Another visit to the River Bann, Northern Ireland

[toma]

Sit back i'll keep it short :lol:
Ron invited me over for a few days/week end a couple of weeks back, mmmm after the last time i was over at Ireland with Les the fishing sure did put me off.

After a little bit of persuasion from Ron i decided to go.
A booking online with Easy Jet, from Newcastle to Belfast and i was ready.
I flew out last Thursday, 31st August. Upon arrival at Belfast International Airport Ron picked me up. We then travelled onto the tackle shop at Lisburn to meet up with the Big Man Colin.
To say i was like a kid in a candy shop would be an undersatatement, cracking shop, and reasonable prices to, a pint of maggots £2.00, £2.70including maggot tub :wacko:

Two pints of maggots four bags of groundbait and 3kilo brown crumb later i was finished spending.
We had a chat in the carpark about the coming week end, It was agreed we meet up at 7am o the Friday morning to fish the River Bann at Newferry.
We then went onto a bar gfor a meal, full as a gun with chicken tortilla wraps, Ron and myself had them, The big man stumped for Lamb shank and the trimmings

We departed company for the time being.

Ron and myself arrived at Rons house, i then met Shona, Granma, Becky and little Nicky.

We had a great chat/get to know each other over tea and biscuits.
Later Ron and myself headed for the local hostelry, Enough of that thanks .pint :wink: drinking abound LoL

Friday, up with the larks (5.30am)for our meeting with Colin., car packed and away we went.
We met up with the big man and then onto the river.
I was amazed when i saw it for the first time, it was all that Ron had said and more.

We drove down a muddy path, Ron got thru but the big man got stuck :blush1
Sorry Colin


He had a bash at getting him out but the fishing was calling stronger than the car.

We chose our pegs, set the gear up, brollies up and got very comfy.

Ron on hs peg



Colin on his peg



An my peg



First cast for me and a fish, second cast and a fish, WOW i thought i'm gonna like this place.The day continued at that pace, We broke up for tea and sandwiches, burnt sausages made by the chef in waiting Colin, but they were hot and tasty. Thanks Colin

We then had another go at getting the car out, an hour or so late we managed to get him out, much to all our relief, phew.

Back to fishing. More fish, roach and skimmers, the roach were averaging around the 3/4lb size.
Then i heard Colin give a shout of joy, waheyyyyyy a nice bream



We had a look at it and it was decided it was a very large HYBRID, not the classic downturned top jaw of the bream , Can you make it out ???

Then it was my turn



A nice "hybrid/bream" for me.
After a lot of roach and skimmers fell to our rods we agreed to call it a day, Times and arrangmernts for the followung day were made and we then left. Ron and i restrained ourselves from the bar that night, i was tucked up in bed by 11.10pm

Saturday

Another early rise, 5.30am again, Tea and toast, car packed and off to meet the Big Man Colin
We went to the tench lake, Willis in Belfsat, in heavy rain and very muddy conditions Colin and Ron set up, Two rods for Ron, method and ledgered baits, Colin also set two rods up, I was "looking" after one of Rons rods, LoL. The rain never stopped all morning, horrible mud was getting worse by the minute.

Yet again the big man gave a shout of joy. I ran round to his peg in a very careful manner, i did not fancy going in the water or on my backside, LoL.
I got Colins landing net and netted this fine tench for him



Colin had a couple of more takes but they were not a good enough take to strike into it.
With the rain still very heavy we decided it was time to call it a day. Gear down car packed and away.
Back to Rons for a good hot shower and a fish dinner, mmmmm very nice, Ron likes a lot of condiments on his fish and fries LoL.

Off to the pub for a few beers, enough said hangover.gif
Sunday.

I woke at 5.20am, felling very sick, head buzzing, stomach churning, hangover.gif hangover.gif, never again will i drink with an Irishman who drinks for fun, Nice to meet you Sammy :nice1: , greay fella and full of fun.

A cup of tea, flasks made and a couple of slices of toast, car packed away we went.

Portglenone was our destination.
Rons peg on the bankside




My peg on the bankside



The pace of the fishing was like Newferry, a fish a cast, roach were a bit smaller this time but they were in abundance again.

I'm afraid to say the drinking session of the night before got to me, i had to retire to the car for a nap,

Had a decent hour or so until Ron banged on the window, time to fish he said, head spinnind and stomach still churning back to the fishing.

I continued to catch at a steady rate, as did Ron, Come 5pm we decided to call it a day. Gear packed in the car, we chatted with some English anglers who were fishing the river. We told them about Newferry and they decided to fish it on the Monday.
Ron and i left them with good luck wishes.

Back at Rons house Shona had made a very tastey lasagne, sweet chillie chips, lemon chillie chips, garlic bread, Full to the brim after eating it Ron and myself were almost dropping off to sleep.

Shona suggested that Ron and myself go to the pub as it was my last night there.
10pm and off to the pub, Sammy was already there, Agnes his wife joined us later, Shona was babysitting her two adorable girls, Becky and Nicky, Granma was there in attendance.

The Guinness was going down very nice thank you, but as i had promised Ron, come 12 O'CLOCK no more, and i stuck to my guns. Shona arrived to pick us up, in the car and away we went.

Cuppa and then bed for a well earned sleep, I had a nice late sleep in 8.20am,
Shona got the girls ready for school, a very pretty picture they were.

We spend the rest of the day chatting, having tea and watching some TV.
We left the house at around 1.55pm to collect Becky from school, we left Shona to pick Becky up, Onto the airport for my flight home,

The time i spend there.
A very special family to me, a great Country, great people, and this time great fishing, will i be back, I should think so.

Once again Ron, Shona, Granma, Becky and Nicky, thanks for having another smelly fisherman in your house.

One other than you

Thanks Johnny for letting me have your room

[toma]

Some piccys

The "breams mouth"



The river



And again



Hookbait, biggrin.gif Ron baiting up



Now for a boring shot, my tip LoL


Oh go on then another shot of Colins bogged down car

[wellyfish]

you sure write a good report and the scenery is awesome , some cracking fish there too , well done

[Greenheart]

Epic report Snatcher & the fishing looks fantastic. Well done guys.

[baitmaster]

A GREAT REPORT SNATCHER you seemed like you thoroughly enjoyed that session

tightlines

kevin

[Norfolkboy]

Nice one Andy, looks a decent trip mate, well done.

[toma]

Thankyou baitmaster, its a great river to fish. I was over there a couple of weeks ago, got some good roach out of the Bann, also the River Blackwater, but phew the wind was another thing.

We were sat right under this tree, when we heard an almighty CRACK, pronto out of the way we were LoL, went back the next day to this felled tree



And here's the roots



We did get a good few fish, but the wind and rain sure was a very good apponent for us LoL. My bed and the local bar won the day on that trip

This picture is where the floating pontoon should have been, it was ruined with the last floods, this is at Newferry



Mind you we did manage a few hot bacon and sausage butties, Mark doing his bit to help feed the masses

[BaggieRich]

Well done snatcher, great report. Sounds like you had a superb time.

[toma]

Sure did Rich

[pingu]

great report and pics well done