Greg Latour of Tir na Spideog reports on the 21st Lough Allua Pike Challenge which took place on Lough Allua on the 8th of October…

On a sunny and calm day, 18 anglers set out in 7 boats to fish this one day event. The Lough Alua Pike Challenge is 22 years old – organized and sponsored each year by the Tir na Spideoga Fishing Lodge.

21st Lough Allua Pike Challenge

Conditions were near perfect while water levels were a bit high. A good number of decent pike were caught, measured, weighed and released unharmed.

The longest pike, measuring 102cm, was caught by a German angler – Mr. Michael Frings. This secured him a bronze fishing trophy . Michael aka “Butzelhaeschen”, is the only competitor beside the organizer to have fished all Challenges down through the years. So it was no surprise that he scooped up the first prize for the heaviest bag as well, as the  102cm pike tipped the scale at 6,3kg, beating the 2nd highest overall weight from Latvian angler Andis Vilmanis by a 100g.

pike lough allua
The 102cm and 6.3kg winning pike caught by Michael Frings aka “Butzelhaeschen”

The best boat crew prize went to German angler Philip Breuer from Aachen and myself with a total of 5 pike in the boat.

Of course there had to be a loser’s prize and as Lithuanian angler Aidas Jurgilas managed to blank the 2nd year in the row, he had to accept the wooden spoon – a magnetic fishing game, in order to improve his skills for the 22nd LAPC taking place in October 2023.

To round off a great day on the water our competitors from Ireland, UK, Germany, Hungary, Lithunnia, Latvia and Spain gathered around the BBQ at the Lodge till the early hours.

Greg Latour
Tir na Spideog

Go fishing…

Pike Fishing Ireland

Address Tír na Spideoige Inchigeelagh Cork Ireland Phone: +353 26 47151 Website: pike-fishing-ireland.com

Lough Allua