Ireland Travel Forum

Just a question for the locals or anyone who knows a good fishing location.

Where would be the best place to fish for large trout and salmon and what time of year? Spring or Fall or both? By large I mean in the 20-40lb range

I enjoy floating down rivers when I can but do quite a bit of bank fishing so any help would be greatly appreciated!

The best transportation for a tight budget would be appreciated as well.

Thanks for any info!!

Take a look at the central fisheries board website. www.cfb.ie

Floating on Irish rivers (if you mean float tubing) is something you won't see much of - and I'm not even sure it's permitted in most places. Even if allowed, it might not be appreciated - check locally. Some of the larger rivers may allow boat fishing for salmon, as they do on larger rivers here in Scotland. Rivers on this side of the atlantic tend to be much smaller and busier than the ones you may be used to.

Likewise, fish are not on the same scale. Atlantic almon over 20 pounds are going to be exceptional fish. A brown trout of that size especially so. The Irish sea trout record is only about 16 pounds, I think. For salmon fishing, you'll need a license, as well as local permits. For trout, no license is needed, but you'll usually need to buy a local permit. However, there's no permit needed for trout on many (if not all)of the big western loughs like Mask and Corrib. Those waters are also good for salmon on what is often very light fly tackle.

Thanks for the info.

Actually I meant floating down in a small boat or kayak or something like that.

Sounds good though, if I can catch fish in the teens I'm happy. I'm surprised the salmon aren't bigger but that is ok as well. I'm sure a 10 pounder feels pretty good.

I'm used to catching striped bass which average 5-20lb. There aren't many trout around where I'm living at the moment so anything is good.

Thanks again for the info and link.

Take care.

Nathan, why don't you google 'Fishing in Ireland' and you'll get all the information you need from a variety of websites?

I just had a look and there are pages and pages of websites.

For cheap transportation, the bus and for local trips, a bike.

What method do you use for stripers? There is also bass fishing in Ireland, but these are European bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and only found in salt water. Methods are broadly the same as for stripers.

James I usually use a mh rod w/ a baitcaster or a medium rod w/ spinning set-up and toss out a white pearl fluke w/ a 1/4oz exposed jig head. I usually fish freshwater where I'm at so saltwater will take getting used to the corrosion. I also only have 7 ft rods but I might be able to make do.

The light set-up is good times with a 9 pound striper. Caught one a couple weeks ago in the frigid weather.

The baitcaster is for the stripes around 15 and up although I could do it with the lighter set-up and likely will exclusively this year because it's such a fun fight. I usually end up snagging 6 foot 30+ pound gar as well with the BC set-up so it's nice to have a stout rod for those big boys in the spring.

Those Seabass look mean. I bet they would love a fluke as well. All you're doing obviously is mimicking a shad.

I've also had luck with a chartreuse jig with a tequila shad culprit worm in the 10 inch variety. Basically purple/blue with silver undertones.

I am Ekate just tying to figure out where the locals are having the best luck. I found a room in Sligo so I was wondering about that area as well. Just tying to gather as much info as possible ya know.

Thanks for all the tips!

You might also try the bass set-up on loughs where lure fishing is permitted. Might be good for salmon and larger pike. I have had salmon on a jigged / spun orange Berkley powergrub in the past - could be worth a try, though powerbait might not be permitted in a lot of places.

Nice. So I guess they only want you using live bait? That's kinda opposite of around here. They don't want minnows taking over a lake or pond.

I usually only lure fish. Is it a conservation type thing. They don't want fish eating artificial bait?

Those pollack look like monsters have you caught any of those?

Depends what you mean by live bait. You often find trout and salmon waters are fly-only. Others will allow spinning and worming. Live minnow for trout and salmon is often frowned upon, though not for pike. The objection to lure fishing, where there is an objection, tends to be on the grounds that it is less "sporting" than fly fishing. In practice, that means you're more likely to catch something. There is a rather perverse attitude to salmon and trout fishing on this side of the pond, in that traditional methods tend to stack the odds in favour of the fish.

I've caught small pollack before, but not on fly. Just on bait. They are not difficult to attract, but have a habit of heading for the floor when hooked. By some mysterious method, they proceed to snag your line and leave you looking kinda foolish.

Interesting.

I don't use live bait so I guess that's a good thing.

I don't really fly fish either though. Don't have the gear. But that's something I can get into most definitely.

It's nice to see a place stack the odds in favour of the fish.

Thanks for the tips!

I suppose I'll have to get some sort of boat to get about a hundred yards out and try my luck on the pollack as well.

I wonder if they would go after a plastic fluke.

I'll likely have to pick up a fly fishing set-up there as well. That's classic fishing.

Pollack will go for many kinds of artificial lure and natural bait, so you should have no problem with a plastic fluke. You can catch them off rocky shores and piers too, so boat isn't always necessary.

Nice. Thanks for the tips!

Do you know anything about the Sligo area if the fishing is pretty good. Seems like it would be but if you know of some good spots.

Also do you do much fly fishing? I've been looking at a 9', #6-8. Kinda want something I could also use in the saltwater.

Seems like I might need something a bit shorter if the river is as tight as you are saying.

Thanks again for all the replies!

I can't comment on Sligo in particular, but you'll be ale to find plenty on line. I fish on our Scottish lochs with a 9 foot 6/7 fly rod and have previously used a 10 foot 6/8. That's ideal for fishing big waters with the possibility of bigger fish, also for sea trout in rivers. I'd be happy to use that on a smaller river too, but a lot of people would go lighter. A 6/8 would be ok for light sea stuff too, though saltwater fly specialists tend to go for a heavier rod.

The town of Ballina in Co.Mayo is the salmon capital of Ireland. The river Moy runs right through the centre of the town so if you stayed in a hotel there you would have no transport problems getting to the best sites.
Check out www.northwestfisheries.ie/Moy/moy.fishery.htm and www.ballinasalmonfestival.ie
Flights to Sligo or Knock would be the best options.

Excellent.

Thank you very much for the reply and the links!

Now I just need to figure out how to get an employment VISA in Ireland without costing an arm and a leg.

Looking pretty difficult. EURO 1000 for 2 year work VISA. Maybe I should just visit for 2-3 months although I would like to stay.

Kind of a bummer but I'll keep searching. I guess I could get married but that would take longer that 3 months more than likely. Ha.

Oh well. visits are good too.

Thanks again for all the replies.