With St. Patrick’s Day coming up tomorrow, I couldn’t help but think about how Ireland has shaped so much of fly fishing. From gear and techniques to the flies themselves, Irish influence shows up in more places than many anglers realize. As I sat down at the tying bench, I remembered how many of the fly pattern books I’ve used over the years include classic Irish patterns.

Ireland is also famous for its loughs, the Irish word for lakes. Fishing these large lakes from drifting boats became a defining part of Irish fly fishing culture. That connection always makes me think about Maine. Our state is home to more than 6,000 lakes and ponds, many of which offer incredible opportunities for fly fishing. In some ways, the waters here feel like a natural place for those Irish traditions to live on.

Irish anglers are also known for fishing teams of wet flies instead of just one fly. Several flies are tied along the leader and fished together as the boat drifts across the lake. Sound familiar? Fishing multiple nymphs, a dry-dropper rig, or even the deadly streamer-and-wet-fly combo is something anglers use all the time today.

At the Tying Bench

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, I sat down at the vise and tied a few traditional Irish wet flies. With a Guinness in hand, it felt like a fitting way to pay homage to the fly fishing traditions that came from Ireland.

These flies are going into my fishing pack for the season ahead. If you ever find yourself on a fishing trip with me and want to try a traditional Irish fly, just say the word.