Fog on the Shannon

With another storm due to hit us on Friday, I decided to sneak out once again with the rods before the weather deteriorated. It's been cold and foggy for the past couple of days and Wednesday was promised the same, maybe not ideal conditions but not the worst either. Roach would again be the targetContinue reading "Fog on the Shannon"

Paltry fine handed down for Mayo fish kill

https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/news/press-releases/ifi-secures-conviction-against-uisce-eireann-for-sewage-pollution-that-killed Uisce Éireann have been handed a tiny fine for killing nearly a thousand fish in Clare lake in April last year. The case was brought before the court by the IFI. This will just be a few Euro on the balance sheet and has no real meaning to anyone in power. The Clare LakeContinue reading "Paltry fine handed down for Mayo fish kill"

First outing of 2025

In the words of D:Ream - things can only get better. The first outing of the year is always a tricky one, isn't it? Where to go, what to fish for, what day to pick, get any of the variable wrong and your season is off to a bad start. I had put off fishingContinue reading "First outing of 2025"

2025………

Bloody weather! I had hoped to make a flying start to 2025 but the snow, ice, wind, rain etc have conspired against me. While not actually getting out to do any fishing for many weeks, I have been busy repairing, cleaning and organising my gear in preparation for the coming season. Fly boxes are fillingContinue reading "2025………"

Ullsock

Here is another old post which was gathering dust in a forgotten folder deep inside my website. Not a fly most of you will be familiar with, but I like the look of this one as a possible salmon and sea trout pattern for the west of Ireland. I was intrigued when I first sawContinue reading "Ullsock"

Cock Robin Palmer

Christmas Day here in Castlebar and I have completed my first list of chores. With a little time on my hands before we launch into full blown Christmas dinner mode, I have been poking about the back alleys of my website and come across a few posts which somehow never saw the light of day.Continue reading "Cock Robin Palmer"

That time of the year again

Regular readers will be fed up hearing me banging on about how much I hate Christmas (nothing has changed, I still despise the whole crock of shit), and how I am planning for the coming season. Well, so far next season's plans are very much up in the air due to a number of factors.Continue reading "That time of the year again"

Short session in Sligo

Irelands a very strange place, isn't it? I know this is not news but today just brought it home to me how odd my adopted home is. Immersed as I am in a welter of tasks which I can't seem to complete, I decided a few hours coarse fishing might clear my mind a bit.Continue reading "Short session in Sligo"

Jointed Mayfly

Another one for all you hard working fly tyers out there. This is a rather unusual wee fly which is not one I see in use too often. One of the materials is peculiarly Irish, PTFE tape. This is referred to here as simply 'Plumber's tape' as is is used by those professionals when makingContinue reading "Jointed Mayfly"

The Stone Goat

Not a fly I use personally, but it is popular in the area for all game fish. I guess I am just too wedded to the old Claret Bumble to bother with this fly personally, but I am tying a few up today to sell. The one I see most often is the dressing IContinue reading "The Stone Goat"