Paul McAleavey, Senior Fisheries Officer with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) reports on the recent Waterways Ireland Erne Pike Classic 2014 

LIAMONASSTOSKUSCO LONGFORD
 Liamas Stoskus, Co. Longford with the winning pike of 22 lb. 2 oz. at the classic and wins our Catch of the Week.

This popular three day event fished very well with some fine fishing on the River Erne and loughs in the Enniskillen area.  On the Friday, there was a bank fishing event and a fly fishing competition and Marty Dillon from Co. Fermanagh landed a lovely pike of 25 lb. 10 oz. on deadbait at the bank event.  157 anglers in 88 boats from all parts of Ireland fished in the two day boat competition on the Saturday and Sunday and the fishing was very good with pike landed in the many waterways in the Erne system in the vicinity of Enniskillen.  Pike were quickly weighed and returned by the many weigh stations manned by DCAL staff.  The decision this year to have only record the big Pike over the two was popular with the competitors and was a significant improvement from a fish welfare perspective and smaller pike were quickly returned to the water.  Among the competitors were Pascal Leherrissier editor of the French Pike magazine “Brochet Sandre” along with his friend Borris Mollinard and they caught several pike over the two days up to 9 lb. but were not in the prizes at the end.  Towards the end of the second day, Liamonas Stoskus from Co. Longford caught a lovely pike of 22 lb. 2 oz. to win the overall two day competition and our Catch of the Week.  It is nice to report that a lady angler Lorraine Storey came 4th in the competition with a lovely pike of 15 lb. 12 oz.  The prize giving was held at the Killyhevlin Hotel and a great evening was enjoyed by all the  prizewinners and families.

The big pike goes into the net safely
The big pike goes into the net safely
DCAL staff were quickly on hand to weigh the big pike
DCAL staff were quickly on hand to weigh the big pike

 

Borris Mollinard returning a nice pike with Pascal Leherrissier from Brochet Sandre magazine in France at the Classic
Borris Mollinard returning a nice pike with Pascal Leherrissier from Brochet Sandre magazine in France at the Classic

Seamus Conner, Chief Fisheries Officer with DCAL presented prizes to the bank competitors winners on Friday

Seamus Connor presenting the bank competition winner with his cheque
Seamus Connor presenting the bank competition winner Marty Dillon with his cheque and trophy

Dawn Livingstone, chief executive of Waterways Ireland presented the prizes  for the two day boat Classic competition.

Dawn Livingstone presenting the winner with hid trophy and cheque
Dawn Livingstone, Waterways Ireland presenting the winner Liamonas Stoskus  with his trophy and cheque
Dawn Livingstone, Waterways Ireland presenting 4th place prizes to Lorraine Story, Co. Antrim.
Dawn Livingstone, Waterways Ireland presenting 4th place prizes to Lorraine Story, Co. Antrim.

PIKE CLASSIC RESULTS 2014

FLY EVENT
PLACE NAME PEG FISH PRIZE
1st COLIN CHARTRES N/A 7lb 11oz £300
2nd RONNIE KERR N/A 6lb 00oz £200
3rd DAVID PORTER N/A 5lb 15oz £100
12 ANGLERS 8 FISH

BANK EVENT
SECTION STEPHEN GRAHAM RING 11lb 08oz TANKARD +LURES
WINNERS JOHN JOHNSTON KILLY 7lb 04oz TANKARD +LURES
THOMAS FURPHY BROAD 13lb 09oz TANKARD +LURES
DAMIEN GILLEECE ROUND O 11lb 13oz TANKARD +LURES
BILLY WILLIAMS CORN LOW 7lbs 14oz TANKARD +LURES
TONY  MAGUIRE CORN HIGH 13lb 02oz TANKARD +LURES
GLEN HALL PORTORA 4lb 07oz TANKARD +LURES
MARTY DILLION SLIGO RD 25lb 10oz TANKARD +LURES
ALWYN JOHNSTON DERRYCH 10lb 06oz TANKARD +LURES

OVERALL
1st MARTY DILLION 25lb 10oz £1,000 TROPHY 20+CAP
2nd THOMAS FURPHY 13lb 09oz £500
3rd TONY MAGUIRE 13lb 02oz £400
4th DAMIEN GILLEECE 11lb 13oz £300
5th DWYANE TAYLOR 11lb 10oz £250
6th STEPHEN GRAHAM 11lb 08oz £200
7th ALWYN JOHNSTON 10lb 06oz £150
8th KEVIN McPARTLAND 10lb 00oz £100
69 ANGLERS – 45 FISH

BOAT EVENT
1st LIAMONAS STOSKUS 22lb 02oz £2,000 TROPHY 20+ CAP
2nd BARRY DARBY 17lb 06oz £1,500 TROPHY 15+ CAP
3rd ANDREW POWELL 16lb 15oz £1,000 TROPHY 15+ CAP
4th LORRAINE STOREY 15lb 12oz £700 15+ CAP
5th STEPHEN MARTIN 15lb 08oz £650 15+ CAP
6th KEN SEDDON 14lb 10oz £600
7th JIM ROGERS 13lb 07oz £475
7th LIAM O CONNELL 13lb 07oz £475
9th SEAN O BRIEN 13lb 03oz £400
10th PASCAL BRISSARD 13lb 00oz £325
10th PETER TAYLOR 13lb 00oz £325
10th JOHN CARNET 13lb 00oz £325
13th ALAN CULLY 12lb 15oz £250
14th GERRY CARTY 12lb 14oz £220
15th TERRY BRENNAN 12lb 12oz £200
16th NOEL MAGUIRE 11lb 08oz £170
17th CHRIS COLLOPY 11lb 02oz £150
18th DONAGH O CONNELL 10lb 05oz £85
18th JOHNNY CAREL 10lb 05oz £85
20th DARREN LYNCH 10lb 04oz £50
157 ANGLERS  – 88 BOATS