REELING  IN  THE YEAR... 

Yes 2006 is just about finished, but before it drifts into 2007 we have some super pike competitions coming up. Also this week we glance back at some of the angling highlights of the 2006 season.

PIKE COMPETITIONS....

Over the past few weekends Ennell and Lene pike competitions had to be cancelled due to the gale force winds. Over the Christmas holidays some of these events will be re-run, and hopefully the weather gods will be on our side. On Saturday 30th December Lough Lene will hold their Hamper pike competition. This popular competitions always draws a large turnout of anglers and I am sure this year will be no different. Fishing will be 11am-4pm start and finish at Fagan's Point. On Sunday 31st December Lough Glore anglers are holding an open pike competition, fishing is from 10-30am -3pm. €10.00  entry fee, winner takes all on the day. On Wednesday December 27th the Lough Derravaragh Monster pike competition will be fished. This is a biggie with some very large cash prizes up for grabs on the day. The heaviest pike caught will net the lucky angler €1,000. Certainly a great way to start the new year celebrations. Lough Ennell anglers are holding off the Christmas pike competition till Sunday January 14th. Unfortunately this fixture lost out to the unsettled weather in recent weeks, but hopefully come early mid January we will have more favourable fishing conditions. It's a great day out and as a rule some super pike are caught. More on this in the new year.

FINALLY...

Here we are signing off for the year 2006. I would like to thank all you fellow anglers who sent photos and some great angling news items during the year. This is your page so anytime you have some fishy news just give us a shout. I would like to thank Dick Hogan "Editor" Westmeath topic, and Tommy Kiernan and all the staff of Westmeath Topic who over the year has really given us anglers a great lift. Adding the colour to Angling Focus really did justice to you anglers and your fine catches and rightly so as you are a very colourful bunch. Also a word of thanks to you non anglers who seem to regularly cast an eye over our Angling reports and pics. Some of our photos over the year were real eye openers and a lot of locals had no idea we have such super fishing on our doorstep. Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year and tight lines for 2007.