The Milford & District Fly Angling Club held the “Lough Fern Classic” Catch & Release Trout Angling competition last weekend. 50 anglers from all over Ireland fished over the two days with a prize fund of €2000 up for grabs.
Wild Brown Trout of at least 28 cms counted on the scoresheet with 100 pts awarded for 28 cms and 20 points for each cm over 28 cm.
Competing Anglers could fish the Saturday, Sunday or both days, with only the best single days’ score to count.
After day one, John Webster from Co. Antrim led the way with 3 fish of 29 cms, 32 cms & a great fish of 42 cms , giving a total score of 680 points
Jim Cook from Dungloe was in 2nd position with 2 fish of 29 cms and 37 cms, giving a total score of 400 points. Tim Harron was in 3rd place with 2 fish of 30 cms & 29 cms on a score of 260 points, with Paul Henry and Chris Cuskelly following in joint 4th place on the same points of 260 but with one trout each of 36 cms.
Conditions on Sunday looked to be even better than the first day and hopes were high for some good sport and decent scores.
P.J Walsh from the Loughanue Club had a fine fish of 33 cms for a score of 200 points, Victor Graham went one better with a fish of 34 cms for 220 points and John Kelegher from Co. Louth had 2 fish of 28 cms & 30 cms for a total of 240 points.
Michael Bonner from Dungloe, moved into 2nd placed overall with 2 fish of 29 cms & 40 cms for a total of 460 points.
But Harry Whoriskey from Strabane saved his best score for Sunday with 3 cracking trout of 28 cms, 39 cms and 42cms for a final and clear winning score of 800 points
The final scores for prizes were as follows;
1st Harry Whoriskey on 800 pts
2nd John Webster on 680 pts
3rd Michael Bonner on 460 pts
4th Jim Cook on 400 pts
5th Tim Harron with 2 fish for 260 pts
Joint 6th with 1 fish each, Paul Henry & Chris Cuskelly on 260 pts
8th John Kellegher on 240 pts
9th Victor Graham on 220 pts
Joint 10th P.J Walsh,Gordon Roulston & Ciaran Roulston on 200 pts
Harry Whoriskey and John Webster tied for the longest trout over the 2 days with 42cms each. Harrys’ name came out of the hat and he received a framed set of flies on a map of Lough Fern
The Milford Club with like to say a massive thanks for the support of all the visiting anglers, local clubs and especially the great support from the competition sponsors. The Milford Club will hold an Open evening competiton this coming Saturday the 14th of June.
Fishing time is from 3 pm until 8pm with entry fee of €20.
Weigh- In and Prizegiving will be held at the Club house with everyone welcome.
Under the Clubs’ strict conservation policy, only 2 trout over 11” maybe retained by each angler with prizes for the heaviest single fish.
To book or for more information please contact the Boat Manager on 086 0526200
For more up to date club news and events, check out the Club website http://www.thisismilford.com/milford-fly-angling-club
John Mc Laughlin
Lough Swilly Angling Centre/ Donegal Angling
Phone : 087 292988 or Email: jmclswillyflies@eircom.net
