The 2012 Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association Inter-provincial Match was held at Lough Melvin on Saturday 15th September 2012. Teams from Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught competed in this event which is held annually. Each teams was comprised of fourteen rods and angling commenced at 10 AM. Competition rules stipulated that anglers could weigh their first and second trout with 0.5lb being awarded for each additional trout which had to be returned to the water alive. Fishing conditions were good with a moderate south-westerly wind, good cloud cover and temperatures in the mid teens; which suited angling for Sonaghan trout.
Upon arrival at the shore at 6 PM it became evident that competitors would require a substantial basket of trout to be in with a chance of donning the green blazer and representing Ireland at the 2013 International Competitions.
When the weights were tallied it was John Ruby who was a member of the winning team from Munster who came out on top with an excellent basket of seven trout for 1.675Kg winning him the Lennon Trophy for the heaviest overall basket and the McCarty Cup for the heaviest basket from his province. John will now go forward to represent Ireland, for the second time, when he competes in one of the 2013 International Fly Fishing Matches. John, who was partnered with popular Ulster angler Woodrow Acheson, fished in the Bilberry area of the lake and caught his Sonaghan trout in both deep and shallow water. John caught all of his trout on a Melvin Bibio and Connemara Black fished on an intermediate line.
The Scotch Bowl for the heaviest trout went to well known Mullingar anger, Andrew Duncan, who had a beautiful Melvin Trout of 0.480Kg; Andy also won the Moylett Cup for the heaviest basket from Leinster with four trout for 1.295Kg. Peter Byrne won the Deacy Cup for the heaviest bag from Connaught with five trout for 1.260Kg, whilst the McCrea Cup for the heaviest basket from Ulster went to Tony Hogg with five good trout for 1.355Kg.
ITFFA would like to extend their gratitude to Garrision Lough Melvin Angling Club and we would like to congratulate the following anglers who will go forward to represent our country at the International Competitions in 2013, John Ruby, Mick O’Farrell, Tony Hogg, Andrew Duncan, Peter Byrne, Richard Willis, Jack Spratt, Seamus Kelly, Francis McSharry and Francie White. Well done gentlemen!
