Angling Breaks Fermanagh

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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.

For more information on Licenses & permits click here: www.nidirect.gov.uk/angling

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.

Area:

15,303 Hectares

Species:

Brown Trout & Salmon

Season:

1^st March – 30^th September

Methods:

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.

Limits:

6 trout per rod per day. Min takeable size – 30cm

Other Restrictions:

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.

Boats:

Fishing from mechanical and non mechanical boats is permitted

Licence:

19 and over – DCAL Game Fishing Licence. 12 to 19 – DCAL Juvenile Game Fishing Rod Licence. Under 12 – None.

Permit:

Over 19 – DCAL Game Fishing permit. Under 19 – DCAL Juvenile Game Fishing Permit

Disabled Access:

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

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.

Area:	424 Hectares
Species:	Salmon, grilse, brown, sonaghan, gillaroo and ferox trout
Season:	1^st February – 30^th September
Methods:	All legal methods
Limits:	6 Trout – minimum takeable size 28cm
Other Restrictions:	None – other than those that may be laid down by the Association
Boats:	Fishing from boats with engines permitted
Licence:	19 and over – DCAL Game Fishing Rod Licence. 12 to 19 – DCAL Juvenile Game Fishing Rod Licence. Under 12 – None
Permit:	As issued by the Garrison & Lough Melvin Anglers Association
Disabled Access:	None

Where to Look

Lough/River	Species
Mill Lough, Bellanaleck	Rainbow and Brown Trout
Lough Keenaghan, Belleek	Brown Trout
Lough Corranny, Rosslea	Rainbow Trout
Lough Corry, Rosslea	Brown Trout
Lakes Achork, Glencreawan and Meenameen, Navar Forest, Derrygonnelly	Brown and Rainbow Trout
Ballinamallard River, Ballinamallard	Brown Trout and Occasional Salmon
Colebrooke River, Maguiresbridge	Brown Trout
Ballydoolagh Lough, Enniskillen	Roach, Perch, Pike and Eels
Killyfole Lake, Lisnaskea	Roach, Bream, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
Trory, Lough Erne, Enniskillen	Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
Ely Lodge, Lough Erne, Enniskillen	Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
Lough MacNean – Lower & Upper, Belcoo and Blacklion, Co. Cavan	Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Rudd, Pike and Eels
River Erne, Cornagrade, Enniskillen	Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
River Erne, Sligo Road, Enniskillen	Bream, Roach, Perch, Pike, Hybrids and Eels
Upper River Erne, Bellanaleck	Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike
River Erne, Broadmeadow, Enniskillen	Bream, Roach, Perch, Pike, Hybrids and Eels
Upper River Erne Schools, Enniskillen	Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Perch, Pike and Eels
Belle Isle Estate, Lisbellaw	Pike, Roach and Breams (Available for Residents only)