Desmond Paul, from Garvagh, Co. Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

I grew up fishing wild trout and salmon on my local Agivey River ( a tributary of the River Bann). I caught my first salmon when I was 13 on a size 12 single Curry’s Red Shrimp, I can still see the take!

I started tying shortly after with a fishing buddy, just rough river dries that we fished all summer long. Then came exams and uni and life gets in the way and fast forward till I’m 25 and I get introduced to the Irish Loughs, initially Lough Melvin and I discover a whole new world of fishing and Flytying. Within a few years I’m Ulster Champion and a winner of the Melvin Open and this is where I now concentrate my tying.

I tie mainly for the Irish Loughs, bumbles, dabblers, sedges and mayflies and like to add a few little twists. I’m now on the Vicuña pro team and look forward to raising awareness of the Vicuña brand.

Education and encouragement is where I see the future of Flytying and fly fishing.

Thanks
Dessie

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