Good morning from a spookley still Foxford, the calm before the storm.We have had another mixed week with some strong wind and heavy rain and with storm Darragh on the way it looks like the next few days will be no better. Water levels were falling but are once again on the rise. The Moy is now at 1.6m at Ballylahan bridge, it will be interesting to see what happens over the weekend. Once the wind dies down a little we will try launching a boat on one of the local Loughs for some more fun with the Pike.
Its coming close to Christmas and we are getting lots of phone calls for Christmas gifts. A lot of these calls come from wives and partners of anglers who do not really know what they want to buy. They ask for ideas or advise on what would be suitable. Inevitably this question is always met with ten return questions, what do they fish for, where do they fish, river or lake, what have they got, so on and so forth. It is a difficult one to get right. Of course, we want to make a sale but we also want a happy customer. Over time we have discovered that its best to recommend items that will be of use even if the recipient has one already. Here is a list of a few popular and useful ideas for a salmon angler, you could print it and leave on the kitchen table.
An 11 foot spin/bait rod
Everyone has a favourite size and nowadays we see more and more seven-to-nine-foot rods appearing on the market. However, the most popular length for multipurpose use on the River Moy has for many years been eleven feet (3.3m). Designed on the Banks of the Moy by Tiernan Brothers Foxford. The Allrounder is the perfect multi-purpose Salmon Spinning and bait rod. Tried and tested by some of the Moys top Salmon anglers and fishing guides using a variety of methods, the feedback is amazing. Available in 3 or 4 piece models. With a casting weight of 10-60gram the Allrounder is 3.3m long and ideal for all methods including Bubble and Fly, Prawn, Spin and worm. Sensitive enough to cast light lures and strong enough to handle large fish.https://themoy.com/product/river-moy-salmon-all-rounder/
A good quality spinning reel
Difficult to find such a thing you might say! Yes, the days when a fishing reel lasted for many years are gone and most reels are now designed to last for shorter periods of time. I would have to say that we recommend Shimano as a brand name and even some of their cheaper models work well and are good value for money. Buy what you can afford but remember you are paying for performance and not longevity. The more expensive models will have hidden benefits, smooth rotation and efficient power transmission, smoother drag systems and are light weight and strong. These little things only become noticeable when the reel is in use and the user understands them. It would be correct to say that a less expensive reel will be enjoyed by a novice while a more experienced and discerning user will enjoy a more expensive model.https://themoy.com/product/stradic-4000xg/
A landing net
How many times have you heard that desperate scream “Net.” Yep, I have shouted it a few times myself. It is easy enough to forget your net or perhaps not be able to grab it but we should all be carrying one. A landing net is the only dependable method of getting a Salmon onto the bank or at least safely to the hand if you wish to release the fish. There are many landing nets on the market and quality varies. We recommend Sharpes nets, well priced and with quality components they will last for years. Sharpes nets come in a variety of sizes and shapes. A salmon angler will not go wrong with a 24 inch Tear drop or round, both of which come with a carrying strap.https://themoy.com/product/sharpes-gye-nets/
Good quality Line
Monofilament or Braid, something we all have varying opinions of, but we cannot be without them. For Salmon angling the most useful will be Stroft ABR Mono in sizes 0.28mm to 0.35mm https://themoy.com/product/stroft-abr-monofil/ or a good quality braid like Berkley X9 https://themoy.com/product/berkley-x9/
A Handful of Rolla Silver Bullets https://themoy.com/product/rolla-spinner-christmas-starter-pack/We all have our favourite baits but a salmon angler will never go wrong with a selection of Rolla Silver Bullets. Twelve Silver Bullets in Various weights and colours in a plastic box which can be carried in the pocket and will cover every situation.
A Salmon Fly selection https://themoy.com/product/boxed-salmon-fly-selection-limited-christmas-offer/
12 popular salmon patterns of various sizes in a fly box. These patterns can be used for conventional fly fishing or with a bubble float on a spinning rod.
If you didn’t find anything there, have a look here https://themoy.com/product-category/gift-ideas/
