Connamara And Ballynahinch

In this western region there are some beautiful lakes and rivers, once
celebrated for the abundance of Salmon and Trout which they contained,
but, alas! the "weirs" and nets have "wed" them all away, to the grief
of the tourist angler, who might have enjoyed the "wild sports of the
west." So he will yet, for there is a reformation to take place that
will restore them to their pristine numbers both in lake and river. They
are about to take down the "weirs," and net the bays, which will not
only give the Salmon a free passage up, but augment them a
hundred-fold,--then, "hurrah for Connamara, the land of the west." Derry
Clare Lake is a good one for the fly, so is Lough Inna, and above and
below the "weirs." If the generous proprietors of the fishery would
consult upon the subject, they would immediately put a stop to the
obstructions, if not, it it is quite impossible that there can be good
fishing up to Lough Inna. Thirty gentlemen might fly fish these waters
without the least inconvenience, were the Salmon allowed to go free.

The Salmon Flies for Connamara are rather small and plain; various
brown, black, red, olive, and orange flies kill well, ribbed with gold
and silver. Those Sea-Trout ones, described for Waterville, do also
well, and orange floss silk, ribbed with gold, small topping for tail,
jay round the head, and mallard mixed wings. Hook C or CC.

A small black fly, yellow tag, topping for tail, rib of silver, teal,
and golden pheasant neck, breast feather of the peacock wing, mixed,
blue feelers of macaw, jay at the shoulder. Hook B, or No. 9. A green
body, ribbed with gold, black red hackle, orange macaw, or cock of the
rock feather in the tail, short; a nice mixed gaudy wing, with a good
deal of mallard and wood-duck prevailing, or silver pheasant wing, the
hen bird is best. C, CC or B hook; vary the size for high and low water.
A small claret fly, and the three flies in the Plates, Nos. 3, 4, and 5,
with No. 11, all made on small hooks, these are the sorts to kill. The
Sea-Trout ones are very small black and red hackles, grouse and wren
hackles, dun flies, and little brown ants, hare's ear and yellow,
silver greys, and the small flies enumerated in the catalogue. Use a
sixteen feet salmon rod, and single gut casting lines, with one or two
twisted lengths next to the reel line, which should be plaited silk and
hair. There are plenty of boats and boatmen to be had at Ballynahinch
River and Lakes, all civil fellows, and if used with common kindness and
decency, they will confess that "the English anglers are the best
fellows in the whole world,--Good luck to their honors. Long life to
their honors."

The scenery of this wild country is quite equal to any in Scotland, if
the intelligent tourist angler would be at the pains of penetrating into
the mountainous regions which surround Connamara. The islands in the
bays are interesting and beautiful, as well as the stupendous hills
standing up in order like giants, as it were, to bid defiance to the
wild waves of the great Atlantic.

Ireland is proverbial for the finest breeding rivers in the world for
Salmon and Trout, in no country can there be found such splendid rivers
and lakes for Salmon; see, for instance, the rivers Shannon, Erin, Bann,
and the stupendous lakes out of which they issue, and of which, it is
sufficient to show, that at "Burn Cranna," two miles below Coleraine,
with the cross nets, three tons of Salmon were caught in one day by the
fishermen some years back. This will give an idea of what the rivers in
Ireland, in general, can produce. The Bann is preserved in the right
season for the fry to come to perfection in great shoals, and from March
till August the nets and "cruives" are worked.

The flavour and quality of the Irish Salmon far exceed those of any
other part of the United Kingdom, for when the fish are sent up from the
north to the London markets they often lose their flavour, if not
properly packed in the ice boxes; how can it be otherwise, when the
distance is considered. The real Salmon of the Tweed, Tay, and Spay, are
delicious, through the quickness of transit.

Above Ballynahinch are seen the "Twelve Pins," or rocky precipices of
"Beanabola." On the right of this mountainous road, beyond Ballynahinch,
opposite the beautiful island of "Ennisbofine," are seen green mountain
heights of great elevation, with romantic winding vallies, rivers, and
views, that strike the heart with admiration.

There is a large river in this neighbourhood, called the "Owen Rieve,"
which abounds with Salmon, and falls into the sea south of Clue Bay. At
the head of the Bay, a short way up, there is a Salmon Fishery, but no
inn.





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Previous: Lough Curran Waterville

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