I can remember being in my fourteenth year and heading out fishing on my own for the first time having been taught the basics over the previous few years by my dad. It was June 1974 at the beginning of my summer holidays and over a couple of sessions fishing Killiney strand and Whiterock I caught a large pollack and a flounder close to two pound. To me fishing was always about communing with and getting a better understanding of nature while occasionally bringing something home nice for the table.
Which is why I was delighted to receive and publish an image of young Douglas O’Toole cradling a lovely summer grilse caught and released off Carramore strand near Louisburgh, Co. Mayo during the recent heatwave. Tempted by a silver toby, the grilse was one of two which took Douglas’s lure that evening, the second throwing the hook, but hey that’s fishing.
Douglas’s father sent me another image of his son fishing that evening capturing a glorious sunset over Clew Bay and Clare Island once home to the pirate Queen Grace O’Malley (Grainne Mhaol). Young Douglas is dedicated to angling and can be found close to the water at every opportunity. Good man Douglas, the above brace of images explaining fully why people go fishing, who needs play station……….
Tags: Ireland, Lure Fishing, Salmon, Sea Angling, Sea Fishing
