Where to Fish in Southern Ireland - Longford
The Southern Ireland Where to Fish A to Z
Coarse Fishing | Rivers | Stillwaters / Loughs
The Shannon
The river Shannon is one enormous fishery running through several counties, many loughs and an associated, extensive canal system.
Sourced from Shannon Pot the river flows 224 miles through Cavan, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Rosscommon, Offaly, Gallway, Tiperary, Limerick and Clare forming the border between counties for much of it's length.
Google Satelite View, That little spot is the soure of the Shannon. From little acorns....
The Shannon drains one fith of Ireland, 6,512 sqaure mile, passing through loughs Allen, Drumharlow, Corry, Tap, Boderg, Bofin, Forbes, Ree, and Derg. It is also linked to Dublin by the Grand Canal. There are also many canalised sections associated with the river Shannon.
Shannon is mentioned in all counties in Spinfish Where to Fish guide to fishing in Ireland but there is so much of it you really need many more references to get to grips with this famed river. Here are a few links well worth checking out:
Country Sport and Country Life Coarse Fishing in the Shannon Region
Fishing in Ireland Tulla Angling Centre
Fishing in Ireland, Shannon, Banagher
Fishing in Ireland Lanesboro Angling Centre / Shannon
Fishing in Ireland Lough Ree
Midland Fisheries Group, Waters and Permits
Lough Ree Angling Hub
Located at the north end of Lough Ree where the Shannon enters the lough Lough Ree Angling Hub is a fishing Mecca. No point in me rambling on about it just go to this link on Fishing in Ireland:
Lanesboro Angling Centre
Might have been renamed Lanesboro Angling Hub, call 00353 43 327691.
Checked 19/07/19
Rivers Game
Inny
Part of the Shannon system draining into Lough Ree the Inny offers good wild brown trout fishing. Generally a slow moving up stream the river flow picks up between Ballymahon and Abbeyshrule where there is good trout fishing especially dry fly. Trout into the 3 to 4lb range can be had as fish run up from lough Ree.
The Inny is closed at present for salmon fishing.
Google Street View River Inny, Ballymahon
Google Map Ballymahon 53.561761, -7.762142
The Upper reaches flowing through Lough Sheelin, Loughs Kinale and Derragh, Lough Derrvarargh, then Iron Lough are more suited to coarse fishing with excellent pike fishing with fishing with specimens into the 20lb plus range not uncommon.
Fishing on the Inny comes under the Midland Fisheries Group Permit which also gives access to Loughs Derravarargh, Iron, Kinale and Derragh as wells a L Sheelin.
Checked 18/07/19
Shannon
Salmon fishing on the river Shannon is closed at this time while stocks recover. This is reviewed annually, if stock levels become sustainable the river could be upgraded to C & R and in time declared open. Keep checking the link on the S Ireland Index page for changes in status. Every salmon angler whether from Ireland or not would want to see the Shannon back.
Stillwaters / Loughs
Loch Ree
The second biggest lough on the Shannon river system lies on the border between Co Westmeath and Longford. Located near the town of Atlone. The loch is a limestone water which ensures this mixed fishery has the food species to grow fish.
The trout fishing has improved significantly based on the fact that the size limit for trout is minimum size, 36cm, about 14 inches.
Fly fishing is very effective with good hatches of flies although many anglers troll rapalas. Fly fishing is down in the shallows especiall at Inch More, Hare Island and Inch Turk.
Fishing on the lough does not require a license. There is good access to launch boats. At Lanesboro there is a slipway, jetty, fishing platforms and specially designed facilities for disabled anglers.
Google Map Reference Lanesboro 53.673571, -7.997417
Hares Island 53.473660, -7.934599
Inch More 53.507111, -7.936969
Inch Turk 53.520354, -7.937316
Checked 13/07/19
Coarse Fishing
Camlin River
A slow moving river that appears to split near Tamonberry, up to 10ft deep, which, joining the Shannon just below Lough Forbes and at Tarmonberry.
The Camlin has good stocks of bream, roach and hybrids, also some tench to 5lbs. Best fished above the N5 road. (There is also the Feorish River which has good stocks of bream, roach, and hybrids but weeds up badly in the summer.
Camlin and District Anglers located in Longford have a very lively competition scene for trout and the big pike in the area especially on Lough Ree.
Checked 14/07/19
Forbes Lough
At 500 acres with the river Shannon running through it it might be considered a very big pool. The Rinn river also flows into the upper end of the lough. There are good stocks of bream, perch, silver and roach/bream, rudd/bream hydrids but is best know for the pike which can be huge/ best fished for in winter / spring. The lough is shared with Roscommon.
Can't find information on permits.
Google Map 53.785617, -7.881142
Checked 14/07/19
Lough Gowna
Lough Gowna straddles the border between Longford and Cavan on the head water of the river Erne. Very accessible and known for it's excellent pike fishing with 30lb plus specimens caught every year. These are also good stocks of coarse fish. At just under 1200 hectares this convoluted lough offers some excellent fishing.
To find out more go to Fishing in Ireland at:
Fishing Lough Gowna
Google Map 53.88230/2, -7.581453
Checked 18/07/19
Inny
Part of the Shannon system draining into Lough Ree the Inny offers good wild brown trout fishing. Generally a slow moving up stream the river flow picks up between Ballymahon and Abbeyshrule where there is good trout fishing especially dry fly.
Google Street View River Inny, Ballymahon
Google Map Ballmahon 53.561761, -7.762142
The Upper reaches flowing through Lough Sheelin, Loughs Kinale and Derragh, Lough Derrvarargh, then Iron Lough are more suited to coarse fishing with excellent pike fishing with fishing with specimens into the 20lb plus range not uncommon.
Checked 18/07/19
Lough Ree
The second biggest lough on the Shannon river system lies on the border between Co Westmeath and Longford. Located jusy north of the town of Atlone the loch has good stocks of bream, pike, perch, roach and eels.
At the other end of the loch is Lanesboro where there are custom built facilites for disabled anglers. Excellent coarse fishing due to the warm wate outlfow from the Lanesboro Power Station.
Google Street View Lanesboro
Google Map Reference 53.674056, -7.992111
Checked 13/07/19
River Rinn
The river Rinn flows from Lough Rinn which is county Leitrim. All a bit complex so best to have a look at this link to to Fishing in Ireland to see the plethora of fishing options available in this area;
Lough and River Rinn and surrounding area
Checked 14/07/19
Lough Sallagh
Near Ballinmuck, a shallow lough holding good stocks of bream, perch and roach The lough is weed fringed and can be very weedy in the summer. Getting to the lough is easy, there is a road skirting the eastern shore but parking is very limited as it is single track.
There is one location at Goolge Map Map Reference 53.872503, -7.753041where you could park with some clear water, please ask around locally to see if ok.
Checked 18/07/19
