Let’s talk about leaders. When I started fishing the fly for trout this was pretty damn straight forward – you tied an overhand knot on the end of the fly line and looped a 9 foot length of 4 pound breaking strain nylon on to it. Life in general has evolved in a variety ofContinueContinue reading “Leaders”
Monthly Archives: May 2018
Still quiet on Conn
Conn (again) today. Like some sort of a piscatorial junkie I had to go back there again to get another ‘fix’. Previous disappointments were pushed to the dark recesses of my memory and I packed tons of gear and even more optimism before setting off. Let me get this off my chest straight away -ContinueContinue reading “Still quiet on Conn”
Wickhams variant
For almost as long as I have been fly fishing the Wickham’s Fancy has been a favourite of mine. Rainbows used to love it and brownies accepted it willingly either as a small dry or the wet version, especially in the evenings. Sea trout fell for its undoubted charms too and it could frequently beContinueContinue reading “Wickhams variant”
Clogher
A short spin up a narrow road from Westport there is brown sign which points down an even narrower road to a magical little lough called Clogher. Despite having previously lived in close proximity to Clogher I had never wet a line on it, not until this evening. A single boat resides in the tinyContinueContinue reading “Clogher”
The Gull
The day we walked the Erris Loop provided me with a couple of new fly tying feathers. As we neared the end of our walk I spotted two snowy white breast feathers from a gull just lying there on the sheep nibbled grass. Picking them up I pondered the possibilities and the seeds of anContinueContinue reading “The Gull”
What’s wrong on the Robe?
Mid-May, the height of the trout season in Mayo. The weather forecast was good and I was really really looking forward to a few hours on the River Robe. The fishing can be challenging in low, clear water but fly life should be plentiful. I double checked my dry fly boxes to make sure IContinueContinue reading “What’s wrong on the Robe?”
Earlier this week
May is the height of the season here in Mayo with so much going on for anyone interested in the outdoors it is hard to fit in such necessities as work and sleep. The long, long winter has finally released her grip and we can look forward to the softer weather of spring and summerContinueContinue reading “Earlier this week”
Bank holiday blues
Bank holiday Sunday came around again so quickly. This year is flying by, each successive month whizzing past faster than the last one. The decision where to fish yesterday was taken on the back of reports there were salmon sneaking up the river Moy and that the first of the grilse were being caught alongsideContinueContinue reading “Bank holiday blues”
Around Conn and Cullin
Just some bits and pieces from the Conn/Cullin area to give you a feel for this part of Ireland. Let’s kick off with some figures shall we? The Conn/Cullin catchment drains roughly 800 square miles of north County Mayo Conn is a big lough, it covers roughly 48 km2 and has a maximum depth ofContinueContinue reading “Around Conn and Cullin”
An evening on Beltra
I will leave the photos to tell the tale of an evening spent on Lough Beltra in the company of Ben and Pat. The fish did not cooperate but it was great just to be afloat on a pleasant Spring evening. We all want to catch fish when we head out to the lough orContinueContinue reading “An evening on Beltra”
Claretbumbler 