BlackBay Lodge 2023 - ENG

SEASON 2023

THE BLACKBAY LODGE

A big Irish house with a stunning panoramic views of Lough Derg (the second largest lake in Ireland), equipped with all amenities to ensure a pleasant and relaxing stay and a family atmosphere to be shared with the fishing guides and other guests.

Our guests will enjoy lake view rooms, a large living room with fireplace for relaxing moments and special spaces to store fishing equipment.

Our staff will assist you from the beginning of your stay, to guarantee a 360° organization refined over years of experience.

The Blackbay lodge is strategically located central to all our fishing spots which guarantees a perfect daily organization.

Every day your only thought will be to go fishing!

BLACKBAY LODGE

ONE DAY AT BLACKBAY LODGE

We want to make the most of your fishing hours so your days are carefully scheduled and organized for the best possible experience.

h. 08:00

A plentiful breakfast awaits our guests in the dining room in preparation for the long and exciting fishing day ahead.

h. 09:00

The fishing day starts, looking forward to a guaranteed minimum of 8 hours on the water. Each group of fishermen is assigned to their guide who will support them throughout the day in the selected fishing spots, chosen based on the current weather and fishery condition and fishermen needs.

h. 12:30

Half way through the day is a good time for a short break to refresh and recharge: a delicious and ample packed lunch has been prepared for you by Blackbay staff and made using the best quality products. Teamed with a nice hot coffee, you are now ready to catch more trophy fish!

h. 18:00

The fishing day comes to an end with a return to the lodge, put your feet up and relax in the warmth of the fireplace overlooking the breathtaking view while dinner is prepared.

h. 20:00

Dinner is served! We pay special attention to the quality and types of ingredients chosen for our meals, preparing typical Italian dishes and traditional Irish cuisine.

A relaxing after-dinner break in the large living room is the time to share all the fishing adventures of the day, and to schedule and discuss the next ones with the guides.

DAY 1

Arrival at Dublin Airport, where our Minivan will bring you to Blackbay lodge. At your arrival at the lodge you will meet the staff and, after a short briefing, you have time to organize luggage and equipment, and enjoy a few moments of relaxation before dinner.

DAY 2-7

Enjoy 6 full days fishing with Blackbay guides!

DAY 8

After a nice breakfast, we will bring you back at Dublin Airport.

FISHING AT BLACKBAY LODGE

At Blackbay Lodge you can choose between different travel packages, entirely dedicated to the two main predators of inland irish waters: Pike and Trout.

During your stay, you can try other fishing techniques, both in fresh and salt water.

Perch fishing in big lakes, Rock Fishing from the Ocean’s cliffs or Deep Sea Fishing from the boat, are some of the possibilities that you can organize with our staff, during your stay, in relation of the different season and current fishing conditions.

The abundance of big pike, their massive size and the extraordinary powerfull fight, gives fishing in Ireland an excellent reputation.

An absolute news at Blackbay Lodge: chasing lake trout with lures on spinning. A spectacular fish with breathtaking colours, tireless and acrobatic fighters will make you live a new and unique experience!

A funny alternative for your holiday, this fish colonizes lakes and rivers in big schools. You can approach them with different fishing techniques both spinning and fly fishing.

The hugeness of the Atlantic Ocean, more than 15 species of fish that can be caught with different techniques are defenetly some good reason to try a funny and different day of fishing.

Hunting seabass, wrasse and pollack, fishing from the rocky Ocean’s cliffs, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, is an experience to don’t loose while visiting Blackbay lodge.

PERCH FISHING DEEP SEA FISHING ROCK FISHING

PIKE FISHING

Irish waters are home of a large number of pikes, thanks to favorable climatic conditions, the large amount of bait fish, the vastness of the environment and a very low fishing pressure.

For several years, BlackBay’s guides have worked in this environment and have accumulated a wealth of experience and extensive knowledge of the land and its waters. In all these years our goal has been to research large trophy pikes with both spinning technique and fly fishing; We constantly strive for new techniques, fishing strategies and equipment to ensure a high fishing quality.

The water system we fish is very differentiated and the fishing spots available for the fisherman are different:

The Lough Derg, the second largest lake in Ireland with its 118km², is undoubtedly the main and most interesting spot for hunting trophy pikes;

The Shannon River, the main waterway of the island, create Lough Derg flowing in the northern shore of the lake and came out from the south directly in the Atlantic ocean;

Lakes of small to medium size, to be fished by boat or bellyboat, are a great alternative than fishing the bigger environments;

Small rivers, exclusively fishable by bellyboats, very wild and natural environments that can hide pleasant surprises.

PIKE FISHING

PIKE FISHING CASTING&SPINNING RODS AND REELS

All the rods must have a good casting range (minimum 2-4 oz) able to cast big lures, and handle extreme fighting fish that exceed 1 mt in length and 10 kg in weight.

an all round 8‘ rod for 2-6 oz, can cover 90% of fishing situations and help you to cast most of the lures we use; a 6’6 ‘/ 7’ rod to fish with jerkbait;

High quality casting and spinning reels complete the equipment (preferred models with a high retrieve ratio).

LURES

A good selection of lures is indispensable to adapt to all the fishing conditions:

Miuras Mouse in different colors, trailers and sinking rates; Swim Jig in different colors and with 10gr jig head;

Swimbaits from 20 to 30 cm;

Rubber Shad rigged with different weight flex head and a stinger;

Medium size Jerkbait; Soft Swimbait / Replicant of 8/10 inches.

BRAIDS AND TERMINAL TACKLES

On the reels we use only braids with high strength (minimum 65 lb - 0.36mm) to prevent breaks while casting and prevent the risk of break a big lures in the pike mouth.

100 lb high quality fluorocarbon (minimum diameter 0.90mm);

monowire steel at least 150lb;

“cross lock” snaps with a minimum of 100 lb.

N.B .: Blackbay offers its guests the full fishing gear, high quality rods and reels, and a wide selection of good pike lures.

CASTING&SPINNING

PIKE FLY FISHING

RODS AND REELS

9-foot rods for 9 or 10 fly line is the best choice: able to cast large streamers at good distance and the best for handling big pikes and minimizing the stress of the fight. We recommend very light reels 8/9, which can contain a few meters of backing and fly lines. Lighter reels is preferred to avoid too much effort during several hours of blind casting.

FLY LINES AND TERMINAL TACKLES

Different fly lines with different sinking rates allow you to cover all the fishing situations.

Floating: to fish over the weed beds very slowly; Intermediate: the most versatile and suitable for a different variety of situations;

Sinking S3: For medium depth fishing or weed beds; Sinking S6: to quickly be ready for fishing in windy condition and fast retrieves.

The leader is made by one piece of fluorocarbon (approx. 1.5m ) 0.45mm, and a 40cm knottable steel at least at 30lb test.

STREAMERS

Large streamers, ranging from 15cm to 35cm, made of synthetic fibers that guarantee a good casting range and excellent volume during retrieving action.

The hooks must be light, strong and very sharp, in the range of 4/0 up to 6/0.

Flies tied with Flashabou, synthetic fibers and bucktail are very effective, with lots of volume and water pushing effects. “Wiggle tails” and “Dragon tails” are also great in all colors and sizes.

Dark colors: black, electric blue, dark purple even mixed together.

Bright colors: orange, fluo yellow, red, white, natural baitfish; Contrasted colors: dark head (black / blue) with bright tail (orange / red)

PIKE FLY FISHING

SPINNING FOR TROUTS

Spinning for trout in the great lakes is a little-known but very fascinating and fun technique.

The idea of hunting a salmonid by casting lures in an extremely vast lake environment, is certainly something uncommon in the mind of mosts trout fishermen.

The trout population in the big Irish lakes is very well structured, both in terms of population density and average size of the specimens. The perfect environmental conditions, the high quantity and variety of food available and the vastness of the environment, support the proliferation of the species and its fast enhancement.

The most common species are Brown trout (Salmo Trutta), a type of trout that lives in the big lakes environments and has adapted its hunting and feeding strategies according to the various possibilities that these environments offer.

The average size of this fish is very interesting, and 2/3 kg specimens are not uncommon. This trouts can reach very large sizes up to 10 kg weight.

We fish with medium / light spinning equipment, a very dynamic and fun technique that can gives great emotions, made of continuous casts in search of the best spots and active fishes.

In addition of trout, other species can be caught during the fishing days, including pike and perch, that made the days active with several strikes. Not infrequently it happens to hook pike of excellent size that put a strain on the skill of the fisherman to be able to win them with extremely light equipment.

TROUT FISHING

FISHING TECHNIQUES

The fishing action is very dynamic, with constantly change of fishing spot in search of active fish. We fish with light equipment, with different speed retrieves with sudden stops and fast restarts.

The take of the trout is very powerful and aggressive: excellent well-calibrated clutches, progressive action rods and a little skill of the fisherman are essential to get the best of these techniques.

LURES

minnow and jerkbait of different sizes from 5 to 15 cm small spoons

RODS AND REELS

Reels size 3000/4000 spooled with 10/25 lb braid

7 ft rod with 1oz casting range, to correctly handle minnows and jerks of larger sizes

7 ft rod with 1/2 oz casting range for the smallest and lightest lures.

BRAID AND TERMINAL tackle

10 lb braided lines for lighter equipment up to 25lb for heavier equipment; fluorocarbon leader with a diameter of 0.25 to 0.35

TECNICA DI PESCA

FISHING TECHNIQUES & HABITAT

PERCH FISHING

The perch inhabits big lakes in large schools and colonizes different areas, moving according the season changes.

It feeds on fish fry and insects found in abundance in the peaty waters of Lough Derg. The perfect environmental conditions and the abundance of food available helps the proliferation of the species. The lake is well populated by shoals of several hundred of perch. The average size is excellent, with specimens that can exceed 40 cm in length.

FISHING TECHNIQUE AND LURES

The fishing techniques that can be used are different and all very effective:

Dropshot: certainly the most effective technique on the big school of perch. We use small rubber shads with straight or paddle tails

Jig head fishing: a technique that often allows you to select the size of the fish. Shad of 3/4 inches in natural or bright colors are the most popular.

Metal Jig and Blade: allows to stimulate the aggressiveness of the fish, a very fast and dynamic technique.

RODS AND REELS

Light equipments allows us to enjoy the fights with these small predators.

7 ‘rod with 1/2 oz casting power allows us to face every technique;

2000 size reel spooled with 10 lb braid;

0.25 mm fluorocarbon at the end of the line.

SEASON

Perch can be fished all year round, but the months of August, September and October are certainly the best.

PERCH FISHING

FISHING IN THE OCEAN FROM THE BOAT

DEEP SEA FISHING

Another amazing alternative is fishing the Atlantic Ocean by boat: populated by a large number of species, is unknown by most of fishermen, but can guarantee great experience, lots of fun and large number of catches!

THE FISH

You can target many different kind of fish. On a single day fishing you can catch more than 15 different species. Casting lures in the blue of the ocean and never knowing what can attack them, is what makes this very exciting. The most common catches are pollack, coalfish, ling, mackerel, dogfish, and cod. These waters are also rich in numerous species of shark, which reach a remarkable size and are fishable using different techniques: Blue Shark, Tope, Spurdog and Bullhuss are the most common.

FISHING TECHNIQUES

Slow jigging with light tackle is definitely the most fun technique. Using different types of jigs you can catch many species. The lightness of the rods and the stamina of the fish magnify all the fights. Also very effective is fishing with soft bait on a large jig head.

For all species of shark, drifting is the most used and effective technique.

We are working with a professional skipper who has been guiding fishermen in the Atlantic Ocean for over 17 years in search of its many species. It is possible to organize a fishing day with the his boat during your stay at the lodge: Blackbay staff will advise you on the best days depending on weather conditions and skipper availability.

SEASONS

The best months for this fishing are from May to September.

DEEP SEA FISHING

FISHING

ATLANTIC FISHING FROM THE CLIFFS

ROCK FISING

The feeling of fishing in the hugeness of the Atlantic Ocean is difficult to describe.

Fishing by the cliffs overlooking the sea or on a long sandy and rocky beach is a must do adventure, that has made enthusiasts all the fishermen who have experienced it.

THE FISH

The Irish coastline is high populated by many species of fish that can be fished on lures: Wrasse, Pollack and Seabass are our targets.

TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT

The techniques are different, depending on the targeted species and the fishing areas. We fish with different types of softbait, rigged on jigheads or texas rig, and with hard bait such as minnow, WTD and metal jig.

All the equipments must be of high quality: while fishing from the Atlantic cliffs, nothing should be left to chance. Rods of different powers, to adapt to each techniques, and excellent reels, with 15lb to 30lb braids, allows us to have the right fishing action and to win the powerful ocean fishes.

FISHING DAY

During your holiday you can choose to spend one or more days practice this type of fishing: from Blackbay lodge you can reach the irish shoreline of West Clare.

During the fishing day you can change spots and techniques and try to catch as many different species as possible.

SEASONS

The best time is from mid-June to mid-September.

ROCK FISHING

WHAT TO BRING 12.APPAREL

Thanks to the Gulf Stream influence, Ireland enjoys a constant climate throughout the year, with mild winters and fresh summers.

During the fishing day the weather is often very unpredictable due to the constant wind blowing on the island: rain, clouds and sunshine alternate with extreme frequency.

To pack your baggage for this holiday in the best way, we recommend multi-layered clothing, with a complete waterproof and windproof exterior.

A modern clothing of technical garments is preferable for lightness and practicality.

Good quality waterproof jacket and trousers; Waterproof footwear (hiking boot); Thermal underwear; Windproof technical jacket (Softshell, Wind stopper); Cap with visor; Polarized sunglasses*; Waterproof bag to protect items in the boat.

* It is recommended to bring a bottle of U.V. with mediumhigh sun screen protection (30upf / 50upf), to avoid unpleasant burns during sunny days.

APPAREL

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT

Every fishing day take place in very different environments; to obtain the best results every day and to better face every situation, boats and electronic equipments are key elements.

BlackBay guides use Crestliner boats, equipped with powerful Mercury engines, which guarantee fast movements between the different fishing spots, with the best comfort for the fishermen, even in strong winds condition and pronounced waves.

Each boat is equipped with constantly updated electronics, which helps in identifying our prey and the best fishing areas, as well as keeping the correct fishing action. Latest generation Humminbird sonar and Minnkota trolling motors are installed on each boats.

Belly boats are also available for exploring the less accessible fishing spots. A fun way to rediscover the direct contact with nature.

The rent of the complete fishing equipment is always Included in the travel package.

For years we cooperate with different brands as fishing tackle tester, selecting the best products for quality and efficiency. All this products will be at your disposal, allowing you to try constantly updated and top-level equipment.

Rods, reels, and a wide selection of the best lures for any type of fishing are always available!

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT

TRAVEL PACKAGES

Our packages are all-inclusive and offers a complete and organized service at any times of your holiday. Your only thought will be to relax and think about fishing!

GROUPS MAKING

It is recommended to book the holiday in groups of 2 or 3 anglers or multiples of these. Each group will have a fishing guide who will guide them on the best fishing spots every day. For fishermen who travel alone, we will do our best to find other enthusiasts to share the holiday with.

To satisfy all customer needs there is the possibility to request quotes for non-fishermen and for personalized travel packages.

FLIGHTS

The airport where book your arrival and departures flight in Ireland is Dublin.

FEES COVER

Transfer from and to the airport

Transfer from the Lodge to the fishing spots

Room and full board accommodation: breakfast, packed lunch during the fishing days and dinner prepared by Blackbay’s staff

Day fishing by boat or bellyboat with Blackbay’ s guides

Complete Fishing tackle: rods, reels and a large selection of the best lures

Using of bellyboat with waders and fins

Bed linen and bath towels

Wi-fi connection

FEES DO NOT COVER

Flights

Taxi for any night out

TRAVEL PACKAGES

THE BLACKBAY SHOP IS ONLINE

CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE RANGE OF PIKE FISHING GEAR AND EXPERIENCE A NEW WAY OF FISHING!

CHECK HERE >>