The death took place recently of legendary Oughterard boat-builder Jackie Mons. In the months before his death, he spoke to angling writer CERI JONES about a lifetime of building boats in the old way…by hand.

 It was a long-cherished chance to meet Jackie Mons earlier this year at his workshop in Glann, located near the shores of Lough Corrib. I had long wanted to record a podcast with him, for his name is legendary in the boat-building world.  As I stepped in through the small wicket door, there he was sitting up on his bench with a sandwich in one hand and a cuppa in the other.

It was a privilege to be entering into Jackie’s world where all the Mons boats were created, a very special feeling to be shown around by the master.  There were no new builds today, just three in for refurb or repair.

The workshop was split into two rooms; one for building, and one for painting and finishing. We ended up chatting for over an hour about fishing and, of course, his boat-building journey.

Jackie originally started his apprenticeship as a young lad at the age of sixteen in Oughterard; then in 1973, he built his workshop where it is today.

He had a love for fishing as a young man, fishing the Corrib and the sea trout loughs of Screebe and Casla.

He told me he didn’t get time to fish in recent years as he was so busy, so much so that he sold his own boats as they were not getting used.

This was because the best fishing months coincided with when he was at his busiest and, in his own words, this was his harvest time.

However, he did miss the social side, having lunch on the island and having a pint at the end of the day, chatting with friends and fellow anglers.

As soon as you step into a Mons boat, you can’t help but smile as you know you are experiencing something very special.  That feeling when you finally get to sit in your dream car, one that you had as a poster hanging up on your bedroom wall as a boy.

It’s not until you have experienced being out in a timber boat that you realise the difference, no comparison in the handling with that of glass fibre.

It becomes more noticeable in the wind, so stable, cutting through the waves like a hot knife through butter.

You feel safe, in control, and confident that it will not let you down. In the biggest of weather when motoring into the wind, you are not fighting the waves, it’s telling the lake who is the boss, stable as she goes.

Then, in contrast, when out rowing on a balmy summer evening, you can hear the ripples kissing her bow, almost an acceptance from the lake treating her with respect.

Caption: The late Jackie Mons in his worshop. Photo: Ceri Jones.

Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.

Ceri Jones is a passionate fly-fisherman, professional photographer and podcaster. If you would like to listen to his podcast chat with Jackie, visit www.castingwithceri jones.com/castingwithcerijonespodcast episode 215.