Lough Corrib Duckfly Buzzer trip with gamefishingireland

A few days ago we headed up to the mighty Lough Corrib in search of some buzzer fishing. We were in luck as the duckfly as it is known (a small chironomid fly) were just starting to hatch. The fishing wasn't easy but I managed 3 trout on buzzers, one being a very nice fish.

When fishing the buzzer hatch it is a real advantage to have a local boatman and we were lucky that Tom Doc Sullivan was boating us for the day. Tom knows all the duckfly holes/areas in upper Lough Corrib.

My set up for the day was a Mackenzie NX1 10ft 5wt rod paired with a matching Mackenzie floating line. On the business end I had a fluorocarbon leader with 3 buzzers spaced 5ft apart and another 8ft of tippet to the fly line, so overall length 23ft. I used a size 10 epoxy buzzer on the point with 2 size 12s on the droppers.

The way to fish these buzzers is to cast, straighten the leader and sink the flies with a long retrieve and then slowly figure of eight just keeping in touch with the flies as the boats slowly drifts towards them. Watch your fly line to aid with bite detection and when you see or feel a take, just lift into the fish. There is no need to strike aggressively.

If the fish are very high in the water you can also fish with lighter buzzers (non epoxy) or emergers. We didn't get to fish any dry buzzers but is worth having some in your box e.g. size 16 Palomino Midge or similar. Wet flies are another option when trout are feeding just below the surface. Here a team of 3 wet duckfly patterns retrieved slowly on a floating or slow intermediate line can work well.

Fishing Lough Corrib is about the experience, and catching is a bonus. The trout are marvelous wild brown trout. Lunch on the shore of the lake or an island is an integral part of the day. It is a chance to take a break and admire the lake. In the evening we visited a local pub and had some cracking food and a beer. We stayed overnight in a local bed and breakfast for a reasonable rate and overall had a really enjoyable visit to the lake.