I have promised myself that I will never again take for granted those things which we took for granted before the world ground to a halt, so it was a particular thrill to head over to Ireland and attend the inaugural Irish Angling Spring Fair just outside of Waterford. To be able to spend the weekend talking to all manner of anglers from Ireland plus do some lure fishing demonstrations and fishing photography talks was the most glorious buzz, and for the first ever time that this brand new fishing show took place, I reckon it was pretty damn amazing. I genuinely think that Ardaire Springs trout fishery where the event was held is just about the most perfect venue for a fishing show you could ever hope to have…………….

It’s close to some of the best bass fishing there is, it’s easy to get to (easily accessible from all over Ireland and only an hour from the ferry port at Rosslare where I always come in), there are a couple of lakes which are great for playing with lures and which are stocked with some rather big trout, it works equally well for fly and lure anglers, there were kids being coached to catch fish all weekend which was so good to see, and from my point of view I just so like spending time in Ireland and around just about the more welcoming and friendly people you could ever hope to meet. You know I love talking about bass fishing especially, and I particularly enjoy talking with Irish bass anglers.

I tried my best not to catch any fish on the lures I was demonstrating, but when I was “practising” on the Friday afternoon I had a rainbow trout about 8lbs+ jump on my Gravity Stick Pintail 120 (new smaller size of the three Gravity sticks, available in June, video shows a bit about the Pintail below, lots more details to come, I have been fishing with and wanting to shout about these smaller Gravity Sticks for a good while now!), and then on Sunday afternoon I had another good size rainbow smash my smaller size Sandeel V2 Weedless right off my rod tip. I was getting bumps and follows all the time when I was doing demos but I was hoping that my (barbless) weedless hooks were that bit too big for the trout to jump on. Guess I was wrong!

I also got to spend some time with a bass angler who I have been really looking forward to meet. The mind boggles at just how much shore fishing for bass there really is in Ireland, and I love learning more about how really good anglers go about their local fishing. Cormac is the lad who got me properly thinking about wearing some of the Palms kayaking gear for some of my own lure fishing, and from the day or so that he kindly spent with me I have come home with a bunch of ideas about how I might improve some of my own fishing and also think about some fishing work related stuff as well. Cormac is bloody lethal with the IMA Sasuke 120 for example, and it was fascinating to watch how much slower he fishes this lure than I have tended to do. He is doing a number of very deliberate things, and this is what I so love about my working in fishing - getting to know and learn from anglers like this…………..

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How good does it feel to be back doing things like fishing shows again? Outstanding event, great to be back in Ireland.

© Henry Gilbey 2023