Mill Lough Bellanaleck
+44 7540418223

Where & When to Fish in Co. Fermanagh

Below is a handy guide as to where & when to fish in Co Fermanagh and the surrounding areas.

Lower Lough Erne

Lower Lough Erne’s most popular fishing locations are shown on the map. At many of the Lough’s locations, fishing stands were erected to improve access. For Brown Trout, fly fishing is particularly effective. The Lough’s most important period for fly fishing is, without doubt, the Mayfly season. Mayflies first make their appearance in early to mid-May and continue for between 3 and 4 weeks.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 200 meters

Area/Length: 10,384 hectares/25+ km

Species: Pike, Bream, Perch, Roach, Rudd, Brown Trout & Salmon

Season:

1st of March to 30th of September for Salmon, Brown Trout and Sea Trout

Pike & other coarse fish: all year

Methods: All lawfully permitted methods

During the Mayfly season, fish are usually taken on both dry and wet flies. Widely used wet flies include, to name just a few, Golden Olive Bumble, French Partridge and Rogan’s Extractor. Commonly used dry flies include, among others, Erne Special, Green Wulff, Mosely and O’Connors.

While a popular fishing method in Ireland’s West, dapping, a very relaxed style of fishing that usually attracts larger fish, is practised on Lough Erne to a lesser degree.

Size Limits:

Coarse exceeding 25cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Minimum takeable trout size: 30cm

Daily Bag Limits:

Trout: 6 per rod

Coarse: 4 coarse per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: Fishing is permitted both from mechanical & non-mechanical boats

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Upper Lough Erne

One of Europe’s most exquisite coarse fishing waters, the Erne has become a popular competition venue for anglers. On warmer days, pike will happily bask on the water’s surface and fishing can be most exciting using fly rods & gaudy pike flies.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 6 km

Area/Length: 3.075 hectares

Species: Pike, Rudd, Perch, Roach and Bream, Brown Trout & Salmon

Season: 

1st of March to 30th of September for Salmon, Brown Trout and Sea Trout

Pike & other coarse fish: all year

Methods: All lawfully permitted methods

Usually caught by trolling lures or on dead bait, Pike fly fishing has proven to be very popular among fly anglers seeking sport during the closed season for trout fishing.

Fishing from boats may also prove significantly more successful than fishing from banks, with more readily available access to hot-spots for Pike.  Any areas where water drops off suddenly to a deeper level are likely to hold Pike of good size.

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Minimum takeable trout size: 30cm

Daily Bag Limits: 

Trout: 6 per rod

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: Fishing is permitted both from mechanical & non-mechanical boats

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Keenaghan Lough

A very popular lake attracting anglers from far and near, Keenaghan is situated just 1 km away from Dulrush fishing Lodge. Mostly hard bottomed, the south and north shores are easy to wade. Along the Lough’s western shore, aquatic weeds impede fishing. Where shore angling can be difficult, several natural stone stands were provided.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 1 km

Area/Length: 15.3 hectares

Species: Brown Trout

Season: 1st of March to 31st of October

Methods: Only Fly Fishing

Daily Bag Limits: 4 Trout/rod

Size Limits: Minimum takeable trout size: 25.4cm

Boats: Fishing permitted from non-mechanical boats only

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Lough Scolban

The main fish type found in Lough Scolban is Pike, with some specimens weighing up to around 9 kg. There is also an abundance of roach and perch, which do, however, tend to be rather small. Occasionally bream and trout are taken, but they are generally not of main interest for the anglers here. Lough Scolban is located just 0.75 km from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 0.75 km

Area/Length: 69 Hectares

Species: Pike, Bream, Roach, Rudd & Perch

Season: Throughout the year

Methods: All lawfully permitted methods including maggots and ground bait for coarse fish.

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Daily Bag Limits: 

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: Fishing permitted from non-mechanical boats only

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Lough Melvin

Famous for its rare and unusual trout species like ferox, sonaghan and gillaroo, Lough Melvin also holds perch and salmon char.

Between the 1st of February and the 30th of September and the 15th of February and the 30th of September respectively, Sea Trout and Brown Trout are taken.  The Grilse run commences in June, with fish caught across the lake from Kinlough all the way to Rossinver.

Situated within Co. Fermanagh (NI) and Co. Leitrim (ROI), the Lough Melvin catchment (42% of which sprawls across Northern Ireland) drains a total area of 265 km2 and is 3 km wide and 13 km long (east to west.  Good public access is available to the lake with piers at Breffni, Dernaseer and Kinlough. This Lough is a very popular choice among anglers staying at Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 4km

Area/Length: 2,000 Hectares

Species: Ferox, Sonaghan and Gillaroo Trout; Grilse, Salmon, Perch & Char

Season: 15th of February to 30th of September

Methods: The norm is traditional lough-style fishing

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Minimum takeable trout size: 30cm

Daily Bag Limits: 

Trout: 6 per rod

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: Fishing permitted from non-mechanical boats only

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Ballinamallard River

A small river, Ballinamallard River has trout as its main species. There are, whenever conditions are suitable from around mid-July onward, also some salmon. During the season’s early part, using dry fly promises good fishing. This river is located just 12 km from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 12km

Area/Length: 1.6km

Species: Mainly Brown Trout, also some Salmon

Season: 1st of March to 30th of September

Methods: Spinning, Fly Fishing & Worm Fishing

Size Limits: 

Minimum takeable trout size: 25.4cm

Daily Bag Limits: 

Trout: 4 per rod/day

Boats: …

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Navar Lakes – Meenameen, Glencreawan and Achork

Within Navar Lakes’ forest area there are a scenic drive, touring caravan site and a cliff-top viewpoint. Three lakes – Meenameen, Glencreawan and Achork – are open to DAERA (Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure) permit holders.  In Lough Navar, the fourth lake, no fishing is permitted. This location’s breathtaking beauty will leave you with a lasting impression even if you fail to catch a single fish.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 12km

Area/Length: 

Meenameen – 18.6 hectares

Glencreawan – 19 hectares

Achork – 4 hectares

Species: 

Achork & Meenameen: Brown Trout only

Glencreawan: Brown & Rainbow Trout

Season: 1st of March to 31st of October

Methods: 

Achork & Meenameen: Fly fishing, Worm Fishing and Spinning

Glencreawan: Fly Fishing only

Size Limits: 

Minimum takeable trout size: 25.4cm

Daily Bag Limits: 

Trout: 4 per rod/day

Boats: Fishing permitted only from non-mechanical boats. Fly Fishing on all lakes from boats only

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Colebrook River

Colebrook River is predominantly a coarse fishery, although towards the season’s end salmon and some brown trout of up to 2 kg moving to the river’s upper reaches are frequently caught. This river provides good fishing opportunities with numerous large pike.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 30 km

Area/Length: 3.2 km

Species: Trout, Salmon, the occasional Pike, Bream, Roach, Rudd & Perch

Season: 

Trout & Salmon: 1st of March to 30th of September

Coarse fish: All year (below Ballindarragh Bridge on the lower river only)

Methods: 

Trout & Salmon: Fly Fishing, Worm Fishing and Spinning

Coarse Fish (below Ballindarragh Bridge on the lower river only): All lawfully permitted methods including maggots and ground bait

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25 cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Minimum takeable trout size: 25.4 cm

Daily Bag Limits: 

Brown Trout: 4 per rod/day

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: Fishing from boats not permitted

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Corranny Lough

The small Corranny Lough is located near Dernawilt crossroads, at the fork of the road. There are eleven fishing stands, a shore pathand a car-park. This Lough is annually stocked with rainbow trout (takeable).

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 50 km

Area/Length: 4.6 hectares

Species: Annually stocked with Rainbow Trout

Season: 1st of February to 31st of December

Methods: Spinning,Fly Fishing & Worm Fishing

Size Limits:

Minimum takeable Trout size: 25.4cm

Daily Bag Limits: 

Trout: 4 per rod/day

Pike: 1 per day

Coarse Fish: 4 per day

Boats: …

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Killyfole

Killyfole is a reservoir in east Fermanagh, between Lisnaskea & Rosslea. Firm and gravelly, the south side has a long slope. The softer north side has a dangerous area within its north-west corner, where sandy banks & deep water are indicated by a warning notice.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 50km

Area/Length: 22.6 hectares

Species: Perch, Pike, Roach, Tench & Bream

Season: Throughout the year

Methods: All legally permitted methods including maggots and ground bait

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25 cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Daily Bag Limits: 

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: Fishing from boats not permitted

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Upper Lough MacNean

Like Lough Erne, this fishing location features varying secluded bays and islands. Suitable for pike fishing by boat, this lough – another very popular choice for anglers staying at Dulrush Fishing Lodge – is mainly fished for trout, typically during the year’s mayfly season.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 20 km

Area/Length: This cross-border lake has an area of 983 hectares, 458 of which are within Northern Ireland

Species: Perch, Pike, Roach, Bream & Hybrids, as well as Brown Trout

Season: Throughout the year

Methods: All legally permitted methods including maggots and ground bait for coarse fish

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25 cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Daily Bag Limits: 

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: Fishing from boats not permitted

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Mill Lough Bellanaleck

Stocked annually with takeable fish, Mill Lough Bellanaleck is a very popular fishery with fish growing up to 5 kg in weight during the winter. At this fishery, fast fished lures and upwing olives are prominent.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 15 km

Area/Length: 40 Hectares

Species: Brown & Rainbow Trout

Season: 1st of March to 31st of October

Methods: Fly Fishing from shore and boat only

Size Limits: 

Minimum takeable trout size: 25.4cm

Daily Bag Limits: 

Trout: 4 per rod

Boats: Fishing permitted from non-mechanical boats hired from the listed riparian owners only. No privately-owned boats permitted.

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Stillwater Coarse Fisheries

These six lakes were developed by Fermanagh District Council and the Erne & Melvin Enhancement Company for coarse fishing.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge:

Area/Length: …

Species: Perch, Bream, Roach, Tench & Pike

Season: Throughout the year

Methods: All lawfully permitted methods including maggots and ground bait for coarse fish

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25 cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Daily Bag Limits: 

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: …

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Blessingbourne Lakes

Sitting amongst mature woodland, Blessingbourne Lakes consists of two lakes, the larger of which is approximately 3 m deep. Best known for excellent specimen Perch and Pike fishing, this lake also holds good stocks of Rudd and Roach to 1lb. The smaller one of the lakes is approximately 2 metres deep. Featuring a shore path, this lake contains abundant smaller fish stocks.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 30 km

Area/Length: …

Species: Perch, Pike, Rudd, Roach, Bream & Hybrids, as well as Eels

Season: Throughout the year

Methods: All lawfully permitted methods including maggots and ground bait for coarse fish

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25 cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Daily Bag Limits: 

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: …

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Assaroe Lake

An artificial 234 hectare lake created by the Cliff Hydro and Cathleen Falls schemes, Assaroe Lake is located a short drive from Dulrush Fishing Lodge, Co. Fermanagh. Predominantly rocky and featuring little weed growth, all the lake’s shores are fishable. Shore angling is allowed only around the southern shore’s Lakeside Centre and from the lake’s northern shore. Fishing stands were installed to facilitate angling on the back lough.

Northern shore fishing is accessible via Knader Road coming out of Belleek, approximately 3 km from Dulrush Fishing Lodge. Although boat angling is permitted, anglers are advised to exercise caution, as rocks and remnants of tree-stumps can make navigating some areas of the lake dangerous. For safety reasons, boat fishing is not permitted close to the dams and the floating barriers may not be passed by boat anglers.

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 3 km

Area/Length: 234 hectares

Species: Salmon & Brown Trout; bream, perch, good hybrids and roach up to well above 2lb, as well as some very large pike.

Season: 1st of March to 30th of September

Methods: 

Shore fishing permitted only along the North shore, best with spinner, fly or worm

Size Limits: 

Coarse exceeding 25 cm and pike weighing 8.8 lb (4 kg) or more must be returned alive & unharmed to the water

Daily Bag Limits: 

Coarse: 4 per day

Pike: 1 per day

Boats: Seasonal boat permits are required to launch boats on the fishery

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

Drowes Salmon Fishery

Situated 12 km from Dulrush Fishing Lodge, Drowes Salmon Fishery is one the premier grilse and spring salmon fisheries in Ireland. It has a broad variety of waters suitable for fishing methods of all types, including slower moving, deeper pools suitable for bait fishing & spinning and several miles’ worth of good fly fishing water.

We are very lucky at Dulrush Fishing Lodge to have The Drowes, which is among the country’s earliest opening salmon fisheries and regularly lays claim to the honour of producing the Irish season’s first salmon on January the 1st (opening day), right here on our doorstep.

Some 5 miles long and featuring more than 70 named pools, the river flows from Lareen Bay (Lough Melvin) and enters the sea just outside Bundoran (at Tullaghan).

Distance from Dulrush Fishing Lodge: 12 km

Area/Length: 5 miles

Species: Grilse, Salmon, Brown & Sea Trout

Season: 

Salmon: 1st of January to 30th of September

Sea Trout: 1st of January to 30th of September

Brown Trout: 15th of February to 30th of September

Methods: Fly Fishing, Bubble Fly, Prawn and Shrimp, Worming & Spinning

Size & Daily Bag Limits: 

12th of May to 31st of August: 3 salmon of any size or sea trout exceeding 40 cm per day (except where an ordinary one-day salmon rod licence is held, where the limit is 1 fish)

1st of September to Close of Season: 1 salmon of any size or sea trout exceeding 40 cm per day

The angling bag limit for sea trout under 40 cm is 3 fish per angler/day.

Boats: 

Licence: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Permits: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge on request.

Boat Hire: Available from Dulrush Fishing Lodge

Ghillies /Fishing Guides available on request from Dulrush Fishing Lodge.

There are a variety of regulations that apply to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  Click this link for more information – http://www.fishinginireland.info/regulations.htm

If you have any questions regarding fishing regulations on our island, prior to or during your stay please do not hesitate to ask us.