Thursday, 23 February 2012
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Trout Fishing Season

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The season opens on 15 February and runs to 30th September

Lough Conn-Cullin and the River Moy

anglingThe River Moy drains Lough Conn - a beautiful lake of some 12,000 acres with many bays and Islands and noted for its free rising trout. Surveys have shown that it holds a stock of 500,000 wild trout. Conn enjoys a good run of spring salmon and an excellent run of Grilse. The main run of spring salmon enters the lake in mid-March and continues until early May. The Salmon Grilse run from May until the end of July early August. Lough Conn joins Lough Cullin at lovely Pontoon, which is famous for its salmon pool at the Pontoon Bridge. Tucked away under the shadow of Nephin Mountain and surrounded by forests and sandy beaches and bays. Lough Conn extends nine miles from north to south and varies in width from two to four miles. It is a fisher's paradise without doubt. Estimates show that Lough Conn produces 400-500 salmon and 8,000-10,000 trout each year.

Wild Brown Trout caught by Chris Wathen on Lough Conn may 2011

Wild Brown Trout caught on the fly by Chris Wathen (Uk) on Lough Conn May 2011
with Ghillie Kieran Connolly(Pontoon)  

Salmon and Trout Tackle/Flies

Trout fishing is mainly on wet flies, the best results from Olives, Mayflies and Sedges. However, dry fishing is becoming more and more effective and many of the hotel ghillies advocate this type of fly fishing when conditions are suitable. On the lakes the first action takes place in late March with the first hatch of Chironomides (locally called Duck Fly). Fish are normally caught by the wet fly angling from a drifting boat. Angling continues to improve through April and May culminating in the Mayfly hatch which usually occurs from early/mid May onwards until mid June.

fishing-lesson-2Wet fly tactics can get results when conditions are right throughout the summer and become increasingly effective again through September. A method peculiar to Irish ‘lough-style’ angling called “dapping” where natural insects like grass-hopper and "Daddy-Long-Legs" are used as bait can be very effective particularly in August when many terrestrial insects get blown on to the water. The Lough can yield trout of 10kg.

Irish Anglers normally use a floating line and three wet flies size 10 to 12 generally, two of which are attached to the leader by means of dropper (blood knot or water knot) and the third fished on the tail or at the point. As mentioned, dry fly angling is also successful on the loughs. Local tied flies trout and salmon flies from the ‘Donegal Fly Company’ (formerly Rogans) are available for purchase at the Hotel reception.

To fish for Brown Trout a permit is not required on Lough Conn or Cullen. It is better to check with Hotel re: the minimum size limit. Currently it is 10 inches, but more and more anglers are practicing “catch and release” and this is to be commended. Trolling and spinning are permitted and some anglers avail of the space between drifts to troll either with fly or spinning rod.

Hotel Salmon and Trout Fishing Facilities:
Freezer facilites, rod room, drying room, professional guides (ghillies), row boats, boats and engines for hire. Tackle shop with stocks of handed-tied flies, spinners, etc. Wellingtons and wet gear hire.



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