Here are some patterns which have worked for me and my boat partner over the years on Carrowmore lake, Co. Mayo.
Claret bumble is the first choice on a dark day with low cloud. The standard dressings works just fine but I like mine to have a Muddler head in either claret or blue.
The Clan Chief would probably be the fly most likely to be on my cast on any given day on Carrowmore. It seems to be able to produce fish under any conditions and you really must have some in your box if you are fishing the lake.
I personally love a Goat’s Toe with a black muddler head on it.
The Golden Olive shrimp has taken many salmon over the past few seasons and the orange tail looks great in the water.
The Connemara Black is a good dark fly for the tail position
I confess that I have never caught a salmon on a Magenta Bumble but I have been in the boat when it has succeeded. One for a bright day in my mind.
Always worth a try, the Claret Dabbler is an ever present on the cast of many who fish Carrowmore.
A deep blue hackle is needed for this pattern, much darker than the colour on a teal blue and silver.
I prefer a hairwing version of the Doctor, it is tougher than the original feather winged fly.
The silver stoat with an orange hackle does good work. I like it on a heavy hook and fish it on the tail off a sinking line.
And a Green Peter of course………………this one with a green squirrel tail wing.
As you can see, I prefer Black and Claret flies in general. If pressed I would be happy to fish with a Goat’s Toe on the bob, a Green Peter in the middle and a Claret Bumble on the tail.
Claretbumbler 