Geoffrey catches the big one in Trout Fly Angling World Cup

The winner of the World Cup Trout Fly Angling Championship was Geoffrey Hylands from Banbridge, Co Down. He is pictured with the World Cup and receiving his prizes of €3,000 and a 15HP Yamaha Engine from, Committee Chairman Billy Burke and Tom Staunton of RS, Marine, Westport, sponsor.

Anton McNulty

Close to 500 anglers took to the Lough Mask waters over the August Bank Holiday weekend to compete in the annual World Cup Trout Fly Angling Championship.
The premier angling competition in the region attracted anglers from every corner of Ireland, the UK, and from the continent, with 470 signing-up to try to take home the prestigious trophy.
The weather conditions on the lake were favourable for the majority of the five day competition but despite this fishing was described as ‘extremely tough’. The final took place  on Lough Mask on Bank Holiday Monday and after a long battle, Geoffrey Hylands from Banbridge, was presented with the World Cup.
The Co Down man weighed in with four fish for 4.861lbs, just ahead of Ballina man, Seamus Kelly with two fish for 4.582 lbs. Colin Cahill from Killucan, Co Westmeath was in third position with two fish for 2.716 lbs.
As well as heading back up north with the World Cup, Mr Hylands also received a cheque for €3,000 and a 15HP Yamaha engine from sponsor RS Marine in Westport.
The World Cup Fly Fishing competition is held on Lough Mask every year and is one of the most prestigious competitions on the fishing calendar.
The competition began on Thursday with heats taking place every day until Sunday, with  one quarter of the competitors from each heat advancing to Monday’s final.
During the five days of fishing, many anglers fished across deep water in fresh westerly winds in the hopes of running into a shoal of hungry daphnia feeding trout, but unfortunately this was easier said than done.
In the other competition categories, Mary Miller from Galway was named the best lady angler with two fish for 2.106lbs; fellow Galwegian Darragh Faherty from Renvyle was the best junior with two fish for 2.162lbs and this year’s winning boatman was Larry Gibb from Co Antrim.
The first World Cup Trout Fly Fishing Competition was organised by Castlebar and District Trout Angler’s Association, and took place over Easter 1953. The venue chosen was Cushlough Bay, Lough Mask close to Ballinrobe town, and has remained so to the present day.