Yes anglers are sending out May Day messages across the Midlands with super trout coming from our Lakes. Some early May fly were hatching on Ree, Ennell, and I came across a few on Boderg last week while pike fishing. Our Italian friends are gone back, but not before we boated a few more huge Monster pike. On Ennell Andrea Palma rattled the scales with a huge fish of 22lbs, and we actually brought bigger pike to the boat checking out our colourfull lures. On the trout scene its all hands on deck, and Owel produced some cracking fish for the Youths National Championship, and also the ITFFA youths fundraising competition was a huge success with your Moate angler Dylan Ennis taking Top Rod. Pleasure anglers were also reeling in some super trout and visiting angler Marty Smith got his 2014 Sheelin season off to a flyer, by boating some lovely fish over 3lbs in weight. Stuart Kennedy of Portarlington enjoyed a few hours fishing Owel, as did Darren Dempsey and angling pal Colm Kiely, who we have pictured with an Owel trout.
ITFFA YOUTHS ON OWEL. Well done to Ryan Binley of Foxford Angling club on winning the Jimmy Allard Cup at the ITFFA youths National Championships fished on Saturday April 26th. Ryan boated 11 trout for 420cm to take Top Rod. Jack Egan of Sheelin anglers finished 2nd with 8 trout for 313cm, and 3rd was Belfast Angler Ian Dalzell 3 trout for 115cm.Dublin trout anglers Almha McDonnell produced the largest trout of the Championships a cracker measuring 50cm estimated at around the 4lbs mark. All fish were measures and released on the day. On Sunday April 27th young and old Anglers competed in the ITFFA youths fundraising competition with some super prizes up for grabs. It was a good day for Westmeath anglers with seventeen years old Dylan Ennis of Moate taking Top Rod and picking up a new 19ft boat for his catch of 3 trout weighing 3.230kg.Multyfarnham angler Paddy Ward finished 2nd with 3 fish 3.130kg, and Mullingar angler Mark Dunne 3rd with 2.270kg.A total of 15 prizes were presented, and full results will be up on my site later this week.
PLEASURE ANGLING ON OWEL. Recently we features a news item on Owel featuring some good catches from Owel.Colm Kiely from Dublin and pal Darren Dempsey dropped into Mullingar and checked out the fishing on Owel.The lads had a super days fishing boating and returning 24 trout on the troll with Tasmanian Devil lures. The lads also thanked Angling Focus for steering them to Anglers World where they picked up the Tazmanian Lures that worked a treat, and the good advice they got in our angling column. Nice one lads and thanks for feedback and photograph of Colm and one of the Owel trout. Also drifting across Westmeath was Portarlington lad Stuart Kennedy, and Stuart had a few nice fish from Owel.Stuart was staying in Bloomfield with his wife and young family which must have got him some Brownie points, as we had a few hours fishing on Owel.Its not he first time Stuart fished and stayed in Mullingar, and is hoping to get back during the summer months.
SHEELIN MAY-DAY. Lough Sheelin like many of our Midland lakes is ready to explode with May fly hatches. Last weekend Marty Smith dropped over for the Bank Holiday weekend and latched onto a few lovely trout on Lene and Sheelin.It was his first outing on Sheelin this season, and was really chuffed with his super catch, as you can clearly see in the photograph. I did not see any May Fly on Sheelin yet, but it’s only a matter of time. I was on Ree and Ennell last week and spotted a few early May fly drifting across the lakes, plus on Boderg while pike fishing May fly were hatching.
ITALIAN PIKERS. Our Italian friends have gone home praising the Midlands big time. They had a wonderful trip, and enjoyed the fishing and fine dining here in Mullingar.Plus the odd drink, as you do on holidays. The full photo gallery of the lads Monster Pike Angling Adventure is up on my site, and it includes a huge Ennell pike of 22lbs caught by Andrea Palma. Ennell is worth checking out in the coming weeks, and some good trout, pike and perch will be caught. Lilliput Boat Hire have an excellent fleet of Boats and Engines for hire and can be contacted on 087-6492866.
GLORE ANGLERS/EDWARD HUGES PERPETUAL CUP.Lough Glore Anglers will host the first Edward Hughes perpetual Cup on Slevins Lake on Sunday May 18th. All proceeds from this pike competition will go to North Westmeath Hospice. More on this competition in next weeks Angling Focus. In the mean time you can contact Glore Chairman Eddie O, Donnell for details 086-4043867.
CONTACT. Mick Flanagan
Mobile: 087-2797270
E mail mick@midlandangling.com
www.facebook.com/midlandangling