It’s early morning (4am) in Foxford and still dark. The weather sounds nasty but i’m up and at it, I am preparing for a little excursion. I didn’t get much fishing done this week, I have had a busy week catching up on house maintenance and repairs that were neglected during the season. I live in a small old housing estate in Foxford. During the season my house is the one that is easily recognisable, its not freshly painted, the hedge is wild and the small lawn is like a wild meadow. Actually, its still that way but I am working on it, the weather doesn’t help (that’s my current excuse).

For 13 members of the Foxford Angling Club, last weekend’s journey north to the Rectory Lodge Trout Fishery was a perfect blend of challenging sport, good quality fish, and great company.

Foxford Angling club Brave the Elements for a Memorable Trip to Rectory Lodge

The annual Foxford Angling Club “Away Trip”, is a combination of an angling trip and marathon pint drinking event where a club made up of seasoned game anglers who fish the great western Loughs of Ireland for wild brown trout and the river Moy for salmon decide to drive for three hours to fish a put and take fishery for stocked trout. Why, you might ask? Well, there is a special camaraderie that forms when a group of anglers packs their gear and heads off for a club weekend and it is something different, we enjoy it.

A Premier Destination: Rectory Lodge Trout Fishery

For club secretary Billy McGhee who organises the trip and myself as the one who helps him it was the culmination of a lot of research and planning. Nestled in the heart of County Tyrone, Rectory Lodge is a fishery with a good reputation. It had been recommended to me by a customer earlier in the year and someone else had mentioned it to Billy. P.J and I were in Belfast visiting a supplier and decided to visit for a reckie. We were impressed with the numbers and quality of fish. Hard-fighting, clean, and acrobatic, providing a real test of skill on the end of a line. The only concern was that the fishery seemed a little small. As we headed North to Co. Tyrone there was a sense of anticipation, almost worry. Would the fishery be large enough to accommodate thirteen seasoned anglers along with whatever regulars decided to show up on the day? Everyone had been forewarned and advised to be there and ready for action at opening time 8am. A 4.30am start for some of us, 5am for others and of course there was the few smart lads who booked an extra night at the hotel and relaxed with pints the night before (Note to self).

Day One: Wind, Rain, and Lure Triumphs

Saturday greeted the group with classic Irish angling conditions.  A wet and windy day driven by a cool north wind. Undeterred, the club began their traditional friendly competition for the “Tiernan Brothers Cup”, a simple little cup that has travelled with the club for seventeen years now. If it could talk it would have tales to tell, thankfully it cant. While the conditions made things tricky it was not long before rods were bending and anglers were smiling. “The Tug is the Drug” and whether it is a 2lb brownie or a 2lb rainbow once it hits the adrenaline pumps.

By the end of day one and the competition everyone had some success and a few anglers had good success. One angler though out fished everyone else. Gary Binley was unstoppable, landing over twenty trout. He admitted he had lost count of his catch, but the guys fishing around him were watching closely and happily kept a tally for him! His success highlighted the effectiveness of lures in challenging conditions.

A Quick Guide to Lure Fishing for Rainbows:

In cold, windy, or coloured water, lures (or attractors) are a go-to method. They imitate small baitfish or provoke an aggressive strike response. Effective patterns include:

Boobies: Fished on a fast-sinking line and retrieved with a slow, steady pull.

Blobs: Their bright colours and pulsating movement in the water are irresistible.

Minkies and snakes: Deadly for rainbows when retrieved in an erratic manner.

The key to success with lures is to vary the retrieve until you find what the fish want, sometimes a slow strip, other times a rapid figure-of-eight can trigger a take.

Evening Relaxation at The Greenvale Hotel

After a long, damp day on the water, the club retreated to their base for the weekend, the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown. A short and convenient drive from the fishery, the hotel provided comfortable accommodation and a warm, friendly atmosphere. The highlight of the evening was a delicious meal followed by a small prize-giving ceremony to crown Gary Binley as the day one champion.

While some members, planning for an early breakfast and another full day of fishing, opted for an early night, not everyone heeded the call. The next morning, over strong coffees, a few tired faces told a different story. One member, arriving last for breakfast, was heard muttering, “It’s a young man’s game” and i dont think it was the fishing he was referring to.

Day Two: A Change of Tactics and a Helpful Hand

Sunday presented another cold and breezy challenge, and the trout were notably harder to tempt. The anglers had to dig deep into their bags of tricks. Early success came to those who switched to the ‘Bung’ or ‘Indicator’ method, a subtle and effective approach when fish are holding deep or are reluctant to chase a lure.

Setting Up a ‘Bung’ for Rainbow Trout:

A ‘bung’ is essentially a floating ball or piece of yarn that acts as a strike indicator and suspends your fly at a specific depth. Your main fly line is connected to a leader (usually 8-12ft of fluorocarbon). The bung is threaded onto the leader, and its depth is set. The bung suspends the fly at the set depth, and the gentle movement of the water often gives the fly just enough action to entice a take.

Cold fingers

Again, the day was cold and by midday the canteen, with its heater on full blast became a very popular hub for warmth and wisdom. The man in charge for the day, John, was a fountain of knowledge, freely sharing tips and hints that reinvigorated the members and sent them back out with renewed confidence.

As the day progressed, so did the tactics. After lunch, a switch to dry flies started to produce results. By 3 PM, the trout were feeding freely on the surface, with sedge patterns proving particularly deadly—a thrilling sight for any fly fisher.

A Challenging but Rewarding Trip

Facing a three-hour drive home, most members had to pack up before 5 pm. The trip was a resounding success. We caught good quality, hard-fighting trout on several methods, proving that adaptability is the key to success. The fishing was not simple, it was challenging and demanded that we change our approach as the conditions shifted. The Foxford club left Rectory Lodge with a deep appreciation for the fishery and the experience. Every member enjoyed the trip and vowed to return. In fact, the pull of the water is so strong that by the time you read this, Billy and myself will be tackling up for another day at the fishery.