St Patricks River

A freestone river, running through State Forest and farm land, it has an enormous head of brown trout between eight and twelve inches. A few rainbows are caught from time to time, but these are not prevalent. Fish over a foot are now more common than in the past and make up a good percentage of the large daily bag.

Evening rises through summer are superb and late season grasshopper fishing is also a feature.

From the moment the winter floods subside, fishing can be very rewarding. For every fish seen rising, there are half a dozen feeding on nymphs, and with the occasional trout between six and eight pounds caught every year, you never know what the St Patricks is going to throw at you next.

Small mayflies and caddis are often the targets of rising fish, but prospecting with most dry flies will bring success.

I am very lucky to live on the banks of the St Patricks when I am not in the Highlands and will never grow tired of catching its gorgeous fish. The river is becoming more and more choked with willows but there are still wonderfully open areas to fish and the dense cover of overhanging trees dies provide habitat for the fish. Those wanting to challenge themselves and do some "twigging" will fall in love with the St Patrick's River as I have.