June 2026 – Claretbumbler

Silver Muddler

June has been a tough month so far with the trout firmly on the bottom, gorging on coarse fry. It used to be just baby perch they feasted on but these days it is the hoards of roach fry which keep the fish from showing on the surface. Dry fly anglers may not like toContinueContinue reading “Silver Muddler”

Black Hopper Variant

I’ve been tying and fishing a black hopper for years and it has been a good fly for me on still water. A basic pattern, just a silver ribbed black body, some legs and a black hackle. I guess many of you have the same fly in your own box and like me find itContinueContinue reading “Black Hopper Variant”

Weeds

My first tench trip of the year had ended in disaster with the loss of one very large fish. After much licking of wounds it was time for me to get out there and try for a tench or two again. To give myself a fighting chance I drove down to the royal canal andContinueContinue reading “Weeds”

Missing bites on the border

Lord only knows how often I have driven past Lough McNean. A lifetime of journeys to the north or onwards to a ferry bound for Scotland entailed crossing the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic at the bridge over the river which joins upper and lower Lough McNean. The road passes along the northContinueContinue reading “Missing bites on the border”