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!