Yesterday saw our first outing to Lough Sheelin in county Cavan, the weather was perfect with a small north west breeze we ventured out of Kilnahard pier and made our way to Orangefield where we saw fish rising.

It was time to field test my new pattern the bloody olive dabbler and sure enough on our second drift i hooked into a beautiful fish, but as i played it it shook the hook.

Not disapointed we carried on with the drift and two more fish rose but but no connection,when suddenly there was an almighty eruption on the surface and Gerry was into a nice wild Sheelin fish, after about three minutes the fish was safely boated a quick photo taken and the fish returned.

As we say on Sheelin don,t kill the goose that lays the golden egg, CPR catch photograph and release, which is being practiced by all members of the lough sheelin protection association, a credit to all members.

Anyway at this point it was time for our traditional cup of tea on one of the Islands and the Kelly kettle was duly deployed and for an hour we scanned the lough to see several good fish moving, but the conditions started to calm down and was no use for us to pull flies.

As we made our way back to the pier we did see a few olives hatching, but with the cold snap we have encountered over the past month it will be a few more days before we get  any decent hatches of olives.

Duck fly is on the water and the fish are moving to these.

Our next venture will be in around three weeks and hopefully we will have a bit more sport on the Lough.

This will give me time to get the contractors in to finish off my new tying studio and ref it my preperation and dyeing room.

so as i hear more i will keep you all informed.

tight lines

Lawrence