Casting practice

Friday morning and the weather vane on top of Lagduff Lodge is still firmly set in a Northerly airflow. Dry again today so the fishing will be little more than casting practice, leaving me less than overjoyed I fished from pol Garrow down to the Rock Pool but the only fish I saw was aContinueContinue reading “Casting practice”

Sticks and stones

Day 2 on Lagduff and the drought continues. There was some mist in the morning which we all prayed would develop into a deluge but it petered out without making any difference to the water level in the Owenduff river. I elected to try fishing down at the bottom of the beat and set ofContinueContinue reading “Sticks and stones”

No water on the Owenduff

The Owenduff. Just the name is enough to set the pulse of any salmon fisher racing. This lovely stream flows through some stunning scenery in North Mayo and I am  lucky enough to be fishing it for a few days this week. I’m staying at Lagduff lodge in the company of 3 other like mindedContinueContinue reading “No water on the Owenduff”

Green instead of silver

It has been quiet all week. Work has taken me up to Belfast and then hours in front of the computer screen, severely curtailing my fishing. Late August and that nagging sense that another season is slipping away from me pervades my thoughts. Ben had some success on Lough Innagh but I couldn’t make thatContinueContinue reading “Green instead of silver”

Gone for a Burton

There was a small tin box in my fly tying cabinet which caught my eye today. I don’t remember where it came from or why it was lodged under some squirrel tails, it just seemed to appear there. I must have used it ages ago and forgotten about it but today I opening it upContinueContinue reading “Gone for a Burton”

Smoking is good for you

Thursday has been muggy and moist, the air hardly circulating at all. It feels thundery but nothing comes of it. Hardly the best conditions for fishing but we had agreed that we would try a mark out West in the evening. Now as it turned out there was a last minute change of plans whichContinueContinue reading “Smoking is good for you”

Clare Island

Saturday was a beautiful day in the West of Ireland with light winds and high clouds breaking up the sunshine occasionally. The ferry leaves from the busy little pier in Roonagh and we lugged the tackle down the steps and on to the bulky ship full of anticipation. Twenty minutes later we jumped off andContinueContinue reading “Clare Island”

Visitors

So my mate and his daughter were in Ireland this week and we did a bit of fishing together. I met up with Chris down in Cork and we fished in the sea at a few marks down there before heading up to Mayo where we trolled for Pike and also had a trip toContinueContinue reading “Visitors”

Beltra seeing an increase in sport

The high water earlier this week has allowed a run of both salmon and sea trout to come up the Newport River and into Lough Beltra. I have not been out yet but you can follow reports on the Genisland Coop FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lough-Beltra/380982678740593?fref=nf At this time of year smaller flies will work better, soContinueContinue reading “Beltra seeing an increase in sport”

Grilse still in short supply

July is often a wet month in Mayo. A little rain fell on Tuesday night and some more as the Wednesday morning wore on, so I decided it was worth a look at a small river I sometimes fish in North Mayo. Expecting a small rise in the water I was instead confronted with aContinueContinue reading “Grilse still in short supply”