The Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association (ILFA) opened their 2013 season in style on Lough Caragh in Co. Kerry, over the Easter Weekend with a trial on Easter Saturday and a fundraiser competition on Easter Sunday.
But a deep blue sky and bright sunshine, did nothing to combat the arctic bite of the easterly wind. The anglers had to contend with the thermometer not rising above 2*c for the whole weekend.
On Saturday, eight women and their boat men braved the swirling wind and were well wrapped up in multi-layers, they fished from 11am until 5pm. Through the cold they persevered and all the women were rewarded with seeing beautiful-wild-brown Lough Caragh trout mostly 0.5lb who were lured to their flies and put up a very energetic performance before being netted.
The winner of the day was Julie Gerry, fishing with a new member Cher McCrave and her boatman Liam Buckley. They started fishing at the river mouth but had to work hard all day and Julie caught most of her nine fish after 4pm.
Second was Jenny Casey with five fish for 114cm and Cher McCrave on her first outing with the ILFA came in joint third with four fish for 104cm along with Mary Murphy.
Full results can be found at http://www.irishladiesflyfishing.com/page_1962606.html
In keeping with the terms under which the ILFA fish their competitions the fish caught during the trial were handled with care and safely returned to the water.
A very successful competition to raise much needed funds to support the Ladies International Flyfishing Championships, which is happening on Lough Caragh in June, was held on the lake on Easter Sunday. The International week will see three teams and their supporters travelling from England, Scotland and Wales to join with the home team made up of 12 women from all over Ireland.
Easter Sunday morning proved to be very cloudy and an almost balmy 6*c. However once out on the water the anglers taking part in the fundraiser found that the wind was still a cold-easterly-swirling wind and everyone tried to stay fishing in the shelter for most of the day. Rain at 4pm and an even stronger wind made fishing a complete challenge.
Davy Breen was the angler who triumphed in the adverse conditions and his two fish for 50cm won him a fishing jacket sponsored by John Buckley of Emerger Tackle. Mary Murphy was second and won an Orvis fly reel sponsored by Lawrence of Ultimate Fishing while Hubert Smith and Kevin Gerry were joint third winning an O’Connaill Hand Made Easter Egg sponsored by Domnick McAtamney, and a Flypad sponsored by Ifish Ireland.
The anglers warmed up with an on shore barbeque generously provided by Davey Breen. His venison burgers were in great demand and the stewed tea in a saucepan on the barbeque was very welcome to warm the hands of everyone.
The ILFA, wish to thank, the Lough Caragh Anglers for their very warm welcome and for their help in staging both events. The ILFA are particularly grateful to the anglers who supported the fundraiser and thank everyone who kindly donated the great prizes for the weekend.
Any ladies interested in joining the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association or competing for the Irish Ladies Team competing in Wales in 2014 please visit www.irishladiesflyfishing.com or ring Julie Gerry on 087 2055094
