Big Rainbows on the Dry Fly at Ardaire Springs.

        

        

The wind was a strong northerly gusting upto 60 km per hour and the temperature was very cold only barely touching 5 degrees all day and when it dropped down lower you could feel it on the fly line as it started to stiffen up when casting due to the cold. Starting at the top of the lake there was a small bit of shelter from the wind and the trout were cruising around  picking up anything that had been blown in off the grass margins. I caught and released a few nice rainbow and brown trout close in on the dry fly and after spotting many trout aborting the final take with my polaroid glasses i changed over to a smaller klinkhammer pattern on the dropper and allowed the larger size dryfly to fish on the point giving the trout a choice in fly size just in case that was the issue with the refusals. I found that when the flies were out in the heavy wave the big fly was taken aggressively but on covering in close along the margins all the takes were on the smaller pattern so having that set up suited both areas and i kept getting hook ups all day long, the only problem was on hooking a large trout close in it dived down into a weed bed and straightened my small size 16 klinkhammer with ease. Moving into the lower part of the lake the wind was sending a good wave into the corner and i saw a few big rainbows actively taking off the surface so i cast a long line and allowed the flies to be carried naturally on the wave into the corner. The trout came up the wave and hit the dry flies very aggressively so i had to allow a slack line and once i felt the pressure of line moving away i lifted into the trout and they were off up the lake like cruise missiles. The trick was after casting mend into the wind and as the fly moved down the wave send some line after it thus increasing the natural drag free drift and this is how i got some great hook ups. As most anglers know rainbows do not like a good wave and normally that stirs up the browns but these rainbows had'nt read the book and were quite happy to attack the dry flies all day long. The trout were  great fighters and never gave up and also some of the big trout were in great shape and condition for this time of year and beautifully coloured. Will definitely be going back for the bigger ones.

Dry Fly Fishing at Ardaire Springs Trout Fishery.

Having arrived at the lake i noticed a number of trout rising near the reed beds so i decided to fish for them with dry flies. The trout were  coming to the dry fly and playing with it, swirling under the fly and then refusing to take it so i changed down to a smaller size Klinkhamer and an F Fly to cover  the trout better.  Some of the trout were launching themselves into the air and landing on the fly which was both exciting  and annoying as i was not hooking up due to the way they were landing on the flies. After a while the takes were slowing down and the trout were coming at the fly in a more positive way which led to better hook ups and great sport. I caught a number of great rainbows around the 3 to 4lb bracket and even one almost touching 5lb,  the brown trout were slow to show but i met and caught a few the best being 2lbs.

Giving the dry fly a rest for a few minutes i put on a  hot orange booby with a Di 6  sinking fly line and met a number of trout but they were able to shake off the barbless hook with ease, i was playing out a good rainbow of about 10lbs when it ran at me with lightening speed and went straight into weed and that is where it left my fly ( smart trout ). Going back to the Dry flies i caught a few more nice trout before it was time to finish up for the day and head home. My tips for fishing at Ardaire Springs ,(1) ask Ned he knows what the trout are taking and  where to fish for them, (2) Try the Dry fly, Klinkhamer's in size 14 & 16, both Black and Olive were working well.  (3) Di 3 or Di6 sinking lines using hot orange boobies or Humungus lures and also some snake fly patterns in white and natural are working well fished deep and slow. For more infomation contact Ned at 00353 (0) 868128937 or info@ardairesprings.com and if you tell Ned i sent you he will definitely treat you to a nice cup of tea, all in all a great fishing lake with all anglers needs catered for.