Our recent Ireland trip did exactly what it needed to do. Staying just outside Derry gave us a strategic base for a World Championships that will be fished across Northern Ireland plus the Republic of Ireland. Being on the edge of the Walled City also added something else: a strong sense of place, with history you can see in the streets rather than only read about.
From there, we worked through a purposeful mix of waters: Lough an luir, Lough Craghy, the River Swilly, plus Lough Allen, with a full day at Ballyheather Trout Fishery to sharpen technique and reset standards.
We were not able to fish Lough Melvin as planned. It is a large, exposed water, so once the weather turned it became too choppy for boats to be launched safely. We adapted, pivoted the day, then bank fished at Lough Allen instead.
That shift was valuable in its own right. Championship weeks are rarely neat. Plans change quickly, weather forces choices, then you still need to fish intelligently.
Our day at Ballyheather Trout Fishery deserves a special mention. Andy, who owns the fishery, welcomed the team from the off, made us feel at home, then opened up the log cabin so we could celebrate one of our team member’s 14th birthday together. He has also been instrumental in re-establishing youth fishing in Ireland, often offering access for little or nothing because he wants young anglers to have opportunities, not barriers. We’re genuinely grateful for his support.
Ireland gave us a clear set of lessons. Wind is not background noise, it dictates drift, line control, depth management, even basic mobility. Big loughs demand judgement before tactics. Rivers punish loose presentation. Stillwaters reward discipline, consistency, then the willingness to make small changes with intent.
Now we take that learning home. England and Wales offer a huge range of rivers and stillwaters that let us simulate many of the same demands we will face in July. Preparation continues, training stays purposeful, then we keep building our fishing IQ using what is on our doorstep.
