Angling in County Galway
Fishing around Ballinasloe
RIVER SUCK
Expect to catch bream, roach, hybrids, rudd, tench, perch and pike. The River Suck is a main tributary of the Shannon and the Ballinasloe sections are mostly slow and deep – but with plenty of fish. It was famous for huge spring match catches in the 1970s and 80s but these days it is a spot for the adventurous pleasure fishermen who are likely to come across specimen bream, tench, roach and pike. Access is good but needs some homework to save time at the start of your holiday.
Fishing around Moycullen
BALLYQUIRKE LAKE
Expect to catch bream, roach, hybrids, rudd, tench, perch and pike. Moycullen boats a mini-lake district made up of 11 lakes with good stocks of mixed fish that rarely see a baited hook these days. The various waters range from six acres to 400 and most of them have been developed to ensure easy access with fishing stands, styles and foot bridges. Ballyquirke Lake and Ross Lake should be top of your ‘to fish’ waters but anyone wanting to catch specimen tench should try Ballindooley Lough, which has been stocked with specimen size tench. Long range floatfishing with a waggler is handy on this water system, but feeder fishing and pole tackle will catch a lot of fish too.
Fishing around Portumna
LOUGH DERG
Expect to catch bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike. Access on foot is restricted along the northern shoreline of this 26-mile long lake and that’s a pity because the standard of fishing can be excellent. To get a crack at catching big roach, hybrids and bream, the best idea is to hire a boat locally and get involved with some serious pre-baiting. Almost all of the big catches have been made on feeder gear. Pike fishing on Derg is outstanding with lots of big fish to be had.
RIVER SHANNON – Town Section & Roger’s Island
Expect to catch bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike. There is a 500 metres long stretch of the Shannon downstream of the town’s swing bridge that has about 40 comfortable bank swims where all sorts of fish can be caught. The best catches are made in April and May, then again in autumn when the roach and hybrids congregate in this part of the river. Pole anglers usually fish 11 metres-to-hand but plenty of fish are also caught on a crumb feeder with big baits.
RIVER SHANNON – Salmon Run
Expect to catch bream, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike. Located upstream on the road to Banagher, this section of the Shannon is famous for massive amount of roach and hybrids in spring and autumn, thought here are fish – including plenty of bream to to be caught all year round. Pole and feeder gear is essential, along with plenty of groundbait plus casters, worms and maggot. There is room for 40-plus anglers.
Fishing around Tuam
LOUGH ACLAUREEN
Expect to catch bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, and tench. Some six miles from Tuam, Lough Aclaureen is a small but impressive water holding, roach, tench, and bream. It has 14 excellent fishing stands. There is parking 200 metres from the shore and a walkway thereafter over fairly rough forest grounds. The Western Regional Fisheries Board built the fishing stands and hopefully will improve on better access. The lough has directional signs along the road between Tuam and Kilmaine.
Wherever you fish in Ireland, the chances of catching fish are hugely improved by pre-baiting to attract fish into your chosen swim. Ideally this is done the evening before (or for a couple of days)using breadcrumb or local maize meal carrying particle baits such as sweetcorn, boiled wheat, hemp and pellets.
This is a snapshot of the fishing available around Galway. There are many more exciting waters and all of them available to visitors with no rod licences requirements, no permits, and fishing is all-year-round. Come on over!
|
