The Following is taken from the Midland Fishing brochure with thanks to John O'Malley
The Midland Trout Loughs
The Midland Trout Loughs are well known and justly famous for the quality of their
brown trout fishing. No other location in Ireland offers the visiting angler such a
variety of quality waters all within a short distance of each other. Each water
possesses its own challenge. Each has its own charm and character. One of the great
advantages of the Midland Trout Loughs is that if fishing is "off" in one lough it will
be "on" in one or more of the others. This is a great advantage and offers the visiting
angler good prospects throughout the season.
The long established angling tradition in the area and the full range of angling services
ensures that all the requirements of the visiting angler are fully catered for, including a
range of quality accommodation, boats for hire, tackle/flies, ghillies, expert advice etc.
The visiting angler can time his/her holiday to coincide with one of the great natural
fly cycles - Duck Fly, Olive, Mayfly and Sedge. Here the angler can truly try out the
full range of skills - traditional lough method, dry fly, nymph or dapping, etc. Trolling
or spinning is also permissible and productive.
The visiting angler has an excellent choice of accommodation to choose from, self
catering, farmhouse, town and country home, hotel, caravan and camping - all Tourist
board approved and reasonable priced and all used to catering for anglers and their
requirements.
The visiting angler can enjoy a drink in one of the many angling pubs and swap fishing
stories with other followers of Izaak Walton's gentle sport or join in a "sing-song".
The Midland Trout Loughs warmly extend an Angler's Invitation.
Daytime
All these lakes provide excellent daytime fishing. The usual fishing rod is nine and a
half to ten and a half feet. With up to DT8 lines being used in big waves for more
control. The line is retrieved at the speed of the drift and it is more productive to fish
under the wave. All shallow water, rocks and reeds are systematically searched for
feeding fish. Only when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees or more should one
venture into the deeper open drifts.
Evening Duck Fly methods are to cast in the direction of the rise using an intermediate
line and wait until you feel the pull, before lifting. The slower you fish, the more fish
you catch.
Dapping
Traditionally May Fly time sees the dapping season start. Blowline dapping is done
with a 15 foot rod, 10 yards of blowline attached to 100 yards of backing on any type
of reel. The working end has a yard of 10/12 pound of clear nylon with a size 8 or 10
hook attached. Three Green Drakes are fitted to the hook and held so the wind blows
them along 30 feet in front of the boat. The idea is to keep the nylon out of the water so
the Mayfly scud along the surface, this is achieved by lifting and lowering the rods as
the wind picks up and drops. When a trout is seen to take the flies, just count to seven
and pull, all hell should break loose. This method can also be used with
Murroughs,
Grasshoppers and Daddies. Blowline dapping can be used by anyone, even if you
have never fished before, and is very rewarding, so have a go - you will be surprised
Regulations
Open season 1st March - 12th October.
Permit is required.
Bag limit 6 trout.
All legal methods only.
No live bait.
(Lough Sheelin: No trolling under engine until after 16th June. No coarse Fishing)
Permits available locally.
See links page for Fishery links
Lough Sheelin
Lough Sheelin is over 7kms long and more than 3kms wide and covers an area of
1800 hectares. Lough Sheelin is every angler's ideal of a trout fishery with its
extensive shallows, rocky shores, islands with its attractive wooded shorelines. Trout
in excess of 6lbs are caught annually on the fly. Good access to the lake is provided at
several locations (see map).
Early Season
Wet fly fishing is more productive with good hatches of big chironomid in late April
and early May. Useful fly patterns are Connemara Black (8), Thunder and Lightning
(8) with Sooty Olive, Claret and Mallard, Gold Invicta (10), effective along the North
East shore of the lake - Crover to Inchacup Island.
Mayfly
MayFly hatches commence around the middle of May to the first week of June with
the best of spent fishing in the evening. Hatches occur from Derry Point to Curry
Rocks, Merry Point, Sandbar, Plunkett's Point to Crane Island.
Effective patterns are the Golden Olive Bumble(10), Raymond(8), Mourrough(8),
Cock Robin(10), (Dry) Wulff, Golden, Grey, Royal and Spent Gnats. Large hatches
of Murrough continue for the month of June with big hatches of large chironomid in
July between Church Island and Rabbit Point. From approximately mid-June to the
end of July, trout traditionally go on the perch fry. The end of July sees the sedges
rising in large numbers, particularly around Goreport Bay to Bog Bay and behind
Stoney Island, Wall Island and Rusheen Bay. Very large hatches of Silver Sedges,
Grouse Wing and Black Silver Horns occur across the North West end of the lake
around the same time. Useful flies are Claret Bodied Murrough and Green Peter (wet
and dry). As the fish prepare for the toils of winter, September can produce some of
the liveliest sport of the year.
Lough Ennell
Lough Ennell is situated beside the N52 off the Mullingar/Kilbeggan Road. The lake
is 7kms log by 3kms wide with an area of 1300 hectares. An important feature of this
lake is its huge area of shallow water. Half the lake is under 5metres deep. Lough
Ennell is a high pH lake and can carry big numbers of trout. It also has the best
spawning streams of any Lough in Europe. The conformation and colour of Ennell
trout is remarkable, being shaped more like a grilse than a trout and coloured like bars
of gold.
Early Season
During March wet fly fishing can be productive in many parts of the lake especially in
shallow water up to a metre seep. Favourite flies are very small Claret Bumble,
Bibio,
Sooty Olive and Fiery Brown fished slowly.
Duckfly Commence hatching in large numbers in early April with deep water being
the most productive location. Normally the May Fly hatch starts around the end of
May and continues almost to the middle of June. The best time for spent Gnat fishing
is usually the middle two weeks in June, which can be very rewarding with big fish
being taken. Popular flies during May Fly time are Golden Olive Bumble, Raymond,
Murrough, Spent Gnat, Sooty Olive, Cock Robin and local pattern of Welshman's
Button (all sizes 10 & 12 even in a big wave). Big hatches of Welshman's Button
(sedge) continue to the end of June to tempt the large trout to the surface. Green
Peter, Cinnamon Peter, large August Green Buzzers and Apple Green Midge hatch
towards the end of June to mid-August on the south western end of the lake. Dapping
Grasshoppers and Daddy Longlegs are also productive at this time of year.
Lough Owel
Lough Owel is located beside the N4, 4km North West of Mullingar. Access is
provided at several locations (see map). It has a high pH, mainly spring fed limestone
lake with an area of approximately 1000 hectares. The water is very clear with
visibility up to 7 metres. The lake has a large resident stock of wild brown trout with
an average size of 2lbs. The wild fish in the lake are supplemented by a yearly
stocking programme. Trout up to 6lbs are taken every year on the fly.
Early Season
Large hatches of Duckfly occur from almost mid April to the end of the month. Fish
can be taken with Wet Cell II lines, sink tip and Intermediate lines which carry a team
of size 12 flies, i.e. Wickhams Fancy, Peter Ross, hatching Duckfly, Adult
Duckfly,
Chironomid King, (local patterns) Connemara Black, Fiery Brown etc.
After the Duckfly in early May, the Sooty Olive and Sooty Olive Bumble fish best.
Around the third week in May big hatches of buzzer occur along the Portloman shore.
Fish can be caught on such flies as the OMBI(12), Fiery Brown(10) when the ribbed
midges are in the water.
Small hatches of Mayfly occur at the Cornfield to Brabazon Bay. All patterns of
Mayfly work, but the Grey Gosling is exceptionally good as a nymph pattern. With
large hatches of natural Mayfly, a Green Drake is worthwhile.
Sedges
Lough Owel is famous for its large hatches of sedges towards the end of July to the
middle of August much to the delight of the dry fly enthusiast. There are several
different species of sedges, ranging from flies of 35mm in length to approximately
15mm in length, all fished wet and dry, including Green Peters, Cinnamon Peter,
Black Peter and Murrough. Dapping Grasshoppers and Daddy Longlegs in
August/September can also yield good results
Lough Lene
Lough Lene is situated approximately 4km North of Collinstown village heading
towards Fore. It is a very large deep lough with crystal clear waters and is
approximately 500 hectares in size. Public access is located on the west and east shore
where boats are available for hire. This is a club water and day tickets are available.
Massive hatches of Duck Fly take place in April, followed by large hatches of Lake
Olives in May and again big hatches of Green Peters and Murroughs in August. The
traditional Irish fly patterns are successful on this virgin water.
The lough is surrounded by lengthy stretches of deep rocky shoreline and there are
also a number of islands. The east end of the lough is the shallow end which is usually
the most productive.
Trolling is a most effective way of catching large fish up to 4/5 lbs, with a good
average weight of 3lbs.
Lough Glore
Lough Glore is located approximately 4kms from Castlepollard. There is good access
from the eastern side. It covers an area of 35 hectares. The banks are soft, with high
reeds and it is not possible to fish from the shore.
Lough Glore hold an excellent stock of wild brown trout with an average size over
2lbs. It produces trout of up to 7lbs every season and even bigger trout can be taken.
The combination of wild trout and crystal clear water makes the fish difficult to catch
at times. The important fly hatches are Lake Olives in April, large orange/silver midge
from mid week in May to the middle of June.
It is a shallow lough and tends to weed up badly from mid-summer.
Lough Bane
Lough Bane is situated 25km north-east of Mullingar between Collinstown and
Oldcastle. This jewel of a lough is approximately 125 hectares with crystal clear
water. The lake has a shallow shoreline - is a maximum of some 20 metres deep. Most
of the productive fishing is along the shoreline which runs east to west. Access to the
lough can be arranged through the club ghillies only.
Early in the season there are good hatches of Duck Fly which are then followed by
small hatches of Lake Olives. Mid Summer sees the fish feeding largely on Daphnia
of various colours from orange to jade colour. Large hatches of Murrough and Silver
Horns occur in August. Local patterns are a must. "Lough Bane Anglers" was formed
in 1990. The lake is stocked naturally from the local streams. Several very large
browns have been caught , up to 12lb in weight. The club also restocks the lake with a
few rainbows annually.
Lough Derravaragh
Lough Derravaragh is located 14 kms north-west of Mullingar, the village of
Multyfarnham on its southern shore and Castlepollard to the north-east. It is a long
narrow lough, almost 8kms in length with an area over 1080 hectares. The northern
part of the lough is broad and shallow. Public access is available at several locations.
In recent years trout stocks have declined. However, the lake has a sizeable population
of large trout which can be taken on a troll. There is also a good Mayfly hatch which
provides the best opportunity for taking trout on the fly.
