More than ten years ago I retired from world competitive fly fishing but this morning here I was – out of retirement competing in the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships on the lakes of Ireland as a member of Team USA. My heart pounded with excitement as if my last tournament was yesterday. The … Read more
The World Masters Fly Fishing Championships is a weeklong event. Yesterday was the opening ceremonies. Today is Official Practice. Tomorrow we compete. Thursday is an off day. Then Friday is our last day of competition and Saturday is the awards ceremony and party. In past competitions I usually took the Official Practice day to … Read more
Today was the first relaxation day since we arrived in Ireland for the World Masters Fly Fishing Championships. Team USA slept in after a late night catching up with old European friends. I didn’t move until around 8 AM. After breakfast I gave my tackle a once over to get ready for the tournament. The … Read more
Every World Flyfishing Championship I fished back in my day had one fishing location that caused havoc with the scores of the tournament. It was usually a lake where only about 10% of the competitors caught a single fish and the other 90% blanked. Based on our practice day Friday and news carrying on from … Read more
Guide Mike Drinan brought us to a spectacular small shore fishing lake 30 minutes out of Oughterard. The lake was shallow and weedy. The skies were gray and blue with wind and occasional drizzle then sunshine. Connemara ponies watched as we set up our rods then disappeared into the grassy hillsides. This was Ireland exactly the … Read more
Word on the street here in Galway, Ireland is that fishing is tough. Ireland has been experiencing a record breaking heatwave with temperatures hovering in the 80’s. Normal temps here are mid to upper 60’s. Furthermore, they haven’t a drop of rain in the two weeks. Again, very unusual and both have the wild brown … Read more
Ireland has always been on my “to fish” list but I must say I wasn’t bouncing off the walls with excitement before leaving home this week. I was concerned that perhaps I’ve traveled too much lately and travel lost its charm. But false alarm, when I woke this morning I was like, “Holly crap in … Read more
I arrived in Galway, Ireland around noon today. I’m here as a member of Team USA for the World Masters Flyfishing Championships. There are four of us on the team that includes my longtime friend Jay Buchner, other friend and fly fishing legend Joe Humphreys and Scott Robertson who I don’t know well but competed … Read more
There’s no tougher time to leave home for me than June. While some anglers can’t wait for July for the rivers to clear I like now because it’s green and everywhere you look is alive! It’s also the most enjoyable time in my yard with my trees in full bloom and prime time on the … Read more
My readers certainly remember my big 50th birthday last year. Mine was all hardcore fishing with friends on my beloved Henry’s Fork. Granny was happy to do the same but instead we went bigger. We went huge and did three Chicago Cubs games over Memorial Day weekend! The celebration begins for my lady. First game … Read more
About a month ago friend and superb South Fork River fishing guide, Mike Bean, asked me to block off May 27 so we could go fishing together. We’ve been trying to fish together for a couple years and this advance notice was the only way to make it happen. Mike is simply booked up all … Read more
I haven’t spent much time on my home waters this year but the Ririe Bass n Fly tournament is a day I hope never to miss. I’ve been doing the fun contest since its start about ten years ago. Rather than speedy bass boats like the monster competitions on the pro circuit ours is a … Read more