Lough Arrow Angling Guide Detailed and up-to-date map Angling information Tourist information FISHING ON LOUGH ARROW THE DUCKFLY hatch begins in early May and ends in June. The rises of trout occur. The rise is characterised The Duckfly, a species of chironomid or buzzer, Hatch is prolific and it comes up all over the by tiny sipping noises which suggest small is the first fly species to hatch. The hatch usually lough. The trout respond well to wetfly tactics fish feeding, but make no mistake good trout begins in mid-April and lasts for about three for about a week and thereafter only on wet, will feed enthusiastically on these tiny flies. weeks. The most prolific hatches occur in the windy days. Useful patterns include the Lough However, they are extremely difficult to catch evenings from about 7.30p.m. but, occasionally, Arrow Mayfly, Goulden’s Favourite and various at this time and Grey Dusters and poly-wing if weather conditions are favorable, they will other Mayfly patterns, Golden Olive Bumble, Caenis imitations (size 18-20), fished on a very hatch during the day. Angling tactics during Green Peter, Yellow Gosling, Grey Gosling and fine leader, offer the best chance. the duckfly period depend on the prevailing Invicta. SedGE FishiNG weather conditions. In windy weather, with a After the first week, the real quality, dry fly Lough Arrow offers excellent sedge fishing on wave on the water, wetfly tactics work best. fishing begins. Trout will still take the newly suitable evenings throughout the months of high The most favoured patterns are Claret Bumble, hatched duns during the day and favourite summer but the climax of this period occurs Fiery Brown, Sooty Olive, Connemara Black, patterns are the Yellow Wulff, Fan Wing Mayfly around the last two weeks of July when the Peter Ross, Silver Invicta, Red Arrow and and Mosely Mayfly. Butcher (sizes 10, 12). In calmer conditions, Green Peters emerge. This lough is one of the small pupae (size 12) are the preferred method. The Spent Gnat fishing occurs all over the lake, few Irish lakes which still offer quality ‘Peter’ These should be fished on a long leader with depending on the weather conditions, especially fishing. For the first few evenings, Peters begin fairly fine monofilament. wind direction. On a dull day, trout begin to emerge around 10.30p.m. but the hatch feeding from noon and on a bright day from starts earlier as the season progresses so that, The principal duckfly areas are Brickeen Bay, about 5.00p.m. The rise normally ends about by the end of July, fishing could begin as early Laundry Bay, Rinn Bán Bay, Ballinafad Bay, 9.00p.m. During the day, spent patterns are as 9 p.m. The principal areas are Ballantyne’s Andresna Bay, Lough Brick Bay, the back of often fished ‘on the blind’ but, on calm evenings, Bay, Ballinafad Bay, Laundry Bay, Rinn Bán Annaghloy, Ballindoon Bay and the mouth of the the really large trout will come up to feed and Bay, The Flags of Aughanagh, Andresna Bay, outflowing River Unshin. these are most often caught when stalked and Annaghloy Point, Lough Brick, Ballindoon Bay, When the fly is not hatching, anglers normally covered as they take the natural, spent fly. the Mouth of the River Unshin and the eastern fish these areas, if conditions are favorable, Many anglers regard this as the cream of trout side of Gildea’s Island. Dry fly tactics are mainly using some of the wetflies mentioned above. fishing in Ireland. Favourite Spent Gnat patterns practiced. include Grey Wulff, Red Humpy, Spent Gnat, In early August, with a good wind and a LAKE OLIVES Copydex Spent and all kinds of variations on the big wave, wetfly fishing can be productive, spent gnat theme. The lough has an enormous hatch of Lake particularly in the afternoons and evenings. Olives in the first two weeks of May. The BUZZER FishiNG hatch occurs in ‘bog’ bays over weed and the Useful wetfly patterns include Magenta Bumble, notable areas are Kelly’s Angle, Ballantyne’s Coinciding with the Mayfly fishing is the evening Claret Bumble, various Murroughs and Green Bay, Ballindoon Bay, the Mouth of the River Buzzer (Chironomid spp.) fishing. It begins Peters, Fiery Brown, Silver Invicta, Connemara Unshin, Brickeen Bay, The Thumbs, Laundry about 10.00p.m. and goes on until well after Black, Watson’s Fancy and Peter Ross. Bay, Rinn Bán Bay, Drumboe Bay and Andresna midnight, except on very dark nights. It occurs Alternatively, ‘fishing the top’ with hoppers can Bay. The rise during the olive hatches can be in the same areas as mentioned for the Duckfly. produce a fish, in suitable conditions (low wind somewhat sporadic. The preferred tactic at this The same, small wet flies and pupa patterns are and small wave), up to the end of August. time is to fish a team of wetflies (Golden Olive used. Pupa patterns are the preferred choice. Bumble, Claret Bumble, Sooty Olive, Green The end of the buzzer hatch usually coincides Olive, Golden Olive, Magenta Bumble, Sooty with the end of the Mayfly. MID-AUGUST TO END OF SEASON Bumble, Fiery Brown, Mallard and Claret and There is a small hatch of Murrough at the end of Fishing tactics for this period revert back to Connemara Black). The usual tactic at this time May/beginning of June. Trout start feeding about conventional wetfly methods. Boats search the of year is to fish the water, starting the drift 11.00p.m. and continue until after midnight. water, drifting across the points from deep to about 200 meters off a point and drifting from Anglers fish a large dry Murrough in the areas shallow and into the deep again. Drifting along deep to shallow and into the deep again, 200 listed below for sedge fishing. the shores can also produce a trout and the meters beyond the point. following areas should be noted – Andresna Bay, The remainder of June and the first half of July Ballinafad Bay, Rinn Bán Bay, the Mouth of the MAYFLY TIME is a quiet period for angling on the lough. At this River Unshin, Ballindoon Bay and the area from time, the evening and the night time fishing offer It is during the Mayfly period that Lough Arrow Muck Island, past Annaghloy Point to Stoney the best chance for good trout. There is an has earned its reputation as one of Ireland’s top Island. Wetfly patterns are as listed for the enormous hatch of Caenis (anglers curse) from quality trout lakes. It offers a variety of fishing sedge fishing season above. at this time. The Mayfly (Ephemera danica) mid to late June and, on calm evenings huge OTHER FishEriES Many other fisheries, in the vicinity of Lough LouGH NA Leibe the Collooney and Lisconny Bridge area. It is Arrow, offer good fishing for coarse fish, This is another spring fed mountain lake situated largely deep and slow flowing and is dependent stocked rainbow trout and brown trout. Also between Ballymote and Castlebaldwin. It is on fly hatches to bring the trout up. It is fished in the Ballisodare River has good salmon fishing also stocked with rainbow trout and is set in a April and May but can become heavily weeded in but access is strictly limited – enquiries to the beautiful, tranquil location. A permit is necessary the warmer summer months. Ballisodare Fishery Office, downstream of to fish and can be purchased through Ballymote LOUGH Key Ballisodare village, Tel: +353 (0)71 9130513. and District Angling Club. Further information on Lough na Leibe can be found at This is a large mixed species fishery which is LouGH BO www.ballymoteangling.com Permits are located just south east of Lough Arrow. Part Lough Bo is a spring fed lake situated about 3km available at McDermott’s Bar and Restaurant, of the Shannon system, the lake is noted for its north of Lough Arrow. It is stocked annually Castlebaldwin Tel: +353 (0)71 9165132 and also pike, bream, roach and hybrids. There is also with brown trout, some of which overwinter Tighe’s Newsagents, Ballymote a good stock of wild brown trout in the lake successfully and offer excellent quality fishing in Tel: +353 (0)71 9189665 including fish up to 3lbs. Local anglers fish the subsequent years. A permit is necessary in order Mayfly from mid-May through to mid-June. to fish this lake and can be purchased from Ms. The UNshiN RiveR LOUGH SkeaN Mary Mc Donagh, at the Bo and Arrow Pub, The Unshin is a clear limestone river which flows Heapstown. northwards out of Lough Arrow and holds some This lake is situated 5km east of Lough Arrow Tel: +353 (0)71 9165126 excellent trout. The best of the fishing is around and has good stocks of bream, roach, hybrids and pike. The best area is from the shore, near the amenity area, where bags of roach and hybrids of up to 20kgs have been taken in May/ June. LouGH MeelaGH Meelagh is a short distance further east of Lough DONEGAL BAY BALLYSHANNON A47 Skean. It holds a good stock of bream, roach, BUNDORAN hybrids and pike. This lake can be weedy but Mullaghmore 6 fishing is possible from fishing platforms near the Head Lough amenity areas two miles west of Keadue village. Inishmurray Melvin NORTHERN IRELAND The lake is a noted pike fishery and was the MOUN TA IN S location for the record Irish pike for a number TR Y N15 DA R of years. Information on boat hire is available from Abbey Marine and Field Sports, Boyle, Co.