Fishing in Ballinamore
Ballinamore is widely acknowledged as an anglers paradise which as hosted numerous All-Ireland Championships and international angling championships. The area is a premier location for the coarse and pike angler with some of the cleanest and most lightly fished natural waters in Europe.
Ballinamore is internationally renowned for its abundance of coarse angling waters. Being in the centre of Leitrim's lakeland district there are a minimum of 40 lakes within a 10km radius of the town. Located within the middle reaches of the Shannon-Erne Waterway, a narrow canalised river connecting a series of lakes from Lough Scur to Garadice; there is a great variety of waters to be discovered.
Most of the waters can be fished from the shore, however for those who wish to explore further, boats are available locally for hire. For the angler who likes canal fishing, there are several notable areas of the Ballinamore Canal with accessible fishing. The Canal has healthy stocks of Bream, Roach, Tench Perch, Eel, and Pike. Specialised fishing maps, bait and tackle together with local knowledge are available from the Tourist Office, The Forge and through the local angling club via email at lakelandsangling@gmail.com.
A cluster of small lakes are located 3km east of Ballinamore and close to the Ballinamore/Killeshandra Road. Bolganard, Corgar, Drumlonan and Corduff lakes vary in size from 2 to 13 hectares and depths of up to 7m have been recorded in Corgar Lough. Fishing is from stands as these lakes are almost entirely reed fringed and contain good stocks of bream and tench to specimen size, hybrids, roach and even rudd are present. Bolganard once held the Irish Specimen Record for Bream at 12lbs 3oz. Car parking facilities are available with easy access, although a significant walk is required to reach the best swims for tench at Drumlonan.
Garadice lake, located 8km east of Ballinamore is one of Ireland's premier waters, covering 389 hectares it holds Roach, Hybrids, Rudd, Perch, and Pike previously and shoals of bream are still present. Much of the lake is in the region of 5m in depth but there are some deeper areas up to 20m. The deepest part of the lake consists of a large basin located south west of Church Island where depths of 10-20m have been recorded. A great match fishing location regularly featured in the World Pairs Angling Championships - see www.worldpairsangling.com for information.
Most of the lake can be fished from the bank and provides developed road access at Haughton’s and Church Shores where anglers may park behind their swim and fish. Permanent pegging is in place to help the match angler.The Garadice Lake Amenity also provides a wheelchair friendly stand at peg one, slip-way, pic-nic area and toilet facilities. A boat slipway is also provided in the harbour at Haughtons shore where toilet and shower facilities are also present.
Good fishing is present at Connolly’ Shore on the south side of the lake. Here anglers are asked to use the parking area provided and walk to the shore unless prior consent is arranged with the landowner.
St. Johns and Kiltybardan Loughs are located 4km west of Ballinamore and cover a combined area of 146 hectares, connected by a short river channel and form part of the Shannon Erne navigation. Both Loughs are shallow in nature with depths rarely exceeding 5m. These popular coarse fishing venues contain a good head of fodder fish and produce good catches of small to medium sized pike on a regular basis. There is good bank fishing available at the car parking areas on both waters but use of a boat will give access to areas not accessible from the shore. A boat slip is provided upstream of lock seven on the Shannon Erne Waterway which is located a short distance downstream from St. Johns Lough. Boats can also be launched from the car park at Kiltybardan. Car parking is provided at Kiltybardan on the R208 Ballinamore to Carrick on Shannon road and also at the bridge crossing the channel connecting the two lakes.
The Lakelands Angling Club hosts the Ballinamore Angling Festival in May each year. This five day coarse angling competition usually carries good sponsorship and attracts anglers from overseas. In September each year Ireland’s most prestigious match fishing competition the World Pairs Angling Championships comes to Ballinamore attracting many high profile anglers from Ireland, the UK and Europe to the area. Visit www.worldpairsangling.com
If you would like to reserve any of the above venues for an event please contact the club at lakelandsangling@gmail.com or call into the Tourism Office on Main Street. A list of bookings for the venue can also be viewed on the clubs facebook page, at The Forge and in the Tourist Office.
Fishing in Carrigallen
Carrigallen is set among lakes that form part of the great Erne system and here the angler is ideally positioned to explore some of the richest waters of the region that spread out across three counties yet within a 3-mile radius. In fact there are no less than 14 first class waters within this 3-mile radius.
Gulladoo Lake
The largest lake in the Carrigallen area divided in two halves with a short connecting river channel. The Upper and Lower Lakes produce consistent fishing for Bream, Roach, Rudd, Pike, Perch, and Eels. Tench have begun to appear regularly in some swims in the Upper Lake. Both lakes are now regular venues for the King of Clubs.
The Town Lake
Easily accessible with lakeside car park, holds Bream, Roach, Rudd Tench, Pike, Perch, and Eels.
Gangin & Mosey Lakes
On the outskirts of the town. Fishing from stands for Bream, Roach, Rudd ,Pike, Perch, and Eels.
Tully and Beaghmore Lakes
Rudd/Bream Hybrids are a feature in the twin lakes, reaching up to 5lbs in weight. Tully also yields significant catches of Bream and Roach.
Cullies Lake
Easy access with lakeside car park. Fishing from bank for, Bream, Roach, Rudd ,Pike, Perch, and Eels.
Glasshouse Lake
Glasshouse Lake is a medium to large lake covering 54 hectares located approximately 7km north east of Carrigallen. This lake is largely reed fringed with the exception of the roadside shoreline and small sections of the eastern and western shores. The roadside shoreline is generally shallow but areas of deeper water occur off the eastern and western shores. The lake contains reasonable stocks of small to medium sized pike but larger fish are known to be present. There is good access via a lakeside road to bank fishing from swims in a “Coillte” forest. The proximity of roadside access to the waters edge means that this venue is suitable for anglers with reduced mobility. Anglers should be aware that wading at this location can be hazardous due to the unstable nature of the lake bed and should be avoided. It is possible to launch a boat from the roadside before the entrance to the forest.
Fishing in Glenfarne
Upper Lough MacNean is an excellent coarse fishing lake. The lake contains Bream, Roach, Hybrids, Pike, Perch and Eels. A small stock of Brown Trout is also present. There is little or no walking involved and the water at Glenfarne Forest can be fished almost out of the car.
The lake is really consistent and has a reputation for fishing well in flood. Recent improvements (carried out by local voluntary effort) including a fishing stand adapted to the needs of disabled anglers make this an ideal venue for anglers with limited mobility.
Fishing in Keshcarrigan
Keshcarrigan is another fine angling centre with a good selection of waters.
Lough Scur
This lake is located 1km northwest of the village of Keshcarrigan and is the summit level of the Shannon Erne navigation. It covers an area of 114 hectares, is shallow in nature with depths to 5m. This popular coarse fishing venue contains a good stock of skimmer bream and produces good catches of small to medium sized pike on a regular basis. Pike in excess of 20lbs have also been recorded from this water.
There are extensive areas of fishable bank on the Keshcarrigan and Driney shores and car parking is provided in both areas. A car park and boat slipway are located at Drumcong along the main Ballinamore to Carrick on Shannon road (R208) and boats can also be launched at the Waterways Ireland mooring in the village of Keshcarrigan.
Carrickport Lough
This lough is located at Drumcong village on Ballinamore to Carrick-on-Shannon road (R208). The lake covers an area of 46 hectares and has depths to 7m. Car parking is available at the village opposite the eastern shore of the lake. This lake is mostly reed fringed and is best fished from a boat but bank fishing is possible from the eastern shore. There are no dedicated boat launching facilities at this venue but arrangements may be made locally to launch boats from other parts of the shore with permission of the riparian landowners. This lightly fished lake has good stocks of pike up to 10lbs.
Drumlaheen Lake
This lake covers an area of 103 hectares and is located 6km southwest of Ballinamore close to the R209. This water consists of two basins connected by a short channel which only allows access from one basin to the other during high water conditions. The western basin has depths to 5m whilst the eastern basin (known locally as Greagh Lake) is much deeper, with depths in excess of 18m having been recorded. Access to shore fishing on the western basin is located on the northern shore where a car park is also provided. Access to the best shore fishing on the eastern basin is difficult and entails a 500m walk across farmland. This lake is best fished from a boat and it is possible to launch a small boat from the car park. Good stocks of small to medium sized pike are present in this lightly fished water. However, as this lough has bream to specimen size the possibility of catching much larger pike exists.
Keshcarrigan and Castlefore
These lakes are located close to the village of Keshcarrigan. The larger of the two lakes Keshcarrigan covering 39 hectares with depths to 4m has bank fishing from concrete stands on the northern shore. Two of these stands provide access for wheelchairs and anglers with reduced mobility. Boats can be launched from the lakeshore car park. Castlefore, which covers an area of 21 hectares, with depths to 6m has limited bank fishing from stands. It is possible to launch a small boat at the inlet located at the eastern end of the lake close to the (R209). These popular venues contain reasonable stocks of pike in the 8 to 10lb bracket.
The Forge Bait and Tackle Shop
theforgeballinamore
(071) 964 4051
Located on the Main Street 'The Forge' has something for everyone including fresh bait and essential supplies for the angler. A hub for information you will find the anglers congregate here to discuss their catches over a cup of tea!
Ballyduff Boat Hire
(086) 171 9369
Lake boats for hire - reasonable rates.
Lakelands Angling Club
Facebook: Lakelands Angling Ballinamore
(071) 964 4051
E: lakelandsangling@gmail.com
Local coarse angling club
Trout and Pike Fishing
troutandpikefishingholidaysireland.net
(086) 170 4291
There are 28 lakes within 5 miles of Ballinamore if you fancy a day out with local fishing guide David Crosbie please ring or visit our website.
