Bleach Lough, Co. Limerick, 24 August 2012 #fishirl

A work night out gave me my opportunity to try fresh water fishing and introduce my two eldest girls to fishing. The preceding week had me researching about the basics of trout fishing as  I had never fished for  let alone caught one and showing my girls how to cast and retrieve with a spinning outfit. I also purchased worms and lures from Steve's shop on Denmark street.

http://www.igotworms.net/

We arrived out just in time to get one of the last available boats, as road flooding due to the torrential rain had delayed us getting out the Lough. Club member were guiding on the boats and showing us the basics. It was also apparent that there were plenty of fish rising and jumping. I started out with a mepps type lure golds with red spots as recommended by Steve. Early on while trolling, as the boat was driven between drifts, I felt a bang and was into a 3lb rainbow. The trout jumped out of the water and took line off my reel in an enjoyable fight until it was finally netted. Shortly after I had a trout jump out after the same lure as I retrieved at speed to avoid a boat that had moved into our path to net a fish on the fly.

My eldest daughter then saw her float move or more precisely it was pointed out to her. After turning the handle the wrong way round and causing a tangle we thought she had lost it but after it was untangled the fish was on. She carefully brought it to the boat with adults shouting instructs and landed her first fish. My next daughter missed a trout as she pulled the bait out of the water when the float moved and the fish didn't come back.

 As darkness fell, the fish stopped rising and we were called in. Everyone had a great time with the worst of the rain holding off and plenty of fish caught. Our fish were steamed up and we all enjoyed some fresh naturalised fish for lunch the next day. A big thanks you to the Lough Bleach anglers for there help.

http://www.bleachloughanglers.ie/

People: Two eldest and I pluse work collegues
Duration: 6:00pm until 9:00pm
Weather: Heavy Rain everywhere but here where only light showers
Bait: Earth worm, mepps, tais devils
Rigs: bubble floats with size 2 hooks
Results:
 Eimear had a 1lb rainbow and I had a 3lber

The steps, Co. Clare, 19th august 2012

People: Me

Duration: 11.30am until 3.30pm
Tide: 13:31 0.50m 19:47 5.10m

Weather: Southerly wind with squals to sun

Bait: Mack, Eel, squid

Rigs: Pulleys with 2/0 penel on one rod, 3 hook golds and cascade size 2 on other
Results:
17 dogfish and two dabs

Report:

I started hitting fish a half hour. Dogs preferred the paternosters as is usual hear with sand eel with the dabs going for the bottom hook. I had a few doubles missing a trable of dogs due to carelessness in singing them in but managed one treble below. As the tide flowed harder at the end fishing slowed singles. When the fish are biting this well I was surprised not to meet a few ray, straps, huss or something else especially as the pulley rig wasn't being hammered by dogs.

Treble to a golds with the dab taking the bottom hook