Some really unsettled weather this week has had an effect on the fishing but it has not stopped some anglers from venturing out and those who have braved the high winds and torrential rain have been taking some good bags of fish.
On the days when the weather has been more settled and the temperature has risen slightly a lot of fish have been taken just below the surface on floating lines with buzzers, nymphs and diawl bachs with the slowest retrieves or static under the bung. Dry flies have accounted for quite a few fish on the surface when the wind drops. Amazing as it sounds, small cdc patterns, shipman’s buzzers and small conventional dries have all been working well.
On the cooler days anglers have been finding the fish holding deep, sinking lines and a slow retrieve have resulted in good catches. Flies working well with this method were black and green lures, zonkers, cormorants, black fritz and cat’s whiskers although nymphs and buzzers fished deep also accounted for good catches.
We noticed an increased number of junior anglers this week as the schools broke up for Halloween. Local friends James, Michael and Declan took full advantage of the time off and were rewarded with plenty of fish. James had a great start to the day catching and landing a 3lb 3oz fish on floating fry pattern. Michael finished his day with 6 mainly on a cat’s whisker and a black nomad. Declan took 5 on a red fritz nomad. The smiles as they reluctantly left said it all. Good work boys! Eleven year old Sara Ferguson from Aghalee (pictured above) had 3 on an orange fritz pattern.
Dundalk club members had a good days sport on Thursday with Terry Kelly taking the biggest fish of the day weighing in at just over 8lb. The guys all caught and landed their fish, even the veteran of the club left happy with his bag limit.
On Friday Jim Bonner braved the elements and was rewarded with 7 fish on an intermediate line and a white cat’s whisker. 
