LUKE CONDRON: Recently I spent a few hours pike fishing on Ennell with Luke Condron. Luke certainly has the fishing bug and spends many days on the Grand Canal and has also has ventured out on Ennell prior to our day from Lilliput. The plan was to try and get Luke stuck into a good double figure pike from one of our Midland lakes. We only had a few hours and conditions on Ennell were a bit difficult. Light winds which kept changing direction was making it hard to stay on the weed beds spinning. This time of year many shoals fish take cover in these huge summer weeds beds, which stretch up to 2-3 meters from the bottom in 10-15ft of water., ideal for working Paddle Tail and Slider Lures. The old reliable spinners will also do the job on these hot spots. On the day with Luke, our first few drifts were an eye opener as pike hit our lures but never held on. The first fish was a small jack pike, which took a colourful spinner for Luke. I had a funny feeling that the bigger pike would eventually come on the feed and boy they really did. Luke switched over to one of my colorful Paddle Tails and had 5 pike within half an hour. The best fish was well into double figures, and was a powerhouse on the end of Luke’s spinning rod.
WHITELAKE ANGLERS: The Whitelake opened after Covid -19 restrictions were lifted on Monday June 8th and plenty of colourful rainbows were caught by club members. Noel McCabe sent in some cracking photographs and it’s great to see such a strong junior angling section on the Whitelake. As you are well aware, these young anglers are the future of angling across the Midlands and as in every sport you need young blood coming on line. Shane Manley of Castlepollard was in the thick of the action as was Bobby Kelly and his pal Dara Gorman of Killucan. Naturally some of the seasoned Whitelake anglers also had some exceptional fish last week, including a beautiful fish of 4lbs 12oz for Patsy Donnelly.
LENE ANGLERS: Lene also reopened on Monday June 8th and local anglers were delighted to be back out on the lake. I ventured down midweek and had some beautiful rainbows on the fly and troll. L.L.T.P.A. Frank McKeon also produced the goods early last week with two lovely fish on the troll. I also met the Macken boys as they dined in some style. I spoke to Chairman Tom Fagan and the competition scene is a non-runner in the coming weeks but hopefully by the end of season the Chairman Pair’s competition will be hosted by Lough Lene Trout Preservation Association. This competition is penciled in for September 27th and proceeds this year would be going to Westmeath Hospice. Something to look forward to, along with the big predator battle on Ree, also in September. I will keep you posted on any other competitions that may take place in the coming weeks and months.
ANGLERS MAY BECOME MOVIE STARS: Over the years I had the pleasure of meeting and fishing with some wonderful characters from all over the world. The stories I have heard and the banter out on the lakes and rivers are priceless memories. The competitions and the presentations after in local hotels and bars were also magical days and evenings. Which some ran late into the night, and the fish got bigger. I hope to capture some of these events and angling days on a HD action camera I picked up recently. In time I hope to interview local anglers, do a few special club features and also cover major competitions across the Midlands and furder afield. In time these will be featured on my angling site www.midlandangling.com. When I think back what I could have done over the years. Out on Mask with the late Dick Warner, on Conn with Big Jack Charlton. On the local scene all the huge events I could have covered on Owel, Ennell, Derravaragh, Lene etc.
THAT’S IT: Yep, time to wrap up the angling for this week, deadlines are always on the horizon. It’s hard to believe in Ireland we have no Angling magazine in print now and it’s a crying shame. This month’s Irelands Eye Magazine has some fishy pics I took some time back of my wife Sylvia and our daughter April. I know some will find this hard to believe I actually read this month’s Irelands Eye and it’s full of wonderful stories from present times and years back. Check it out on the shelves now. Tight Lines until next week.
Mick Flanagan
Mobile: 087-2797270
E mail mick@midlandangling.com
www.facebook.com/midlandangling