The Fermanagh 48th Classic Fishing Festival 2025

The 2025 Classic Fishing Festival culminated in a thrilling finale on Friday 9 May on the picturesque shores of the Fermanagh Lakelands. Mark Silman, from Doncaster, demonstrated an extraordinary display of skill, reeling in the heaviest weight of 41.610kg over the three-day event, netting the winner’s cheque of £5,000 and the coveted Belleek Trophy.

Local man from Lisnaskea, Jordan Hall, secured a remarkable second place, harnessing his angling prowess to reel in an impressive 37.750kg followed by Shaun Bilsbury, from Glazebury (England), with 36.300kg while fourth spot went to Steve Hemingray, from Great Glen (England) with 31.210kg.

With so many visiting anglers, the festival includes an International Winner category. This year’s winner was Thorsten Beil from Germany , taking the prize with 22.100kg.

The four-man team, Sensas Starlets unleashed an unstoppable display of unity and skill, reeling in the hotly contested Masters Team event with 88.300kg.

Presenting the prizes at the farewell gala and prize giving ceremony in the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel and Lodges on Friday night, Councillor John McClaughry, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, congratulated all the winners saying:

“The Classic Fishing Festival, now in its 48th year, is one of the Council’s longest established events in Fermanagh. We have been delighted to welcome our local and visiting anglers to the area this past week and I have no doubt they have enjoyed the best of our local hospitality.

The event is hugely important to the area in terms of direct spend and we thank all our anglers for contributing to that, but it is also an opportunity for us to showcase the area on a national and international platform.”

The long-continued success of the Classic is due to the partnership approach between Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, DAERA Inland Fisheries and the local community through Erne Anglers, making the Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival one of the most anticipated premier showcase events of the match coarse fishing season calendar. This year, once again, saw the addition of Tackle Guru as main supporter of the event. Tackle Guru have been able to raise the profile of the festival which helped increase numbers and saw a total of 184 entrants from across Northern Ireland as well as the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain, and Germany. Enniskillen BID have also been a pivotal partner in bringing the festival atmosphere back to Enniskillen town by facilitating evening entertainment during the week of the festival in four local hostelries, who provided competitors with offers and entertainment over four evenings.

George Bradshaw, Tourism Development Manager for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said:

“We are spoiled in the Fermanagh and Omagh District to have such stunning natural heritage, and the quality of the Fermanagh Lakelands is what continues to draw so many international visitors to the area. We were delighted to see the return of so many visiting anglers whilst also welcoming over 30 first time competitors.”

For information on the 2025 results, click here.