My unbridled enthusiasm for the Claret Bumble is well known to you all, it has been one of the most consistent flies for me over the years in all sorts of places and for all kinds of game fish. I was rummaging in a fly box the other day and came across a variant ofContinueContinue reading “Pearly Claret Bumble”
Category Archives: trout fishing
Sunburst Octopus
A few years ago nobody had heard of the colour ‘sunburst’ but now it is widely used in pulling patterns. I tie a version of the Octopus using sunburst colours so I thought I would share it with you. I like to tie this pattern on a size 10 heavyweight hook. That is because IContinueContinue reading “Sunburst Octopus”
Green tinsel
I was given a fly the other day by a highly experienced local angler who has had some success with it on Carrowmore Lake. It is predominantly black and dressed in bumble style but the thing that caught my eye was the body material – green tinsel. For years I have found this colour ofContinueContinue reading “Green tinsel”
Bilberry lake restocked
The local rag is reporting that Bilberry lake has been restocked this week. Here is the report from the Connaught Telegraph ‘THE scenic Bilberry Lake in Castlebar has today been restocked with 1,000 brown trout ahead of a busy summer angling season. The restocking, which costs over €4,000, was funded by members of the BilberryContinueContinue reading “Bilberry lake restocked”
Robe trout
I wanted a break for salmon fishing so today I took myself off to the Robe near Hollymount to try for a few wild brownies. With no rain to speak of lately I knew that water levels would be low and so I avoided the streamier sections of the river. Parking up, I strode overContinueContinue reading “Robe trout”
Boat launch
Later than normal, we dropped my boat off at Pike Bay on lough Conn this morning. It is usually some time in late March or early April that my old grey boat is unearthed from the depths of the shed and dragged up to the Conn, but this year the gods conspired against me andContinueContinue reading “Boat launch”
First fish
Close season Saturday afternoons are sacrosanct for me. I endeavour to get all my tasks and odd jobs out of the way by 2pm so that I can disappear into the fishing room for the remainder of the afternoon. I am just too old school for the blandishments of SKY TV sports channels and IContinueContinue reading “First fish”
Forward thinking
With the season officially started I need to wrap my head around where I’m going to fish during 2019. Last season was a disaster for me so I need to think carefully about these plans to avoid yet more disappointment. Some venues are just too special to ignore, so the likes of Lough Beltra andContinueContinue reading “Forward thinking”
Watson’s Fancy
A few small spaces remain to be filled in the fly boxes and I made a couple of big Waton’s fancy this afternoon and the heavy mist turned the garden a silvery mossy colour outside the window. The Watson is not a fly I have caught a huge number of fish on but I findContinueContinue reading “Watson’s Fancy”
Getting ready
‘Tis the end of January and the time to prepare for the upcoming season is upon us game anglers in Ireland. I know that some early rivers opened weeks ago but for me and most of the lads I fish with the months of February and March mark the true beginning of another year onContinueContinue reading “Getting ready”
Claretbumbler 