Meditation
Introduction
The North-West of Ireland it is; for about two dozen years or so I have
confined my fishing almost exclusively to that region, spanning from Counties
Leitrim and Sligo to the Rosses in County Donegal. Living right in the centre
of this blessed part of the world, I never felt a desire to travel further a
field for my fishing. The variety of waters is enormous; big lakes, like Lower
Lough Erne and Lough Melvin, famous rivers, tiny little bog lakes, charming
brooks and of course, not to forget, the Big Pond.
It is not tried here to produce a comprehensive guide to flies of that region,
rather the contrary: the number of different fly-patterns to fish the
North-West is surprisingly small; about twenty are enough. The flies mentioned
here have served me best and are often variations and adaptations of the
original patterns and tyings.
Angling and telling stories about angling are almost mutually dependent, invite
to go out fishing again, to live more stories. And that is what reading and
writing about angling should be: an invitation to go out fishing.
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Great Entertainment for all the Family |
Top Ten
Flies for Ireland
Hilariously funny, seriously, this is angling's answer to "Last Of The
Summer Wine"! .....Ray Robinson is a real life "Compo" who goes fishing with
Dietrich Bohnhorst.....I give it 10 out of 10.....a must have DVD for all the
family.
Roger Baker, Irish Angler Magazine
This DVD is a must for every fisherman who wants to learn the delicate art of
flytying.
The beautiful scenery enhances the pleasure of this film, as does the dry
humour of his eccentric English friend "the great Raymondo". Watch as they
tramp the landscape, dressed as if extras in Monty Python's Quest for the Holy
Grail, (which in a sense they are, in a fishy sort of way).
114 minutes of fly-tying and fishing. Dietrich Bohnhorst's entertaining and
practical guide for every game angler. Out Now on DVD for only EURO 20
or order by phone
Tel.: ++353-(0)74-97 36922
Meditation
My angling and I, we are like an old couple; intimate for a long, long time;
but still a passionate love. One knows each other so well, all weaknesses and
strengths.
Jealousy is long gone, faith is certain, behaviour patterns so familiar: being
together feels like an easy drop into a comfortable armchair.
My angling and I, we are hardly conceivable as independent from each other, our
being together creates a symbiosis which finds its expression in what we mean
for each other. Yes, we suit each other, people obviously notice that, ask
about our relationship, want to know how we are.
My angling and I, we are like an old couple, quarrelling, being at odds with
each other, can't separate either, yes, I would be totally free, but thank God,
I have to fish.
Our Flies
When a fish observes a fly on the surface it swims quietly up and gulps it
down.
Now, although the fishermen know of this, they do not use these flies as bait,
for if a man's hand touch them, they lose their natural colour, their wings
wither, and they become unfit food for the fish. But the fishermen get the
better of the fish by their fishermen's craft. They fasten wool round a hook,
and fix onto the wool two feathers which grow under a cock's wattles, and which
in colour are like wax. Their rod is six feet long, and their line is the same
length. They throw their snare, and the fish attracted and maddened by the
colour, come straight at it - wrote Aelian in ca. 200 A.D. about
Macedonian anglers, who fished the rivers between Thessaloniki and Beroia; very
obviously with an artificial fly, for a species with speckled skin.
Ancient artificial flies, Maori streamers made of mussel-shells and bones,
colourful creations of South Sea islanders, monstrous looking medieval plumes
have to be regarded as ancient parts of our fly-fishing tradition. 
New materials and technologies in rod and line manufacturing, combined with an
increased knowledge of behaviour-patterns of fish and its prey, led inevitably
to a considerable refinement of our flies.
Synthetic fly-lines of various densities and weights allow presentations in
almost every realistic depth. Fine monofilament as cast material allows the use
of tiniest dry flies and nymphs. Synthetics in combination with special hooks
facilitate either very naturalistic or extremely fancy fly-tying.
Still, the old patterns prove their catching qualities season after season. Our
fly boxes reflect that: often the newest creations are right beside those old
campaigners; wet flies going back as far as the beginning of the nineteenth
century.
We get introduced to a fly and immediately, mostly the introduction itself,
becomes a story belonging to us. There are flies accompanying us through life;
always new old acquaintances. With extra confidence we tie them to our casts,
they never disappoint, because meanwhile we just know them too well.
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DEDICATION is not a how to or where to go program. It's a slice of life. |
DEDICATION
In 1995 Dietrich Bohnhorst and Ray Robinson produced DEDICATION, a four part
movie, following two dedicated fly-fishers through various entertaining and
exciting expeditions on land and sea in the North-West of Ireland.
After DEDICATION was shown on European TV via French Station AB-Sat and in
North America via a cable network it became somewhat of an angler's cult film.
All 107 minutes of DEDICATION are available for only €20 on DVD;
or order by phone
Tel.: ++353-(0)74-97 36922
