Big bright flashy flies for brown trout?

To a South Island of New Zealand trained brown-trout fisherman, the answer to the question, what fly should I use to tempt the fish, was easy – a small brown nymph. If that did not work, toss out a smaller, browner nymph.

Use a big bright glistening fly? No never – scare the fish off would have been the answer, and to many it still is the answer. But for me that answer took a tumble on a fishing trip to Ireland last August (2009).

I was visiting my fishing-mad youngest son Eddie in London, where he now lives. Eddie decided it was a good idea for Dad and Lad to visit Ireland for a few days fishing. Neither of us had fished there. Off we went.

   Here is what happened.