O’MALLEY CUP: Over 30 anglers lashed out across Lough Ennell last Sunday for the O’Malley Cup fly fishing competition. Conditions were quite good with plenty of early morning rain, clearing later, and a nice breeze at times kept the boats drifting along. On the day I teamed up with Ciaran Newman of Lynn Cross and we had a lovely day out on Ennell. This day was naturally made all the sweeter as Ciaran boated a cracking trout of 4.814lbs, it was a lovely fish and I made no mistake in netting this winning catch for Ciaran. Mark Kenny finished 2nd with 2.912lbs, Conor Lynch was 3rd with 2.752lbs and 4th was Mick Devaney with 2.048lbs. The presentation took place in Whitebridge Bay and John Tyrrell, competition captain of L.E.T.P.A, thanked the O’Malley family for their sponsorship and all who competed in the competition. Ennell anglers are back in action next Sunday when the Christy Sleator Cup will be fished.
IVAN AND OWEL TROUT: I had the pleasure of meeting former New Zealand hockey coach Ivan Boulton last week as he spent a few days here in Mullingar with his wife Ann, who hails from Dublin. Ivan is nuts on angling and we ventured out for a few hours fly fishing and trolling, catching five lovely trout, a colourful perch and Ivan’s first pike. The Boulton clan were staying in the Annebrook House Hotel and were very impressed with the hotel and the friendliness of the Mullingar people. Plans are in place for another longer angling adventure next time here in Ireland.
NEW YORKER BACK HOME: Last year we featured Jimmy Murray, who originally hails from Lanesbourough, but is now settled in Queens, New York. Jimmy loves his fly fishing for pike and we had a few super double figure fish last week on the fly. We were joined by his nephew Jamie O’Donohue, also of Lanesbourough, and we caught some lovely perch on Ree. Jimmy is home for a few weeks and I reckon a few more very big pike will be caught on the fly as we had some monsters follow our lures right up to the boat last week. Watch this space.
LAKELAND ANGLERS: On Sunday October 2nd Lakeland Anglers will fish their end of season competition. This fly fishing competition will take place on Owel, Ennell and Derravaragh with an 11am start and weigh-in in Caffrey’s Lounge at 8pm. The annual Lakeland Angler of the year prize will also be presented on the night, which is sponsored by the Caffrey family. If you want to hear about the one that got away, drop into Caffrey’s Lounge that evening.