South Belfast News | www.belfastmedia.com | 6th February 2010 HOLIDAY FEATURE | 13

BY JOHN FERRIS

Fishing gets a raw deal from those who haven't yet tried it. There's always a snigger from the back when someone mentions fishing shows on TV or the radio, and an even louder chortle when a computerised fishing game gets a mention. But then, as Einstein said – “a person who never made a mistake never tried anything new” – even if that something new does sound a little boring. I hadn't done any fishing until a few years ago when a now annual boating trip down South led me to pick up a rod to stop me from lifting a can of Budweiser so early on in the day. It was one of the most serene and enjoyable things I've done in years. I'm not even sure it's the ‘sport’ (though some would disagree that it is a sport) of fishing I enjoy – to me it's sitting by the side of a river, or parked up in the middle of a lake somewhere without a care in the world. Peace and tranquility go hand-in-hand with fishing and it's a weekend break I now come to treasure as a way to relax, unwind, and let the stresses of modern life drift away. Instead of our usual cruiser style caravan on water (a boat big enough to sleep 10), we rented two houses by the side of the river in Belturbet and rented two small boats to bring us a little closer to nature. Staying on a large boat that also doubles as your sleeping quarters tends to eventually cause small frictions when there's 10 men on board, though the less said about the toilet/showers on them the better. Renting a home and a small boat gives the best of both worlds – a base camp with all the mod cons and a boat that because of the size brings you right back to the real enjoyment of fishing – lying back in a small boat alongside two companions floating on a lake somewhere you're not quite sure you could find again. It doesn't hurt when you're also accompanied by an ice bucket with a few of those Budweisers, but only for medicinal purposes, of course. As long as you're willing to accept that you could fish nonstop for a week and you could still go home empty handed then you’ve got the right attitude for the pastime. A few in our party are fishing fanatics and I always get a laugh out of the size of the bait that they bring. I’d be happy to catch a fish the size of their bait. The laughing always stops, however, when someone pulls out a huge fish 20 minutes after going out on the water

The area around Esox Lodge, which was our week-end home, is a hive of rivers, bays and hidden lakes and the experienced fisherman or woman will find bream, roach, rude, perch and pike. They say Cavan has a lake for every day of the year, so you'll always find a tranquil spot with no one else around. As you'd expect from a town like Belturbet, the people are friendly, and the laid back attitude that you find fishing seems to have rubbed off on the town. When we arrived the town’s solitary bank machine was out of cash, and when we asked a local we were told “sure, there was a festival a few weeks back, I don't think it's been stocked since”. There's plenty of places to visit on the waves if you're so inclined and there's a host of wildlife to enjoy – we found a little American Mink running around at the water's edge at the bottom of our garden. There's also plenty of golfing to be had if that floats your boat with eight different locations within short driving distance. The two houses we rented, which both sit on the water's edge were ultra modern with fully fitted kitchens, spacious eating and lounge areas and spectacular views over the lakes. Each comfortably sleeps six people. If you're after peace and tranquillity you can spend your time relaxing in the gallery of Esox Lodge or enjoy a glass of wine on the deck. Wake up to the sun rising over the river and you can spend your time watching wildlife and boating throughout the day. If you're not interested in taking out a small boat, you could fish from the dock at the end of the garden. We, however, were all out for pike – the big, powerful beasts proving to be much more of a challenge than pulling out smaller fish. Even if fishing isn't your thing, floating along with the sun beaming down on your head and a cold drink by your side, is one of the most relaxing things you'll ever do, and it's only a few hours away. Fishing may get a raw deal, but Einstein was right, if you haven't tried it you're missing out, but it certainly wouldn’t end up as a mistake.

John Ferris stayed at Esox Lodge in Belturbet. Weekends at Esox Lodge begin from €350 and a second house is available for larger groups. For more information log on to www.esoxlodge.com, e-mail gerry@esoxlodge.com or call Gerry on 00353878122666.