Report From The Moy
The Foxford Beat on the Moy is probably the most prolific beat for grilse in Europe-the average for the last 5 years is over 500 fish so one of the destinations for in Ireland. The beat is a mile and a half long-both banks. The banks are steep after the river was dredged in the fifties as part of a flood prevention scheme so a lot of the fishing is done from boats. There are 6 named pools, Jack’s Pool, Popplins, Frenchman’s, Gorteen, The Alders and the Nibb.
The river levels vary greatly so when the River is high most of the fishing is done from the boats, when it drops there is excellent wading and streamy water at the head of the beat above Jack’s and also at the Gorteen-lovely water which is the cream of in Ireland. The beat is 10 miles above tidal water below the weir at Ballina. Each tide in high season hundreds-even thousands- of grilse run the weir and reach the Foxford beat about two hours later.
Vincent Mc Donnell is the head ghillie on the beat. He knows every inch of the beat and he is an accomplished fly fisherman and an expert caster and gives casting lessons. As this article is written the river is too high to fish but Vincent has high hopes for this season since the removal of the fish traps at Ballina (which used to take 10,000 fish a year!)is now beginning to pay dividends. Also salmon fishing in the sea off County Mayo has been curtailed.
Vincent will advise on what salmon flies to use-the Allie’s Shrimp does well. The River manager is Granville Nesbitt who you can reach on 0868032350.Granville organises the fishing.
If you wish to sample in Ireland at its very best-you can catch 6 grilse before lunch in the right conditions-you must fish the Foxford beat with Vincent and his colleagues. You can stay at the excellent Pontoon Bridge Hotel which is 4 miles away from the beat. There is an well stocked tackle shop in Foxford itself, Tiernan’s, and if you say ‘Vincent’ to the landlord of the Angler’s Bar in Foxford, Pat Guiry, he will give you a free pint of Guinness, as long as you are wearing a short-sleeved shirt.
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