Coolcronan Salmon Fishery

A Private Fishery on the Moy

Editor's Note

Since publication of the latest edition of Hooked on the Moy Magazine, the Coolcronan Fishery has been sold and is now under new management. You will find the new contact details in the Fact File to the right of your screen.

Thank you

John Geary

The Coolcronan Salmon Fishery is one of the premiere beats on the River Moy, one of Europe’s most prolific salmon rivers.

Extending to over 1 mile of double bank fishing, the Fishery is set amidst natural woodlands and these unspoilt and beautiful surroundings are the perfect setting for the sport provided by the migratory Atlantic salmon that run the Moy.

Rods are limited to 12 per day to ensure that the fishery is not overcrowded. A well organised rota gives all anglers the chance to fish the whole Fishery and rules out overcrowding on any one of the pools.

The catch record, in excess of 400 salmon per season, shows that Coolcronan is an extraordinarily prolific beat. Given that rods are limited, the rod to fish ratio is excellent, and this implies that an angler stands a better chance of catching a fish at Coolcronan.

Coolcronan is primarily a bait and spinning Fishery and the determined angler is usually well rewarded. If water levels are not excessive, the Rock Pool will fish on the fly. To use the fly from the bank requires good roll casting skills, although the boats allow the use of single handed fly rods when water levels and conditions are favourable.

Access off the Ballina to Foxford road could not be easier and with new car parking facilities you can park just yards from the River bank at the Cable Pool. This makes fishing at Coolcronan most accessible for elderly or partially disabled anglers. The boats make getting around the entire fishery equally stress free and angler friendly. However, we regret that we do not yet have full facilities for disabled anglers.

The Pools

The Rock Pool, located almost at the top of the Fishery is the best known of Coolcronan’s pools. The water levels are shallow and fish are always showing. The Rock itself is located on the left bank. A slab of bedrock crosses the river and another rock, barely visible, is located towards the middle of the pool and the flow around it produces a gentle ripple that divides the waters that should be fished from the left bank (Knockmore townland) and waters that should be fished from the right bank (Attymass townland).

Above the Rock Pool you will find the High Bank and Coolcronan Straight. These waters are slightly deeper than the Rock Pool.

Downstream from the Rock, where the river turns towards Coolcronan House, you will find the Bridge Pool, and further down, the Ladders, the Ice House Pool, and the Cable Pool where the car park is located.

The Bridge Pool is well known as an excellent spot for bait fishing, as the fish lie there waiting at the head of the lower waters that run up to the Rock Pool.

The Ladders, with their shingle bed, have always fished well in low water conditions, but in high water, they have been virtually inaccessible, except from the boats. As of the Year 2000, this has changed, and clearings have now been made amongst the trees and makes access to the water much easier. The Ladders should now show their full potential and it will be exciting to see how they perform under different conditions.

The Ice House Pool is one of the best pools for bait fishing. The water is about 12 feet deep and, as a result, fish do not show quite as frequently as at the Rock Pool. However, the catch statistics prove that the fish are there and keenly interested in what you are putting in the water. The pool is named after an old ice house that can still be seen just back from the river bank. This building was used to store fish taken from the salmon weirs that were located at the Ice House Pool and that are marked on the original Ordinance Survey map.

The Cable Pool, located at the Car Park, is just below the Ice House. It is well known as one of the best spinning pools on the Lower Moy. When conditions are right, don’t refrain from using bait.

Jack’s Pool is the next pool down from the Cable and the Car Park. Named after Jack Charlton, who swears by it (‘...if fish don’t take there, they won’t be taking anywhere else...’), it is an excellent place to try for a good Springer. An arc of rocks, that run parallel to the bank, are fanned out towards the middle of the river, providing a favourite lie for large Spring salmon, even when water levels are high.

Further downstream, along the pathway that runs through the woods below Coolcronan House, you will find David’s Den, a secluded spot, that comes into it’s own once the grilse are in the river. It should be fished close to the bank but don’t let your attention wander too far from your line amidst the deceptive peace and quiet.

Further downstream, from the last corner on the Coolcronan Fishery down to the Bonnifinglass River, you will find the Graveyard Pool, followed by the Bonnifinglass Straight. The Graveyard Pool is an excellent bait and spinning pool, that attracts more anglers in the middle and later parts of the season.

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