It is a bit ironic I suppose that I am taking a break from this blog just as the lockdown is slowly being lifted here in Ireland. From 8th June we will be allowed to travel a maximum of 20km from home meaning I could reach Loughs Conn and Cullin. The local fishers who live closer to the lakes than I do have been out trying their luck and the trout seem to have been responding in reasonable numbers on days when the weather was kind. Those days have been few and far between though as the fine, dry and bright days have dominated in the west for week now. Regardless, I will be out fishing from the 8th and, please God, some trout will be good enough to show some interest in my flies.
The mayfly will be all but over by then and the fishing will become progressively more challenging. If the weather breaks and we see some heavy rain there might be the odd salmon running the Moy and some of these fish may enter the Conn/Cullin system. It is really in the lap of the Gods so there is no use fretting unduly about the chances of a silver lad.
I have come to terms with my decision to curtail the blog for while. I admit the initial idea came like a bolt out the blue but I have grown accustomed to the new found freedom now and am looking forward to taking a break. I will almost certainly jot down some observations from my fishing trips once I am back in the saddle so look out for new posts at some point in the future. When exactly that will be is not clear to me. I’ll know when the time is right! I have retained the domain name for the site to prevent someone else using it. The blog will still be accessible online but a lot of the features will disappear until I sign up again. I’m not 100% sure of exactly what is going to vanish but I expect a lot of the photographs in the posts will go. I have a FB page called claretbumbler which I drop the occasion post on so you can always get in touch with me there.
All my tackle has been overhauled and is ready for action now. The boat got a lick of varnish too! While it has been bitterly disappointing to miss the best part of the season this year I am very mindful of those who have lost their lives during the pandemic and count my blessings that we are in good health so far. Here in Mayo we saw an unusually high number of cases, many more than in the far more populous neighbouring county of Galway. At least we are seeing a sustained drop in infection rates now. Social distancing has become the norm and the changes in how we interact with each other is still hard to comprehend. There are very real fears for the tourist and hospitality sectors here and many, many jobs are at risk. Difficult times lie ahead of us.
Unless something odd or particularly newsworthy happens over the coming few days this will be my last post for some time. I want to say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all of you who took the time and trouble to visit my blog and especially to those of you who got in touch with me to make a comment or add your views. It has been an immense pleasure to be in direct communication with you all. Please mind yourselves in these difficult times and hopefully we can all get back out fishing sooner rather than later.
Claretbumbler 
Thanks for all the entertaining blogs Colin, look forward to seeing you in a newly rebuilt Healys in the future.satay safe Bob Elias, Terrybaun fly fishers
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hi Bob, thanks for your nice words. I passed Healy’s last week on my way to Pike Bay and the whole site has been cleared but no signs of work resuming yet. Let’s hope the new hotel is built as the area badly needs the employment opportunities it will bring. A few small grilse have run in to Lough Conn recently so it is worth a few casts. Stay safe, hope to talk soon.
Colin
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Hello, I am a French man fall in love for Ireland 32 years ago. I came more than 20 times , usually around your favourite river which is mine too. I had all the time great pleasure to read your posts. I hope to read you again, or better see you along the Robe. Sorry for my poor English. Best regards, Francois
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Bonjour Francois, Many thanks for getting in touch. One of the great joys of fishing here in the West of Ireland is meeting visiting anglers like yourself. Let’s hope you will be back here once the Covid-19 has subsided. I am planning a break from the blog but will return to it at some point in the future. Stay safe and tight lines! Colin
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Hi Colin. Thanks for all your efforts over the years. I have really enjoyed reading your blog and have gained some useful info on top of that.Enjoy the break and the fishing.
Best regards, Richie.
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Hi Richie, glad you have enjoyed the blog and you found it useful. I’m planning on returning to the keyboard next season so keep an eye out for that. Stay safe and tight lines, Colin
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Hello Colin, I can introduce myself briefly, I am Andreas from Germany and I read her blog with enthusiasm. I find her reports and the ones you have tied fly great and also very inspiring. I myself have been coming to Ireland regularly for fly fishing for 20 years and last year my wife and I were lucky enough to buy a house by the Lake Mask in Ireland. The house is located in Co Mayo in Tourmakeady. Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, we cannot yet enter Ireland, we check for news every day when we can finally go to Ireland. I have been tying all my flies myself for years and am always very happy when it catches a nice brown trout. I would be very happy to get to know you personally and who knows, maybe there will be an opportunity to fish geie occupants on the mask.Hello Colin, I can introduce myself briefly, I am Andreas from Germany and I read her blog with enthusiasm. I find her reports and the ones you have tied fly great and also very inspiring. I myself have been coming to Ireland regularly for fly fishing for 20 years and last year my wife and I were lucky enough to buy a house by the Lake Mask in Ireland. The house is located in Co Mayo in Tourmakeady. Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, we cannot yet enter Ireland, we check for news every day when we can finally go to Ireland. I have been tying all my flies myself for years and am always very happy when it catches a nice brown trout. I would be very happy to get to know you personally and who knows, maybe there will be an opportunity to fish geie occupants on the mask.
Greetings from Germany
Andreas
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Hi Andreas, Thanks for getting in touch! I hope you and the people close to you are well during these difficult times. The pandemic has meant the fish have had a peaceful season so far with virtually no angling activity until recently. The exceptionally dry spring has given way to a wet summer meaning there are salmon running the rivers here and I have been busy fishing for them instead of trout fishing on Loughs Mask or Conn. I hear that the fishing has been pretty good on Mask with fish being caught out in the deeps. Congratulations on your new house! Tourmakeady is a lovely spot and there are many good fishermen living in the area. I would love to meet up with you when you are here in Ireland and maybe go out for a day on Mask? In the meantime, I am occasionally putting some fishing news on my facebook page, just look up claretbumbler on FB. Let me know when you are coming over and we can make some arrangements to meet up. Best wishes, Colin
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