Angling in County Offaly
Fishing around Edenderry
GRAND CANAL
Expect bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, rudd, tench pike and perch - you might even catch a carp on this prolific canal. There are nine permanent match stretches of canal within 10 miles of Edenderry, creating a total of 225 permanent pegs and all of them available year round to visiting pleasure anglers. The towpaths are driveable and provide easy access at all times. Pole tackle has proven to be most effective with worm, caster, maggot, bread, corn and soft pellets. There is an excellent guide and series of maps available by telephoning Waterway Ireland on 028 6634 6219.
Fishing around Shannonbridge
RIVER SHANNON
Expect bream, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike. At Shannonbridge there is an assortment of fishing spots from well known, well used pieces of bank, to backwaters rarely tackled by anyone. Having a ‘holiday banker’ is always handy and the renowned hot water stretch at the power station can be depended upon to produce fish, particularly big tench and hybrids. A particularly productive and comfortable spot is a large cut-off from the main river called Cappaleitra, upstream of Shannonbridge. A bread feeder is always going to outscore pole or float gear on this part of the river and you will need 5lb main line, hook lengths of at least 2lb and hook size from 14 to 10 with baits to match.
Fishing around Banagher
RIVER SHANNON
Expect bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike. Banagher is a great base to explore the Shannon while catching bigger-than-average fish of all species. A good starting point is Bullock Island, upstream of town, or you can try the town section for quality roach. The small public marina in Banagher is stuffed full of fish in spring and is a perfect spot for a spell of after-dinner floatfishing in the evening.
RIVER SHANNON – SHEEBEEN
Expect bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike. This section is popular for match fishing in April and September when big shoals of roach appear prior to spawning, but there is good year-round sport with roach, hybrids and bream. This is a deep backwater off the main river that must be tackled with long pole or feeder gear.
RIVER SHANNON - MEELICK
Expect bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike. There is fast water holding lots of summer fish below Meelick Weir that often produces big fish, including some great pike. Another good spot is at Victoria Lock (below the lock on the left) where pole or a bread feeder will tempt scale-perfect roach and bream. While some of the largest tench, bream and hybrids, are often caught in the backwaters of the ‘pump house’, and ideal spot for pleasure anglers who want nothing more than to fish at their rod end for a chance of catching something spectacular.
Fishing around Shannon Harbour
RIVER SHANNON & BROSNA
Expect bream, roach, hybrids, rudd, tench, perch and pike. A quiet holiday spot with one guesthouse and a pub – and some terrific doorstep fishing for quality fish on the Shannon’s backwaters, along the fast-running Brosna or along the quieter banks of the Grand Canal. There is a lot of great fishing available for those anglers willing to spend a day foraging for fishing spots – a good starting point is where the Shannon and Brosna meet. There is room for a three anglers on the point dividing the two rivers and a chance of some great sport.
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