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The Fermanagh Lakelands is a haven for anglers. With its abundance of Loughs and Rivers, our waters offer game anglers the opportunity to fish for salmon and wild brown trout as well as stocked rainbow and brown trout. The famous sonaghan, ferox and gillaroo can also be found in these diverse waters.
The Coarse angler will find some of the finest fishing available in Europe, with bream, roach and hybrids in abundance as well as perch and tench. Add to this pike fishing that is second to none - whether seeking to catch them on fly or in a more traditional manner and the region offers all anglers wonderful opportunities.
There is no close season for the coarse fisherman and it is possible for the game angler to fish during all twelve months as our designated rainbow fisheries remain open all year round.
There are many popular Loughs, rivers and fisheries that are easily accessed by visitors. Lough Erne & Lough Melvin being the more well known.
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Lough Erne
Lough Erne is made up of the Upper Lough East of Enniskillen and the Lower Lough which runs west to Belleek. The Lough is a mixed coarse and game fishery. The game angling, in the main, takes place on the Lower Lough although trout are found throughout the system. The Lower Lough is a large expanse of water, over 15 miles long with numerous islands and bays. These provide vast areas of shallow water and rocky shores making for ideal fishing grounds. Although a limited number of salmon run the Lough wild brown trout are the quarry and the Lough holds an excellent head of fish.
The average with of fish caught fly fishing is in the 1.5 to 2lbs range. However each season will see a good number from 3lbs to 7lbs or more. The trout are pretty evenly distributed throughout the Lower Lough, and although there is a natural movement throughout the year and definite migration towards the spawning streams and rivers in late summer and early autumn.
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Area:
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15,303 Hectares
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Species:
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Brown Trout & Salmon
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Season:
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1st March – 30th September
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Methods:
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Fly fishing, spinning and worm fishing. Whilst shore fishing is possible the majority of the fishing is by boat in the traditional Irish Lough style.
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Limits:
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6 trout per rod per day. Min takeable size – 30cm
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Other Restrictions:
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When trolling, fishing rods and lines or hand lines shall not be used in excess of: A – four in a boat occupied by three or more people; B – three in a boat occupied by two people, and C – two in a boat occupied by one person. A separate licence and permit is required for each rod.
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Boats:
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Fishing from mechanical and non mechanical boats is permitted
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Licence:
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19 and over – FCB Game Fishing Licence. 12 to 19 – FCB Juvenile Game Fishing Rod Licence. Under 12 – None.
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Permit:
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Over 19 – DCAL Game Fishing permit. Under 19 – DCAL Juvenile Game Fishing Permit
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Disabled Access:
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On the Lower Lough there is access at Stewarts Shore and limited access at Ely Lodge, Boa Island Bridges, Muckross and Trory and on the Town stretches in Enniskillen
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Lough Melvin
Sitting on the western end of Co. Fermanagh this is one of Ireland’s most famous Loughs. It is home to three distinct species of trout – the magic sonaghan, the gillaroo and the ferox – as well as enjoying a run of spring salmon and grilse. Fishing starts in February with the arrival of the first salmon and continues through the months with grilse from May to July and wonderful trout fishing throughout the season. Trolling is the most used method for the springers but fly fishing for the sonaghan and gillaroo, as well as the grilse, is excellent.
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Area:
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424 Hectares
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Species:
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Salmon, grilse, brown, sonaghan, gillaroo and ferox trout
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Season:
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1st February – 30th September
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Methods:
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All legal methods
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Limits:
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6 Trout – minimum takeable size 28cm
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Other Restrictions:
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None – other than those that may be laid down by the Association
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Boats:
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Fishing from boats with engines permitted
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Licence:
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19 and over – FCB Game Fishing Rod Licence. 12 to 19 – FCB Juvenile Game Fishing Rod Licence. Under 12 – None
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Permit:
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As issued by the Garrison & Lough Melvin Anglers Association
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Disabled Access:
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None
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Where to look
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Lough/River
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Species
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Mill Lough, Bellanaleck
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Rainbow and Brown Trout
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Lough Keenaghan, Belleek
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Brown Trout
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Lough Corranny, Rosslea
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Rainbow Trout
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Lough Corry, Rosslea
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Brown Trout
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Lakes Achork, Glencreawan and Meenameen, Navar Forest, Derrygonnelly
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Brown and Rainbow Trout
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Ballinamallard River, Ballinamallard
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Brown Trout and Occasional Salmon
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Colebrooke River, Maguiresbridge
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Brown Trout
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Ballydoolagh Lough, Enniskillen
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Roach, Perch, Pike and Eels
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Killyfole Lake, Lisnaskea
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Roach, Bream, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
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Trory, Lough Erne, Enniskillen
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Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
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Ely Lodge, Lough Erne, Enniskillen
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Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
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Lough MacNean – Lower & Upper, Belcoo and Blacklion, Co. Cavan
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Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Rudd, Pike and Eels
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River Erne, Cornagrade, Enniskillen
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Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
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River Erne, Sligo Road, Enniskillen
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Bream, Roach, Perch, Pike, Hybrids and Eels
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Upper River Erne, Bellanaleck
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Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike
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River Erne, Broadmeadow, Enniskillen
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Bream, Roach, Perch, Pike, Hybrids and Eels
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Upper River Erne Schools, Enniskillen
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Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
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Belle Isle Estate, Lisbellaw
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Pike, Roach and Breams (Available for Residents only)
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Angling Events
A number of angling events take place in Fermanagh throughout the year. The main one being the Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival, which is one of Europe’s premier fishing festivals with over 350 anglers from Ireland and Europe taking part. Taking Place 28th April - 2nd May 2008, Call 028 6632 3110 for further details
Mini Mahon Fishing Festival, Irvinestown (Date TBC) Contact Joe Mahon 028 6862 1656
Waterways Ireland International Pike Fishing Festival, 17th - 19th October 2008. Details from 02866325050
For details of this and other fishing events contact:
Fermanagh Tourist Information Centre
Wellington Road
Enniskillen
Tel: 028 6632 3110
Web: www.findfermanagh.com
Email: tic@fermanagh.gov.uk