July 2024 – Claretbumbler

I do like Mondays

Fishing on Monday evening has now become a ‘thing’ for me. I stay in digs each Monday night so I make use of the free time between the end of my working day and darkness by fishing somewhere in the Irish midlands. This Monday I decided to re-visit an old haunt and do a bitContinueContinue reading “I do like Mondays”

Bunaveela

While most of my trout fishing is done on the big loughs from a boat I still try to fit in the occasional trip to the smaller stillwaters dotted around the west of Ireland. These wild fisheries are usually home to small browns where a half pounder is a good fish. I think my favouriteContinueContinue reading “Bunaveela”

What I bring for a day afloat

I was out on lough Conn yesterday. My usual routine of lugging all the gear out of the car got me thinking you might like to know what I bring with me on when I head out for a day on the Irish loughs. Rather than a boring list I will run through what eachContinueContinue reading “What I bring for a day afloat”

Lost in Leitrim

It has been a tough season so far for me. Oh, I have caught a few fish alright but with the exception of a good afternoon with the brownies on lough Cullen there has not been much to write home about. With salmon scarce and the trout not much better, I decided to try forContinueContinue reading “Lost in Leitrim”

Third time lucky?

Those of you who have been following my fishing exploits recently will know that I fished a little lake in Co.Sligo twice recently, neither time being a particular success. Finlough looks like it should be a good spot and I have it on good authority that it can be excellent on its day. Ever theContinueContinue reading “Third time lucky?”

Dead cat and snotties

Lacking any better ideas, I made my way up to Ballanascarrow lough near Ballymote in county Sligo today. I had hoped to be doing a bit of trout fishing, but a few phone calls yesterday evening put paid to any notions there were brownies to be caught. Conn and Mask are both fishing very poorlyContinueContinue reading “Dead cat and snotties”

Blackrock

Is it just me or has this year been uncommonly windy? It feels like every day there is a gale blowing. The weather forecast, never overly accurate at the best of times, seems to be totally out of touch with what actually happens this season. Here we are in July and the weather remains coldContinueContinue reading “Blackrock”