Conor is a full time and professional guide and A.P.G.A.I - Ireland casting Instructor, as well as Loop Team member for Ireland. Based in the south of Ireland Conor has nearly 30 years of experience fly-fishing for salmon, trout and sea-trout throughout mainland Europe, Ireland Scotland and Sweden.
Conor began guiding about 10 years ago and now runs his own International guiding business based on his fishery, the Upper Bridgetown Salmon Fishery, on the river Blackwater. For the last few years Conor has been fishing for Baltic salmon in many of Swedens mighty northern rivers, and this year he will be hosting trips there, helping visiting anglers to catch a fish of a lifetime in the homeland of Loop.
Conor bases himself on his fishery, the Upper Bridgetown salmon fishery. This is a very productive, and picturesque single bank fishery on the middle river Blackwater in Co. Cork. Here he runs a day ticket fishery as well as using it as his base for his casting tuition and courses.
The fishery itself is located roughly 14km downstream of Mallow and 14km upstream of Fermoy. The fishery has a wide variety of water from smooth glides to fast streams and deep holding pools. This ensures good prospects of sport in many different water conditions. The fishery has undergone extensive work under Conors management and this allows the angler to fish practically the entire beat. The fishery supports catch and release and asks that all double figure fish and all hen fish be returned. Smaller cock fish may be kept within the state licence guidelines. As a Loop Team member Conor offers a try before you buy service on the fishery.
Conor also guides and sells days tickets on the neighbouring private fishery of Ballyhooly Castle fishery. This fishery is a private family owned fishery offering a wide variety of water on five miles of double bank. Conor also has access to other fisheries further downstream and upstream. This gives an angler who books in advance the best chance of sport in any conditions. Also within an hours drive from the fishery there are other rivers such as the famous river Suir which offers both salmon and fantastic trout fishing, and to the west, spate rivers which run off much quicker! A wide variety of angling is available in the area.
Typical Tackle for the river Blackwater would be:
Spring/Autumn
Rod - 12-13'6 #8 or #9
Reel - Opti speedrunner reel
Summer
Rod - 10" or 11" switch in #5 or #6 and 10" # 6 or # 7 single hander
Reel - Opti runner/ Rapid reel.
Juniors
All anglers under 16 fish for free as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
Email: csarnold682@gmail.com
Phone: (00) +353 877 554 682