Shane Dunne of Connaught Match Group reports on the Connaught Match Group October festival…
Following on from the successful May Bank Holiday weekend festival last weekend October 15th and 16th saw a 2 day festival held on the River Suck at Donamon.
With recent rainfall it meant the River level was high and rising water levels during both competition days meant it would make the fishing difficult.
Competition HQ for the weekend was Castlecoote Lodge where Mary Leyden was a terrific host once again.
On day 1 Cavan angler Tommy Dowd won the day with a catch of 4.825kg of roach followed closely by Aaron Hutchman(Belfast) on 4.675kg and Shane Dunne (Mayo, formerly Roscommon town) on 4.525kg.
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Day 2 saw the water levels rise further which reflected on the anglers catches unfortunately but Shane Dunne prevailing to win day 2 and win the 2 day festival with an overall weight of 7.150kg followed in 2nd place by Aaron Hutchman 6.575kg and in 3rd place Tommy Dowd 6.425kg.
Section winners over the weekend included
Day 1
A section
Dara finnegan (Castlerea)
Jamie Murray (Drogheda)
B section
Tommy Dowd (Virginia)
Aaron Hutchman (Belfast)
Day 2
A section
Shane Dunne (Claremorris)
Ian Kelsey (Clare)
B section
Jamie Murray (Drogheda)
Ronald Durkin (celbridge)
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Thanks to all who attended from near and far in such harsh conditions over the weekend with some anglers staying locally in Castlecoote.
Thank you to Mary Leyden who hosted us in Castlecoote Lodge and had refreshments for anglers returning on Sunday evening for the presentation.
Thanks to Inland fisheries Ireland for the recent work they have carried out on the section of Donamon where they have upgraded a number of fishing stands.
IFI’s Andy Burnett reports on the Carrigallen Festival…
The 2022 festival season around Leitrim/Cavan winds down for another year , with the last of the local festivals being the Carrigallen fished from 3rd – 7th October, 30 anglers from all over Ireland and the UK fished this final festival of the year in what can only be described as atrocious weather conditions with high water levels , driving rain and often gale force winds.
Despite this the fishing was very consistent across the venues used and produced some good fishing on several lakes much to everyone’s delight.
Overall winner was the ever consistent Lee Symonds , with a total of 51.750 kilos
Brendan Sharkey of PredatorFishingIreland had Andy and Senan back out with him again recently. According to Brendan, unfortunately, the weather was not that nice with very heavy rain and strong winds at times. But a pragmatic Brendan knew that there was nothing they could do about that, except fish.
Another nice pike boated.
The one good thing was that the pike were feeding, and we had some lovely fish for both lads with the best fish falling to Andy at 102cm. Brendan said he is looking forward to seeing the boys again soon
A nice pike from the North West
Go fishing
If you want an exceptional fishing experience with the opportunity to hook into some really big pike and trout (in season) why not contact Brendan. Contact details below.
An Deiseach being seized and driven away on 15.07.20
Three Mayo men have been convicted of false imprisonment, assault and obstruction as they attempted to evade Fisheries Officers from Inland Fisheries Ireland at Belderrig Pier on the North Mayo coast two years ago.
At a sitting of Ballina District Court on July 12th this year, Judge Fiona Lydon also convicted the men of possessing illegally-caught wild Atlantic salmon and nets, in charges brought by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The charges of false imprisonment were brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Daniel McHale, with an address of Belderrig Mor in Ballina, was sentenced to six months in prison, which was suspended for two years; Liam McHale of Carnrock in Belmullet was sentenced to four months in prison, also suspended for two years. Joachim McNulty, with an address of Belderrig Beg in Ballina, was sentenced to four months in prison, which was suspended for two years. The three men were also ordered to pay €2,500 each to charity.
The court heard evidence from Lonan O’ Farrell, an Inspector with Inland Fisheries Ireland, that on the evening of July 15th 2020, the men were approached by Fisheries Officers as they recovered their boat at Belderrig Pier on the North Mayo coast. The Fisheries Officers suspected that the men had illegally-caught wild Atlantic salmon and illegal gill nets on board but were obstructed and assaulted when they lawfully attempted to board the vessel. A Fisheries Officer was subsequently assaulted and knocked overboard by one of the men, but two colleagues managed to board the vessel. When the Fisheries Officer swam safely back to the pier, the court heard that emergency services were contacted and An Garda Síochána quickly arrived on the scene.
With two Fisheries Officers still on board, the men took the boat out to sea and refused to obey orders to return the boat back to port. A short time later, the men agreed to bring the boat back to port and the Fisheries Officers were able to get back to the pier, safely.
An Deiseach being seized on 15.07.20
The boat, ‘An Deiseach’, was later detained in Porturlin Harbour where forensics and salmon scale samples were taken as evidence for the subsequent criminal prosecution. Fisheries Officers, along with An Garda Síochana, seized three vehicles on the night belonging to the men in question. Inspector Pat Armstrong, Officer Brian Flannery and Assistant Inspector Michael Wilson, all with Inland Fisheries Ireland, also gave evidence during court proceedings providing their accounts of the incident to Judge Lydon.
Fisheries Officers have nominated three charities – the Charlie Bird Fund, Western Alzheimer’s Association and the RNLI – to receive the three €2,500 donations.
Meanwhile, members of the public are being encouraged to report any suspicions of illegal fishing activity to Inland Fisheries Ireland on their confidential hotline number. That number is 0818 34 74 24, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Mean air temperatures across Ireland over the past week were generally average or slightly below for the time of year and, as we head for the second half of October, a noticeable sign of the change of seasons is the plummeting air temperature. There is now a definite chill in the nighttime air, as the mercury sinks to low single digits. Falling air temperatures also means falling water temperatures and this can bring a change of guard on the fishing front, as we will soon start to see fewer warm water species around our coasts and an increase in those that prefer cooler water.
The cooler temperatures and longer nights also prompt our salmonids to start thinking about the next generation, with trout spawning generally taking place in Ireland between November – January and salmon in December and January. These annual spawning cycles are the very reason that we have a closed season for trout and salmon fishing and our final handful of late season fisheries closed this week on October 12th.
Sheelin gold for Almha McDonnell
It looked like the season was going to fizzle out on Lough Sheelin, as the going had been tough in recent weeks, but a late flurry of activity in the end of season hotspots brought some super fish sliding to the net in the final few days there. Lough O’Flynn saved the best for last, with their Last Cast fishing competition fishing surprisingly well despite the wet, blustery conditions there. Trophy winner John Burke doesn’t want to put his rods away yet, as he claimed top spot for the second time in a month. Further south in Waterville, the season did fizzle out in the end, with few fish caught in the closing days of what was another mixed fishing season for Currane.
On the coast, the Killybegs Anglers have been prolific as ever, with good catches of flounder and bass from local beaches. Out in the bay, the Bluefin fishing was frantic and frenzied for the Fiona Tee, with missed strikes, spectacular hook ups, fish spitting hooks, crazy bait balls and even a good fish or two brought alongside, all keeping the crew on their toes. In Galway Bay, the relentless winds have caused problems for the Brazen Hussy II, as skipper john Fleming would like to track down a Bluefin or two himself; however, the cod and pollock fishing has been pretty good for his crews when they could get out.
Pollack
From our seas to overseas now, as we have a couple of reports from Irish teams who participated in international events this week. Firstly, commiserations to the Predator Lure Team who finished 15th at the FIPSed World Boat Angling Championships held on the Slapy Reservoir in the Czech Republic. The team were disadvantaged compared to their competitors but will hope to learn from their experiences for future events.
Predator Team Ireland L-R Jacek Gorny, Tomasz Kurman (Mgr), Simon Gibson, Steven Powell, David Dennis, Andrew Powell
Feeder Team Ireland L-R Front James O’Doherty, Michael Buchwalder, Rimantas Kondrackas, Tony Hopkins, Brenton Sweeney (Manager). Rear Charlie Richards, Johnny MckinleyMichael celebrates with Team Manager Brenton
Heavy showers will move into western coastal counties overnight Friday with the potential for some thunderstorms and hail, tracking eastwards across the country in fresh breezes. Lows of 3°C to 7°C.
Saturday will see frequent heavy and potentially thundery showers, mainly in the west but becoming widespread elsewhere during the day as strong south/southwest winds develop, but turning drier overnight. Feeling cool with temps of 9°C to 13°C in the day, 3°C to 7°C overnight.
A dry and bright start to Sunday, but cloud will build from the south bringing outbreaks of heavy rain nationwide. Daytime highs of 10°C to 14°C, lows to 6°C overnight. Monday and Tuesday will be milder, with highs to 15°C or 16°C.
Team Ireland finished 15th at the championships held on the Slapy Reservoir in the Czech Republic. A late change of venue by FIPSed Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Eau Douce with the championships originally planned for Poland.
Originally selected for the 2020 team through a series of qualifiers, hampered by the pandemic it was Team Ireland’s first appearance on the world stage since 2019. The technically qualified lure angling squad of Jacek Gorny, Steven Powell, Andrew Powell, Simon Gibson and David Dennis and Manager Tomasz Kurman gave it their best but found it difficult to compete with the nations who had all enjoyed longer practice sessions, up to two weeks, at the venue with many fishing in their own high calibre boats. Finding countable fish was tough going but the lads did enjoy some nice zander, a species not known to us in Ireland. For the first time this year the competition was staged over three days preceded by two days of official training. Jacek, Tomasz, Andrew and Steven took to the water for the first competition days with Simon and David replacing the Powell brothers to fish the final day.
Team Ireland L-R Jacek Gorny, Tomasz Kurman (Mgr), Simon Gibson, Steven Powell, David Dennis, Andrew Powell
NCFFI Manager Tomasz Kurman says: – I have to admit being disappointed with our result but extremely proud of the team who worked really hard throughout. We did our best against all odds which included being allocated the slowest boats excluding us from choosing to fish the less pressurised spots further away. Our biggest downfall was lack of training on the venue with only 14 hours on this massive expanse of water. A hard lesson learned, and a change of approach is required if we are to fight for medals. I would like to thank the NCFFI for their continued support of lure angling sport and to our sponsors without whom collectively our representation would not be possible.
Jacek Gorny, Zander
This year was the 13th edition of the championships, hosted in Ireland in 2013 and 2016, and was won by Estonia, second Lithuania and third Hungary. The biggest fish of the competition a 107cm pike was caught by the Hungarians. International lure angling sport supports catch and release with fish measured by onboard stewards and returned to the water alive to count.
The Boat Angling Team received sponsorship of equipment from Duo Hook, Baltic Lifejackets, Navionics and BKK Hooks International.
The NCFFI is the only representative body affiliated to Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Eau Douce, FIPSed for coarse and predator angling. Members of affiliated clubs are invited to attend qualifiers for a place on the boat angling team annually. There is still chance to qualify to represent Ireland in the USA in 2023, with the next round taking place on Lough Ree Saturday 22nd & 23rd October. The weekend will also see the very first edition of the NCFFI All Ireland Lure Angling Championships take place. For further details visit www.ncffi.ie/all-ireland-lure
‘Wrap me up in diamonds Cover me in gold But nothing they could buy me Made my heart whole’
D.Guetta, B.Hill & E.Henderson
Almha McDonnell with her bar of Sheelin gold
The fishing on Lough Sheelin has been generally ‘tough going’ over the past six weeks and indeed it could be said that this has been this way for the entire 2022 season. Lake temperatures decreased gradually from 18 degrees to a 12.2 reading on the last day of the open season– October 12th. Despite days of wind, the IFI data buoy has shown minuscule temperature differences between 0.5m and 12.5m indicating that there is little or no stratification or thermal layering in the water at this point in the lake.
LSTPA rehabilitation competition kick off
Lough Sheelin is a wild brown trout lake, there is nothing tame about these fish and after months of being fished over by numerous hopefuls, our fish are well-educated and wary.
September and October can be indifferent months. It is a time of year that promises much but can fall flat. Historically bigger than average fish are caught now because the trout are starting to migrate to the rivers to spawn. Not all the trout in the same year classes will spawn, but even some non-spawning fish will undertake this inshore migration, there is a lot going on. The trout will move into certain locations and hold in these areas prior to making the spawning run. The fish gather near particular features year after year, so good knowledge by the angler as to where these trout amass is hugely advantageous as these movements are repeated annually. As a bonus, these holding locations usually carry some hefty trout which is what the autumn anglers are searching for. In early season anglers fish inshore, around the food-rich shallows as the fish are trying to gain condition after spawning but now, at the back end of the season, we are looking for fish in tighter locations which are holding over or near features prior to spawning and they are not gathering food. Knowledge of this lake is key, and I find it is usually only the Sheelin savvy anglers who venture out in the last few weeks of the season, in search of a fish of a lifetime.
Sheelin spots
The trout have been making their presence felt with their pitching, jumping and general aerial acrobatics but few have shown any interest in the teams of flies played over them. Autumn or ‘the fall’ as the Americans like to call it is very much a season of change and this requires the anglers to change too. At this time of the year there is very little fly on the water so any surface food is confined to the terrestrials – Daddys and Hoppers with the odd olive and sedge if the weather behaved itself. There isn’t much room for the dry fly anglers and most of the catches reported were predominantly got from throwing teams of wets – Dabblers, Bibios, Bumbles, Stimulators and sometimes a Leggy sedge.
Favourite wet fly pattern colours reflected the season we are in with claret, yellow, orange, ginger, brown and to a lesser extent black being at the top of the list. Fly variants with muddler heads and hopper legs generally worked but as always on this lake, it is the wind direction and strength that plays the biggest part with sudden drops or changes in direction killing off what began as a good fishing moment. Trout were feeding on fry and out in the deep on daphnia. Always out for value – a big meal requiring little energy expenditure, lures like the Minkies and Humungus worked and some of the larger fly patterns which created disturbance attracted interest from the trout.
Canary-shouldered Thorn
Anglers reported encouraging numbers of small 8” to 1lb trout particularly from Derry Pt. to Long Rock. Some trout were boiling just below the flies but then appeared to lose interest.
The LSTPA ran their annual Stream Rehabilitation Competition on the lake on October 1st, the lake was choppy with fresh winds and a bite to the air. Over 200 anglers took part with 34 trout being weighed in, impressively twelve fish weighed in at over 4lbs with the winning fish by Sligo angler, Trevor Goulding tipping the scales at 7.854 lbs caught on a Kuga Bumble. Second was Patsy Treacy with a respectable weight of 6.042lbs. This was a well organised and enjoyable event attracting the ‘cream of the angling crop’ and Lough Sheelin did not disappoint.
Reflection
The Cavan/Monaghan Gardai ran their competition on October 7th and the weather was nasty with very strong south westerlies whipping up the water making certain areas inaccessible, and this coupled with heavy rain made things challenging for the competitors. Despite the meteorological hardships 64 anglers sallied forth with 14 fish being weighed in. The winner in the garda section of this event was Colin Dodd with a 4lb 1oz trout, second was Phil Donoghue with a 2 ½ pounder. The winner in the visitors’ section was Pat O’Toole with a beautiful 5lb 9.8oz trout with Tim Crothers in second at 4lbs 13.2ozs.
Colin Dodd with his winning 4lb 1oz trout in the Cavan/Monaghan Garda competition
The transition from summer can often feel abrupt, when suddenly the evening light starts to dwindle, temperatures drop, shoreline foliage is changing colour and leaves are falling, a bleakness takes over. The swallows skimming across the water’s surface progress to their regimental line ups on power lines and then one day they are gone.
Wednesday saw the close of season here, for all fishing – October 12th and although a number of anglers made the traditional ‘last minute’ fishing sojourn, it always feels that angling on this lake now is wrong – we are intruders on a water whose piscatorial inhabitants have moved on to another more important phase, the one of spawning. There are always anglers who fish the final few days of the season on Sheelin, wringing out that last bit of enjoyment while privately, I imagine, clinging on to the possibility of catching that fantasy weight. Lough Sheelin has had perhaps the last laugh because after producing a very difficult fishing year, this lake, suddenly, in the last few days did a u turn and gave its anglers a glimpse of what it is really capable of – consistently wonderful wild splashy takes throughout the day. Anglers reported great response from trout and some spotty piscatorial leviathans coming up for the flies.
Now as the curtain falls on another season for this great lake, I am reminded yet again the best metaphor for Lough Sheelin – a diamond in angling, wild and free with its quarry untamed by man – a diamond defined as ‘a chunk of coal that did well under pressure’ and Sheelin has always sparkled regardless of all the pressure it is under both environmental and angling.
A golden prince charmingUntil the shadows lengthen and the evening comesFlat outNed Clinton with his winning trout of over 4lbs at the McDonald CupSheelin’s autumn sedge
Autumn Bugs And Critters
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Sitting pretty
Black Darter dragonfly
Black Darter dragonfly
Sheelin's Dung fly
Sheelin's Dung fly
Black rustic moth
Black rustic moth
Sheelin sedge
Two Pink-barred Sallows
Two Pink-barred Sallows
Daddy Long Legs
Daddy Long Legs
Gold Spot
Gold Spot
Black rustic
Black rustic
Resting up
caterpillar
Autumn sedge
Autumn sedge
Simply a sedge
Simply a sedge
A six spot burnet moth
A six spot burnet moth
Caterpillar of a Vapourer moth larva
Caterpillar of a Vapourer moth larva
Sedge
Lough Sheelin's Ear moth
Lough Sheelin's Ear moth
Colourful caterpillar
All wrapped up – a Treble-bar moth caught in a spider’s webRossJulie Gerry, Dublin with her 50cm troutTrue-lover’s Knot larva
Rocky bay
The Trout
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Cian Murtagh's autumn gold
All that glistens is not always gold
All that glistens is not always gold
Over 4lbs
Over 4lbs
4lbs on a Dabbler
4lbs on a Dabbler
2.5lbs at Lynch's Pt
2.5lbs at Lynch's Pt
1.5 lbs on a Green Peter pattern at Corru
1.5 lbs on a Green Peter pattern at Corru
In the net
In the net
Cian's Leggy Sedge catch
Cian's Leggy Sedge catch
Greg with a heavy weight
Sharp-angled carpet moth
The hopper patterns worked with a steady consistency and had a tendency to lure Sheelin’s heavier trout to the top. These insects are as old as 250 million years and have been around as long as our brown trout and even the pickiest of trout find it hard to resist the large meal of a realistic hopper presentation. Terrestrial insects and in particular the hoppers and Daddies don’t just chill out when they land on the water, they hate being there and will try to tumble and scramble to get away so with this in mind a light twitch of the imitation can trigger a strike from fish that might otherwise not hit. Black Hoppers with silver, Claret Hoppers and Silver Daddies are all working well now.
Trying hard not to think of the bingo nickname, Legs Eleven did particularly well. This isa brilliant little hopper patter which has been around for many years and it’s safe to say is one of the most popular Hopper patterns – great as a top dropper, the Mick Kelly version is priceless.
A Billy Boland fly
The flies and lures that worked well over the past two weeks were the Claret Bumble (top dropper, good when there was a lot of cloud cover), Silver Invicta, Green Peter, Stimulators, Dabblers (Pearly, Silver, Black, Green, Fiery and Peter Ross), Gorgeous George, Bibio, Claret Bling, Golden Olive Bumble, Silver Daddies, Muddled Daddies, Kate McLaren, Black Hoppers with red butts, sedge patterns (size 12 in cinnamon colours), the Klinkhammer (size 16), Daddy Long Legs (Size 12), the Raymond, the Dunkeld, the Black Pennell (fished on a floating line or with a silver body and a slow retrieve), Muddlers (good wake flies) and Peters.
A set up that worked consistently in the early days of September was a Silver Daddy on the point, a Claret Bling in the middle and a Stimulator as the top dropper. The Stimulator should be not too neat a tying, you want scruffy and that ‘used before’ look as the idea is to create a good wake to attract a cruising trout’s attention.
The Lures that attracted big trout were the Snakes (black body with a muddler grey head), Minkies and Humungus in black and silver.
The Flies
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Kieran Sherlock Detached daddy
Really and unreal Murrough
Really and unreal Murrough
Sam McGowan picnic patterns
Size 12 damsel daddy muddler Garrick Eckard
Leggy sedge
Leggy sedge
Please remember anglers to abide by BYE-LAW 949 which strictly prohibits from June 14th, 2017 onwards:
The taking of any brown trout of less than 36 centimeters.
For a person to fish with more than 2 rods at any one time.
To fish with more than 4 rods at any one time when there is more than one person on board the boat concerned.
For a person to take more than 2 trout per day.
All trolling on the lake from March 1st to June 16th (inclusive).
To fish or to attempt to take or to fish for, fish of any kind other than during the period from March 1st to October 12th in any year.
The competitors
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The O'Keefe cup presentation
The O'Keefe cup presentation
Ned receiving the McDonald Cup
Ned receiving the McDonald Cup
Cavan/Monaghan Garda presentation
Cavan/Monaghan Garda presentation
Garda presentation
Garda presentation
McDonald Cup presentation
McDonald Cup presentation
ladies trial lough sheelin 18th sept 2022 competitors and boatmen
ladies trial lough sheelin 18th sept 2022 competitors and boatmen
What a day at the bluefin tuna! It was just mental from the minute the hooks were in the water. Fifteen minutes in we got a swipe but no hook up, then 10min later we got a double hook up. First fish spat the hook after 10sec and the other fish spat the hook 20min later, so no fish to the boat unfortunately. So just getting gear out again with one set out and just letting back the 2nd when we got hooked up again. Nearly a double hook up but the 2nd fish missed, however, we managed our first fish to the boat weighing approx. 250lbs.
After that we got going again and straight away seen a massive frenzy of tuna just on our bow…no takes there but 20min later we get hooked up again and this fish really tested the gear with several runs. However, after a great battle we get the fish alongside and a much bigger fish it was weighing around 430lbs.
We fished for another while but had no more strikes so the guys decided to go back in early. Not bad for a half day’s fishing!
Go Fishing
Fiona Tee
33′ Interceptor. 300HP Caterpillar Skipper: Michael McGettigan Licence: 961 Base: Mullaghmore Operational area: Donegal Bay. Within 30 miles of land.
Notes: With over 40 years experience in Sea Angling in Donegal Bay, we bring you to the best locations and guarantee the best that angling in Donegal Bay has to offer. The MV Fiona Tee is equipped with all the latest technology ensuring all our fishing charters are monitored and offer real time tracking. We are also fully equipped with the latest in onboard safety equipment.
The third outing of this year’s Killybegs Mariners winter league took place last week on Silver Strand, Co. Donegal.
Read the full report below…
Silver Strand – a great venue
Heading west in much anticipation last Friday for our first venture to Silver Strand as a competition venue as it can be very productive for flatties, and there was a salt spray of sea rain coming up off the Rathlin Sound that moistened the car on the scenic coastal drive along the waters edge on sundown.
Thick pockets of weed on the western end of the beach meant pegging the 17 anglers all into the eastern half and straight from the off some lovely catches were coming in with some on 5 fish after an hour before weed started to hamper proceedings for some pegs.
Joint longest flattie 36cm for John Burke
Quite a few double shots were landed and also treble hauls with Chris getting a treble of two flounders and a 5 bearded rocking. Also a treble of two flounders to 36cm and a turbot for Cara.
A treble haul for Cara Boyle including joint longest flattie of 36cm
A total of 5 species were caught with flounders, turbot, coleys and 5 bearded rockling and weever. Longest flat was shared with 3 anglers having 36cm flounders but with the overall winner being one of them the pot of €51 was shared between Cara Boyle and John Burke. However, the main action was in the low pegs with a super fishing of 11 flounders and 3 coleys = 386pts taking 2nd overall (€51) for Johnny Byrne, and the winner with 9 flounders and 5 coleys shooting 454pts for €102 well done to Johnny’s uncle Pat Byrne.
Overall winner Pat Byrne with one of his 14 fish, a 36cm flounder
Earlier in the week, John Marshall and his daughter Ava along with Cormac Burke had great fishing on the beach for a 3 hour session with 10 bass and over 20 flounder.
Feeder Team Ireland L-R Front James O’Doherty, Michael Buchwalder, Rimantas Kondrackas, Tony Hopkins, Brenton Sweeney (Manager). Rear Charlie Richards, Johnny Mckinley
Report courtesy of the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland:
Team Ireland Feeder finish 6th with a Silver Medal for Michael Buchwalder, second individual at the 11th FIPSed Feeder Fishing World Championship for Nations.
Originally due to take place in the Ukraine, the FIPSed event was hosted by Maasvissers Geistingen in Limburg, Belgium. Whilst the River De Maas makes for a stunning match fishing facility accommodating the 23 participating nations, it is also proved to be a difficult one, with varied sections and somewhat peggy, so a good draw really comes into play onto this venue.
Hampered by the pandemic it’s the first time Team Ireland Feeder have been back on the world stage since the World Games of 2019. NCFFI Manager Brenton Sweeney who led the team to a silver medal on Inniscarra Lake in 2014 and his co-manager Roger Baker presented a squad with a combination of knowledge and experience with upcoming new talent. World Champion Youth Angler Charlie Richards joined team members Michael Buchwalder, Johnny McKinley, Tony Hopkins, Rimantas Kondrackas and James O’Doherty representing clubs from across the island.
Team Ireland L-R Front James O’Doherty, Michael Buchwalder, Rimantas Kondrackas, Tony Hopkins, Brenton Sweeney (Manager). Rear Charlie Richards, Johnny Mckinley
Aside from the logistics of travel, the transportation of groundbait and equipment there is the all-important preparation with support throughout provided by Jack Houldsworth, Nigel Houldsworth, Sharon Sweeney, Nick Richards, Sharon Sweeney and local angler Dirk Maes.
Training commenced with the team fishing each of the sections in the five days preceding the competition played over Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th October.
Day One – The team didn’t fare well at the draw but Michael Buchwalder put in an outstanding performance for 251 small fish and 2.44kg for 3rd in section. James O’Doherty in Section A also had a good day with 4 bream and a handful of roach for 8.550kg and another section 3rd. Charlie Richards had a good start with 67 fish in the first hour on Section C, finishing with 120 fish for 2.9kg and 14th in his 23-man section. Despite all efforts Rimantas Kondrackas and Tony Hopkins had a tougher day on B and D. The team finished the day in 13th position. Michael and James finished in the top 15 as individuals.
Michael Catch Shot Day One
Day Two – Saw a change in weather with a 5°C start and the lake switched off. In Section A the bream pegs had dominated on Saturday, but it was Michael’s 38 fish including a 2lb roach that gave him the section win with 5.340kg and the silver medal. Johnny McKinley who had come into play today in place of Rimantas fished well for 3.280kg and 5th in Section B as did Tony Hopkins making his debut at the championships finishing 11th in Section for 3.640kg. U20 World Champion Charlie Richards had the small fish Section E fishing well for joint 8 in section with 1.430kg in his first appearance at senior level. Finally in Section C, James O’Doherty spent the day in battle with Serbian Steven Cvetic on the next peg. The Serb came out victorious fishing 3rd in sector with 5.770kg to James’s 5.540kg for 4th. The two young internationals finished the championships side by side ranking 4th and 5th as individuals and received a certificate from FIPSed in recognition for their placement.
L-R 2nd Silver Michael Buchwalder, Ireland World Champion Gold Jose Maria Macias, Spain 3rd Bronze Josef Konopasek, Czech Republic
The team finished with a brilliant 29.5 points to win the match on day two. A great come- back, moving them from 13th to 6th place in the championships. Michael Buchwalder also became the first medal winner in this discipline for Ireland. A massive achievement all round.
Team Ireland Full Squad
Team Manager Brenton Sweeney commended the team’s performance:
“I’d like to thank every member of the team for their efforts this championships and to everyone who supported us out in Belgium. To the NCFFI and our sponsors and everyone at home who supported our fundraising and for their kind messages of support during the last week”.
Chair of the NCFFI, Jack Tisdall added:
“This is a massive moment for Ireland as the team led by Brenton achieve their first individual medal in this discipline having won Silver as a team in 2014. Particularly poignant is the opportunity for our youths reaching the world stage representing the efforts of the federation over the years. Congratulations to all”.
Michael celebrates with Team Manager Brenton
The NCFFI is the only representative body affiliated to Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Eau Douce, FIPSed for coarse and predator angling. All its members can apply to fish as the non-funded body raises funds to support representation at this level. Travel to the championships was made possible this year with groundbait sponsorship from Van Den Eynde groundbaits and funding from Jason Martin Kitchens and Draper Tools.
