Water, water
everywhere . . .


Whether you just want a break from fishing the River Moy or perhaps during those rare occasions when the river becomes unfishable due to exceptional rainfall, the alternative angling venues within the Region are almost endless. Whatever the angling need may be, it can be met without the necessity for lengthy travelling and possibilities on offer include salmon, sea trout, brown trout, pike, course fish and a wide variety of sea fish.

RIVER FISHING

For the angler who prefers river fishing, the River Deel is well worthy of consideration. This is a limestone river which feeds into the northern end of Lough Conn close to Crossmolina. It can fish well throughout the season but towards the back end it can be better to fish after a flood. There is plenty of excellent fly water, and fine brown trout are present in good numbers, averaging about 1lb in weight but fish up to 4lb have been caught.

The Clydagh, Castlebar and Manulla Rivers all converge into the Turlough/Bellyvary area and flow into the southern end of Lough Cullin. They offer lively brown trout fishing throughout the year and produce in the region of 200 Spring Salmon on rod and line annually, mostly taken in the early spring months.

The Newport River emanates from Lough Beltra, and tends to be overlooked in favour of the lough, which is surprising in view of the high quality salmon fishing that it offers. This beautiful river, with excellent bank access, has more than a score of named pools, any one of which is capable of producing fine specimens throughout the entire season. Sea trout, for which this river was justly famed, have been absent for a number of years but there is evidence that they are now making a comeback.

Just a short drive north of Ballina is the Easky River. The grilse start running in June and it is safe to assume that fish enter this spate river on every flood from then until season’s end. Depending upon duration and volume of rain-fall, the river tends to clear very quickly allowing good sport for the fly angler. Evening and nightime fishing in low water at any stage from mid June to late August can give heart-stopping angling for Seatrout, with some up to 3lb weight bracket being taken on the fly.

A large stretch of the Easky River was recently developed and improved for fly-fishing and the Fortland Fishery now offers about 3 miles of double-bank fishing in a beautiful wooded and secluded setting. The previously inaccessible areas of the upper section of the fishery have been unfished for many years and are sure to provide exciting sport especially to the fly angler. Further information is available from the Fishery Manager, Granville Nesbitt on (086) 8032350 and tickets are available from him or from Michael Swartz at the Ballina Angling Centre.

The Gweestion River is another tributary of the River Moy and the Pollagh,Glore and Trimogue Rivers are tributaries of the Gweestion. The Gwestion lies between Swinford and Bohola and is a rich limestone river renowned for its excellent stock of free-rising brown trout. Average size is under 1lb. It flows into the Moy at the East Mayo Anglers Fishery (see map on page 46).

Lake Fishing

Lake fishing for salmon is readily available (Lough Beltra was referred to earlier). One of the rightly favoured venues is Lough Conn. All salmon taken here have run the River Moy, so it should be assumed that preferred timings conform to that of the river, with best catches numerically ocurring during the prolific summer grilse runs, but excellent early and late fish are also taken. The river-like stretch of water connecting Conn to Lough Cullin can be exceptionally productive - all fish entering Conn have to pass this way and it may be fished from the bank, just like a river, if that is what the angler desires.

The Burrishoole Fishery, comprising of Loughs Furnace and Feagh, lies west of the Moy Valley and should never be ignored. Furnace is a tidal lough and at times the water may become slightly brackish. Both lakes are primarily boat fisheries and the best sport for salmon is normally from June through to September. Sea trout are also present and of a decent average size, and there are brown trout too. Both lakes are fly-fishing only.

Ballinlough Fishery which is a short drive from Burrishoole is an exceptionally fertile and alkaline water and is stocked with hardfighting rainbow trout, with residual fish achieving weights up to 10lbs. There are also brown trout present, but in this quality water they are very silver, looking more like sea-trout. Fishing is from boats and it is worth noting that the banks are a chalky marl mixture, very soft indeed and very dangerous to walk on.

Possibily the best of the brown trout fishing in the area is to be found in lakes, although many of the Moy’s feeder streams do have a good head of stock, perhaps not of remarkable size and these respond well to dry fly techniques.

Callow loughs, near Foxford, hold a very good head of trout indeed, but are rarely fished. A boat is essential and may be hired locally. There are probably more fish in the northern lough, but are of a slightly lower average size than in the southern lough.

Close to the Callow lakes is Lough Muck, some of which is fishable from the banks, and which holds a good stock of trout averaging about 1lb in weight.

Lough Talt is a very beautiful water situated above Ballina on the Tubbercurry Road. Fish are generally quite small, but are present in very good numbers. Boats can be hired locally, but bank fishing is unobstructed and can produce excellent results.

SEA TROUT FISHING

For sea trout and indeed salmon, a good option is Lough Carramore which is about a 35 minute drive from Ballina and is situated close to the town of Bangor Erris. From about mid-June onwards there are very good runs of fresh fish which are mostly taken on the fly. Fishing is by boat and because there is little depth of water, care must be taken to avoid submerged rocks. It must be said that the most productive sea trout fishing in the area is to be found in the estuary of the River Moy. This is usually undertaken in large boats fishing up to five anglers, freelining sandeel or mackerel strip on very light tackle. For many, the preferred alternative is to fish from a smaller boat allowing two people to fish the fly, and this has the advantage that it is easy to disembark and fish from the shore in suitable locations. It is also feasible to walk back along the beach at Enniscrone and fish around the sandbanks at the mouth of the river.

PIKE AND COURSE FISHING

Although famous primarily as a game fishery, the Moy catchment also contains hidden treasures waiting to reveal themselves to the discerning coarse angler. In the Knock and Kiltimagh area, a handful ofsmall and medium size loughs offer good angling for pike, perch, bream, rudd and tench. However, Pike anglers might like to consider the possibilities offered by Loughs Levally and Derryhick. The latter, smaller of the two, probably does not hold fish as large as those in Levally, but they are numerous enough and fishing from the shore offers no problems. To get the best from Levalley, a boat is required and is available for hire locally. The Attymass Lakes which run along the east side of the River Moy contain some quality pike up to 25lb in weight.

DEEP SEA FISHING

Finally, the sea fishing out from the West Coast of Mayo is very good indeed, with numerous species available for capture, although the angler looking for a tussle with a well-muscled fish might prefer to concentrate on the tope, or shark which are usually plentiful from summer onwards. Boats are available from Killala, Enniscrone and Westport and are reasonably inexpensive.