Ronan Cusack reports that all roads led to Clonbur this week, for the 12th annual Licensed Vintner’s (and friend’s) Wet Fly Competition. Despite the blustery conditions 133 anglers participated, with 154 fish weighed in over the 2 day event. This year’s top vintner was Mallow man Richie Willis, with 5 fish for 5.99lbs. Billy Kavanagh, also from Cork, took first place in the individual section, with 8 fish for 10.24lbs. Second best individual was well known angler Michael Twohig from Kanturk with 6 fish for 7.23lbs. In third position was Michael O’Shea from Killarney with 4 trout for 6.69lbs. The winning team of four were Michael Byrne, Ian Ireland, Joe Butler and Billy Kavanagh with 16 trout for 19.79lbs. The top lady angler in this year’s event was Ann McWilliams from Kanturk, with 4 fish for 4.17lbs.

The ITFFA Interprovincial was also held on Lough Mask last weekend, with 18 qualifiers from each province looking for a place on next year’s national team. This competition is run on a catch-and-release basis, with all fish over 30cm measured and recorded. A total of 195 trout were caught, with an average length of 33.8cm.

The winning province was Ulster, with 60 fish for 13,680 points. Second was Connacht with 57 trout for 11,460 points. Third was Leinster with 43 trout for 8,290 points and in fourth position was Munster with 35 trout for 8,120 points. The top individual rod was Ulster angler Brian Stanfield with 10 trout. Ulster also took the longest fish with a trout of 49cm caught by Pat Foley.

Tom Conroy, Ballinrobe had 5 good trout on Sunday last on dry daddies (best trout 2lbs, all returned). Gerry O’Brien, Ballinrobe fished with his son John during the week and they had 6 fish for their day (best trout 2lbs, all returned). Noel Moran and Kevin Sheridan fished on Monday and they had 4 fish on both wets and dries (best trout 2lbs, all returned).

Lough Mask is at a record low at the moment and anglers are asked to take extra care when travelling around the lake.

Ronan also guides on Mask and can be contacted at 087 2869487 or by email at [email protected]