This week I met up with Irish boat building legend Jackie Mons at his workshop close to the shores of Lough Corrib. He has been building traditional timber boats since the age of 16. He has recently retired but still restores and repairs some of his customers boats. I wanted to catch up with Jackie before he closes his workshop doors for the last time. He talks of how it all started and what it takes to build these sort after magnificent works of art.

This week's podcast I chat with brothers Stan and Chris McKeon. They have fished together for 65 years on their local water Lough Owel. Together they have both played a big part in making what Owel is today. We chat about all things about this magnificent lough.

We start our chat at the angling centre located on the shore of the lake, then onto the hatchery and finish off back at the lakeside.

Enjoy!

This week I chat with Andy Kitchener of Semperfli. Together with Ann they have created one of the most successful and award winning flytying businesses. He talks of how it all began, his goals, some new products which are to be available next month. Plus also chats about their new Road Shows which they are running across the country. Any clubs interested to getting involved in the road show get in touch with either Ann or Andy.

You can also tune in to my chat with Ann on a previous podcast, episode 130.

This week I chat once more with Kevin Sheridan. He has recently come back from the BFFI in Stafford. In this episode he chats about a personal project he has started to take his tying to another level. He also talks about Sheelin and his hopes for the coming season and gives his top dry and nymph for fishing the mayfly, including his tyings.

This week I chat with passionate Loughstyle competition angler, Gregor Fleming. He has 6 international caps to his name and a team member of the Alba Cats. We chat about his local water Harelaw Fishery and the Lake of Menteith and the goals he has for the coming season. He also tells us the tactics which brought Scotland Gold at last year's International at Lough Ennell, plus his top patterns which brings him success on the competition scene.

This week I chat with Welsh Bank Internationals Dai Jones & Matthew Pate. Dai, a brown bowl winner and recently top rod in the Welsh Trails and Matthew, current Manager of the Welsh Team. We chat about the Stillwater International Bank scene and also their local club lake Llyn Fawr. A club I am also a member of and where it all started for me. We chat about the fish farm where the club bring on some fantastic fish for The Llyn. We also talk about fly tying and they both give their top patterns which have brought them success over the years.

On the last day of the season yesterday I shared a boat with David Hoppe at Grafham Water. David has had much success over the years on the competition scene but he also has another passion..... Zander. I have yet to catch one so thought who better to get me into one but David. It wasn’t the ideal conditions to say the least but we braved the elements but unfortunately it wasn’t to be but I took the opportunity to record this chat with him from the boat to discuss his methods and tactics which brings him success and gives a taste to those wanting to give it a try. He also talks of his break from the competition scene, but says he will return again someday.

In this week's episode I chat about buzzers or duck fly as they are more commonly known as in Ireland. Only a few more weeks now before we see the early hatches on our waters, so it's now time to prepare for what some class as the best sport of the season. I talk about the chironomid, its stages from larva, pupa to adult, when to fish for them, the tactics, methods and how to make the most of the hatches to bring success.

This week I chat with Don Mansell, he has fished Wimbleball Lake in Devon since it first opened back in 1980. I love this water and wanted to know more, it is overlooked by many anglers a fantastic water. Not only does Don fish it regularly he also works at the dam. He tells us the importance of the aerators and also his top areas around the lake which has brought him success. We also chat about his other favourite waters, Clatworthy, Clywedog and Rutland.

This week I chatted with Andrej Urosevic. He is known for his cooking ability specialising in fish. Over the last 2 years or so he has hit social media by storm in his goal of cooking every fish in the world. He has over 5 million views and just over half a million followers on Instagram (andrejcooksfish) His hook you can say is entertaining viewers by slapping each fish he cooks! Although he has fished since a young boy he only recently taken up fly-fishing and shares his knowledge and advice on cooking Trout, Perch and Grayling!!!