The Workd Cup Flyfishing Championships were held on Lough Mask last week. This is one of the most hotly contested competitions on the Irish fishing scene, and this year was no exception. 435 competitors from every corner of Ireland, and further afield, set out to catch the most trout and win the coveted World Cup trophy, not to mention the amazing first prize of a brand new Foley Lough Melvin lake boat, engine and trailer. A mass start seeds 50-60 boats zooming out of Cushlough Bay, heading in all directions to seek out the best fishing on the day.
4 days of heats are held, with the top 30 or so each day qualifying for the final. One heat days the first two trout are weighed in, with the rest measured and a weight conversion applied. The weather this year made for tricky fishing, and Day 1 was probably the toughest, with flat calm, bright conditions making for very difficult fishing. The cream rises to the top, however, and Basil Shiels, no stranger to the winners enclosure in big competitions, won the day with 2 trout for 4.27lbs, including the heaviest fish of 2.74lbs.
Day 2 was much more conducive to wetfly fishing, and indeed the fishing was much improved. Martin Kenny took tope prize on the day with 4 trout for 4.87lbs, whie John O’Keeffe had the heaviest fish, a trout of 2.87lbs.
Day 3 was also a decent day, with Ulsterman Fergus Auld qualifyinf as heat winner with 2 fish for 4.92lbs. Fergus’s catch included the heaviest fish, a lovely trout of 3.3lbs. Day 4 was won by Joe Fetherstone with a great catch of 5 fish for 9.29lbs, including a fantastic trout of 5.19lbs.
The final was due to be held on Sunday, but a yellow/amber weather warning was in place, and the competition was deferred to the following day, Bank Holiday Monday, when conditions were much better. The final proved to be another day of tough fishing, but it was Tipperary angler John Quirke who came out victorious. The Cahir man landed 2 trout for 3.976lbs to take the win, just ahead of fellow Cahir man John Purtill, who had 3 trout for 3.858lbs. First and second from the same small town in Co. Tipperary – what are the odds! Christy Crotty was the winning boatman.
Third, fourth and fifth went to Conor O’Mahony from Partry, Mark Rogan from Waterford, and Michael Twohig from Cork. A pretty god result for Munster!
Full top 10 results and updates are available on the World Cup Facebook page here.
