Special Offers
Angling
Contact: The Tourist Information Office, The Old Barrel Store, Carrick-on-Shannon.
Tel: +353 (0)71 9620170
Fax: +353 (0)71 9620089
Contact: Northern Regional Fisheries Board, Corlesmore, Ballinagh, County Cavan
Tel: +353 (0)49 4337174
Fax: +353 (0)49 4337193
Contact: Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, Thomond Weir, Limerick
Tel: +353 (0)61 455171
Fax: +353 (0)61 326533
WWW: www.shannon-fishery-board.ie
Contact: North West Regional Fisheries Board, Ardnaree House, Ballina
Tel: +353 (0)96 22788
Fax: +353 (0)96 70543
The main angling centres are as follows:
Ballinamore
This very well developed coarse angling centre has hosted numerous All-Ireland Championships. Ballinamore is situated on the Shannon Erne Waterway amongst the hills of East Leitrim with 28 lakes within a 5 mile radius, plus some 17km of riverbank. Bream and Roach are the speciality catch in this area - Bream averaging 2.5lbs, going up to 7lb specimens. Roach run at 8 - 10 ounces, going up to 1.5lbs. Lake Bolganard a short distance from the town produced the current Irish record Bream weighing 12lbs. 3ozs in 1997. This water is one of a chain of lakes the others being Corgar Lake and Drumlonan Lake both of which contain Tench to specimen size. Garadice Lake, 1200 acres in size, is one of Ireland's premier waters with big shoals of Bream. It also holds Roach, Hybrids, Rudd, Perch and Pike. Kiltybardon Lake and St John's Lake hold Bream of 1 - 2lbs with Roach and Hybrids also. Other waters include Ardameean, Corduff and Willowfield Lakes and Lough Awaddy. Access to the waters has been well developed with fishing stands, stiles, lakeshore drives and car parks well provided. Bait stockists and boats are available locally.
Carrick-on-Shannon
Carrick-on-Shannon, the county town of Leitrim, stands astride the great River Shannon from where 41 lakes are within a 6-mile radius. The Shannon has Bream, Rudd, Roach, Tench, Perch and Pike and is an ideal centre for the visiting angler with good fishing, entertainment, forest walks and boating readily available. On the Shannon, mixed bags of large Bream, Roach and Hybrids can be caught at Battlebridge, Hartley, Jamestown and not to forget downtown Carrick-on-Shannon itself. Lough Aduff, Tully and Headford are noted for large Tench up to 7lbs. Lough Bran and Bog Lake boast big shoals of Bream. Most lakes are well developed with stands, footbridges, access stiles etc. - some have car parks. Boats, live bait, fishing tackle and specialised fishing maps, and a vast fund of local fishing knowledge and expertise are readily available throughout the town.
Carrigallen
Carrigallen is set among lakes that form part of the great Erne system and here the angler is ideally positioned to explore some of the richest waters of the region that spread out across three counties yet within a 3-mile radius. In fact there are no less than 14 first class waters within this 3-mile radius. The Town lake which is easily accessible, holds Bream, Roach, Rudd Tench, Pike, Perch, and Eels while Gangin Lake, 500 yards away is noted for the size of its Bream. Rudd/Bream Hybrids are a feature in the twin lakes of Tully and Beaghmore, reaching up to 5lbs in weight. Cullies, Tully and Gulladoo lakes yield significant catches of Bream and Roach. Bait and boats are available
Cloone
The Cloone area has a number of good waters such as Adoon, Keeldra and Kiltyfea lakes. Lake Adoon has Bream, Perch, Pike and Roach. Keeldra and Kiltyfea lakes both contain Pike and Perch and Kiltyfea also has Bream, Rudd and Hybrids.
Drumshanbo
Drumshanbo is situated at Lough Allen, the first of the River Shannon's great lakes. Lough Allen, one of Ireland's premier Pike waters, provides great variety for the angler with plenty of bays, shallows and deep stretches, a few islands and a pier. It holds good stocks of Bream, Roach and Hybrids. A number of areas, such as Holly Island and Corlough which are close to Drumshanbo, have been developed with access roadways, car parks and improved bank access. There are 10 other lakes within a 6km radius of the town - lakes such as Lustia, Drumkeelan and Drumboylan. Drumgorman Lake, which contains Bream, Roach and Hybrid, has recently been developed with 15 single fishing stands and a carpark. Acres Lake has good Hybrids, Roach, Rudd and Bream and the Lough Allen Canal has Roach, Hybrids and Bream. Pike of up to 20lbs have been taken from the river near the town and in excess of 30lbs from Lough Allen. Bream, Perch, Rudd, Tench and Hybrids are also present. Sizeable Trout have also been taken occasionally by Pike anglers as well as game fishermen
Dromahaire
The Glebe Stretch on the River Bonet, which is situated about 2 miles from Dromahaire village on the Manorhamilton road, is available for public angling. There is good access to the river with steps and footbridges where needed and a public car park. Pike fishing is available on Lake Corrigeencor which again is easily accessible with a concrete pier and wooden jetties. Day Angling Permits, Salmon licences and fishing tackle can all be purchased locally.
Glenfarne
Upper Lough MacNean is an excellent coarse fishing lake. The lake contains Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Pike, Perch and Eels. A small stock of Brown Trout is also present. There is little or no walking involved and the water at Glenfarne Forest can be fished almost out of the car. The lake is really consistent and has a reputation for fishing well in flood. Recent improvements (carried out by local voluntary effort) including a fishing stand adapted to the needs of disabled anglers make this an ideal venture for anglers with limited mobility.
Keshcarrigan
Keshcarrigan is another fine angling centre with a good selection of waters. Lough Scur is a large water which gives access to the Erne ststem since the restoration of the Shannon Erne Waterway. It contains Bream, Roach, Hybrids and Perch. Carrickport lake boasts Bream of 3 -4lbs and good Roach and Hybrids. Beside the village, Kesh Lake also has Bream to 4lbs plus Roach, Perch and Hybrids. Drumlaheen Lake contains Roach and specimen Bream. Castlefore Lake is also good for Roach and Bream to 4lbs. Fishing is also possible on the Shannon Erne Waterway.
Lough Melvin
Lough Melvin is the most important Salmon and Trout Fishery in the North west of Ireland. Spanning 8 miles long and 2miles wide, it straddles the border with Northern Ireland, but the major portion of the lake is in County Leitrim. Salmon and Sea Trout fishing is done between 1st February and 30th September, while Brown Trout are taken between 15th February and 30th September. Spring fish are taken on the fly in the Rossinver bay area from late March and April. The Grilse run begins in June and fish are taken all over the Lough from Kinlough to Rossinver.
Lough Melvin boasts four species of Trout - Brown Trout, Ferox, Gilleroo and Sonaghan. The Lough also holds Salmon, Char and Perch but it is the Trout that are of primary interest to most anglers. There is good public access to the Lough with piers at Kinlough, Breffni and Dernaseer. Salmon season opens on 1st January on the Drowse River and the 1st May on the River Duff. Glenade Lake is an excellent coarse fishing lake with its Char and Perch. Fishing permits, boat hire, ghillies, tackle and bait supply and sea angling trips are all available locally.
The Drowse Fishery
Lareen Park Kinlough Co Leitrim
Tel: +353 (0)72 41055
The Rossinver Fishery
Eden Point Rossinver Co Leitrim
Tel: +353 (0)72 540229
Mohill
Mohill is a lively market town just east of the river Shannon with a selection of excellent waters and an ideal location for the holidaying angler, between the Shannon and Erne systems. The most notable lakes in the area are Lough Rynn, with its house and gardens along the east shore, Creenagh lake, Lough MacHugh, Cloonboniagh Lake and Lough Erril. These lakes are well developed and easily accessible and have recorded catches of Tench up to 6lbs with Bream averaging 3lbs and plentiful Pike. Cloonfinan, Cloonboniagh and Creenagh in particular have some very large Pike. All waters are well-sign-posted and fishing stands are provided where it is not possible to fish from the shore. Expert angling advice and boats are available in the locality.
Manorhamilton
Drumcliff River, Glencar Lake and 9 miles of the Bonet River are the most popular waters here. Access to the rivers and lake is good. The river and lake enjoy reasonable runs of Salmon and Sea Trout with the Salmon season commencing on 1st February. Fishing is most productive, however, from April onwards and the best months for Sea Trout are July, August and September. Fishing on these waters is controlled by the Sligo & Manorhamilton Angling Associations and permits can be obtained locally. There are boats available for use of visiting anglers on Glencar Lake.
Rooskey and Dromod
Rooskey and Dromod are on the River Shannon and have been well known angling and boating centres for 25 years. The River Shannon and its tributaries, the Rinn and Eslin rivers, together with Pigeon Island Bay, Bog, Gortinty, Cloonboniagh and Rynn lakes are the most popular waters in the locality. The main species to be caught are Bream, Roach, Pike, Perch, Rudd, Eels and Tench as well as Brown Trout. Lough Boderg, over 3000 acres, is one of Ireland's most famous Pike waters and Bream, Hybrids, Rudd, Roach and Perch are also present. Expert advice, boats and bait are available locally.
