Mark McLoone

My name is Mark McLoone . I was first introduced to fishing by my father, as a 5 or 6 year old, on the rivers and lakes of Co. Donegal for salmon, sea trout and brown trout. I was quickly hooked, and had my father tortured to take me fishing as often as he could!

At maybe 9 or 10 years of age I was given my first fly rod. I soon caught my first salmon on the fly and haven't looked back. I've been fly fishing for trout and salmon ever since.
Around the same age, I was given my first fly tying vice and so started a love affair with fly tying. I tie trout and salmon flies, but mainly salmon flies as salmon fishing is what sets my heart racing the most.

I love tying Irish shrimps, and consider myself fortunate to come from the Northwest of Ireland; an area rich in shrimp fly tying history, with its many talented fly tiers, past and present.  I've always had plenty of local inspiration.
I now draw much of my inspiration from the many wonderful fly tying talents online.

I now tie regularly at shows such as this one, the Irish Fly Fair International and the British Fly Fair International. I still try to make trips into the remote mountain lakes of wild Donegal in search of brown trout with my father, and the occasional dash to Mask, Corrib or Sheelin, but can mainly be found fishing for Atlantic salmon on the River Finn in Co. Donegal, and on my home river, the beautiful Faughan.