Salmon at the double

Carrowmore. Just the name sets the pulse racing of salmon fishers. Today we would try our luck on this shallow lake set in the bogs of Bangor Erris. This is very different fishing to the ‘classic’ beats of the Scottish east coast rivers. Modern Skaggit heads and tube flies have no place here. Instead weContinue reading "Salmon at the double"

Monday, bloody Monday

The morning slipped away from me but by 11.30 I was behind the wheel and heading off to spend a few hours trout fishing on the River Robe. All the rivers around here are high and this usually improves the fishing on the Robe, so hopes were high as the old green VW rumbled downContinue reading "Monday, bloody Monday"

Sunday

It looks increasingly likely that my planned time off work will come to a shuddering halt way too early so I have been packing in some fishing over the past two days. Last Sunday I did some trolling for salmon. It started of grey. Very grey. A thick mist had turned the world silvery andContinue reading "Sunday"

Kynoch mounts

Buying up raggedy old Kynoch Killers for refurbishment over the close season kept me entertained until the season started. The palavor of painting the plugs with all the messing about that entailed was good fun. By extension, the finished baits now required new mounts to complete the job. I use two slightly different versions andContinue reading "Kynoch mounts"

Jenning’s Dabbler

I was contemplating the Jenning’s Nymph the other day and decided to make a Dabbler based loosely on it. I already have plenty of Claret Dabblers in the box but none sporting a peacock herl body. The more I thought about this the stranger this omission looked. We all know how deadly flies with peacockContinue reading "Jenning’s Dabbler"

Perka

I bought a couple of these old ABU lures last year but have not had the chance to try them out yet. I came across them while looking for other lures and was intrigued by their unusual design. It was really watching out for was one or two old 'Lucas' and 'Sextet' pirks when I foundContinue reading "Perka"

Beltra this evening

Tried Lough Beltra for a few hours this evening but with no success. The wind was good for drifting the Coop shore but the fish were unresponsive. Bright conditions gave way to some high cloud as the sun set but the outstanding feature of the evening was the cold. Still no sign of Spring inContinue reading "Beltra this evening"

Conn this afternoon

It is bitterly cold again today but the call of the lough was just too strong so I gave Conn a lash after lunch. A bright morning had given way to dull and breezy afternoon as I set off, the back of the car jammed full of all manner of gear. I heaved my prehistoricContinue reading "Conn this afternoon"

Sooty Olive

Picture the scene if you will; it’s early season on the Western lakes and the urge to fish has brought you to the shores of Lough Mask. Still too early for the gorse to bloom, everywhere in sight is coloured in sombre duns and greys. That joyous rush of prescient life, that hope and expectationContinue reading "Sooty Olive"

Remembering Bilberry Lake

Years ago I used to fish Bilberry Lake, half way between Castlebar and Westport. At the time this was a stocked trout fishery and the fishing is looked after by the Bilberry Angling Club. Membership was comprised mainly locals from Islandeady who did a small bit of fishing with a sprinkling of more experienced anglers.Continue reading "Remembering Bilberry Lake"