We are prepared: we build our houses squat,
Sink walls in rock and roof them with good slate.
This wizened earth has never troubled us
With hay, so, as you see, there are no stacks
Or stooks that can be lost. Nor are there trees
Which might prove company when it blows full
Blast: you know what I mean – leaves and branches
Can raise a tragic chorus in a gale
So that you listen to the thing you fear
Forgetting that it pummels your house too.
But there are no trees, no natural shelter.
You might think that the sea is company,
Exploding comfortably down on the cliffs
But no: when it begins, the flung spray hits
The very windows, spits like a tame cat
Turned savage. We just sit tight while wind dives
And strafes invisibly. Space is a salvo,
We are bombarded with the empty air.
Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear.
Seamus Heaney
3 Guides 3 Days 3 Disciplines
SALTWATER FLY FISHING SEASON 2014 PRIMER
April 28th, 29th and 30th.
BELLA VISTA HOTEL, COBH, Co.Cork
Glenda Powell, Brian Healey and Jim Hendrick
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Its an idea that came together for me last year, over the past few days the idea has turned to reality and is now a real opportunity for any person who already enjoys or would like to learn more about saltwater fly fishing on the Irish coast.
Glenda, Brian and I have teamed up to provide three days of integrated and blended workshops that will compliment each other and provide you with a solid base of saltwater fly fishing knowledge and techniques for your 2014 season and beyond. Improve your fly casting, fly tying and fishing techniques and have a lot of fun too along the way!
Running over three days the primer is limited to nine places. The intention being that each person will experience two workshops in each of the disciplines over the three days, total six workshops! Because there’s such a lot going on timings are spaced nicely.
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Fly casting techniques SH – delivered by Glenda – improving line speed, casting bigger flies, body positioning and much more.
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Fly tying techniques – delivered by Brian – tying techniques for BTD’s, saltwater sea trout patterns, and material management.
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Fly fishing – delivered by Jim – take your new improved casting and your own newly tied flies and go fishing on the wild coast with Jim
I am delighted that we will be based at one of the countries longest established and well known bass fishing centres – The Bella Vista at Cobh, in Co.Cork – Kevin has vast experience both of bass fishing and bass fishing anglers!
So if you have had a difficult forced ‘hibernation’ over the past ten weeks and are looking forward to season 2014 what better way to shake off the cobwebs in enthusiastic good company, good food, excellent accommodations and wild fishing on the Cork coast.
Cost for three days Saltwater Primer, (six workshops) two nights B+B, –€375.00 – evening meals at the Bella Vista or at local restaurants can be arranged and are a little extra. For more details of the primer and workshop content please download a .pdf file HERE __________________________________________________________________
Irelands world fly casting champion and fishing guide
Glenda Powell has achieved an enviable reputation both for her tuition capabilities and casting skills.
Her knowledge of the physics & mechanics of fly-casting embraces all of the latest technology, tackle & equipment.
She is always on the lookout for new developments which will enable newcomers and more experienced fisherpersons (!) alike to both improve their skills and gain more enjoyment from their sport.
She talks with ease & vast knowledge about the latest spey lines, rod development and casting techniques.
She can teach all levels from complete beginner to the highest levels of advanced.She has a very gentle manner with her tuition, and has an uncanny ability to judge the needs of clients and tailors her approach to their lessons to ensure that they feel at ease and gain the maximum benefit.
Glenda is currently the chairperson of APGAI Ireland.
Saltwater fly fisher, fly tier and fishing guide
One of the most unassuming and capable fly fishers I have ever met, Brian Healeys saltwater ties and flies have integrated themselves into both my fishing (and many other peoples too) and guiding service over the past few years.
The flies have resulted in a much greater level of both confidence and a sense of ‘rightness’ that is hard to explain, its part of a dual process. With many many years of top level guiding and personal fishing experiences along the Irish coast Brian has a treasure trove of knowledge across many aspects of saltwater fly fishing that he is more than willing to share
We have worked together with people from Holland, the UK and France and hope to build on that relationship with this new venture.
Bass fishing guide
If you are reading this blog well you have some idea about Jim Hendrick. Guiding for bass on a professional basis since 2003 both on fly and lure along the southern coasts of Ireland I hope to be able to share with you some of the possibilities of the Cork coast and the learning of not only the last ten years but the experiences I have garnered from other people and their influences too.
Being married to a Cork woman has its merits and I guess it has given me time to explore and fish the Cork coast on guiding ‘down time’ over the years. A place of unique beauty and opportunity all of its own.
If you would like more details or to reserve a place on this exciting three day opportunity then please don’t hesitate to call me at any time on 086 3444557
Best Regards
Jim
Written by Gillian Mills – www.Inshore-Ireland.com
The European Commission has presented a new strategy to support coastal and maritime tourism in Europe. Recognising the sector’s potential for sustainable growth and job creation, the strategy outlines 14 EU actions ‘to help coastal regions and businesses tackle the challenges they face and strengthen the sector’s position as a key driver of Europe’s blue economy’.
Included is a break-down of tasks that Member States, regions and industry stakeholders can undertake to complement the actions.
The proposed actions include ‘facilitating closer cooperation and dialogue across Europe between all coastal tourism stakeholders, public-private partnerships, promoting skills and innovation, promoting ecotourism, and creating an online guide to funding opportunities to help drive investment.
“Coastal and maritime tourism was identified in our ‘Blue Growth’ strategy as one of the key drivers for creating growth and new jobs, particularly in our coastal areas which often suffer from high unemployment,” remarked European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki.
Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Industry, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Antonio Tajani said he considered tourism to be a “fundamental economic leverage for growth in Europe, around which to build dedicated, consistent and integrated policies.
“A targeted strategy on coastal and maritime tourism highlights the potential of this important sector of tourism and the role it can play to fight unemployment, in particular among young people,” he added.
The strategy also outlines challenges such a gaps in data and knowledge; volatile demand; high seasonality; a lack of adequate skills and innovation and difficulties accessing financing.
‘At the same time, it will make the sector’s activities sustainable, preserve natural and cultural heritage, reap significant economic and environmental benefits, and help make the sector more competitive globally.’
Background
Coastal and maritime tourism includes beach-based and nautical, cruising or boating tourism and is an essential driver for the economy of many coastal regions and islands in Europe.
It employs almost 3.2 million people, generating a total of €183 billion in gross value-added for the EU economy, representing over one third of the maritime economy gross product. Tourism is a growing business: in 2013, the number of nights spent in hotel or similar establishments reached a peak of 2.6 billion nights in the EU28, up by 1.6% from 2012[1].
Unlocking the potential of coasts and seas would contribute to the wealth and well-being of coastal regions and the EU’s economy in general, while ensuring a sustainable and long-term development of all tourism-related activities.
The strategy is to be discussed at a Conference organised with the Greek Presidency on 10 March in Athens, which will bring together authorities and businesses and other stakeholders.
Gillian Mills – Inshore – Ireland
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Download of Full document available here –
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Some extracts from
Study in support of policy measures for maritime and coastal tourism at EU level
Specific contract under FWC MARE/2012/06 –
SC D1/2013/01-SI2.648530
From page 5
“..although good practices has emerged in the past decades, mainstream business models in maritime and coastal tourism still seem to pose increasingly unsustainable challenges – although to different extents – due to persisting negative externalities in relation to social and environmental consequences for local communities, skills and qualifications of workers, consumption and exploitation of local natural resources.“
From page 16
Niche tourism12 is usually referring to such locations and/or services where “[…] profitability no longer rests solely on economies of scale and the exploitation of mass undifferentiated markets. Economies of scope, systems gains, segmented markets, designed and customised holidays are becoming more and more important for profitability and competitiveness in tourism”13. Niche maritime and coastal tourism therefore focuses on specific added-value services or locations attracting a potential lower volume of visitors, but which may value quality of services better than cost-effectiveness, due to higher spending willingness. This business model has largely benefitted from the recent emergence of new tourism-related social media and telecom services14, therefore allowing more selective and wealthy tourists to access highly personalised experiences through the emergence of dedicated “niche tourism” or even “luxury tourism” web agencies.
Examples of niche tourism are wellness and medical tourism, but also forms focusing on sports, adventure tourism, wildlife, eco,gastronomy and luxury tourism. Related tourism destinations and services are not necessarily grouped by geographic proximity or sea-basins, but are rather spread across coastal regions depending on specific added-value given by local natural and culture resources, or even local business creativity and ability to provide unique services and experiences.
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In the context of all of the above its worth noting a recent comment made to Inshore-Ireland in an article regarding the collapsing Irish inshore fishery
“Also speaking to this paper, Eamon Dixon of the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association said it was only in the last two years that the Sea-fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has been in a position to address the problems.
But he cautions that the current level of control is not a deterrent as the agency is under-resourced, with too many areas to cover: food safety, sampling, EU audits and fisheries control.
“Unlicensed fishing is the norm in the inshore fishery, posing market risks and biological instability and a significant black market economy has developed. If we are serious about tackling this problem, Ireland needs to put real and robust long-term management plans in place on a species by species basis.”
Source – Inshore-Ireland
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A little bit of fishing in your day – Jim
Leaders don’t create followers they create other leaders
“One legged oystercatchers limping along a mirrored strand take off and land again and little waders run quickly in groups backwards and forwards reflected in the shallow waters. The curlews sudden startled cry, a fright, as you walk back a late October estuary the sky already darkening.
All these things bred into your skin into your person into to what you are, into what you have become over years – north winds, south winds, east winds, sunshine, frost, blue skies, rain, salt and sand. The shape, the colour and the sound of the sea the waves that break on the shore into white bass water where you know it will happen, you can sense it, and you know it instinctively.
All these things have built in me over many years – from these countless repeated and yet different experiences and messages I have a sense of where I am – I am home.
And into this you must add the fishing, what you know is what you know because it has been forged in this instinct and experience. You see the gulls struggle against a grey drizzly sky and you get the heavy rod, the #ten, and your heart is racing because its happening and you can be in the middle of it and you move so quickly you hardly remember getting there and you almost run to the location to get a cast off. This is where I am most happy, this is what I understand, have understood for a long time now.
The fishing and the fishing and the fishing. You wait for spring to come and you see the way the winter waves have bent the sand and the sandbars, the new entrances the new exits the different flow and where it was once safe is now dangerous or is now a new fish holding spot. Maybe this year the fish move differently into different places at different times, maybe not and the familiar anxiety and excitement around the arrival of a new season begins again”
Tim Harrisson and his Dad Colin were some of my customers du
ring year two of my guiding service, eight years ago now – Colin’s words below, received by a letter he sent a few weeks after his visit, still mean a lot to me. It was one of those magic moments. If I can achieve this on a day by day basis then I know I am doing my job properly.
“……you thought us where the fish might lie, and how to cast to the right position and use the waves and tide to take the lure into the right place. The result of all that was that we were able to hook and land some unforgettable fish and those memories will last forever”
Colin Harisson pictured right – 2005 Then aged 69.
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Tim Harrisson was duely inspired enough by what he saw and experienced in Wexford to go on later and establish his own very successful bass guiding business in Wales –
Now Tim has raised the bar even further yet again, he sent me this link to his new site completely out of the blue last evening, with some very generous and complimentary words included in this post Battered Bruised and Blind
“….When surface lure fishing for bass was known to a very few people (only around 8 years ago did the dawn break on us Brits) there was precious little choice available on the UK market. It was Jim Hendrick the original, now much copied and still the best Irish bass guide (find him here www.jimhendrick.com). That taught me the marvel, the wonder and the addiction of the LC Sammy”. Tim Harrisson – 2014
Good luck with the new adventure Tim always great to hear from you.
THIRTYARDS 
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