FROM YOUR HOSTS

OVER THE YEARS, we've done many trips with Andrew Ryan and his guides at Clonanav Fly Fishing in Clonmel and always look forward to returning. Recognized as the premier destination for stream fishing in Ireland and offering unparalleled levels of service and quality guiding, Andrew and his guides always deliver on excellent trout fishing, and lots of good salt-of-the-earth Irish humor.

We thought Pennsylvania was green in June – until we saw the Emerald Isle. That is one reason Ireland is our favorite destination at this time of year. The gardens are growing, farmers are busy in the fields, the rivers are full, and the fishing is perhaps the best that it will be all season.

This departure, while being a great fishing trip, is also a fun week for the nonangling guests. With a private driver and coach, non anglers set out on their own adventure everyday visiting castles, monasteries, and ancient villages, including the Franciscan Friary (which dates back to 1269), St. Mary's Church (1204), and much more. The coach will meet the anglers at the fly shop at the end of the day to deliver the group back at the hotel.

Andrew not only has the premier fly fishing shop in all of Europe, he also has access to almost 20 miles of private, controlled, catch-and-release trout water with good populations of stunning brown trout averaging 14-22 inches. This is amazing trout water and a testament to what careful management practices can do for a trout stream.

ABOUT Your Hosts

Longtime Frontiers trip hosts and photographers, the Becks travel far and wide to follow their love for fly fishing and nature photography. Based in Pennsylvania, Barry and Cathy write books, host fly fishing departures, lead African photo safaris, and operate a stock photography business. The Becks are well-known in the fishing, photography, and travel industries, and possess a stellar reputation for their skill, knowledge, and expertise.

Their books include Cathy Beck’s Fly Fishing Handbook, now in its third edition; Fly Waters Near and Far; Fly Fishing the Flats; and a coffee table book of photographs from around the world.

Signature rivers are the medium size Nire, the Suir, and the Tar. All are beautiful rivers and easy to wade. The fishing is most often dry fly with dry/dropper combinations to brown trout – and no where are the browns prettier than in Ireland! And for anyone wishing for a day or two of Atlantic Salmon fishing, Andrew will provide the needed tackle. It's an unique opportunity to be able to fish for both trout and salmon –another advantage of this special destination.

The day starts out at Andrew's fly shop where we meet our guides and head out for the day. We meet for a hearty “angler's lunch” – a hot catered meal alongside the stream, or perhaps at the local pub, and share stories. Maybe we'll have a wee pint before heading back to the stream for the afternoon, returning at the end of the day to Hotel Minella for dinner and accommodation.

Our group will fly in and out of Dublin. Please let us know if we can answer any questions or provide additional information. We look forward to sharing Ireland with you and yours.

Sincerely,

Barry and Cathy Beck