The Guide to Where to Fish in Southern Ireland (Eire), Lough Corrib.

 

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The name Corrib is know to every fly fisherman, synonymous with Mayfly, Corrib produces prodigious bags of fish every year. At 30 miles long Corrib is massive stretching from Galway City to Maam Bridge, a daunting task to fish this lough. The trout season starts early on Corrib commencing on the 15th of February when fishing is mostly trolling although some fish can be picked up on the fly fishing in sheltered bays.

 

The real trout fishing with fly starts with the Duck Fly in March where shallow sheltered bays can be most productive. Flies recommended are in the size range 10 to 14 and include; Blae Sooty Olive, Red Arrow, Fiery Bow, Mallard and Claret, Connemara Black, Peter Ross and the Bibio. The best of the fishing is along the west shore from Birchell Bay to Rinerroon Point. In April the olives start, fished both dry and wet, Greenwells Glory, Blae and Sooty Olive, Olive Bumble. Sooty Olive, Invicta and Green Olive.

 

May is anglers heaven when the Mayfly hatch in droves starting about the 20th of May for about 4 weeks. Dapping the natural fly is considered the best method and local school kids still earn a few Euros catching these flies and selling them to anglers. Reports are that up to 5,000 trout can be taken at this time and Corrib is renowned not just for the quantity of fish produced it is known for the size of the fish landed. Mid June and July sees the fishing go into a bit of a Doldrums but it picks up again in mid August when dapping a daddy or a grasshopper can be very effective. By September fish are back on the wet fly, Green Peter, Invicta, Black Pennel, Murrough, Bibio and Wickhams Fancy.

 

Corrib also has a good run of salmon taken mostly on the troll using tobies and silver or copper spoons. The best of the fishing is around the Cong / Carrick shore in the north of the lough. June sees a good run of grilse giving sport to the spinner, bait and fly. Best areas for grilse in the lower lough are around Billybeg, Muckrush, Rabbit Island and the Narrows. On the upper lough the west shore from Inishgaran to the Fallomer river mouth with hot spots in Bog Bay, Ougterard Bay, Inishdawee and the west side of the Doorus Peninsula especially the Hut Bay. Flies recommended are Green Peter, Silver Doctor, Black Doctor, Thunder and Lightening sizes 8 to 10.

 

This lough is massive and as with any big water you need local help to guide you around the lough. Knowing the name of a good bay doesn't mean you know the best spots to fish in the bay and you could waste a lot of time searching, these bays are as big a many lakes and loughs! There are a number of angling centres around the lough where you can hire boats and engage ghillies who can handle the boats for you, remember big loughs can kick up rough in a storm and a bit of local know how will get you out of sticky situations. The main centres are Ougterard, Cong, Cornamona, Headford, Knockferry and Annaghdown. As a guide to costs boats with an outboard cost about 45 Euros per day and a ghillie will cost you about 100 euros.

 

The salmon season start 1st February and the trout starts 15th February both finish on the 30th of September.

 

For essential background information about fishing in Scotland, England Ireland and Wales Click HERE

For salmon and sea trout season dates Click HERE

 

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