Clonanav Fly Fishing

Lodging Locations and Options
For all Clonanav Fly Fishing multi-day packages, anglers can choose from two different accommodation options: a 4-star hotel in the town of Clonmel, or a quaint riverside B&B in the heart of Irish farm country.

Hotel Minella
Hotel Minella Clonmel is nestled between the Comeragh Mountains and the River Suir in Clonmel, Tipperary. Originally designed by the nationally acclaimed architect, John Skipton Mulvany, in the 1860s to be a private estate, Minella was purchased by the Nallen family in the early 1960s and converted to a country house hotel in 1963. Over the past 50 years, the hotel has undergone extensive redevelopment and constant refurbishment, and the Minella is now considered one of the nicest hotels in the region, with 90 individually designed and decorated rooms. The Minella name is also recognized in the world of horse racing, and the current owners are actively involved in the training and breeding of race horses. The hotel’s oak-paneled restaurant has garden views and is renowned for excellent food. Using the freshest local and seasonal ingredients, they aim to promote the best of Irish cuisine while working with local Tipperary food producers. The hotel’s leisure facilities feature a 66-foot Swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, gym, sauna, steam room, and outdoor tennis courts.

Glasha House Bed and Breakfast
Glasha is a classic farmhouse bed-and-breakfast located in an idyllic rural setting in the North Waterford and South Tipperary region. It is the ideal base for fishing the area with Clonanav Fly Fishing, as it is less than ten minutes from the shop and only a three-minute walk to one of the most legitimate, old school (think the 1600s!) Irish pubs that can be found anywhere. No highways or busy traffic and no bustling city noise. The operator of Glasha is Olive O’Gorman – an exceptionally welcoming and hands-on host who even makes a delicious home-cooked dinner for guests in the almost-forgotten B&B tradition. All of the bedrooms at Glasha are spacious and stylishly decorated, with modern ensuite facilities (showers or showers over a bath), TV, internet access, and more. Winner of the “Georgina Campbell B&B of the Year” in 2020, Glasha is a lovely place to stay.

Food and Beverages
There are several different options for dining and meals, depending on where you are staying. On-water lunches while fishing are packed and provided by Clonanav Fly Fishing, and breakfast are usually available at the hotel or the B&B. Dinners can also be at the hotel or B&B, or you can visit any number of restaurants or pubs in Clonmel or the surrounding area. Be sure to visit J. Lonergan’s Pub on the banks of the Nire – home to some of the best Guinness in Ireland!

Typical Length of Stay
All packages are completely customized, and trips of any length can be arranged.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
The entire country of Ireland provides great opportunities for non-anglers, couples, and families to enjoy themselves during their stay. In the immediate County Waterford area of southern Ireland, non-angling activities include hiking, cycling, exploring small Irish villages, golf, live music, museums, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, and much, much more. The County Waterford area has many historic sites, including numerous castles, churches, ring forts, abbeys, and monasteries. For history lovers, there are castles at Lismore, Kilkenny, Cashel, and Cahir. The famous Swiss Cottage in Cahir and the Round Tower in Ardmore are also well worth a visit. Clonmel is the largest inland town in Munster. The town is a garrison town, complete with the historical Main Guard and the West Gate, which is still in existence. Other area attractions include the House of Waterford Crystal factory tour and Kilkenny Castle.

Internet / Communications
Most of the hotels and inns in Ireland offer consistent Wi-Fi access, and cell service is very good throughout most areas of the country.

Credit Cards
Most businesses, hotels, and restaurants accept Visa and Mastercard. Fewer accept American Express. Note that many local and rural pubs are cash only.

How To Get There
Dublin or Shannon are the best international arrival options for fishing in this part of Ireland. Dublin is the most popular entry point, as most major commercial airlines offer regular non-stop flights to Dublin from many major U.S. cities. Depending on your itinerary, you can either rent a car and tour Ireland by road (moving between different locations and fishing areas), or Yellow Dog will be happy to arrange a shuttle service or a private driver. Note that the roads in Ireland are very narrow – especially in the more rural areas of the country. Narrow, winding roads and the fact that you steer and drive on opposite sides from what we know in the US can make things a bit interesting for some drivers! Give this some consideration when planning transfers between destinations. Ireland is a tiny country. It only takes a few hours to drive from one end to the other, and it’s a scenic cultural experience with its rolling green hills and warm Irish culture. The drive from Dublin to the shop and headquarters of Clonanav Fly Fishing takes less than two hours.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Anglers can arrive and depart on any day of the week, and trips of any length can be arranged. It is also possible to add on a shorter fishing package or a stay with Clonanav Fly Fishing for those that are visiting Ireland for non-angling activities and tours.

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens must have a valid passport that does not expire within six (6) months of trip dates. There are no visa requirements as long as you intend to stay for less than three months. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages, and that it is not torn, delaminated or damaged in any way. One thing to note is that Ireland is the only place in Europe with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facilities. So whether you’re flying back to the US from Dublin or Shannon, you can take care of immigration and customs before you board rather than stateside, where you would otherwise have to line up with hundreds of incoming passengers.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations and ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
Clonanav Fly Fishing’s operations are ideally located to take advantage of some of the best brown trout river fishing in all of Ireland. The River Suir and her tributaries offer unrivaled fishing for native brown trout in beautiful countryside settings. The Suir is renowned as a trout fishery and offers exceptional dry fly fishing for wild browns throughout the Irish fishing season. Tributaries such as the Nire, Tar, and Anner offer exceptional fishing at certain times of the season, and these smaller rivers usually run gin clear and offer very easy wading. Overall, Clonanav Fly Fishing has private access to more than 20 miles of private waters – most of which are no more than 15 minutes away from the fly shop. 

River Suir
The River Suir is the second longest river in Ireland at 115 miles long. It is considered to be one of the best trout rivers in Europe, and also is home to impressive numbers of Atlantic Salmon at certain times of the year. The brown trout in the Suir average anywhere from 8 to 16 inches, although larger fish are caught regularly. Numerous fish in the river reach well into the mid-20-inch range! With many slow glides, deep pools, and easy tail-outs, the fish are selective, so long fine leaders are the norm. The hatches are impressive throughout the season, with flies ranging in size from 12 to 22. The main hatches include BWOs, caddis, spurwings, and black gnats. Small dries such as Klinkhammer patterns are the norm, and comparaduns, elk hair caddis, and small bead heads can also be incredibly effective. Suitable equipment for fishing the Suir is a 9-foot, 4 or 5-weight rod, floating lines, and long 6X and 7X leaders.

When it comes to fishing for Atlantic Salmon, Clonanav Fly Fishing has access to some of the best sections of water in all of southern Ireland. They offer access to several beats on the Suir, with over 8 miles in total. The river Suir is the second longest river in Ireland and boasts some runs of some of the biggest salmon found anywhere in the country. Fish of 15-18 lbs. are common, with the best months being May through September. All equipment – including double-handed spey and baby spey rods – can be provided. 

River Nire
The Nire is a gin-clear spate/freestone river that flows from the Comeragh Mountains through the Nire Valley until it reaches the confluence with the River Suir. It is a narrow river (+/-35 feet on average) with constant ripple and pool formations. Access to the river is easy, with wading over moderate-sized river rocks. The river has a good stock of fish from 8-15 inches and some absolute trophy browns that can push upwards of 30 inches. fish. The fishing is mainly on dry flies and nymphs, with some streamer fishing during high water. Main hatches include BWOs, spurwings, sedges, stoneflies, and terrestrials. Suitable equipment for fishing the Nire is a 9-foot, 3 or 4-weight rod, floating lines, and long 6X and 7X leaders.

River Tar
A limestone river very similar to the chalk streams found throughout the south of England, the Tar is wide (+/-45 feet), shallow river with a healthy growth of flowering ranunculus weed. The bottom is level, which makes for wading easy. It is noted for its remarkable dry fly fishing due to the shallow nature of the river. The river has a good stock of fish in the 8-16 inch range and some much larger fish up to 20 inches. The main hatches are BWO, caddis, spurwings, and black gnats. Suitable equipment for fishing the Nire is an 8-foot, 3 or 4-weight rod, floating lines, and long 6X and 7X leaders.

The owner and operator for Clonanav Fly Fishing – Andrew Ryan – is one of Ireland’s best-known fly fishing instructors and guides. Andrew has been guiding for over 20 years on the river Suir and the area tributaries. He holds FFF Masters and THCI certifications, considered the highest casting instruction qualification in the world. All of Andrew’s guides are highly skilled, experienced, and professional, and all work hard to ensure that every day is a great day on the water.

Equipment
Clonanav Fy Fishing is Ireland’s leading fly fishing pro shop, featuring the top brands in the industry. This is the kind of fly shop you would expect to find in a destination mountain town in the US West, with excellent customer service, knowledgeable staff, great inventory, and the best brands available. Along with the very best fly selection in all of Ireland, they also sell gear from Hardy, Greys, Guideline, Simms, Orvis, Rio, Redington, Airflo, and numerous other companies. It is possible to rent 100% of what you need at the shop, allowing you to travel light and leave your own gear at home. For all guided packages, the shop can rent waders and boots, rods and reels, and of course, sell all necessary flies, leader, tippets, and more. 

Fishing Licenses
In Ireland, it is necessary to procure a fishing license and fish tags when fishing for salmon. No license is required for trout fishing.  Licenses can be purchased at or arranged by each house.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book an Ireland trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices listed below are per person and quoted in Euros. Trips of any length can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing. 

Double Occupancy Package (2 Per Guide / 2 Per Room)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = €4,400
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = €2,350
2 Nights / 1 Fishing Day = €900

Single Occupancy Package (1 Per Guide / 1 Per Room)
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = €6,400
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = €4,400
2 Nights / 1 Fishing Day = €1,380

What’s Included:

• The number of nights lodging specified in your package at Hotel Minella in Clonmel
• All guided fishing as specified
• Two (2) mornings of Atlantic salmon fishing
• Use of spey rods for Atlantic salmon
• Round-trip ground transfer between hotel and river each day
• Dinner each evening
• Picnic lunch on the water each day with your guide 
• Use of equipment to include rods, reels ,waders, and boots
• Irish fishing license

What’s Not Included:

• International flight to and from Ireland
• Gratuities for guides, hotel staff, and transfer drivers
• Flies and terminal tackle (available for purchase at shop)
• Alcoholic beverages 

Trip Deposit Information
A 50% deposit (per angler) of the total package cost for each trip package is due to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures (YDFA) within 10 days of booking to secure the reservation. Yellow Dog reserves the right to charge a handling fee of $100.00 per person for date changes after the initial reservation has been made. Full payment is due 90 days before departure.  

IRELAND CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY
For all Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, L.L.C. (YDFA) fishing packages with Clonanav Fly Fishing, both deposits and final payments received are non-refundable, regardless of the reason. Because of the operator’s no refund and no credit policy, we highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. In no event will the operator be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays, missed travel connections, or any other reason beyond the lodge’s control. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be sent or credited minus a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog Flyfishing. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW YELLOW DOG GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES

Payment Terms For All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings

In order to lock in your trip reservation, we ask that you please remit payment within 10 days of receipt of invoice. For your convenience, Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a direct and secure ACH platform – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Note that all Yellow Dog invoices include a live link that takes you directly to the Yellow Dog ACH platform for fast and easy payment. For open and existing invoices with a remaining balance, payment reminders also include this easy link to the ACH page.

Other customary forms of payment that are accepted are checks or wire transfers. If you would like to pay in a different way or have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (888) 777-5060 or (406) 585-8667. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Please note that Yellow Dog will apply a 3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions.

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Standard Forms For Payment

• ACH online payments (for US banking institutions only).
• Traditional checks (sent via mail)
• Electronic wire payments (client is responsible for any wiring fees)

*Please contact us if you prefer or require a different payment option. Convenience fees may apply for other payment methods.

**Please be aware that the ACH platform is only available for US financial institutions and bank accounts. International payments can be made via wire or with a credit card.