IRELAND. NEW

BALLYSHANNON, COUNTY DONEGAL

Some of Ireland's most prolific game fishing can be found in this region of northwestern Ireland. Angling opportunities include salmon, trout and sea trout fishing in rivers, lakes and estuaries.

FISHERMAN'S LODGE: Located on the edge of the town of Bundoran, the lodge has bedrooms with ensuite baths, TVs, tea/coffee making machines, a good kitchen that provides full Irish breakfasts and packed hamper lunches. The lodge also has a comfortable gathering room for after fishing highballs. There is a drying and tackle storage facility, also a small tackle shop with the best local flies, lures and bait. The lodge has the best guides in the area and features a lovely 18 hole championship golf course.

Rate includes lodging, breakfast, box lunch, fully guided fishing, boat and motor when needed, all transport from lodge to river or loch, equipment if needed and waders if required. Five nights/4 full days of fishing $710.00 per person.

THE RIVER DROWES: Located only 1 kilometer from lodging, is one of Ireland's premier spring and summer salmon fisheries. Sea trout rarely enter it but it has a good stock of resident brown trout. The peak of the spring run is in April. The fishing can be very good in May and June with the peak of the grisle run.

LOUGH MELVIN: This lovely lake, located 4 miles from lodging, is without a doubt one of the very best wet fly fisheries in Ireland. It hosts three distinct subspecies of totally wild brown trout; the Gillaroo Trout, a special trout, the Songhan trout, a hard fighting fish with a large tail, plentiful

in these waters and the Ferox Trout, a large cannibal fish that is mostly caught trolling and occasionally on a large streamer.

ERNE ESTUARY: One of Ireland's most important sea trout fisheries, is located about twenty minutes from lodging, with fishing extending for two miles from Mall Quay in Ballyshannon to the bar mouth. The season opens March 1 but the fishing is best from May through June and July, and it can be very good in August. Sea trout range from 1 to 1 1/2 pounds.

OWENEA RIVER: The Owenea is probably Donegal's premier salmon and sea trout river and is located 30 miles from the lodge. It is a 16 mile long spate river that drains the mountain country of mid west Donegal. A spate river's quality of fishing is determined by water levels. There is a run of spring salmon in April-May, ranging 8 to 12 pounds and the

grisle begin to run in June. July and August are the two best months with September offering fair to good prospects.

HILL LOCHS: There are numerous hill lochs located within a 10 mile radius of the Lodge. They vary in quality with some offering excellent brown trout fly fisheries. Pike fishing is also available.

CALIFORNIA'S TROUT MECCA

Fall River

There is no doubt about it, northern California's Shasta County offers the best trout fishing in the state. Many say it is arguably better than Montana and Idaho. Most of the rivers are spring creeks, emerging from volcanic tubes and lava flows, the water filtering underground from the snows of Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta. There is never a shortage of remarkably fresh clean water that trout love. Fall River is our favorite. The river emerges full flowing from the ground, slowly meandering through the valley before meeting the Pit River. Fall River is fished exclusively from boats through some of the most pristine country on the face of the earth.

Recent fishery counts showed in excess of 9000 browns and rainbows in one two mile stretch. Besides fly fishing, lure fishing and trolling are also allowed. Whether you are a match the hatch enthusiast, or a wet fly angler who likes to go deep with streamers, nymphs or leaches, this wild rainbow stream rivals any in the west. As an example, in late June 2000, Joe Reeves of Sacramento, and his 16 year old son, in a half day session with top guide Bob Cockcroft, boated and released 19 wild rainbows running one to three pounds on their first fly fishing experience ever. Joe Fleig and Gordon Hakagawa said they "Actually lost count!" of the number of fish they landed when they fished the other half day with guide Cockcroft. They topped the day with Hakagaya's 26 inch rainbow.

 Fishing on the Fall River gets underway the first of May and is most consistent with nymphs and streamers.

In early June there is a major dun hatch mid mornings and the evening Hexegenia hatch begins. Don't miss this! During July the Hex hatch continues, callibaetis and trico spinners and small Baetis fill the scene. Come August and September fishing pressure slows and dun and spinner action continues. There is still good dry fly fishing and an opportunity for taking real trophy browns and rainbows on streamers in October until mid November. Duck season also opens and hunting is available. This is wild rice country where waterfowl are thick.

 The lodge at Fall River overlooks Eastman Lake and Lava Springs with easy access to the Fall River. A vast green lawn faces the water. Lodge rooms and cabins are comfortable and private. Meals are a highlight! The ambiance is very informal. In addition, anglers can fish the famous Hat Creek, the Pit and the McCloud River from the lodge. Fee fishing on private ranches is also available. Four nights/3 days fishing runs $1,195.00 double occupancy. The rate includes lodging, all meals, taxes, and 3 days guided fishing. There is a championship 18 hole golf course that Fidor's Golf Digest rates, just below Spyglass Hill, for excellence.

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CST 1010581-10