Congratulations to Denis Goulding who won the Corcoran Cup at the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association’s (ITFFA) Leinster Championship with a fabulous bag of trout for 10lb 6oz. This competition was hosted by Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association and took place on Sunday 12th May 2013. Whilst fishing condition were initially favourable they deteriorated in the afternoon when the south westerly wind turned blustery and intermittent showers arrived. In excess of 100 anglers competed and the competition was very intense with anglers requiring a bag weight of at least 3lb 11.4 oz to secure themselves a position on the team will represent Leinster at the 2013 Interprovincial Match.
Denis, who is no stranger to the angling scene and has represented Leinster and Ireland on numerous occasions, also won the Michael Donnelly Cup for the heaviest with a fabulous trout of 3lb 11oz. Other successful anglers included Gary Coakley (Dublin Trout), Stuart Marry (Balbriggan Skerries), Noel Farrar (Silverstream), John Cooke (Lough Bane), James Fegan (Wicklow), Pat Noonan (Lough Owel), Philip Berns (Wicklow), Mick McCormack (Brosna), Eugene Fagan (Lough Owel), Dave Canning (Dublin Trout), John Murray (Lough Owel), Brendan Murray (Lough Owel), Noel Shields (Silverstream) and Colin Cahill (Lough Bane). These anglers will join Andy Duncan (Brosna), Gerry Heaslip (Dublin Trout) and Terry walsh, who retained their position from the 2012 league, in representing Leinster at the 2013 ITFFA Interprovincial Championship which will be held at Lough Mask on 7th September 2013. The 2013 Leinster Team will be captained by renowned angler and fly tyer, Mr Noel Shields. We wish Noel and his team the very best of luck in their attempt to secure the Interprovincial Trophy.
With 115 fished being returned this result is testament to the reputation that Lough Owel has earned as an excellent brown trout fishery. The Olives have already made an appearance on Lough Owel and it won’t be too long before the Mayfly also begins to show. Lough Owel is well worth a visit and anglers should consider top of the water fishing with dry wulff patterns and possibly klinkhammers.
Joe Keena
Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association