Portumna’s angling attractions in the spotlight – thanks to Sky!

Portumna’s reputation as one of Ireland’s top fishing destinations is set for a massive boost when Sky TV screens the result of a recent visit by two of the UK’s best known anglers for five days’ fishing on the Shannon.

Two weeks ago, top UK coarse angler Baz Smith teamed up with world class fly fishermen and broadcaster John Horsey for five days’ fishing around Lough Derg, accompanied by a team from Sky.

John started out decades ago fishing for course fish and he wanted to try out the excellent fishing Portumna has to offer – and Sky’s Tight Lines came along for the ride.

The seeds for this were sown last October, when Martin Founds, the owner of Anglers World Holidays, met with Mary Lynch from Oak Lodge B&B and Dave Harris, Portumna Angling Services, to discuss the promotion of angling tourism in Portumna. 

As a result, John Horsey was commissioned by Tourism Ireland and Anglers World Holidays to produce a series of educational and informative web segments – tying in with the Tight Lines and features for a number of top angling publications.

Last week, John visited Portumna and fished Lough Derg with top match angler Baz Smith who is now based in Ireland.

Read more on this in this week’s Connacht Tribune