The three-day 2008 Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival got off to a flying start on Monday with 257 anglers occupying fishing stands, islands and stretches of shoreline covering the length and breadth of Lough Erne.

A spokesman said the recent warmer weather 'seems to have encouraged the fish to feed'. As a result, excellent catches were recorded on many of the traditional sections that have been used over the 33 years of the competition.

The top weight from Monday's competition of 37kg 420gms was caught on the Trory section by Bedworth angler, Keith Winn, who also netted £500 for his efforts. Second was Classic regular, Gus Greaves with 37kg 270gms caught from peg 10 at the Ely Lodge section.

In third spot was Simon Young from Doncaster, a previous winner of this event. He netted 34kg 940gms from the Boa Island section. Completing the top four was Nottingham angler, Wayne Truman, who landed 34kg 600gms from the productive Ely Lodge section.

All catches are returned to the lake.

The Classic proper resumed this morning (Wednesday).

However, the action continued yesterday with the first day of the King of the Erne event.

The weather is predicted to turn colder, leaving the outcome of the Classic match wide open. "Every angler will line up at the draw box on Wednesday in the hope that he can reel in the top prize of £5,000 and a Crystal Chalice', said the spokesman, " or some of the many other cash prizes and trophies on offer".

The Classic is sponsored for the sixth year by Waterways Ireland and is organised by Fermanagh District Council in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.