This coming Sunday May 18th Slevins lake on the Castlepollard Road is the venue for the first Edward Hughes Memorial Cup. It will be hosted by Lough Glore Anglers and weather permitting will be a great day out. On the pike scene some readers were very impressed with our pike pictures in the past few weeks, and we feature one of the colorful lures this week, that will certainly help you hook up with a personal best pike. On the trout scene may fly hatches on Ennell, Ree, and Sheelin have fly anglers out in force? I noticed the first few Dappers on Sheelin last week, and it’s a sure sigh that the May fly season is up and running. Well done to Mullingar Angler Mick McCormack on winning the recent O, Malley Cup on Owel.The Lake is fishing quite well, and later this month we have the International fly-fishing championships on Owel.Also news this week of a meeting-taking place in Athlone soon on Non Native Species regulations.
EDWARD HUGES MEMORIAL CUP. This coming Sunday pike anglers from across the Country will venture to Slevins Lake near Mullingar on the Castlepollard Road. On the day Lough Glore Anglers will hold the first Edward Hughes Memorial Cup. Edward was a very keane angler and his sons Gavin, Edward, and daughter Davina are members of Lough Glore Angling Club. All proceeds from the competition will go towards North Westmeath Hospice. If you are interested in fishing this open pike competition please give Eddie O, Donnell Chairman of Glore Anglers a bell on 086-4043867. Membership is open to Lough Glore Angling club, and they host many competitions yearly and are active in promoting angling here in the greater Westmeath catchments. All competition are Catch&Release.
PIKE LURES. In recent weeks we features local and visiting anglers with huge pike caught on Ennell, Ree, Derravaragh and many more Lakes and rivers here in and around Mullingar.many of the pike are caught while jerk bait fishing with what we call jerk bait rods and reels. The Lures are quite colorful and quite heavy for your normal spinning outfit. Drop into Brian Conlon in Anglers World or David O, Malley and the lads will gladly show you some top of the range Jerk Bait kits. I personally use a Grays Prowl Power Jerk rod and Abu Garcia 4601C3 reel. The rod is quite powerful land handles most Jerk Baits quite well.
MAY FLY. The May fly season is really taking off, and last week plenty of May Fly were hatching on Sheelin, Ree, and Ennell.The first few dappers are showing up on the Midland lakes, and that’s a sure sign that the May Fly season is up and running. Some cracking trout will be caught in the coming weeks, and I hope to be in the thick of the action bring you reports from the May Fly season.
O MALLEY CUP. The O, Malley Cup recently fished on Owel proved a huge success with 36 Anglers competing and 24 anglers weighing in 54 trout. Top rod was Mullingar Angler Mick McCormack with a fish of .97kg, 2nd was Garrett Rooney .92kg, 3rd Tom Gorman .895kg, and 4th Mick Malone with .865kg.Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association would like to thank all who competed on the day and David o, Malley for sponsoring fantastic prizes. The lake is fishing well, and later this Month the International fly-fishing championships take place on Owel. Teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England will trash flies out on Owel. Jack Doolin has boats for hire on Owel, and L.O.T.P.A. is open for membership. Jack can be contacted on 044-93-42085.
NON-NATIVE SPECIES MEETING. On May 22nd Athlone Springs Hotel is the venue for a public consultation of Non–Native Species. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the National Biodiversity Data Centre (Data Centre) have been tasked by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to undertake risk assessments on certain non-native species listed in the Third Schedule to the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (SI 477/2011;All can be checked on the IFI web site www.fisheriesireland.ie or give Suzanne Campion head of Business Development IFI a bell on 052-6180055.
THAT’S IT. I more than likely forgot something, but we are all human. News next week from the may fly fishing, plus details of Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association first fly fishing competition of 2014.Its on Sunday May 25th and up for grabs is the Rex Beaumont Cup. Tight Lines till next week.
CONTACT. Mick Flanagan
Mobile: 087-2797270
E mail mick@midlandangling.com
www.facebook.com/midlandangling