Another hectic week here on the Angling scene with some very colorful anglers gracing our wonderful lakes here in Westmeath.Lough Bane were in action, and hosted the Lough Bane Cup evening competition. Lough Lene had the Irish Ladies Fly anglers gracing its shores. Mullingar Coarse Anglers were also in action lately and had some nice fish. Glore Anglers hosted a pike competition, and a trout of 5lbs featured on the day, and we have the photograph. Another 50,000 Euro funding announced for Angling development in Midlands. It’s basically our permit money being given back. Is it a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, some might ask? When politics gets involved in angling it can be very confusing.
BANE CRACKERS. I had a rare Friday night off last week, and was not Out & About on the town taking party pics. Instead I teamed up with Lough Bane Anglers in North Westmeath as they hosted the Lough Bane Cup. It was an evening competition and was fished from 6pm-10pm, and was a lovely night on Bane. Some super trout came on board that night and you needed a fish well over 2lbs to get into the winning enclosure. Martin Augney had two super fish over 4lbs, the best 4.37lbs and took top rod on the night. Paddy Farrelly latched onto a lovely brown trout of 3.35lbs to take 2nd place, with Conor Murray 3rd with 2.92lbs, and 4th Pat McLoughlin.John Smyth presented all the winners with prizes, and thanked all who fished and supported the competition.
LADIES ON LENE.On Saturday last in very blustery conditions the Irish Ladies Fly Fishing Association hosted a qualifier. It was tough going with very few fish on the move, but naturally the ladies charmed a few fish into taking the fly. Julie Gerry topped the day with 2 fish, Ruth Arrell who I boated was joint 2nd with Jenny Casey, and 4th was Lisa O, Hagan.Maddy Kelly Chairperson of I.L.F. A. presented prizes, and thanked Lough Lene Chairman Tom Fagan for the use of his facilities, and also the boatmen who took the ladies out on the day. The I.L.F.A. members are regular visitors to Westmeath, and if interested in teaming up with the ladies check www.irishladiesflyfishing.com.
GLORE ANGLERS. Last Sunday August 17th Lough Glore Anglers ran a pike competition, and it turned out to be a great day out for club member Pat Daly. Pat did not feature in the prizes, but rattled the scales with a lovely Glore trout of 5lbs 2oz.The pike competition was won by Paddy O, Brien with a fish of 4lbs 5oz, 2nd Kevin Keogh with 3lbs 11oz, and 3rd Kevin Daly 2lbs 9oz.Lough Glore is a very active club here in Westmeath and membership is open. They hold many competitions, and you certainly wont go home hungry, as some of their members love cooking on the lakeshore.
MULLINGAR COARSE ANGLERS. Recently Mullingar Coarse Anglers had an early morning competition on a local fishery. It proved a very successful move heading out before dawn, and some nice fish were caught. Top anglers were Martin Quinn, Deckie Byrne, Steve Cotter and John Keegan.Mullingar Coarse Anglers are open for membership, and if interested give me a bell, or drop into David O, Malley and he will give you contact details. David also has a huge range of coarse angling gear and bait, and will be more than happy to kit you out.
