The NCFFI Predator Team had a successful outcome at the event held on Lake Bourget in France with the pairing of brothers Steven & Andrew Powell from Co. Armagh securing the largest fish of the championships award with their catch of a 117cm Pike.

Biggest Fish 117cm
Biggest Fish 117cm

Up against the best Lure anglers in the world, at only their second world championships, the four man team also including Colin Rutherford and Lindsay McFadden, Portadown, Co. Armagh were keen to score well and although they had not had the opportunity to fish the venue beforehand were focussed on tactics and determined to do well.

Pred Team on World Stage
Pred Team on World Stage

The fishing was hard on day one of the competition and Colin & Lindsay had just one fish over 50cm – others caught were immeasurable. But with 5 of the 16 nations blanking it wasn’t so bad and the Irish team had scored 11th place. The conditions had been warmer than expected and after a change in tactics they headed confidently into day two when cooler weather was forecast. Just an hour into the competition Steven secured the now famous Pike at 117cm and weighing in excess of 30lbs and within minutes had confirmation that Lindsay also had an 82cm specimen. As a pair Steven & Andrew had scored first place for day two of the competition and as a team were placed 7th in the championships.
A fantastic result for the team who were able to participate in the championships thanks to sponsorship from Vass waders, Barracuda Fishing Tackle, Predator Nation, Printbiz, Bumble lures, Candy Plastics, Tomi Guided fishing, Waterways Ireland , Inland Fisheries Ireland and the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland. The team also raised funds holding a Predator Tournament on the River Erne prior to the event and we can expect to see more of these in the future.

Big french pike
Big french pike

The team can be contacted via their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NCFFIPredTeam and you can read a short blog from the event at http://www.ncffi.ie/fishing_news.php
NCFFI Predator ClubNext up for Predator Team Ireland is the 13th FIPS-ed World Championship Bank Fishing with Lures to be hosted by the NCFFI on Craigavon Lakes, Co. Armagh next May. The team will be holding qualifiers closer to the event.

See World Boats Blog NCFFI – World Boats Blog