Andy Hill reports on a day at Balinlough with Peter Wolstenholme, where flies from the 1960’s and guys of a slightly older vintage proved they still have what it takes…
Two old men went to Balinlough, near Skibbereen, in April, to see if a combination of sun, warmish weather and scudding clouds would break their run of fishless days in West Cork, with few salmon arriving on the Bandon and elsewhere.
It was their first time on this day-ticket water but local talk was of feisty, chunky browns taking buzzers fished slowly from the three boats on hire.
So the two men, Courtmacsherry artist Peter Wolstenholme and journalist companion Andy Hill (combined age 135 years) went and tried their luck using buzzers that Peter had tied in the 1960s to use on English stillwaters. They hadn’t left the box until that April day.
They had a wonderful, unexpectedly fishy few hours taking 20 fish between them, many of them large browns losing a good dozen each and locked into some chunky rainbows as well. It was classic lake fishing – floating lines, longish leaders and small flies.
Beautiful scenery; beautiful browns, righteous Rainbows and a Spring smile to last the week.
No Dog Nobblers, Boobies or Jersey Herd were used in the making of this day.
Andy Hill
