coarse fishing – Claretbumbler

Shanballybaun

There is a lough which hides in a fold of the land, a lake I had heard of but never seen. A lake which, rumour had it, was an excellent place to catch all manner of wild fishes. If I could find it, that is. I knew roughly where this mysterious body of pea green waterContinueContinue reading “Shanballybaun”

Cloonagh

My plans to fish a new lake to me over in Leitrim on Saturday turned to dust when an old affliction flared up. I don’t want this blog to turn into a pity party for me, suffice to say I was sore and grumpy. So I passed on the long drive and hard day’s fishing,ContinueContinue reading “Cloonagh”

Leaving it late on the Camlin

After a fairy disastrous day on the Shannon last time out, I wanted to try and do a bit better on my next jaunt. When Nik suggested the Camlin river might be worth a go I jumped at the chance to fish with him. To date, I have always done well on the Camlin, nothingContinueContinue reading “Leaving it late on the Camlin”

Ballyleague

Last week went by with too much to be done at home and no time left for fishing. We all get times like that and I am unbelievably lucky that just a week without being bankside feels like a long time. This week I have plans to get out more with the rods, and whatContinueContinue reading “Ballyleague”

Late summer in south county Galway

Safety notice – those of a nervous disposition should be aware my ugly mug is plastered all over the following post. The simple act of writing posts for this blog has many advantages for me. I enjoy mangling the English language in an attempt to tell wee stories of my fishing trips, it stretches myContinueContinue reading “Late summer in south county Galway”

River Erne

For the past two or three years I have been meaning to fish the Erne, either the upper lough, the lower lough or the river. It is such a huge fishery I found it a bit daunting, and because it is a bit of a journey up there I wouldn’t have the opportunity to makeContinueContinue reading “River Erne”

Be prepared (or not)

Let me start this tale of piscatorial ineptitude last Tuesday evening. While sifting through the coarse fishing gear I found that my box of pre-tied hook lengths was very low on certain sizes, namely my much favoured 14’s and 16’s. While Helen watched something on telly I busied myself making up new hook lengths toContinueContinue reading “Be prepared (or not)”

Still struggling

My near total inability to catch tench this year is rankling me. Whenever I contemplate a bit of fishing the need to catch a tench is right at the very top of my list. The longer my tinca drought goes on the more it vexes me, like I am trapped in some sort of red-eyedContinueContinue reading “Still struggling”

Sunday, parts 1 and 2

There are a lot of them around here. Nameless bodies of water which pepper the pancake flat boglands of east Mayo and across the border into Roscommon. They probably do have ancient Irish names but these are long forgotten or only spoken of softly by the old people of the immediate locale. Nobody in theirContinueContinue reading “Sunday, parts 1 and 2”

Clare Lake

I have written elsewhere about the fish kill on Clare Lake in Claremorris and the devastating effect it had on the fishing. It was already a fishery under pressure due to poaching, but the effluent spill finished it off and the five angling stands have been deserted ever since the foul waste water entered theContinueContinue reading “Clare Lake”