Outside, there is only what can be described as a storm blowing. Trees are bending in the wind and sheets of cold rain are filling the gutters to overflowing. While the east coast of Ireland is just breezy and cool we here in the west are being well and truly battered and soaked. It isContinueContinue reading “Holiday weekend (1) a Dabbler pattern”
Category Archives: trout fishing
After the rain
The rain finally stopped last week and the rivers have been slowly dropping back to more reasonable levels. I had a look at the Robe last weekend but she was over the banks and in the fields in most places so there was no chance of fishing. Today was a beautiful spring day though andContinueContinue reading “After the rain”
Mayo game angling guide
For those of you who are considering a trip to Co. Mayo for a bit of game fishing later this year there is a handy guide published by IFI. See this link: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/angling-1/294-county-mayo-game-angling-guide-1/file Some of the information regarding which rivers are open for salmon angling is out of date so check before making final plans,ContinueContinue reading “Mayo game angling guide”
4 for the new season
I have been busy at the fly tying table again. With a bit of time on my hands this week I was able to spend some time immersed in fur and feather. Ever the optimist, I am hoping this year will be kinder to me and days on the water will be more frequent thanContinueContinue reading “4 for the new season”
Keeping it simple: a good midge pattern
Check out the excellent video from T. Flagler which I found on Chi Wulff’s blog. This style of midge works exceptionally well in Ireland when tiny black flies are on the water in May and June. http://chiwulff.com/2016/11/18/tie-one-on-matts-midge-from-tightline/ He ties this fly on a size 22 but I find it works all the way up toContinueContinue reading “Keeping it simple: a good midge pattern”
How to tie a bead thorax nymph
I use this style of nymph a lot both in ‘traditional’ nymphing and as a point fly on a wet fly cast. Obviously other tyers have developed this style and it is commonly used in different parts of the world for trout and grayling. I love the extra ‘kick’ the bead gives to the hackleContinueContinue reading “How to tie a bead thorax nymph”
The Manulla river
A chilly wind is scattering the last of the leaves in the garden and the daylight rapidly fades to an inky blackness. Winter nights can be so depressing, can’t they? To cheer myself up I’ve been thinking about the coming trout season and places where I will ply the gentle art. One place where IContinueContinue reading “The Manulla river”
The final link
I found this old spool of tippet material and it got me thinking about the huge changes in the line we use these days compared with when I started fishing in the late 1960’s. When I began to fly fish for trout the only line available to make leaders was nylon, and some of thatContinueContinue reading “The final link”
Super Daddy
We are well into the month November so it is high time to get the fly tying gear out. Let’s start off with by tying a daddy imitation. With so many different ones to pick from there hardly seems to be any requirement for a new pattern but this is one which I made upContinueContinue reading “Super Daddy”
Sutherland Specials
Rummaging through the gear which I took back from my recent trip to Aberdeen I came across a wee box which rattled enticingly. Hard as I tried, I could not for the life of me remember what this small black box contained. It was in with a jumble of fly boxes but whatever was insideContinueContinue reading “Sutherland Specials”
Claretbumbler 