For once I will not be starting a post by moaning about how cold and wet it is here in Ireland. Instead, we have life-threatening heat to contend with! Listening to the news it sounds as if we are far from the worst to be affected by the unusually high temperatures but it is stillContinueContinue reading “Under the midday sun”
Category Archives: trout fishing
Up in the hills
My initial thoughts for fishing today were centred around tench, meaning a long trip to the Irish midlands. I hummed and hayed about where to go and how long it would take me, before dropping the idea and finding some fishing closer to home for a few hours. Even though I have not been fishingContinueContinue reading “Up in the hills”
Being a Boatman
I have documented here in this blog why I don’t fish in the Irish angling competitions. I do however perform boatman duties sometimes, and I was called upon to do just that last Saturday. It was the National finals day and the venue was lough Conn. There was one small problem for me, my boatContinueContinue reading “Being a Boatman”
Changes they are a comin’
After what feels like an eternity, I am finally back driving again. By happy coincidence this dovetails neatly with the much delayed start to the trout fishing in these parts. The prolonged wet spell which has stretched from last October until now has pushed back the usual angling calendar by about a month or so.ContinueContinue reading “Changes they are a comin’”
Circles
I want to go over an old dry fly pattern today but this takes us on a bit of circuitous journey, in many ways. Let me begin. Derek falls inhabits that strange land between client and friend. I met him years ago and he hired me to bring him out on lough Conn, initially forContinueContinue reading “Circles”
My fathers old rod
My mobile rang on Saturday afternoon as I was tidying up in the kitchen. Frank was on the other end, asking if I fancied some trolling on lough Conn the next day. After some deliberation, and checking herself had no plans for the Sabbath, we agreed it was worth a lash. It looked like itContinueContinue reading “My fathers old rod”
Dry day, dry net
The river Robe opened for trout fishing on Sunday but it was a yet another day of incessant rain. Monday was supposed to be a dry day but the cold wind brought in more rain from the south in the form of squally showers. I baulked at getting soaked and so delayed my first outingContinueContinue reading “Dry day, dry net”
The mini zonker
Apologies to all, there have not been many posts from me of late. My step son is home from Australia for 6 weeks, so there has been a bit of catching up to do, plus I nipped over to Aberdeen for my mother’s 91st birthday. With all that going on there has been no timeContinueContinue reading “The mini zonker”
Balling Buzzer
Today I am going to take a look at a simple fly which is used in very specific circumstances, the Balling Buzzer. Here in Ireland we see huge hatches of chironomids on our large loughs. Hundreds of individual species share these lakes, each with their own season and preferred habitat. Of course, these small creaturesContinueContinue reading “Balling Buzzer”
Badger Bibio
Who doesn’t love the Bibio? Many anglers here in Ireland swear by the original Bibio and use it almost to the exclusion of other black flies on their trout cast. Of course, such a popular pattern has spawned countless variations, many of which I have detailed in earlier posts. Here is one which can beContinueContinue reading “Badger Bibio”
Claretbumbler 