It was a damp start to the fourth Lough Ree International Pike Angling Festival at Athlone but plenty of fireworks across the three day boat angling tournament.

There were 165 anglers on a total of 83 boats dashing about the fish-filled waters and where they caught 18 pike measured between 100 and a staggering 113.5 specimen that probably weighed 28lb or so.

Mark Hughes (Sligo) with was day two winner with a superb 109cm pike.
Mark Hughes (Sligo) with was day two winner with a superb 109cm pike.

All boats launched from Coosan Point but angling on Wednesday was restricted to the Inner lakes due to high winds but Maurice McCaffery (Sligo) led the assault with a winning 107cm pike.

Conditions got better for Thursday’s assault and most crews set sail for the open water of Lough Ree. Sport picked up well and the overall size of fish improved, as shown by Sligo’s Mark Hughes (Sligo) winner of 109cm, which earned him the €1000 top daily prize plus €150 for a 96cm pike that was 10th on the day.

Friday was the ‘pike bonanza’ and a string of specimen pike, topped by a superb 113.3cm fish (probably about 28lb) caught by local expert Dermot Sammon (Athlone) who won €3000 for the biggest fish of the festival.

Altogether there was €20,000 paid out in prizes.

Overall Festival Winner

113.5cm – Dermot Sammon (€3000) Westmeath

Pike Angling World Cup 2013

104.5cm + 97cm + 102.5cm = Joe McEntaggert & Brian Connell (€1000) Westmeath

LtoR Michael Fitzsimons of Failte Ireland presents Joe McEntegart (centre) and his boat mate Brian Connell – both living in Longford - with the World Cup. Their best fish each day measured 104.5cm, 97cm and 102.5cm for a €1000 prize.
LtoR Michael Fitzsimons of Failte Ireland presents Joe McEntegart (centre) and his boat mate Brian Connell – both living in Longford - with the World Cup. Their best fish each day measured 104.5cm, 97cm and 102.5cm for a €1000 prize.
LtoR Rory Quigley and Dermot Sammon (Athlone) were delighted to win a hefty €3000 for the biggest pike of the week at 113.5cms and a record for the festival’s four years. Michael Fitzsimons of Failte Ireland made the presentation.
LtoR Rory Quigley and Dermot Sammon (Athlone) were delighted to win a hefty €3000 for the biggest pike of the week at 113.5cms and a record for the festival’s four years. Michael Fitzsimons of Failte Ireland made the presentation.

Day One Winners

107cms          Maurice McCaffery,             Sligo

106                 Joerns Heidtke,                    Germany

104.5              Joe McEntegart,                   Longford

103                 Liam Grimes,                         Clare

96                    Tony McGuire                       Armagh

91                    Mark Hughes                                    Sligo

90                    Malvydas Stoskus                Lithuania

89                    Jim Flynn                              Liverpool

87                    John Fitzmaurice                 Kerry

87                    Ken Whelan                         Galway

 

Day Two Winners

109cm            Mark Hughes                                    Sligo

105                 Gabriel Wykes                      Westmeath

102                 Barry Darby                           Mullingar

101                 Jim Flynn                              Liverpool

100.5              Martin Cusworth                  Yorkshire

97.5               Igor Klosowski                      Poland

97                   Finan Darby                           Mullingar

97                   Carl Salt                                 Manchester

97                   Joe McEntaggert                  Longford

96                    Mark Hughes                                    Sligo

96                   Tony Doolan                         Westmeath

 

Day Three Winner

105cm            Barry & Finian Darby,         Mullingar

104                 Kevin Moran,                        Westmeath

103.5              Derek Boyce,                        Westmeath

102.5              Joe McEntegart,                   Longford

101                 Barry & Finian Darby,         Mullingar

101                 Barry & Finian Darby,         Mullingar

100                 Barry & Finian Darby,         Mullingar

100                 Barry & Finian Darby,         Mullingar

99                    Rafal Pelc,                            Poland

96                    Barry Golden,                       Westmeath

 

The Lough Ree International Pike Angling Festival is sponsored by Failte Ireland – the National Tourism Development Authority – and supported by Lakelands & Inland waterways.