The Guide to Where to Fish in Southern Ireland (Eire)

The Southern Ireland Where to Fish A to Z

Donegal

Finn River a fast flowing salmon spate river rushing from the Blue Stack Mountains for 25 mile to its confluence with the Mourne (sounds like a line from a song). The best fishing is around Clonghan and day tickets are available on what is reputed to be top notch fly fishing water, call Thomas McCreedy on (353) 74 320075 or David Wilde on (353) 74 33003, permits cost 17 to 30 euros.

Lough Derg, (not to be confused with its more southerly name sake) a fairly large lough (2000 hectares) part of the Erne system, nearest town being Pettigo. Wild brown trout averaging 12 to 14 ozs with fish over 3lbs regularly coming off the lough.

Best April / May. Best patterns are traditionals, grenwells, black pennel, butchers as well as buzzers. There are some salmon and sea trout which run up the Upper Derg river from Lough Erne when there is a spate. The Upper Derg river is 3 miles long.

The area also offers sea trout fishing on the Termon river from August onwards. Some of the fishing is covered by the DCAL permit and by the Pettigo and District Angling Club. For club permits call 028 6863 1591.

Drowes is short river which drains Loch Melvin but it is rated as a premier spring and summer salmon water and not without justification as it can produce in excess of a 1000 fish a year. There are few sea trout but the brown trout can be very good. The Drowes is the earliest opening salmon river in the UK and Ireland.

You can go fishing here on New Years day if you are sober enough with the chance to be the first angler to take the first fish of the year as this happens most years on opening day. Drowes Fishery call 00353 (0) 719841055 for further information of permit costs and bookings (the cost of the fishing is relatively inexpensive for such a productive fishery).

Rossinver, top beats for salmon fishing on the Drowes and Loch Melvincall 00353 (0) 719841451.