This great report from the organisers of this year’s edition of the Nations Cup:
On Sunday, 24 May, the annual Nations Cup Ireland event took place on the beautiful waters of Lough Ree, during the hottest day of the year so far.
Anglers representing Ireland, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, the UK, and Brazil competed in teams of two from boats across the lake. All participants gathered early in the morning at the slipway, where a short captains’ meeting was held before the official start at 9:00am. Fishing continued until 5:00pm.
A total of 84 skilled anglers gave their best efforts, each hoping to help their nation reach the top of the leaderboard. However, the conditions proved extremely challenging. Blue skies and scorching sunshine made fishing difficult, as predator fish were largely inactive throughout the lake.
At 5:00pm, all teams returned to the slipway and retrieved their boats from the water. After photographs and catch-and-release videos were checked, the final leaderboard was revealed at the Lough Ree Inn. Special thanks go to the venue for accommodating such a large group on a busy Sunday.
Individual Team Results
- 1st Place – Jacek Gorny – Wioleta Hejna
- 2nd Place – Daniel Nesbitt – Stephen Gibbons
- 3rd Place – Olegas Orlovas – Mindaugas Naujokas
- Longest Fish Award – Maciej Dukacz – Nikodem Bienkowski
Nations Cup Ireland 2026 – Nation Results
- 1st Place – Poland – 13 penalty points
- 2nd Place – Ireland – 13 penalty points
- 3rd Place – Romania – 22 penalty points
- 4th Place – Latvia – 23 penalty points
- 5th Place – Lithuania – 25 penalty points
- 6th Place – United Kingdom – 29 penalty points
- 7th Place – Brazil – 39 penalty points
According to the competition rules, in the case of a tie between two nations, the longest fish determined the winner – giving Poland the top honour for 2026.
Well done to all involved in this year’s edition – well done to the winners of the team & individual – well done to Poland for winning the 2026 edition, and well done to the runner-up nations!!
Thank you for your patience and support over the years.
Special mention to The Lough Ree Inn for accommodating us for the Prize Giving.
Next on the list will be Lough Derg Perch Bonanza follow Perch Master Ireland for more info!
Special thanks to all team captains; without them, this event wouldn’t happen
