By the first week of June, County Kerry is normally standing-room-only, bursting at the seams with visitors from all over the world keen to experience the picturesque jewel in the tourism crown of southwest Ireland. This year, of course, everything was different.
Thankfully, one long-distance visitor was expected to be undeterred. From the start of June, Ireland’s coastline plays host to the grilse run as the salmon return to these shores after overwintering in the North Atlantic and make their way back to their birthplace.
This annual miracle happens right on my doorstep. Lough Currane, nestled between the coastal village of Waterville on Ballinskelligs Bay and the Dunkerron mountains of the Iveragh Pensinsula, provides a stunning backdrop for a run of both spring salmon and grilse and was considered, until quite recently, one of Ireland’s premier fisheries for sea trout.
More often to be found in saltier waters, I had never fished the lake before and was thus delighted to be offered the chance to spend a day with Dominic McGillicuddy, a ghillie of more than three decades’ experience.
When we spoke in early June, Dominic bemoaned the run of dry weather that had left the water levels in the lough unseasonably low. However, heavy rain was forecast and the highest tides of the month were just days away; the grilse had already shown up in Donegal, Galway and Clare and were expected to make the short journey up the Currane river and into the lough any day now.
Poor conditions
Denne historien er fra July 01, 2020-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
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Denne historien er fra July 01, 2020-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside