The warming effect of the Gulf Stream ensures a long season for the angler, from mid-February to the end of September. The area is renowned for the abundance and variety of brown trout fishing readily available to the visitor.  Almost every stream and lake has a resident stock of wild brown trout and supplemental stocking, of selected waters, is carefully controlled so as not to interfere with indigenous stock.

To describe the brown trout fishing of the Western region as a whole it is necessary to distinguish between fishing the large Western lakes (more commonly called 'loughs'), smaller brown trout lakes, mountain or brownie lakes and stocked fisheries.

THE GREAT WESTERN LAKES

The large western lakes comprise Loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn and Cullin. Lough Corrib is the largest at 44,000 acres. Fly-fishing from a drifting boat is the angling method favoured most. Shore angling on the large lakes is over short, specific shorelines, or from the banks of islands,  and expert advice is invaluable for the first-time visiting angler.

These lakes are predominantly rich limestone waters, producing wild brown trout averaging over 1lb. (0.45kg) to 3lbs. (1.36kg) with some to 10lbs. (4.53kg) caught on fly every season. Large Ferox trout from 10-20lbs. (4.53-9.07kg) are caught by trolling deep water or along the deep side of shallows. Trolling can take place throughout the season, but it's the high quality of fly fishing and dapping for which these lakes are renowned.

In the early weeks of the season fly are scarce on the water. However, trout are taken on the fly in areas of shallow water from opening day, providing modest success for the persistent angler. Spinning spoon/plug baits or trolling dead bait are successful methods of catching trout in early season. During March the 'duck fly' (a black chironomid) hatches and trout rise freely to pupa emerger, wet-fly and dry fly patterns.

Duckfly fishing in early April can be excellent for all fly fishing, a period that deserves more attention from anglers. The day catch per rod during April is equally as good, or better, than during the highly productive and publicised Mayfly period.

Duckfly fly patterns include: Black Pennell, Connemara Black, Blae & Black, Watson's Fancy, Bibio, Mallard & Claret, Duckfly, Sooty Olive, Cock Olive, Peter Ross, Fiery Brown, Claret Dabbler and Golden Dabbler, Hoglice patterns, Coch-y-Bondhu, Duckfly Pupa and Emergers. Sizes 10-14.

Mayfly hatches can appear as early as late April  in the shallower, warmer lakes and from May 10 elsewhere. With a warm winter and spring one can expect the fly a week earlier. During the Mayfly hatches, trout feed eagerly on the surface taking the emerging nymph, Green Drake and, later on, the Spent Gnat. While fly fishing gives best results, 'dapping' the natural insect using a long rod and blow line, is perhaps the most popular method employed. The Mayfly are picked by hand along the shoreline of the islands or from bushes and kept in special wooden boxes most of which are hand made and passed from one generation to the next.  As the hatch progresses, the spent fly, as it falls back on the water, becomes the choice food item particularly of the larger trout. Spent Gnat dry-fly fishing provides the best opportunity to record a specimen fish (10lbs. [4.53kg] weight on the lakes).

Also from April onwards through to June, in the more sheltered areas of sediment and weed, extensive hatches of lake olives and chironomids provide unlimited variation and challenge. Late evening buzzer fishing, given the appropriate conditions, can be an unforgettable experience, larger trout coming more freely when the 'balling' buzzer appears.

Mayfly time fly patterns: Green Peter, Green Drake, French Partridge Mayfly, Fan Winged Mayfly, Golden Olive Bumble, Cock Robin, Green Dabbler, Olive Dabbler, Claret Dabbler, Invicta, Golden Olive, Spent Gnat and Buzzer patterns. Sizes 8-12.

When the Mayfly hatches end the trout concentrate on feeding on perch and roach fry. Fry patterns and lures are then effective around the shallows. In late June, large sedge fly appear in late evening and provide good fishing through to August and September. Locally these fly are called Murrough and Green Peter and artificial tyings of these fly produce great sport, fished either wet or dry to surface cruising large trout.  Anglers should not leave the water too early at this time of year but stay out late and wait for the feeding trout in calm, sheltered bays. Lough Carra is noted for the quality of its evening fishing in the summer months.

Towards the end of August, wet-fly fishing improves and continues to the end of the season and generally is not to any specific hatch of fly. Terrestrials of all descriptions are important as also are fry, sedge and shrimp. Dapping large terrestrials (Grasshoppers, Daddy Longlegs) tempts larger than average 3lbs. plus fish. Indeed 'dapping' during the last two months of the season should be practised more often as the method undoubtedly attracts the larger trout to the surface 

Extremely large trout may also be caught on fly during September. These are frequently found in shallow water accompanying grilse and salmon.

For the latter part of the season, suggested fly patterns include: Green Peter, Murrough, Brown Sedge, Invicta, Silver Invicta, Kate McLaren, Blue Bottle, Daddy Longlegs, Bibio, Claret Dabbler, Golden Olive Bumble, Claret Bumble, Connemara Black, Raymond. Sizes 8-12

TACKLE

A 10-11.5 ft. rod is suitable for lough style wet-fly angling, shorter perhaps for dry fly. Floating lines are widely used for wet as well as dry fly. However, an intermediate sinking line is also a must for certain conditions.

When fishing specifically for Ferox trout, deep water trolling is required. Ferox trout reach 20lbs, or more, so tackle must be suitable and of good quality as these are strong, hard fighting fish.

For dapping a 12-15 ft. rod is required with a centre-pin, or spinning reel, loaded with blow line/monofilament line and dapping floss. Hook sizes should range from 6-10.

For trolling or bait fishing for both salmon and trout, an 8-10ft spinning rod with fixed spool or multiplier reel is recommended. 100-200yds. of 10-16lb breaking strain monofilament line is necessary. Baits include dead bait, spoons, plugs, Mepps, Rapalas, Toby's and Tasmanian Devils, Silver, Gold and Yellow-bellied Devons, Lane Minnow and rubber tailed spinners.

METHODS

All legal legitimate methods (live baiting is not permitted).

LICENCE

No licence required for brown trout fishing. Check out the following for regulations governing brown trout fishing in the Corrib catchment. http://www.wrfb.ie/Fisheries%20Protection/wildbrowntroutcorrib.html

SIZE and BAG LIMITS

Loughs Corrib, Mask and Carra 13" (33cm). Bag limit - 4 trout/angler/day and, of this number, only one trout of 4.53kg or more can be taken.
Loughs Conn and Cullin 12" (30.48cm)

SPECIMEN FISH

All specimen fish caught including salmon, trout, coarse and sea, should be reported to the Fisheries Board, from whose Head Office a claim form can be obtained.

SMALLER WATERS

Brown trout lakes varying in size from 50-1,000 acres include Lough Rea, Lough O'Flynn, Castlebar lakes, Callow Loughs, Bilberry Lough, Lough Muck, Luimnagh, Moher Lough and Kinlooey Lough. Some are limestone and consequently produce good-sized trout averaging over 1lb. Native brown trout stock is augmented by local clubs and Regional Fisheries Boards. Regulations vary from one water to another, most being fly-only with a bag limit.

Generally, trout are easier risen than in the large lakes. Consequently, anglers often turn to them during the low periods on the big lakes. Shore angling can often give good returns. Fly hatches are similar to those found on the big lakes and some produce the highest average rod catches in Ireland.

'BROWNIE LAKES'

There are hundreds of small lakes in the Western Region. Only a large scale map can show that there is almost a greater area of water than land. Usually these waters are acidic and do not have the abundance of fly life found on limestone lakes. Important flies are chironomids, small dark sedges and a variety of terrestrials including ants, moths and Daddy Longlegs.

The lakes are located in mainly mountainous districts of great scenic beauty, or in extensive areas of bog land which characterises large ares of Ireland West. Trout are small in the lakes, weighing 0.25-0.75lb. They are prolific, free-rising and give tremendous sport to wet and dry fly all season and are invaluable for the novice angler. These lakes vary greatly and there are some real gems amongst them with trout in excess of 1.25lb. Local advice is invaluable to ensure success. Dark flies are best: Black Pennell, Bibio, Connemara Black, Blae & Black, Mallard & Claret, Watson's Fancy, Sooty Olive, Butcher, Invicta, Silver Invicta, Green Peter, Dry Sedge and Daddy Longlegs. Sizes 12-14.

STOCKED FISHERIES

There are relatively few stocked "put and take" fisheries in the region. Ballinlough Lake, near Newport, Co. Mayo, contains a good stock of rainbow trout. Stocked as fingerlings they grow to 8lb in the rich limestone water.

STREAM/RIVER FISHING

Wild brown trout in the small rivers are plentiful and the angling season is from March to September 30. May to late September is peak time with late evening the best time for fly.

There are two distinct types of fishing: the acid streams of the west characterised by their relatively small trout (0.25-0.75lbs) and the limestone rivers of the east containing much larger fish. The western streams are generally headwaters of salmon and sea-trout fisheries which are normally privately owned. Fishing for brown trout in these systems if not normally permitted in order to preserve sea-trout stocks.

The eastern rivers drain into the large lakes and hold large trout, many between 3-6lbs Ideal waters for quality brown trout include the Clare and Robe rivers, the Cong Canal, the Keel river, the river Suck and some of its tributaries (such as the Shiven, Island and Killian rivers), the Castlegar and Bunowen rivers. Other excellent rivers include tributaries of the River Moy: the Clydagh, Castlebar and Manulla rivers, Gweestion River, Pollagh River, Glore River and Trimoge River, Sonnagh, Mullaghanoe and Owengarve rivers. The Boyle river is also good for fly fishing over much of the spring and summer.