Afraid this is a rambling and at times barely coherent tale which spans decades and continents but at the end I will give you a really good salmon fly pattern. Trout and Salmon magazine was an integral part of my angling education. When I was still living at home with my parents my bedroom hadContinueContinue reading “Near the end”
Tag Archives: carrowmore lake
Tactics for Mayo salmon loughs
Carrowmore and Beltra It is that time of the year again, the salmon season is opening here in the west. I want to just go over a few points which may help visitors to catch the elusive fish on a couple of the western lakes. I know I have touched on this subject before onContinueContinue reading “Tactics for Mayo salmon loughs”
Simple Beltra Badger
I am guessing that most of you reading this are already very familiar with the Beltra Badger salmon fly. Although it is a pretty easy fly to tie in its original form I make a simplified version for tying on small hooks such as a size 10 trout fly hook. This makes a very usefulContinueContinue reading “Simple Beltra Badger”
32 – Episode 9, Mayo
I blanked on my last visit to Carrowmore so I was hoping for better luck this time around. The lake has been a bit hit and miss so far this year with some anglers catching regularly while others are struggling to meet fish. A storm is forecast for the end of this week which willContinueContinue reading “32 – Episode 9, Mayo”
Carrowmore, May ’21
Yesterday I opted for a day chasing silvery salmon; I was off to North Mayo and the holy grail of lough salmon fly fishers – Carrowmore Lake. Carrowmore sits to the north of the village of Bangor in the old Earldom of Erris. Wild lands of hill and bog, this is a sparsely populated partContinueContinue reading “Carrowmore, May ’21”
Bibio Dabbler
There can’t be many Irish lough fishers who don’t have this fly or something very like it in their fly box. Perhaps one of the earliest variations on the Dabbler theme, this one is a good early season pattern for trout. Use black tying silk, an 8/0 for preference. Hook sizes vary depending on whatContinueContinue reading “Bibio Dabbler”
2 for the Moy
Saturday afternoon, in the room listening to my collection of Pretty Things albums. I guess that is a sure sign of my advancing years! Got through all the classics and ended up at Savage Eye. Loved every minute of it. Oh, and I was making salmon flies too. I have plans to fish the riverContinueContinue reading “2 for the Moy”
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 weContinueContinue reading “Salmon at the double”
Holiday weekend (2) Two more patterns for Carrowmore Lake
I am frequently asked for salmon fly patterns for use on Carrowmore. I generally give the same answer – whatever you have in the box that you have confidence in on a size 8 hook. That may sound like a cop out but the truth is that I have seen salmon caught on so manyContinueContinue reading “Holiday weekend (2) Two more patterns for Carrowmore Lake”
Angling update
A wee update for you on the fishing in these parts. Beltra -the odd spring salmon being caught but to be honest the lough needs a good shot of water in it now to encourage a run of salmon. River Moy – a trickle of fish seem to be entering the system now and catches,ContinueContinue reading “Angling update”
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