Enhancer

I came by a second-hand box of dubbing additive the other day, so I've been busy at the vice trying it out. The clear plastic box with the familiar layout of twelve small cubicles filled with dubbing came from South Africa, judging by the faded price tag in SA Rand on the base. I gaveContinue reading "Enhancer"

The Banshee

Here's one for ye all now. A sea trout fly I tied up around the time Adam was a boy (OK, slight exaggeration). What I wanted was a pattern featuring green and black but there was nothing out there that matched my expectations so, I tied this fly. The colours looked a bit, well, 'demonic'Continue reading "The Banshee"

Must try harder

Neglecting this blog has been an unintentional but very real feature of 2023 for me. With very minimal actual fishing being done by this poor, hard working individual there has been precious little to write about. '23 started off poorly and has gone steadily downhill from there. Even my normally near weekly trips to theContinue reading "Must try harder"

Ruddy wet evening

'Soft.' That's what they call it here. In Scotland we would say it was pelting cats and dogs, in London they would be building an ark. It was a grand soft evening so I ventured out with the rods in the bucketing rain and drove up to Keenagh in county Longford. Here, a basin onContinue reading "Ruddy wet evening"

Book Launch report

It is the day after so I can now reflect on my book launch last night. Normally calm, the idea of pushing myself on to other people felt decidedly unsettling. I was not nervous beforehand, just uncomfortable at being in the limelight. Invites were sent out, flyers displayed in the local tackle shops and theContinue reading "Book Launch report"

Book Launch

Just a few lines to say I have organised a book launch for 23rd July. It will be taking place upstairs in Johnnie McHale's pub in Castlebar, starting at 7pm that evening. In the off chance any of you are in the town that day please feel free to pop along. It will be aContinue reading "Book Launch"

July

When does dedication slip into lunacy? This evening appears to be when I slid over the divide as I went fishing in what can only be described as a monsoon. It had been building all week you see, that urge to get out with a rod and relax on the bank. Work was not terribleContinue reading "July"

Laziness

As a young fella I tried my level best to cram in all of the seven the deadly sins most weekends. I damn near succeeded on a few occasions but these days I set my sights much lower and can really only be justifiably accused of laziness. I'm not talking about spending each day inContinue reading "Laziness"

LC blues

The day had to come I suppose. My last outing was a short session after work, broiling under a ferocious sun and wafting a rod at some trout who declined to rise. I fished on lazily, not bothering to change tactics or flies. Work had been tough that day so I was simply unwinding aContinue reading "LC blues"

Perseverance

Regular readers will no doubt be fed up of my recent whinging about missing my trout and salmon angling this year due to work commitments. There is a positive to this though, I am getting to know the canals around me in the middle of Ireland a whole lot better. Even on those evenings whenContinue reading "Perseverance"