Trout of this world

A patient postman has spent decades perfecting his fly-fishing technique to put himself in first ‘plaice’.

Geoff Hylands recently demonstrated he is the reel deal after hooking himself a world angling title, landing top prize in the World Cup Trout Fly Angling Championship after decades of trying.

The 61-year-old from Banbridge, Northern Ireland, was elated to win the contest in Mayo, Ireland, after competing against 500 other anglers.

‘I’ve been fly-fishing since I was four years old and trying to win this particular competition for 25 or 30 years,’ he said. ‘Everything fell into place for me this time and it was absolutely brilliant. To come away with the cup was something else.’

Geoff spent the best part of three days in a small boat on a lake, successfully negotiating a practise day and a heat before his triumph in the seven-hour final.

‘It wasn’t a good weekend for fishing because of the weather, so when I caught four fish I knew I was well up in the prizes,’ he said.

Sure enough, Geoff’s haul of 4.86lb was enough to net him the trophy and the €7,000 prize money – by just 3oz.

‘I brought the cup into the office the next day and my colleagues were all tickled pink,’ he added.