Since 2012
Built on the water,
not in an office
Blackbay didn't start as a brand. It started as a lodge.
In 2012 we opened Blackbay Lodge on the shore of Lough Derg, in the west of Ireland, with one idea: give anglers the best pike fishing we could offer, and take care of every detail around it.
Since then we've hosted and guided thousands of fishermen from all over Europe, day after day, season after season.
Hours on the boat with our guests showed us exactly what works, what fails and what anglers actually need. At some point the next step was obvious: design the gear ourselves.
Ireland is where we started, not where we stopped. We fish for pike and big predators wherever they swim: Alpine lakes, Dutch canals, Scandinavian rivers. Gear that only works at home isn't good enough.
2012
Blackbay Lodge opens
A fishing lodge on Lough Derg, Co. Clare. Pike first, always.
2022
Blackbay Gear is born
BlackBug, BlackShad and BlackTail: the three lures we needed in the boat, still the core of the range.
Today
A lodge and a tackle company
Still guiding on Lough Derg, and designing lures, rods and terminal tackle shipped across Europe. The two feed each other.
What we make
Pike and big freshwater predators. Lures come first, then the rods, rigs and apparel around them. Shape, colour, weight, rigging, materials: nothing goes out until it fishes the way we want.
Proven in Ireland
Tested at Blackbay Lodge
Every new Blackbay product is fished hard on our Irish waters by our guides and our guests before it reaches you. If it doesn't catch there, it doesn't make it here.
Discover the LodgeWho we are
The four of us have been together since Blackbay Gear began.
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Nik
Founder. Runs Blackbay and designs the lures. Guided at the lodge for years and still fishes all year, wherever the water is good.
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Sam
Head guide. Guiding at Blackbay Lodge for more than ten years.
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Mikky
Brand & sales manager. Social media, the dealer network and sales strategy.
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Davide
Product & graphic designer. Draws our lures, our rods and our packaging.
And a pro staff team across Europe
Anglers who fish our gear season after season and tell us straight when something doesn't work. Their reports are where the next version of a lure starts.