Lough Owel produced some of the best trout of the 2014 season last week with fish to 7lbs taking the fly. On the pike scene well-known Westmeath Hurler Damian Grifferty rattled the scales with a few beauties from Derravaragh.David o, Malley had a few visitors in from Kilkenny and San Antonia looking for a few hours fishing. Texas Liz had a brilliant few hours in Mullingar, and was trilled with her angling experience. The Royal Canal produced a few nice fish for local lad Jamie Cotter, and we have a lovely pic of Jamie and his prized catch. The competition scene is chocker blocked the next few weeks, and it will be hard to cover all events.
HANDY ANDY ON OWEL.One of Mullingar best known anglers Andy “Nodger” Boyle is on fire on Owel as the peter fishing comes to an end. Andy produced a super 7lbs plus cracker from Owel on Bank Holiday Monday last while fishing with pal Mick McCormack. The lads had a fantastic few weeks on Owel during the Peter fishing. It is starting to die off, but plenty of buzzers still have the fish moving just as darkness falls.
DAN MULLALLY SHIELS.On Wednesday night last August 6th Lough Owel Anglers hosted the Dan Mullally Shield. This evening competition produced some super trout with Killucal angler Jimmy Cahill rattling the net with a fish over 5lbs.Jimmy teamed up with Johnny Murray of the Downs and they are a force to be reckoned with in the Angling World. Brendan Murray of Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association presented the prizes after a minutes silence for those anglers we have lost in recent weeks. I took a lot of pics on Owel, and what’s not in print will be on my Angling site later in the week. Full results from Dan Mullally Shield.1st Jimmy Cahill 2.385lbs, 2nd Nickie Shaw 1.84kg, and 3rd Mick Flanagan 1.41kg.
CORK, KILKENNY AND SAN ANTONIA ANGLERS. I always say it we have the best angling on our doorstep but its not tapped into. Last week I met some people from all walks of life enjoying our angling. Noel Leahy was up from Kilkenny along with Lizabeth Colligan of San Antonia Texas. They were mad to spend d a few hours fishing on one of our wonderful lakes. They enquired where they were staying and had no luck as the recepunist had no idea about our lakes or what Angling in the Midlands had to offer to visitors staying in Westmeath. Lucky enough they were sent to David o, Malley and as they say the rest is History. Noel is golf pro, and Liz worked in the legal business in America and was baffles at the lack of information here in Westmeath for visitors. I will be keeping in touch with Liz and Noel, and hopefully next time around they will get to know more on what Westmeath has to offer. They had a cracking angling experience here in Mullingar and the photographs are Texas bound. Also drifting around the Midlands was Henry Smyth of Ballincollig Co.Cork.Its certainly a small world in the Angling World, and Henry is originally from Harbour Street Mullingar.Now married to a Kerry lady with 3 children Henry still has time to drop back to town and visit family, his brother Peter was one of Mullingars Shamrocks best footballers. We had a great days fishing, and “reeling in the years”.
PIKE ON BOARD. On the pike scene well-known Westmeath hurler Damian Grifferty had a few super pike on Derravaragh last weekend. Damian is one of our top predator anglers, and was on Derravaragh with brother-in law J.J. Flanagan and J.J. young lad Cathal.Cathal is taking to the fishing and hurling like a duck to water and I reckon will feature in the sports pages in Westmeath Topic over the coming years.
COTTER ON CANAL. Some months back we featured Frank Cotter of Mullingar with a super pike from the Royal Canal.The canal is still producing good fish, and we have a super photograph of young Jamie Cotter with super roach from the Royal Canal. Its great to see the Royal Canal producing good fish, and hopefully we will see more anglers out & about on the Royal Canal.
COMPETITIONS. The competition scene is really busy with the Irish Ladies International fly anglers in action on Lene next Saturday August 16th on Sunday 17th Lough Owel host the Patti Doolin Shiels.On Sunday August 24th Lough Ennell Anglers host the Lough Ennell Perpetual Cup. On Saturday 30th August Lough Lene host the Interprovincial fly-fishing championships. If you want your competition dates mentioned please forward dates and venue a few weeks in advance.
THAT’S IT. It was a busy week locally on the angling scene and next week I will cast back to the World Cup on Mask. Plus news on the Irish youths team who finished 2nd at the recent International fished on Grafham waters in England.Mullingar coarse anglers were in action recently and we hope to have results from their competition. The last thing an angler wants is a dead line, but our angling slot has to be in early Monday so please keep this in mind and lash stuff over the weekend or Sunday night. Tight Lines till next week.
CONTACT. Mick Flanagan
Mobile: 087-2797270
E mail mick@midlandangling.com
www.facebook.com/midlandangling