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Nationals Lough Erne 2010

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:  18^th May 2010

Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

This year we gathered on the shores of the Lough Erne, with accommodation being provided in the idyllic chalets dotted around the beautiful wee island of Lusty Beg. It has to be said, that only my pals from across the water could arrange such a spectacular location to host a National Championships. Lough Erne situated at the heart of the County Fermanagh is 20 miles long and at its widest point has a width of 5 miles. A water strewn with hundreds of little islands and small skerries where fish lurk and feed, are scattered throughout, the whole place caused great excitement for the arriving anglers. These feelings of euphoria seemed to gather pace as the afternoon of the first day turned into evening and were not dampened by slight drizzle that fell as darkness encroached. The master fly tying expert Frankie McPhillips set out his stall and demonstrated the art of making a marvellous selection of imitation May flies, (each a must, for the anglers fly box), led to a night of beer and stories of what will catch tomorrow.

I will leave the rest of the report for Stevie Rea to complete, two days of brilliant sunshine and not a breath of wind, well maybe just an occasional flutter, but with only thirty-five steps from boat to bar, no bad after a hot and a hard days fishing.

A single trout, caught by Tony Ball from Derbyshire, won the team and individual competitions: He stated “ The location where I caught the fish is it difficult, we left the boat dock, travelled for about half an hour mostly on the right hand side of the lough (as you leave Lusty Beg).  It was mid afternoon possibly 3pm, we had just moved locations and had started a new drift with an island on our left hand side.   We were about 20 yards from the island and I remember we were only in about 3' of water; I had on a floating line on, which I had been fishing all day with 2 dry fly patterns.  My first cast on the drift was directed towards the island close to where rocks were showing out of the water.  My point fly had literally just touched the water when the fish rose to it.   I must admit that I was surprised at how well the fish fought, very powerful with a full tail, a very dark brown colour.  The fly is made up mostly of calf tail fibres. It has a dark green tail about 1" long, a dark green body, a light green hackle and dark green wings tied upright and forward again from calf tail. It was the one and only take over the 2 days and luckily I was able to hook it”.

Three other fish were caught on the day of the competition, all fish were returned so the exact weight will never be known, the results were decided by length. Second longest fish was caught by Gary Smith (PSNI) fishing as part of the host team for the event, third Alan Dickson (Lothian & Borders) who caught his fish on a drift through Castle Archdale. The fourth man that landed a fish was Martin Glister (Norfolk).

The practice day had seen a few more fish caught approximately a dozen, but regardless of the poor return on the day of Championship, I have not heard a word of criticism regarding the location this event was held, or the facilities on offer. In fact many have remarked that the warm welcome and general ambiance of the place has put Lough Erne high on their list of places to return to experience wild brown trout fishing.