lure are Copper and Silver Spoons, Tobys Tobys Spoons, Silver and Copper are lure

buzzers including black or olive buzzers. buzzers. olive or black including buzzers

Dabbler, Claret Dabbler and Spent Gnat. Gnat. Spent and Dabbler Claret Dabbler,

by trolling lures. The most popular types of of types popular most The lures. trolling by

Dabbler, Golden Dabbler and a variety of of variety a and Dabbler Golden Dabbler,

observed on the surface. surface. the on observed

Bumble, Invicta, Green Dabbler, Golden Golden Dabbler, Green Invicta, Bumble,

fishing for trout, but the majority are taken taken are majority the but trout, for fishing

and Claret, Duckfly, Blae and Black, Claret Claret Black, and Blae Duckfly, Claret, and

when no significant numbers of fly are are fly of numbers significant no when

Fancy, Olive Bumble, Cock Robin, Claret Claret Robin, Cock Bumble, Olive Fancy,

fish are taken on fly, generally by anglers anglers by generally fly, on taken are fish

Bibio, March Brown, Green Olive, Mallard Mallard Olive, Green Brown, March Bibio,

produce sport even when fished ‘blind’, ‘blind’, fished when even sport produce

Green Peter, Mayfly (hackled), Bibio, Watson’s Watson’s Bibio, (hackled), Mayfly Peter, Green

May and continues into early August. Some Some August. early into continues and May

Sooty Olive, Peter Ross, Soldier Palmer, Palmer, Soldier Ross, Peter Olive, Sooty

and falls of these flies are abundant and can can and abundant are flies these of falls and

most likely to take trout at mayfly time are the the are time mayfly at trout take to likely most

through until May. The grilse run begins in in begins run grilse The May. until through

or 12. Examples include the Fiery Brown, Brown, Fiery the include Examples 12. or

also entice rising fish when the hatches hatches the when fish rising entice also

trapped in the surface film. The artificial flies flies artificial The film. surface the in trapped

from the end of March and continues right right continues and March of end the from

trout during this period are small, size 14 14 size small, are period this during trout

Dry mayfly and spent gnat imitations can can imitations gnat spent and mayfly Dry

The trout prey heavily on them as they sit sit they as them on heavily prey trout The main run of spring fish enters the loughs loughs the enters fish spring of run main

The fly patterns most likely to interest interest to likely most patterns fly The

(gnats) return to the water to lay their eggs. eggs. their lay to water the to return (gnats) Salmon Rod Licence, logbook and tags. The The tags. and logbook Licence, Rod Salmon the right conditions. conditions. right the

subject to change. to subject

late May and right through June, the mayflies mayflies the June, through right and May late productive at this time of year. of time this at productive must be in possession of a valid State State valid a of possession in be must terrestrial insects can be very successful in in successful very be can insects terrestrial

or tackle shops for details as these may be be may these as details for shops tackle or

In suitable wind and weather conditions, in in conditions, weather and wind suitable In duckfly hatch, with buzzer fishing also also fishing buzzer with hatch, duckfly To fish for salmon on the loughs, anglers anglers loughs, the on salmon for fish To with representative patterns of these these of patterns representative with

with the local Inland Fisheries office office Ireland Fisheries Inland local the with

appear. Trout feed on all stages of the the of stages all on feed Trout appear.

water such as daddies etc. Dry fly fishing fishing fly Dry etc. daddies as such water

SALMON FISHING SALMON apply to this area and anglers should check check should anglers and area this to apply

emerger and spent gnat imitations. imitations. gnat spent and emerger

chironomids, colloquially known as ‘Duckfly’ ‘Duckfly’ as known colloquially chironomids, land based insects that get blown onto the the onto blown get that insects based land

here on worms and baits. Local Bye-Laws Bye-Laws Local baits. and worms on here

patterns, especially the Wulff series, mayfly mayfly series, Wulff the especially patterns,

Given some mild weather, large large weather, mild some Given and Daddies. and various and snails louse, freshwater shrimp,

from the shore with most salmon taken taken salmon most with shore the from some excellent sport can be enjoyed with dry dry with enjoyed be can sport excellent some

Black, Claret Dabbler and Golden Dabbler Dabbler Golden and Dabbler Claret Black, freshwater are food of forms Other sedges.

a favourite haunt for salmon anglers fishing fishing anglers salmon for haunt favourite a

All Mayfly patterns, fished wet, work well and and well work wet, fished patterns, Mayfly All

this period. period. this

(Enniscoe).

Pennell, Golden Olive, Invicta, Connemara Connemara Invicta, Olive, Golden Pennell, and mayflies olives, lake chironomids, are

Bridge between Loughs Conn and Cullin is is Cullin and Conn Loughs between Bridge

flies are the most productive style during during style productive most the are flies

on Conn are Cloghans Bay and Bog Bay Bay Bog and Bay Cloghans are Conn on

Olive, Olive Bumble, Watson’s Fancy, Black Black Fancy, Watson’s Bumble, Olive Olive, Rinmore. trout the to interest of hatches fly chief The

areas of the lake. The strait at Pontoon Pontoon at strait The lake. the of areas

encourage fish to feed near the surface. Wet Wet surface. the near feed to fish encourage

most productive areas for buzzer fishing fishing buzzer for areas productive most

the Black and Peacock Spider, Bibio, Sooty Sooty Bibio, Spider, Peacock and Black the to Castlehill from line a of north place take

Bay in the south-western and western western and south-western the in Bay

of small chironomids (midges) or olives will will olives or (midges) chironomids small of shrimp, snails and hoglice. hoglice. and snails shrimp,

possible in almost all wind directions. The The directions. wind all almost in possible

Murrough, Brown Sedge – work well as do do as well work – Sedge Brown Murrough, hatches prolific most the Conn, On Cullin.

(Cornakillew), Massbrook and Castlehill Castlehill and Massbrook (Cornakillew),

freshwater shrimp but even light hatches hatches light even but shrimp freshwater the trout feeding voraciously on freshwater freshwater on voraciously feeding trout the

fished all over and fishing in these areas is is areas these in fishing and over all fished

All the sedge patterns – Green Peter, Peter, Green – patterns sedge the All Lough throughout and Conn Lough of bays

the Deel River, B: Victoria Bay, Cuilkillew Cuilkillew Bay, Victoria B: River, Deel the

interested in a diet of freshwater louse and and louse freshwater of diet a in interested generally starts around the 17th March with with March 17th the around starts generally

Bay, Bog Bay and Castlehill Bay can be be can Bay Castlehill and Bay Bog Bay,

Mayfly hatch all over the shallower areas and and areas shallower the over all hatch Mayfly

particular, the area around the mouth of of mouth the around area the particular,

to the end of April. The trout are mainly mainly are trout The April. of end the to carried out on Cullin. on out carried fishing Trout flies. wet presented well of

areas. The large shallow bays e.g. Cloghans Cloghans e.g. bays shallow large The areas.

exciting fishing can be had at this time. time. this at had be can fishing exciting

the northern end of , in in Conn, Lough of end northern the

This is the period from about mid-March mid-March about from period the is This the end of the season, very little fly fishing is is fishing fly little very season, the of end the to attract the attention of trout with a team team a with trout of attention the attract to

in particular, is well endowed with shallow shallow with endowed well is particular, in sporadic hatches can still occur. Some very very Some occur. still can hatches sporadic

most frequently fished locations are A: A: are locations fished frequently most

30th of September. From the 1st of July to to July of 1st the From September. of 30th possible always nearly is it hatches, between

EARLY SEASON EARLY the map. The northern end of Lough Conn, Conn, Lough of end northern The map. the and from then to the end of June when when June of end the to then from and

the local boatmen. The best known and and known best The boatmen. local the

fly hatches but, even in the quiet periods, periods, quiet the in even but, hatches fly from then to the close of the season on the the on season the of close the to then from

of locations around the lough as shown on on shown as lough the around locations of Mayflies start appearing around mid-April mid-April around appearing start Mayflies

well defined areas which are known to to known are which areas defined well

depending on conditions, can be very good good very be can conditions, on depending useful. and popular most the are are moving near the surface during seasonal seasonal during surface the near moving are

shallows are to be found at a large number number large a at found be to are shallows

Salmon tend to confine themselves to to themselves confine to tend Salmon

early July but picks up again in August and, and, August in again up picks but July early country. the in water any of seasons 14 to through 10 sizes but 14, size to 8 size trout when flies wet on taken are loughs

been achieved in the shallower areas. The The areas. shallower the in achieved been

Trout fishing on Conn slows down in in down slows Conn on fishing Trout mayfly longest the of one have loughs The from vary loughs the on fished sizes fly The The vast majority of trout taken on the the on taken trout of majority vast The

successful on occasion. occasion. on successful the greatest success has traditionally traditionally has success greatest the

As with all wet fly fishing for brown trout, trout, brown for fishing fly wet all with As LATE SEASON LATE SEASON MAYFLY SIZES FLY FISHING TROUT and Devon Minnows. Even tube flies can be be can flies tube Even Minnows. Devon and

CONN & CULLIN & CONN FISHING ON LOUGHS LOUGHS ON FISHING

INFORMATION SAFETY ANGLING COMPETITIONS Lough Conn & Both lakes contain a large number of Several trout fishing competitions are held dangerous rocks just below the water on Loughs Conn and Cullin each year and surface. is particularly rocky. many of these are open to visitors. Details In general, individual and small groups of of these are available from local fishing clubs Lough Cullin rocks are indicated by distinctive rock or from Inland Fisheries Ireland. markers as shown. A single marker may signify the presence of a number of rocks in ACCOMMODATION Game Angling Guide its general vicinity. There is a wide variety of accommodation available in the area, ranging from However, anglers should not assume that comfortable bed and breakfast INFORMATION every rock or every group of rocks, in each accommodation in both town and country lake is marked. Visiting anglers, in particular, homes and farmhouses to small family are strongly advised to exercise caution, BOAT HIRE run hotels, luxurious castles, old world as water levels on the lakes can fluctuate inns and homely guesthouses. There is A list of angling ghillies and guides who offer significantly. Those unfamiliar with the lakes also a wide choice of quality self catering services on the loughs is available from Inland should avail of the services of local boatmen accommodation options available. Fisheries Ireland, Ballina office. These details or guides. can also be found at www.fishinginireland.info. Anglers are advised to stay only at premises The law requires that persons venturing Boat hire providers are listed below: Detailed and registered or approved by Faílte Ireland, out on to lakes and coastal waters, in a most of these properties display the Ken Hall, , Co. Mayo up to date map, boat less than 7m in length, wear a properly Faílte Ireland approved accommodation Tel: +353 (0)86 8846920 Angling Information, fitting, and approved, personal flotation FURTHER INFORMATION sign. For information on accommodation, Email: [email protected] device or a lifejacket (S.I. No. 921 of 2005). Further information on angling in the Lough Tourist information. things to see and do, festivals and events, As with boat fishing anywhere, anglers are Padraic Kelly, Newtown, Cloghans, Co. Mayo Conn and Cullin area may be obtained from contact Ballina Tourist Office or see www. advised to check local weather forecasts Tel: +353 (0)96 22250 Inland Fisheries Ireland, Ardnaree House, northmayo.com, www.ireland.com or before venturing out. Abbey St., Ballina Co. Mayo, Tel: +353 (0)96 www.discoverireland.ie. Paddy McDonnell 22788, Email: [email protected] or Barnacouge, Swinford, Co. Mayo. ANGLING RETURNS Web: www.fishinginireland.info. Tel: +353 (0)87 4123235 Accurate and detailed angling returns are Email: [email protected] difficult to compile on waters the size of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Loughs Conn and Cullin, with so many Gerry Murphy, Browns Bay, Massbrook, Inland Fisheries Ireland would like to thank piers, jetties and private access points , Co. Mayo the following who supplied photographs for located around the shore. All salmon Tel: +353 (0)96 51294 use in this guide: Alastair Gowans, Paddy caught, whether released or retained, Mob: +353 (0)87 2390409 McDonnell, and Kenny Sloan. Also Inland should be added to the anglers’ log book Fisheries Ireland staff Markus Müller, Kevin Vinny O’Boyle, Knockfree, Ballina, Co. Mayo and returned to Inland Fisheries Ireland at O’Boyle, Shane O’Reilly, Padraig Traynor and Tel: +353 (0)96 31209 the end of the season. The co-operation Bryan Ward. of all anglers in the collection of angling Kenny Sloan, Riverside, Foxford, Co. Mayo. returns is requested as this information Tel: +353 (0)94 56501 is vital for the proper management of the Mob: +353 (0)87 9670310 fishery. Email: [email protected] Tiernan Brothers, Main St Foxford, Co. Mayo ANGLERS’ SHELTERS Teach Árd na Rí Ardnaree House Tel: +353 (0)94 9256731 Anglers’ shelters have been provided at a Sráid na Mainistreach Abbey Street Email: [email protected] number of locations around the shores and Béal an Átha Ballina on islands on Lough Conn. These locations Ian Wise, Cloonamoyne Fishery, Enniscoe Co. Mhaigh Eo. Co. Mayo are indicated on the map with a . House, Ballina, Co. Mayo Tel: +353 (0)96 22788 Tel: +353 (0)87 7697193 LITTER Fax: +353 (0)96 70543 Email:[email protected] Please protect out environment – take your Email: [email protected] litter home! Web: www.fisheriesireland.ie Web: www.fishinginireland.info Sligo

ANGLING REGULATIONS

OPEN SEASON

Salmon: 1st February – 30th September Belmullet Tolans O’Boyle’s Primary Road Bay Boat Hire Trout: 15th February – 30th September St Patrick’s Secondary Road Point SIZE LIMIT Nallen’s Longford Pt. Bay Minimum size limit for trout is 12 inches Pumphouse Minor Road Gortnorabbey Pier Še Black Kent’s Pool (30.48cm) Rocks Cloonaghmore Bay Shallow/Deep water PERMISSION (< 3m/ >3m) A permit is not required to fish these lakes. 4 Bar Shallows However, a state salmon licence is required by law Access Point for salmon fishing. Licences are widely available Lough Conn from tackle shops, Inland Fisheries Ireland and Angling Shelter online at www.fishinginireland.info. Enniscoe Bay Loch Con

BAG LIMIT Mosshop’s Rock At present there is no bag limit in operation on 5 Bar Shallows the loughs, although anglers are required, in the Cloonamoyne interests of conservation of stocks, to carefully Fishery & release all under sized fish. Anglers are also Boat Hire requested to release as many trout as Cloghans Bay possible while angling. Seagull Annagmore Pt. Bog Is. Kelly’s Boat LOUGHS CONN AND CULLIN Bay Hire Kane’s Shallows Lough Conn is located approximately 6km south west of the town of Ballina in north and 1km south east Castle Bay 012km Errew Rinvilla Is. of Crossmolina, while Cullin lies 3km Bay west of Foxford and together they form part of the catchment (total Errors or Inaccuracies. area 2080km2). Abbey While every effort has been made to ensure that the Castlehill Shore information contained in this guide is accurate, no Friarstown Shore Conn, with an area of 5665 hectares, is Bay Gallaghers responsibility will be accepted by Inland Fisheries Bay Ireland for any errors or inaccuracies therein. fed in the north by the River Deel and Sandy Bay Rinmore The document includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data many other smaller tributaries, with the Caffoley Pt. Pt. Fir Tree reproduced under OSi Copyright Permit No. MP lakes joining through a short channel at 007508. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Shore Middle of Ordnance Survey Ireland and Government of Ireland Pontoon Bridge. Lough Cullin, area 1019 Graveyard Mayo Shore copyright. © Ordnance Survey Ireland, 2013. hectares, receives water from Conn, the Fir Tree Carra, Tobergal and Clydagh Rivers and Pt. © Inland Fisheries Ireland, 2017. drains into the River Moy from its south This brochure can be made available in alternate Brackwansha formats on request. east corner through what is known, Phuilawokhouse Pt. Bay IFI/2017/1- 0451 001 locally, as the ‘Lake River’. Brackwansha Sawmill Pt. Shore The lakes support a large population of Inland Fisheries trout as well as migrating salmon, pike, roach Ireland Base and perch, with both accessible either from the Wilson’s Rock shore or by boat.

ACCESS Cormorant Rocks Access to Loughs Conn and Cullin is available at Victoria Sandy Bay several principal locations including Gortnorabbey Bay Pier, Phuilawakhouse Bay, Gillaroo (Brown’s) Bay, Schoolhouse Bay, Brackwansha, Cloghans and Rinagall

Pontoon. These locations are indicated on the Poteen Is. map by the symbol. Massbrook Knockmore Bay Pt. Lough Conn Rinakilleen Pt. FISHING TACKLE Glaslick For traditional methods of lough style fishing, Loch Con Pt. rods between 2.9m (9’6”) and 3.35m (11’) are used with a floating line. Floating lines are mainly Tavnaghmore used when fishing dry flies and buzzers, with Massbrook Shore Shore popular dry flies including mayflies, spent gnats, Coleman’s Shallows Schoolhouse Bay sedges and daddies. Intermediate lines are now Terry Head very popular especially in early and late months Sand House Gilaroo of the season, with both sinking and intermediate Bay Bay 6 Arch lines employed for wet fly fishing. The usual Bridge Bay method is short casting in front of a drifting boat and bobbing a bushy fly, e.g. bumble and dabbler varieties, on the top dropper through and across Murphy’s the wave. Boat Hire

Healy’s Bar & Restaraunt Swinford/Dublin Lough Cullin

Ballycastle

Belmullet R297 Glenamoy R314 R314 Enniscrone R315 Killala

N59 R313 Bangor Loch Cuilinn BALLINA

N59 Crossmolina

R294 Tobbercurry Ballycroy

N26

R315

N59 R319 Foxford R318 Achill Island Charlest

R317 R310 Swinford Mulranny KNOCK AIRPORT Newport R311 N59 Castlebar CASTLEBAR Kiltimagh

Westport Louisburgh N60 R320

R330

R335 N84

Claremorris Partry

N17

R300 N59 R331

Ballinrobe Leenane

R300

R336 N84 Cong

Brochure design by Spear Design