A super two day festival fished on the lesser known waters of County Monaghan.  Known more for it's Pike angling the area has been overlooked in recent years by the coarse angler but is now regaining its popularity. There are numerous lakes on the Dromore system for the pleasure angler and plenty of clear shorelines suitable for match fishing.  

The 40th Anniversary Waterways Ireland Classic ended with another exciting finish. Stuart Northrop from St Neots, Cambs emerged victorious with a total catch over the three days of 44kgs 60gms.  His 27kgs 960gms catch from the productive Portora section on the final day clinched him the Classic title for 2015, along with a cheque for £5,000 and the coveted Crystal Chalice.

232 anglers took part in this years 40th Anniversary event with the majority travelling from overseas and staying in County Fermanagh.  The full competition results can be downloaded here

In second place overall was German angler Rudiger Hansen, whose consistent day one and three catches boosted his total to 37kgs 690gms and earned him £2,000 and a Crystal Trophy.  In third place overall was Norman Thewlis from Middlestown, with a total of 36kgs 580gms, which netted him £1,500 and a Crystal Trophy.

In fourth overall was Frank Smith from Omagh with 35kgs 440gms, Thorsten Beil from Germany was fifth with 35kgs 430gms and local angler Phil McCaffrey from Lisbellaw completed the leader board in sixth place with 35kgs 170gms.

The weather throughout Classic week has been ‘Classic Fermanagh’, ranging from gale force winds to bright sunshine and from chilly mornings to balmy evenings.  The catches improved along with the weather as the week progressed and some very good weights were recorded, from Boa Island on Lower Lough Erne to Corradillar on the upper lake.

The Classic is probably Europes' most prestigious individual title to win along with a very nice cash purse.  It's all about the luck of the draw over the three days of the festival but it's the local hospitality and the fun of Classic Week that keeps the anglers coming back year after year.  Ask Ron Williams from Barnet, London and the only angler who has taken part in very one of the 40 competitions and he will be back next year.  Well done Ron!

The Classic has long been the favourite of many angling faces including current and former World Champions who turn out year after year for that chance of the title.  Running inside the match is the Teams event and this year it was Team Van den Eynde's turn to show off their combined skills and take first place.  L-R Bob Nudd MBE, Gary Whalley, Richard Turner DCAL Inland fisheries, Baz Smith, Kevin Ashurst.  Yes, there is a fancy dress tradition at the Gala Presentation to end the week.

We are already taking bookings for next years event and will be releasing details of some new accommodation in County Fermanagh shortly.  Please get in touch for more information.

It's finally here the 40th Anniversary of Europe's premier angling festival the Waterways Classic.  Previously known as the P & O Ferries, Sealink, Dunhill and Guinness Classic as many of the old faces here in Enniskillen will remember.

232 anglers checked in for the draw this morning at the Lakeland Forum to find a variety of venues old and new.  Much effort has been put into searching for new locations on the Erne and this years event introduces some island fishing along with the re-introduction of a few venues.  

It was a hard day's fishing due to the near hurricane conditions on the Erne.  Newbridges was the venue for the top weight of today awarded to Phil Bardell of Milton Keynes with his 16.110kg.

Kevin Locke, former DELCAC team member and UK National winner has won the 2015 Mahon's Angling Festival held on the Erne in Co. Fermanagh.  Kevin knows all there is to know about fishing in Ireland having fished the entire circuit in previous years and won many Erne Festivals along with matches in Inniscarra and Clones. This knowledge gave him the inspiration for the Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Festival which showcases some of the best angling there is on offer in the Lakelands region and has put angling in Ireland back on the map. See www.worldpairsangling.com.  This week he is taking the time to participate in the festivals around making arrangements for the championships this September.

Kevin said:- It's a great honour to win the Mahon's Festival, originally created by Mal Scott and now run by his son Roddy. It has been a challenging week with the Erne the highest I have ever seen it at this time of year making the fishing tougher than normal. It was especially tough at the start of the week with the rain and a cold easterly wind but it got warmer and the fishing gradually improved.  I was hoping for that good draw on the last day to stay in the top ten and I was lucky! But this is fishing in Fermanagh, it's all about a having a great weeks fishing in good company and enjoying the craic!  So to next weeks Waterways Classic - it's going to be hard.

Kevns week:
Day One - Cornagrade.  A brilliant day's fishing and 6 roach for 2.950kg.
Day Two - Derrycharra. A nice day fishing the tip for 3 bream and some bits giving me second place on the day with 11.450kg.
Day Three - Ely Lodge.  I drew peg 23 over the hill but with the best bit of kit I ever bought in Ireland, a 4 wheel barrow it was much easier. The fishing wasn't great at 1.250kg.
Day Four - Portora.  Peg 17 for 7.770kg of roach fishing the pole at 13m.
Day Five - Airport. Peg 5 I could not have hoped for a better draw.  I fished with red worm and maggot for 13 bream and bits for 32.440kg and the match!

With 82 anglers competing the festival paid out to the top nine as follows;

Kevin Locke, England 55.790 
Rudiger Hansen, Germany 45.950
Andy Leathers, England 44.780
Rod Scott, England 43.850
Andy Hampson, England 41.900
Gary Drew, Northern Ireland 38.160
Graham Ault, England 36.820 
Paul Boothby, England 31.300
Kevin Rowles, England 29.730

Joe Mahon of Mahon's Hotel, Irvinestown and the host for the Grand Presentation presents to the winners.  Mahon's has a long history with the anglers with Joe playing the perfect host, night & day!

A dry day today and the water is warming up.  No change at the top but a fantastic 24.100kg weight from Airport today puts German Rudiger Hansen into 2nd place.

The Top Five;

1st Rod Scott 37.400kg
2nd Rudiger Hansen 36.550kg
3rd Gary Drew 35.160kg
4th Andy Hampson 34.000kg
5th Graham Ault 28.370kg

A warmer drier day today with Ely performing for Rod Scott and Gary Drew pushing them up the leader board.  

Top 5 Results:
Rod Scott 35.650kg
Andy Hampson 30.300kg
Gary Drew 28.160kg
Paul Boothby 26.950kg
Graham Ault 26.220kg

Here are the overall results @ Day Three

82 anglers are persevering with the horrific weather conditions and high waters of Lough Erne this week fishing for those quality roach and bream these waters are renowned for.  

Sections being fished are;

Round 'O'/Protora & Brown's Field
Ely Lodge
Cornagrade
Boa Island/Lay-by/Airport
Sligo Road/Derrycharra

Here are the results @ Day Two

Mahon's Hotel hosted a group of 35 anglers for the first full week of competitive angling on the Erne. The group who annually stay at the hotel, many taking the opportunity to fish ahead of the Waterways Classic 11-15 May had the weather against them.  An easterly wind, rain and hail battered them on the banks but there were some good catches of roach and hybrids with some bream and perch with Ely Lodge performing.  Kevin Ashurst led the way all week but on the final day Ely threw up weights of 28-30kg and Andy Insley took the match.



1st  Andy Insley 66.500kg

2nd Keith Smith 66.000kg

3rd Kevin Ashurst 58.150kg

4th Frank Slater 48.200kg

5th Tony Green 47.250kg

Next up is the Mahon's Festival commencing Monday 4th of May.