Addicted to Craic…
NZ is a calm country. When kiwi’s hit 25, having the craic becomes less important and priorities change. It’s not so clear cut in Ireland. Having the craic is always on the agenda. Not necessarily priority but not far from it. At least it is with my friends. This craic addiction coupled with 3 weeks of shite weather kept me off the lake every day bar one. The photo’s tell the story. It’s a simple, pikeless one!
I had 20 days in Ireland and spent one fishing. I have no regrets! The reason for the trip was to spend Christmas with my family, have the craic with my friends (the likes of which I simply don’t have in NZ) and to be John O Malley’s best man at his and Bronwens wedding. Thankfully I didn’t mess up the speech (they told me it was good anyway!) I was a nervous wreck before it! After it I let lose and went banana’s. We all did.
I had serious intentions to fish in the north of Thailand. I was going to book in advance but the mahseer fishing was about 1200usd for 3 days. Bollocks to that. I quickly found some great people and some funky bars and my craic addiction took over. I fished one day which was pretty expensive and not so great so I was not overly keen on going again. I have no regrets. 6 nights, one day fishing and dam all sleep.
Ireland and Thailand, Thank you… I needed that!! I really needed that…
Ronan..
- Lake Pukaki, NZ, on the way to the airport…
- Ireland… Lough Corrib.
- We fished hard but did not get a touch!
- Nigel Griffen.. At home on the water!
- Mae Ngat Dam near Chiang Mai, Thailand. 5am pick up. At the lake well before sunrise.
- Across the lake in a long tail boat.. glad I brought my shirt! Dam cold..
- Nice place but I never rarely felt like we had much hope.
- These little fishing shelters were a common site around the dam. Nets men used them while waiting for their nets to fill with little carp.
- Guide and boatman.. Never got their names. Tried but failed. They could not say my name either!
- Nice place but the fishing was repetitive and pretty boring.
- Waiting, waiting, waiting….
- Not a good sign!
- The man in his long tail boat goes home!
- I took the bait fishing option (first time in years) in the afternoon and had a few of these. Great fun! About 70lbs
- Everyone caught lots and had a great time.
- Back in NZ.. The first of 2013.
- Away he goes..
- Team effort. Kevin manoeuvred the boat around the willows while I took the shots. We managed 4. this was the smallest.
- Another one back.. Some great moments! The suspended nymph worked best.
- Kevin…
- Kevin and I. A good angling team!!
- Kevin gets the boat perfectly into position..
- And so to Cromwell… after a jump!
- Panorama of one of the river mouths we fished around.
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Thanks for reading!
Ronan..