnt get anymore detailed than that, thanks m8, ill let ya no how i get on.

[fagan]

well said Austrian!!!!

Fagan - as for marks - Fahan beach past the stream you'll see marker bouys for the boat channel anywhere along there. also buncranna pier or leenan pier/beach all produce fish. few other marks to but those are the most popular.

go early or late to the piers as mac bashers will be out!!

may be going then myself so keep in touch.

dave

thanks for the info dave!!! i was ment to go 2day but the weather has been disapointing to say the least, i think i mite go friday, just hope the wind calms down. ill let ya no how i get on,
thanks again m8!!!
fagan

[MC]

well said Austrian!!!!

Fagan - as for marks - Fahan beach past the stream you'll see marker bouys for the boat channel anywhere along there. also buncranna pier or leenan pier/beach all produce fish. few other marks to but those are the most popular.

go early or late to the piers as mac bashers will be out!!

may be going then myself so keep in touch.

dave

thanks for the info dave!!! i was ment to go 2day but the weather has been disapointing to say the least, i think i mite go friday, just hope the wind calms down. ill let ya no how i get on,
thanks again m8!!!
fagan

there is ray about but you have to get pass the doggies first, good luck and sandeel works well

[fagan]

well said Austrian!!!!

Fagan - as for marks - Fahan beach past the stream you'll see marker bouys for the boat channel anywhere along there. also buncranna pier or leenan pier/beach all produce fish. few other marks to but those are the most popular.

go early or late to the piers as mac bashers will be out!!

may be going then myself so keep in touch.

dave

thanks for the info dave!!! i was ment to go 2day but the weather has been disapointing to say the least, i think i mite go friday, just hope the wind calms down. ill let ya no how i get on,
thanks again m8!!!
fagan

there is ray about but you have to get pass the doggies first, good luck and sandeel works well

thanks mc, hope i get a ray but just hope the doggies go away for the day.

[fagan]

well guys do u know were i could get bait in that area??? tackle shops

[beachcaster]

your best bringing your bait with you as the tackle shops in the area dont stock much sea bait at all,and those that do some of it is pure crap to be honest.sandeels can be got in most of them but the quality is very poor and very old stock.