A Cast of Flies for Irish Loughs, Gorgeous George

Nov. 2022

Over the closed season I will be posting a pattern per week for fishing on Irish Loughs. This will include flies for Brown Trout, Seatrout and Salmon. This week's tying is the Gorgeous George and also including the Denis the Menace George fly.

This week's fly is another famous Irish pattern called the Gorgeous George, created by Cork angler Paul Cantillon and by using Cork fly tyer Tony O'Sullivan's unique colours, the Gorgeous George was born.

This pattern has caught a lot of fish over the years from Brown Trout, Seatrout and Salmon on Irish Loughs. It can be tyed in a range of colours from Clarets to Fiery Brown and they all work. This can be fished from the start of the season to the end of the season and will constantly catch fish. I always carry a selection in my own fly box and my guiding box for my clients to try out.

On my last podcast for Ireland on the fly, I spoke to Tom "Doc" Sullivan and Daire briefly about the Gorgeous George and the range of colours it comes in. Tom mentioned how he won the Vintners competition in the deeps of Lough Mask on one of my Gorgeous George patterns.

Two versions that work quite well for me over the season are the Denis the Menace George and the Picric Olive George.


Denis the Menace
Denis the Menace George

Dressing for the Denis the Menace George:
- Hook: B130 size 10 Kamasan.
- Thread: Uni 8/0 Black.
- Tail: Red wool dyed by myself.
- Rib: Red Wire.
- Fritz: Red, Black UV.
- Body Hackle: Black Cock.
- Legs: Knotted Black Legs.
- Head Hackle: Black Hen.
- 2 Jungle Cock cheeks.


Picric Olive George
Picric Olive George

Dressing for the Picric Olive George:
- Hook: Kamasan B130 size 10.
- Thread: Red Uni 8/0.
- Butt: No 4 Globrite.
- Tail: Chartreuse Wool.
- Rib: Gold Wire.
- Dubbing: Honey Olive.
- Body Hackle: Picric Olive Light.
- Legs: Knotted Natural Pheasant.
- Front Hackle: Darker Picric Olive.
- 2 Jungle Cock cheeks.


See you in 2023

For guided fishing please use my contact page to get in touch. Now taking bookings for the 2024 season.

Tight lines,

Jackie Mahon

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