Posts Tagged ‘fly fishing northern ireland’

Arrived back in Ontario, Canada yesterday afternoon after spending just under a week in Northern Ireland.   The weather was awesome if you’re into sunshine and tanning your skin – but not great if you wanted to fly fish. A very non-typical week of bright sunshine without a single drop of rain.   In fact, I came back home with more of a sun tan than when I had left Canada!

Even so, I did get to spend a day fly fishing the Six Mile Water River with Stevie Munn near Templepatrick and Antrim town – and although we had to contend with low water levels and practically zero cloud cover, it was a great experience!  Stevie promised we’d catch some fish – and sure enough we did even under the not so good weather conditions for fly fishing.

I’m going to write a full article on the experience later – but for now, let me say this:   Stevie is one heck of a fly angler and great company as a fly fishing guide too. If you’re thinking of heading to Northern Ireland and want to get in some fly fishing while you are there, Stevie Munn is probably your man to contact for guiding services.

I’m getting more excited! I’ve finally managed to firm up a date for fishing with Stevie Munn when I’m in Northern Ireland. The day will be the last full day that I am visiting Northern Ireland – so I hope nothing goes wrong – and I’m wondering how I will have the patience to wait for it while I’m visiting and doing other things.

I don’t subscribe to Trout & Salmon magazine but one of my acquaintances does, and mentioned he had seen Stevie’s name mentioned in relation to some Irish angling articles and/or reports.

I’m also hoping he knows I’m not expecting a “typical” guided experience, where the guide bites his tongue while the client screws up the possibility of a fish – instead, I hope he elbows his way right in there if need be, and shows me how to catch the fish while not worrying about making sure the client caught more fish – some guides seldom do any fishing at all when they are “working.”

I prefer a guide who is of the sort that is willing to say, “Here, let me show you how it’s done here…” and I can learn from observation as well as my own experience. If he wants to tie on my tippet and flies, that’s fine – most of them have time saving tricks that ensure the fly gets into or onto the water faster – but I like a guide that will have fun as well.

Anyhow – wow – time flies. Won’t be long until I’m there!

The other day, I was musing about a trip to Northern Ireland and Scotland for a couple of weeks. After my musing, I began to investigate the costs of flights from Toronto to Belfast. This year, I can get a return flight including all taxes for about $460.00 (Canadian). So that got me imagining a quick 6 day trip, with the possibility of a day on some waters in Antrim; my auld man’s favorite fishing was on rivers and streams in Antrim.
A bit more googling revealed the website of Stevie Munn who provides guiding on The Six Mile River. Heading to Northern Ireland for some fly fishing would be no more expensive – and possibly even less expensive than if I were to fly to Vancouver and stay out there for six days.

Some pondering is in order here.