Beatnik69
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South Woodburn - Upper and MiddleI called up yesterday morning for a few hours and started fishing the top dam at about 10.30. I would have liked to have started earlier but a late night and shortage of sleep put paid to that. I spoke to a fellow angler as I arrived who had caught one about an hour previously and said there had been fish rising. I started fishing with a size 10 nymph/lure I tied up that morning and very soon was into a fish. Bear in mind that these are all wild brown trout. The trout was about the lenght of my hand and got off the hook as I was about to bring it to hand to release it. I then noticed a number of largish shucks on the water so put a CDC Hare's ear shuttlecock on the top dropper, a Diawl Bach on the middle and a buzzer on the point (brown body, olive flexi floss rib, orange biot cheeks) and soon was into a fish. I netted it and it was a stunning brownie of about 1lb to 1.5lb. Fish were starting to rise now and were going for the shuttlecock. In fact the fish were going mental for the shuttlecock. Unfortunatley most of these fish were juveniles and the fly was probably a bit big for them, so they were snapping at it but not taking apart from one little chap who wanaged to hook himself in the scissors. My rod was a 7 weight and as I retrieved he skipped across the surface. I was able to unhook him and set him free, but he was absolutely beautiful looking; just a perfect little brown trout. If these fish get the chance I think that next year the fishing should be excellent on this dam as there is a great variety of fly life and the fish should be able to pack the weight on. I don't think too many people fish it and there is a two fish limit.
I then loved down to the middle where I saw a couple of fish rise and after a while hooked one on either a bloodworm or the same brown and olive buzzer. Alas, that was it for the day, pretty much, as the sun was very strong and there wasn't as much fly life hatching off.
Both dams are very low at the minute so some care is needed on the mud as it can be very soft in places. I looked down towards the settler and it is very high as was Lough Mourne when I called over for a look earlier in the morning.
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fossil-fish
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Beatnik,
Sounds a great day. Those browns are certainly something worth catching. You can only hope that this water gets a little more protection by the virtue of the distance to reach it. It will certainly receive none from the powers that be, and the lack of access is an inconvenience to genuine anglers.
Whilst walking round it about this time last year I noticed a number of tents right at the waters edge. I would imagine that people are removing these fish illegally as they do on the other ones. The fires, litter and other problems are bound to follow. Enjoy it while it lasts.
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Beatnik69
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I was up again yesterday and today. The weather was a bit temperamental with the wind changing direction and when the sun went behind the clouds itgot rather cool. There were also some showers of rain today. fish wise it was pretty similar to last time. Yesterday, early on, I caught a couple of tiddlers and one good fish on a Hare's Ear and the brown/olive buzzer then nothing. Today I got one tiddler, which escaped, on the Hare's Ear then in the afternoon I started getting them on the buzzer. I had fun with the small fish, as did my dad who also got one of around 3/4lb. The fish are all stunning; the larger ones are buttery gold with dark spots and orange tinged fins and the small ones have beautiful red spots. Disappointingly there was one guy up spinning  but I didn't see him catch anything.
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fossil-fish
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Gary,
What was the lower like? I would need to take the ole fella out some day soon and he only bait fishes. Wouldn't mind taking him somewhere I could still fly fish.
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Beatnik69
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Michael,
the Settler is high. I didn't go down to it but you can see it as you drive past. The middle is fly only but disabled anglers are allowed to fish the worm and spin; I'm not sure if that applies to pensioners as well but the back of your permit will tell you. Lough Mourne is also high. I've not been to Marshallstown or the Wee North but I think the latter might be down a bit.
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fossil-fish
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Gary,
Cheers, he can fish the middle, but didn't bother to get the key this year.  Don't think he would fancy the walk from the other car parks.
Might take him to Lower South, but another option is to to take my spinning gear to Lough Mourne. I have heard some very interesting rumours. 
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