I knew better, and contented myself with the ale. I did 

 not go on the lough again, as it was too sea like to use the 

 rod comfortably ; and during the remainder of my stay I 

 fished the river Maine, through O'Neil's park. We spent 

 ten days in Randalstown, and enjoyed it very much.. 



I have great pleasure in recommending this station 

 to gentlemen anglers, particularly to those fond of trouting. 

 I prefer it to salmon fishing in many respects, and there 

 is more skill and neatness required in taking trout and 

 grayling, than salmon. I also enjoy sea trout fishing, and, 

 at Connamara, prefer it to salmon fishing. Twenty years 

 ago, I usually paid a visit, each season, to Ballynahinch 

 and locality, stopping at a place called The Recess ; and 

 I do not know of a more charming place for the angler or 

 tourist to rest. On my return I generally spent a few 

 days on the beautiful Lough Coreb, staying at Oughterard, 

 where I have killed many large brown trout ; among 

 others, one of thirteen pounds and another of eleven 

 pounds, the heads of which I had preserved. This is 

 also a first-class station for pike fishing ; and it is not an 

 uncommon thing to get one or two twenty-pounders during 

 the day. The angler should enquire for Pat Gill, who is 

 an excellent fisherman, and lives close by the lough. He 

 has often given me some blarney, saying I was the best 

 angler he ever had in his boat ; and if I would go in May 

 I should half fill his boat with fish. The last day I was 

 there with him we killed several large pike, one over 

 twenty pounds, and a few brown trout, which we took 

 with the fly. Pat is certainly the best gaffer I ever saw ; 

 never missing his fish, but always striking him near the 



