Game Angling
Game Angling
Carrowmore Lake
Carrowmore Lake lies 2 miles north-west of Bangor in Co. Mayo. The slopes of Knocknascollop rise up along the west shore. The lake is over 4 miles long and nearly 3 miles at its widest part, though it narrows to ½ mile at one point. It holds spring salmon from opening day (1 January) and Sea Trout from late June and it has a resident stock of brown trout with some good ones among them. The salmon fishing season opens on 1 January and the lough holds a good stock of spring salmon even at that early date. Serious fishing begins with the first mild weather in February and a break in the winter storms. Bank fishing is not allowed. Fishing methods are spinning and flyfishing to 31 March and thereafter it is flyfishing only. This is probably the premier spring salmon fishing lough in the country. The predominant angling quarry – at the height of the season from July onwards – is the seatrout. However, the lough can suffer from an algae bloom from time to time and this has a hugely detrimental effect on the fishing. Favourite fishing areas are around Gortmore Island on the south side, around Derrens Island on the north-west side, all along the north shore and at the mouth of the Glencullin River to the east. Best conditions are a soft wind from the south-west. All the usual traditional fly patterns work, as does dapping an artificial (only the artificial fly is permitted). This lake is shallow all over and boats should take great care of rocks submerged just under the surface. For information on the 15 boats for hire, contact Seamus Henry (see boat hire details). On a lake this size the angler would be well advised to take along his own outboard. The season for trout and seatrout is from 1 February to 30 September.
Season
Salmon: 1 January to 30 September
Seatrout: 1 February to 30 September
Brown trout: 15 February to 30 September
Permission
Bangor Angling Club, Seamus Henry, Bangor Erris, Co. Mayo. Tel: (097) 83487, fax: (097) 83543
Owenmore River
The Owenmore drains a large are of bogs, moorland and mountains of north-west Mayo. It is every inch a brilliant Salmon and Sea Trout fishery. Much of the water is reserved and not let. It is a big spate river with remarkable catches. One four mile stretch in the middle reaches is leased by the Bangor Sporting Club and limited day tickets are available.
Season
Salmon: 1 January to 30 September
Seatrout: 1 February to 30 September
Brown trout: 15 February to 30 September
Permission
Bangor Angling Club, Seamus Henry, Bangor Erris, Co. Mayo. Tel: (097) 83487, fax: (097) 83543
Glenamoy River
The Glenamoy River is located in North Mayo in the Bangor district. The river gets a reasonable run of grilse and Sea Trout from July to September. It is a spate river with the best of the sport to be had as the water levels recede after a flood. The more successful anglers pay close attention to the prevailing weather conditions in the catchment as the water levels can rise and fall quite quickly over the course of a flood. Fishing rights on the river are state owned and the fishery is leased to Glenamoy Community Angling Association.
Considerable development works have been carried out by the North Western Regional Fisheries Board in recent years under the catchment management initiative. Access has been improved with an extensive bush clearance programme and with the erection of stiles and footbridges throughout the length of the fishery. Angling pools have been excavated and wheelchair access has also been provided. Day permits and State Angling licences are available from The Anglers Rest Bar in Glenamoy village.
Extensive fishing is available from the New Bridge pool to the confluence with the Muingnabo River 8 km downstream. A fly only rule is in place and the most successful patterns are: Thunder and Lightening & Various Shrimp patterns ( Sizes 8 to 12 ) for grilse and Teal Blue and Silver & Black Pennell ( Sizes 10 to 12) for seatrout.
Under the 2011 Salmon Angling Regulations, the Glenamoy River is open for angling. A one fish per day bag limit applies from May 1st to May 11th, with a three fish per day limit applying between 12th May and 31st August. A one fish per day bag limit applies from September 1st to September 30th. The Glenamoy River is subject to a quota in 2011, with a brown gill tag also required for catches which are retained.