Tom, you should come with me and Ken on the 2 back to back week long festivals on the River Shannon. One based at Portumna, the second week just up the road at Banagher. Both early to mid April. Some fantastic Roach fishing & a great after fishing social scene. We love it.
Used to fish it in the 70s, full.of big Rudd, wag 6ft deep feeding gallons of maggots. Absolutely fantastic. Loads of Bream on feeder with worms pre bait with large sack of brown n white crumb
The festivals are generally one of the highlights of the particular areas and lay on fantastic entertainment and food . Example. Fish your match, call in pub. Back to digs to sort your gear for the following day. Shower, evening meal then out for the entertainment thats laid on. . Up early sort bait , breakfast , fish match. Repeat 😅😅. Holiday when you come home to recover 31:11
Couldn't agree more. 8 of us used to attend 2 festivals each year Castleblaney/Lake Muckno and at Belturbot/ Cavan in the 80's and early 90's. We never won or got a place. Occasional Section win or place. Learnt how to use the 'slider' float in those lakes. It was a case most of the time where we just loved the pubs and the atmosphere, laughs to where we some fishing was thrown in. Drew next to Bob Nudd at White Island on Muckno... I was in awe, I was very young, only been at it 3 years, Was buying The Anglers Mail and times each week and seeing Mr Nudd constantly in those publications and then sitting tight next to him! Too bloody right I got his autograph...too bloody right. Overall it's just brilliant. We've caught two tone bream (first half head was golden, Tail section was a very dark brown) weighing in excess of 12 lb genuine 'bin lids' countless roach over 4lb, pike over 30lb, tench over 8lb. If you took photos off the fish and put alongside a tape measure, you could get 'Specimen certificates' from tackle shops or shops related to fishing. No idea if Eire still does it or not.
@stewartmercer19 We could well have been in the same festivals . Bob and myself blanked next to each other one particular day and another time we all went to Killykeen for a practice day and not one of us had a single bite. Bob Nudd. Frank Barlow. Jebby from the North East, plenty of North West lads among others. We had plenty of laughs though 🤣
Would love to experience something like this just looks amazing especially with the great company you went with . Love the video something different from the norm and a great insight into Ireland 🇮🇪 would be great if you could do an even bigger blog with more footage next year. Been told some of live music in the bars is amazing.
Cracking Vlog Tom and very informative. I made my first Irish Festival trip this year to Arvagh for the International 5 day and it was a really enjoyable trip. Lots of the tactics and setups you talk about would definitely apply to the various Arvagh Lakes and with a combination of what I've learned this year and your tips and tricks, I'll be better armed next year. Two weeks already booked for next year for The International, closely followed by The King of Clubs.
Fished Ireland in my army days. Never had all that stuff your using, We used waders, bait apron and stood up for 5 hour matches. BIG BIG bags of fish, back in the 70's & 80's. Good old days.
Never fished inniscara but spent many happy days fishing festivals in County Cavan and the surrounding areas in the 80,s and 90,s . I need to return 😊. If you have never been I can't recommend it enough .County Cavan has 365 lakes . Take your pick 😊. One thing that I highly recommend is two sets of waterproofs as Ireland 🇮🇪 can give you 4 seasons in a morning 😅. A drying room at your digs is essential.
I always take sweetcorn with me bags of it, because you will even catch perch on sweetcorn, but obviously if not in a match prebaiting is the key, a couple of the old black dusbins bucket full's of ground bait to catch the big dustbin lids, at places like Lough Ree,I've been fishing in Ireland for 30 years and over that time I've found the fish have become much more greedy, especially in Lough Ree because that place is massive,and the only way to find the unbelievable massive shoals of bream and other fish to is to pile the bait in but you won't fill them all up, hope that helps anyone planning a journey to fish in Ireland 👍
You seem to have learnt a lot from Rory, and from there on you build up on your experiences, and talking/learning form like minded festival goers. Best of luck on your next time out Tom
Really enjoyed that video and well done on your festival results. Would be nice if you could do a short follow up video detailing a breakdown of the costs? As a former Ireland regular it would be interesting to see what it would cost to enter one of these festivals, cheers 🍻 👍
Roughly (in £s): Ferry - £200 each (3 in a van) Bait - £300 each (and we came back with some) Digs/ food £700 each Entry/ Pools - £220 each (for two festivals and an open)
😂 as I live and fished all over Ireland north and south land and sea. Ask ask ask local fishing guides as turning up to these large waters without you wont catch the 100lb + of fish you can , or the biggest trout or pike. They will be cagey with info as they will want to protect their spots for clients, but will no doubt help with bait pre bait etc. Or stay with them as most have accommodation wet rooms boats and tackle. Worth it and will point you to the best meals, and pubs if not doing same. Good luck
Fantastic video! The information shared is invaluable to me. I dont have the connections or seen anything with that level of detail to give myself the right insight on prep and tackle to take. Ireland is on my list hopefully next year. Came close to going to the Guru sponsored festival over there. However, didn't have the confidence on the prep side to go solo all that way for a major blowout not catching very much. Definitely given me a superb foundation to work from. Would you recommend doing the 10 days for two festivals or going a bit longer to climatise to the fishing? Thanks again
I will try to go for longer next year, just because the travel is the most expensive aspect to the trip, so the longer you can go for the more cost effective it is.
That was a fantastic video really interesting. Just out of interest what is it like getting bait over there. Back in the day… well 35 years ago I used to read about taking bait with you in ginormous cool boxes. Has the bait supply situation improved at all or was it a case of ensuring the quality you needed? Please can we have more videos like this?
Hello mate, unlucky not to win the first festival 😢 What does the letter R mean next to some of the names on the final match results for both festivals, please . Thanks Jason
Tom, you should come with me and Ken on the 2 back to back week long festivals on the River Shannon. One based at Portumna, the second week just up the road at Banagher. Both early to mid April. Some fantastic Roach fishing & a great after fishing social scene. We love it.
Sounds great looks great
Used to fish it in the 70s, full.of big Rudd, wag 6ft deep feeding gallons of maggots. Absolutely fantastic. Loads of Bream on feeder with worms pre bait with large sack of brown n white crumb
The festivals are generally one of the highlights of the particular areas and lay on fantastic entertainment and food . Example. Fish your match, call in pub. Back to digs to sort your gear for the following day. Shower, evening meal then out for the entertainment thats laid on. . Up early sort bait , breakfast , fish match. Repeat 😅😅. Holiday when you come home to recover 31:11
Couldn't agree more. 8 of us used to attend 2 festivals each year Castleblaney/Lake Muckno and at Belturbot/ Cavan in the 80's and early 90's. We never won or got a place. Occasional Section win or place. Learnt how to use the 'slider' float in those lakes. It was a case most of the time where we just loved the pubs and the atmosphere, laughs to where we some fishing was thrown in. Drew next to Bob Nudd at White Island on Muckno... I was in awe, I was very young, only been at it 3 years, Was buying The Anglers Mail and times each week and seeing Mr Nudd constantly in those publications and then sitting tight next to him! Too bloody right I got his autograph...too bloody right.
Overall it's just brilliant. We've caught two tone bream (first half head was golden, Tail section was a very dark brown) weighing in excess of 12 lb genuine 'bin lids' countless roach over 4lb, pike over 30lb, tench over 8lb. If you took photos off the fish and put alongside a tape measure, you could get 'Specimen certificates' from tackle shops or shops related to fishing. No idea if Eire still does it or not.
@stewartmercer19 We could well have been in the same festivals . Bob and myself blanked next to each other one particular day and another time we all went to Killykeen for a practice day and not one of us had a single bite. Bob Nudd. Frank Barlow. Jebby from the North East, plenty of North West lads among others. We had plenty of laughs though 🤣
Incredible fishing.
Great video Tom.. Delighted u liked it
Would love to experience something like this just looks amazing especially with the great company you went with . Love the video something different from the norm and a great insight into Ireland 🇮🇪 would be great if you could do an even bigger blog with more footage next year. Been told some of live music in the bars is amazing.
Glad you enjoyed. I’ll see what we can do next year. 😊😊
Cracking Vlog Tom and very informative. I made my first Irish Festival trip this year to Arvagh for the International 5 day and it was a really enjoyable trip. Lots of the tactics and setups you talk about would definitely apply to the various Arvagh Lakes and with a combination of what I've learned this year and your tips and tricks, I'll be better armed next year.
Two weeks already booked for next year for The International, closely followed by The King of Clubs.
Glad you enjoyed it, hopefully see you over there next year. 😊🎣
Absolutely brilliant video, thanks for putting it up.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fished Ireland in my army days. Never had all that stuff your using, We used waders, bait apron and stood up for 5 hour matches. BIG BIG bags of fish, back in the 70's & 80's. Good old days.
@@devonshire5482 sounds awesome! 🎣
Never fished inniscara but spent many happy days fishing festivals in County Cavan and the surrounding areas in the 80,s and 90,s . I need to return 😊. If you have never been I can't recommend it enough .County Cavan has 365 lakes . Take your pick 😊. One thing that I highly recommend is two sets of waterproofs as Ireland 🇮🇪 can give you 4 seasons in a morning 😅. A drying room at your digs is essential.
Sounds great! Might give that a try next year. 😊
Tom great film toms is so good for our sport well done tom keep doing wat you do .
Thanks for the kind words, Rick.
I always take sweetcorn with me bags of it, because you will even catch perch on sweetcorn, but obviously if not in a match prebaiting is the key, a couple of the old black dusbins bucket full's of ground bait to catch the big dustbin lids, at places like Lough Ree,I've been fishing in Ireland for 30 years and over that time I've found the fish have become much more greedy, especially in Lough Ree because that place is massive,and the only way to find the unbelievable massive shoals of bream and other fish to is to pile the bait in but you won't fill them all up, hope that helps anyone planning a journey to fish in Ireland 👍
You seem to have learnt a lot from Rory, and from there on you build up on your experiences, and talking/learning form like minded festival goers. Best of luck on your next time out Tom
Great vlog Tom, Rory brilliant seen some of his vids on youtube 👍🏻👌🏻
He’s awesome. Top lad as well.
Excellent intro to innisscara
That's a huge reservoir on the river Lee past Cork. Without some local knowledge there its a long way to go to struggle
Really enjoyed that video and well done on your festival results. Would be nice if you could do a short follow up video detailing a breakdown of the costs? As a former Ireland regular it would be interesting to see what it would cost to enter one of these festivals, cheers 🍻 👍
Roughly (in £s):
Ferry - £200 each (3 in a van)
Bait - £300 each (and we came back with some)
Digs/ food £700 each
Entry/ Pools - £220 each (for two festivals and an open)
😂 as I live and fished all over Ireland north and south land and sea. Ask ask ask local fishing guides as turning up to these large waters without you wont catch the 100lb + of fish you can , or the biggest trout or pike. They will be cagey with info as they will want to protect their spots for clients, but will no doubt help with bait pre bait etc. Or stay with them as most have accommodation wet rooms boats and tackle. Worth it and will point you to the best meals, and pubs if not doing same. Good luck
Something different 👌
Really enjoyed it. 👌
Fantastic video! The information shared is invaluable to me. I dont have the connections or seen anything with that level of detail to give myself the right insight on prep and tackle to take.
Ireland is on my list hopefully next year. Came close to going to the Guru sponsored festival over there. However, didn't have the confidence on the prep side to go solo all that way for a major blowout not catching very much. Definitely given me a superb foundation to work from.
Would you recommend doing the 10 days for two festivals or going a bit longer to climatise to the fishing?
Thanks again
I will try to go for longer next year, just because the travel is the most expensive aspect to the trip, so the longer you can go for the more cost effective it is.
That was a fantastic video really interesting. Just out of interest what is it like getting bait over there. Back in the day… well 35 years ago I used to read about taking bait with you in ginormous cool boxes. Has the bait supply situation improved at all or was it a case of ensuring the quality you needed?
Please can we have more videos like this?
Glad you enjoyed it. There is a shop called Trev’s Tackle in Coachford, where you can get most things.
nice video, those roosts won't survive proper irish weather, you want something like the matrix ones that prevent the kits blowing out in the wind
go to oakland realy good fishery in wexford new ross
How close can you park to the majority of the pegs? Would love to take my dad but walking could be an issue,
You can park behind most of them. 😊
Hello mate, unlucky not to win the first festival 😢
What does the letter R mean next to some of the names on the final match results for both festivals, please .
Thanks
Jason
Rotation winner mate. These were defaulted to the best weight in each rotation that didn’t make the main list.
what took you so long Tom!?😃😃
🤣 I’ve been wondering the same thing
Great video very informative. Wasn't expecting Rory to be still wearing the Browning and not snapped up by another company