DTAA wishes member Paul Delaney and the other Irish team members the very best of luck for the International this Thursday in Wales. Tight lines lads.
McCarron Cup 2022 results
The 2022 McCarron cup returned to Lough Owel after a 2 year hiatus due to the global pandemic which now seems, thankfully and hopefully, like a distant memory. This is the final of 6 DTAA competitions in the angling calendar and is much anticipated by all who take part. We had 24 anglers out on Saturday 24th September and one juvenile, JP.
Conditions were excellent. A light breeze which stiffened up later in the afternoon made casting a little easier for those of us who were stripping wets all day. Light ripples in the sheltered areas around the neck and Brabazon’s gave way to bigger waves as you moved out into the open lake and even white tops later in the afternoon down past Dolan’s and into Srudarra.
16 of the 24 competitors weighed in 23 fish that measured with more returned to the lake.
This years winner was Fran Nugent who was heard saying as he pulled up his boat before the weigh in that 2 fish for four and a half pound or five would do it! Fran’s two fish weighed 5.11 lbs and that was more than enough to win the day safely ahead of Irish International Eoin Dunne who weighed in his two fish for 4.72 lbs. Third place went to DTAA competition secretary Tom Hipwell who has done well enough over the season to be crowned DTAA Angler of the Year 2022, congrats Tom, well deserved.
Full results are in the table below.
Thanks to Tom and the team for organising this season’s competitions and for all those anglers who took part. Ireland Cap and DTAA member Paul ‘Diller’ Delaney was unable to join us for the McCarron because he had already left for Wales to represent Ireland later this week. We all wish Paul and Ireland the best of luck: Tight Lines Lads!
Leaderboard 2022
McCarron Cup 2022
As we head into the final competition of the DTAA calendar, it is clear that this event is much bigger than any single competition. It is all to play for among the top three: Competition secretary, angler extraordinaire and fly tying master Tom ‘Hipster’ Hipwell is in pole position on 39 points. Snapping at Hipwell’s heels we have Irish cap John ‘Top Rod’ O’Neill on 36 points. With just 3 points in it, John would need a 4 point edge on Hipwell at the McCarron Cup this Saturday to take the coveted DTAA Angler of the Year Trophy and the eternal respect of all members.
In 3rd place on the Leaderboard and just 3 points behind O’Neill we have DTAA President, also capped for Ireland, Gerry ‘Gentleman’ Heaslip. Gerry is known for coming back from a day’s fishing on Owel with 10 or more fish and he might need that form this weekend to beat both O’Neill and Hipwell into top spot. The route to victory is challenging but doable. If Heaslip can muster a 7 point edge on Hipwell then he takes the cup. This could happen in a number of ways. Heaslip could take top spot and Hipwell could blank or come 8th or worse on the day and with 24 anglers expected to field this Saturday this is a possibility. But Heaslip would also need O’Neill to place 5th or worse. The odds are against this and the bookies favourite for the McCarron and for DTAA Angler of the Year must be Tom.
Wishing all anglers a safe, productive and enjoyable day out this weekend. Tight lines all.
Ryder Cup 2022 report
Congratulations to Gerry Heaslip for winning the Ryder Cup today on Bohernabreena Resevoirs. It was tough fishing conditions with 5 anglers catching fish. Tom Hipwell was 2nd and John O‘Neill was 3rd.
All to play for heading to the last competition of the year the McCarron cup in 24th September.
Ryder Cup 2022
DTAA success at the Interprovincials
Huge congratulations to Paul Delaney for qualifying for the Irish team at yesterdays Interprovincials. And to Justin Clarke for making reserves.
Leinster won on the day congratulations to all.
Elvery Cup 2022
Great day today for the Elvery Cup fished on Lough Lene by an eager 28 members. Super conditions but the fish were hard got even though there were plenty showing and brought up.
Gerry Heaslip took top spot with a fish of 3.2 lbs, 2nd – Tom Hipwell 3.13 lbs , 3rd John O’Neill 3.07 lbs. Jim Keeshin took the special weight prize 2.2 lbs.
It was very close in the end with the top 4 only separated by only 3 ounces! The scales never lie!
As always thanks to Tommy Fagan and Lough Lene Anglers for all their help in hosting and to the DTAA competition committee for a well run event.
Full results are here: and the Angler of the Year leaderboard is here
John’s Welshman’s Button
Grateful to John O’Neill for this excellent tying of the classic sedge pattern: The Welshman’s Button
The Welshman’s Button is a sedge that hatches from morning till dusk, mid May right through the summer with small hatches in early August and even as late as September on lough Mask. Lough Ennell, Sheelin, Ree and Conn all get good hatches right through the summer and is normally at full strength to the end of July. A great fly to use on lough Ennell when the Mayfly overlaps with the Welshman’s Button.
Note, on the first image, the underside is clipped for better presentation. Hook kamasan B170 12 or 14. Thread sheer brown 14/0. Body- Orvis spectrablend nymph dubbing olive brown. Body sides – lureflash lime or similar. Wing – deer hair dyed chocolate brown. Hackle – chocolate brown.
Donal’s picks for Conn
DTAA member and expert fly tier, Donal Raftery presents his two picks. These are Donal’s go-to flies when fishing the magnificent Lough Conn at Mayfly time and he’d have these on his cast on any lough when the hatch is on. Big thanks to Donal. Please feel free to like and share….
On the left Deer Hair Golden Olive Bumble:
Tail: golden pheasant crest.
Tag: red floss.
Body: yellow seals fur
Rib: gold wire
Body Hackle: golden olive cock hackle
Legs: orange pheasant tail knotted
Head Hackle: blue cock cape
Head: golden olive deerhair
The second fly is the Cathal Rush Wet Mayfly
Tail: yellow pheasant tail.
Body: white floss.
Rib: red floss.
Body hackle: white cock hackle
Head Hackle: hot orange cock hackle under yellow French partridge
