Fisherman Ron Williams from North London has been travelling to Fermanagh for the past 41 years to compete in the Fermanagh Fishing Classic RMG22
English fisherman Ron William will keep coming back to the shores of the Erne for as long as he can.
The 84 year old angler from Finchley in north London has fished every Fermanagh Classic – amazingly this year was his 41st.
Now back home in Finchley after a long drive, he said he enjoyed last week’s competition very much.
“The fishing improved as the week went on with the warmer weather. Under these conditions and gin clear water, the Erne wasn’t fishing well, but we anglers always have an excuse!”
Ron’s general thought was that the fishing catches were down during the competition.
“There were certainly no records broken. It has been quite a cold spring and that has held everything back,” he explained.
“Even with that it’s always a wonderful experience here – the people, the company and everything. It’s great to see friends that you may not have seen for 12 months. I totally enjoy myself every year despite not winning. That would be a real bonus, but it’s all about the company.”
Ron’s favourite spot to cast is around Portora where he says generally there is better fishing and he’ll definitely be back for the Classic next spring he says.
The Londoner stays in Mahon’s Hotel in Irvinestown every year and says he is treated as part of the family there.
Eddie McGovern was delighted to see a young local win the competition.
“The club here is bringing young anglers on now and the benefits showed during Classic week,” he said, admitting that the weather wasn’t conducive to good fishing.
“It was quite unpredictable this year with decent catches being taken at different pegs, Boa Island doing well on the final day while earlier in the week it was the area around Portora.”
“There is certainly an element of luck but when you are drawn a good peg then you have to make the most of it,” he stressed.
Young Lisnaskea angler Jordan Hall hooked the top prize on his debut in the competition.
It was the first time the 20 year old fisherman had taken part in the prestigious competition.
He has been a junior angler with the local club which in recent years has encouraged more and more young people to take up the sport.
“In his first Classic competition the young lad turns round and wins it. It was just fantastic,” said Eddie McGovern.
Fourth place went to another Fermanagh angler Willie Wheeler from Lisnaskea, who won the title himself back in 2001.
“It was great to get fourth place, but the finishing in general wasn’t as good. But I’m not complaining. The brilliant sunshine didn’t help with the rivers being so clear, especially for the coarse fish. I think the fish are getting bigger but there aren’t as many, especially bream.
“Despite that a lot of the competitors come here anyway. It’s always the Classic and many of them treat it as a holiday,” said Willie.
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