Elite fly fishing competition on Lough Lene this weekend

Ireland's finest fly fishermen will be descending on Lough Lene on Sunday for a prestigious competition sponsored by Airflo.

The ten teams including a team from the Mullingar area as well as a team from the local club, the Lough Lene Anglers Association, will be competing against each other to finish in the top five and qualify for the next round of the competition in England.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, the chairman of the Lough Lene Anglers Association Tommy Fagan said that it is the first time that Airflo have held a competition in Westmeath.

He also said that visiting fishermen are constantly impressed by the quality of the water and fish in the lake.

“It's a very clean lake. Anyone who comes here for the first time asks how we have kept it hidden for long, it's that good,” he said.

In late July, Lough Lene will play host an international youth fly fishing competition with teams from Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland.