THERE isn’t a spare place to be had in the Autumn Grand Slam – the first in a series of three match fishing competitions taking place in Fermanagh with a combined prize fund of £35,000.

The September Fishing Festivals have succeeded in bringing English anglers flooding back with the lure of some generous cash prizes. But as John O’Neill, Chairman of the Lakeland Hotels Association, explains, without the cash the angling tourists would be looking to book their holidays south of the Border, where the facilities are much better.

Mr. O’Neill welcomed the recent announcement that £3.5 million is to be spent on developing angling facilities on this side of the Border. He wants it targeted on opening up small lakes and stocking them with fish to provide sport when the going on the Erne gets tough.