Its all about trout this week, and we have some cracking photographs of beautiful fish from Owel and Mount Dalton.Mount Dalton is really becoming an Anglers Trout Paradise and its nesting in the hills near the village of Rathconrath.On Owel we met Gary Jacobsen of Lower Hutt in new Zealand, and he has a “REEL” Westmeath connection with daughter Sarah living in Raharney.Plus news from the recent I.T.F.F.A. youth qualifier fished on Lough Bane where cracking rainbows came on line. This coming Sunday September 28th Lough Lene Angling association host the Chairman pairs competition and the lake closes for trout the foling Tuesday September 30th. Sadly news filtered in last week of another one of our great time anglers passing away. Peter Caffrey of Lynn was one of Ennells top anglers.
MOUNT DALTON. Last week I spent a day on Mount Dalton near Rathconrath in the company of Inland Fishery Ireland Information officer Paul Burke. Paul has worked for countless years with IFI and way back in the early 70ies done survey work on Mount Dalton. On arrival to Mount Dalton we were greeted by Catherine Gibson/Brabazon at Mount Dalton Lodge, and had a great chat about the fishing on the lake. Catherine kindly sent us a super photograph of one of the best fish to come from Mount Dalton in recent times. A lot of work has taken place on access to Mount Dalton and we met Paul Gibson/Brabazon and David Gibson/Brabzson putting the finishing touches to he new access point, and I.F.I. have place a super jetty for the boats. The lake looked a million dollars as we rowed across towards the Island and started our first drift. We had only started to fish and trout were showing on the surface, and it was not long before we were stuck into some beautiful colored Mount Dalton Trout. It was not all plain sailing and the Mount Dalton trout are not easily fooled. The lake is open till October 12th I am told, and boats are available for hire. Please contact Catherine on 044-93-55241.
RAHARNEY /NEW ZEALAND CONNECTION. I had the pleasure of meeting Gary Jacobsen last week on Lough Owel, and he caught some super trout on wet flies out across from Portloman on Owel. Gary is from Lower Hutt in New Zealand, and is over regularly to Westmeath as daughter Sarah met and married an Irish lad and is living in Raharney.Gary cant wait to get home and relive his angling adventures here in Westmeath with pals from his local club in Lower Hutt.All going well some of his angling pals will come over and experience the super fishing we have here in Westmeath.
• I.T.F.F.A. YOUTHS ON BANE. On Saturday September 13th some of Irelands finest young anglers graces the shore of Lough Bane here in North Westmeath. Taking place was a youth’s international team qualifier, and the lake produced some cracking rainbow trout. On the day Loughrea angler Ciaran O, Reilly was in fine form and produced eight trout for 3480 points and secured top Rod. In 2nd place was Stephen Ryan of Macroom Co. Cork with six trout for 2740 points, and 3rd place was Westmeath Angler Conor Murray of the Downs with five trout for 2060 points. Joe Keena Pro of I.T.F.F.A. had this to say about Lough Bane Angling Association, and encouraged young anglers to take up the wonderful sport of fly-fishing. Lough Bane Anglers have been great supporters of juvenile angling for many years and the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association (ITFFA) would like to thank them for their ongoing support. We would also like to wish these young anglers the very best of luck as they prepare for the second stage of the selection process for the Irish International Team.
If you are less than eighteen years of age and are interested in participating in fly angling, you can contact the ITFFA Youth Officer, Mr Frank Dempsey of Athlone on 087 235 1830.
COMPETITION DATES. Looking at the calender of events for fly fishing competitions this coming Sunday September 28th its all hands on deck.Lough Lene Angler will fish the Chairmans Pairs competition with all proceeds going to North Westmeath Hospice.Fishing from 11am -6pm (Fly only).Also on Sunday September 28th Lough Ennell Anglers host the popular Christy Sleator Perpatual Cup.Fishing from 11am-7pm.
PETER CAFFREY R.I.P. Last week we got news of the death of well known Ennell angler Peter Caffrey of Lynn Road. Peter loved his fishing and shooting, and will be sadly missed from the waterways.Peter had a soft spot for Ennell, but fished all over the country and anglers here in the Midlands fish for the Peter Caffrey Cup each season on Lough Lene plus Lakeland Anglers have a Cup kindly sponsored by the late Peter. I knew Peter quite well from the Angling scene, and he was an outstanding angler and characther.Peter certainely enjoyed life to the full and was reguarded as a very skilled boat builder, and also had a great fondness for boating along the Royal Canal with his wife Sarah.I think its only fitting that I include this beautiful photograph of the late Peter and wife Sarah pictured at the Harbour Bridge some years back. On behalf of Angling Focus we send our deepest sympathies to the Caffrey family.
THAT’S IT.The trout season is winding down and Lough Lene will close Tuesday September 30th for trout fishing.the likes of Owel, Ennell, Sheelin etc will close on October 12th .Lakeland Angler have a competition coming up in October on Owel and Ennell, and I hope to have news on this next week.Also the last day October 12th we have the annual competition on owel with proceeds going towards the stocking fund, and on Ennell a sweep steak competition takes place and asa rule hed back to Caffreys and reel in the 2014 trout angling season.Tight Lines till next week.
CONTACT. Mick Flanagan
Mobile: 087-2797270
E mail mick@midlandangling.com
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