Jimmy Heneghan from Mayo wins a 19ft. Sheelin Boat with a trout of 5 lb. 5.4 oz at the annual Stream Rehabilitation competition on Lough Sheelin

02 October: Brenda Montgomery reports that the level of Lough Sheelin rose dramatically from Thursday onwards and with the sudden influx of cold fresh water the trout were ‘put off’ and fishing was difficult for the number of anglers who ventured out during the week, trout were still caught between the deluges of rain and catches were spaced out during the day with no particular times favouring rises.  Dry fly methods were still the preferred way to go with every type of fly being tried out – claret dabblers, silver dabblers, hoppers, stimulators, big ollys, sedges etc.

Apologies to John Burke, Trim for omitting his great days fishing on Thursday September 22^nd, John accompanied by Michael Kelly caught eleven trout using dry flies and stimulators, the fish averaged between 1½ – 2½ lb. with the two best weights at 3 and 3¾ lbs.

On Saturday October 1^st the Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association ran their annual Stream Rehabilitation competition on the lake.  Despite weather conditions and high water levels the competition went very well and attracted 110 boats from all over Ireland.  Competitors reported a lot of ‘pitching’ of fish probably due to the drop in temperatures from the recent heavy rain.  36 trout were caught with many ‘near catches’ being reported.  Catches were mixed between wild and stocked fish but Mayo man Jimmy Heneghan stole the show with his beautiful fish of 5 lbs 5.4 oz. winning him a 19ft Sheelin Boat and the Paddy Sheridan memorial cup.

The results were as follows:

1^st Jimmy Heneghan, Mayo          5 lbs  5.4 ozs

2^nd Eamon McGolderick                  4 lbs  9.2 ozs

3^rd Darragh Murtagh, Cavan          4 lbs  5 ozs

4^th Peter Roach                                   3 lbs  3.2 ozs

5^th Tom Carroll                                   3 lbs  2.8 ozs

6^th Eon Reynolds                                3 lbs  1.8 ozs

7^th Eddie Kelly                                     2 lbs 11.4 ozs

8^th Darren Malloy                               2 lbs 10.6 ozs

9^th Noel Fitzpatrick                            2 lbs   9 ozs

10^th Andrew Browne                         2 lbs   6.8 ozs

The Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division will host their Fly Fishing Competition and Open Competition on Lough Sheelin on Saturday October 8^th from Kilnahard Pier from 11 a.m to 6 p.m.  This competition is for the heaviest fish and is open to visiting anglers, please contact Dessie McEntee at (047) 77216 or 086-8937568 for further information.  The L.S.T.P.A will be running fly tying classes at Lough Sheelin starting in October for young anglers from 10 yrs upwards.  Anyone interested should contact Thomas Lynch at 087 9132033 (after 6pm)

59 fish were reported for the week.  Among the catches were 1 trout at 1½ lb. for Gary McKiernan, Cavan.  Michael Kelly, Balbriggan, Dublin – on Wednesday September 28^th – 2 trout at 1½ and 2 lb. caught on stimulators and dry flies.  Thursday September 29^th – 4 fish averaging 1½ – 2 lb., Michael fished throughout the day and fishing was hard because of the heavy rain, Friday September 30^th – 5 fish at 1½ – 2½ lb.