The best known game fishery in the Region is, undoubtedly, the magnificent River Moy which is generally reputed to be Ireland's most prolific salmon river. In 1996, the Moy produced a record catch of 12,305 salmon to the rod and line and the average rod and line salmon catch per year over the past five years is 7,660. The Moy comprises eleven separate fisheries including the State-owned Moy Fishery on the tidal waters at Ballina, several privately owned and managed fisheries and a number of stretches which are managed by angling clubs or associations. The use of prawn and shrimp as bait for salmon fishing is prohibited but all other legitimate methods are allowed. One of the great advantages of the Moy is that it offers a wide variety of fishing ranging from top class fly water, worm fishing and spinning depending on the stretch being fished, water conditions etc. The cost of fishing the Moy varies from IR10.00 per day (Ballina Salmon Anglers' Association waters) to IR110.00 per day on the Foxford Fishery at peak season. Fishing is available over approximately twenty miles of the river (both banks). A major development programme is at present being implemented on the Moy system. This is aimed at improving spawning/nursery waters and creating substantially more angling pools on the river. The additional pools are needed in order to accommodate the increasing runs of fish which are expected following the spawning/nursery stream enhancement works and the cessation of commercial netting on the tidal waters at Ballina. While a record angling catch was achieved in 1996, all the indications are that even greater numbers of fish will be available to anglers in the coming years. The angling season on the Moy extends from 1 February to 30 September.

Linked to the River Moy are the beautiful lakes of Lough Conn and Lough Cullin both of which hold excellent stocks of wild trout. A 1994 fish stock survey revealed that Lough Conn held approximately 280,000 catchable size trout (10""/25.4 cm) while Lough Cullin held approximately 85,000 trout of catchable size. Trout up to 2.3 kgs (5 lbs) were encountered on Lough Conn while Cullin was found to hold trout up to 1.1 kgs (2.5 lbs). A boat is necessary in order to fish these large lakes and the use of a local ghillie is highly recommended, particularly for first-time visitors. An angling guide to Loughs Conn and Cullin is available from the Fisheries Board and no permit is required to fish either lake. Both lakes get good runs of salmon, however, and a State licence is, of course, required for salmon fishing. Several hundred salmon are caught on these lakes each year, frequently on trout flies.

Apart from the River Moy itself and Loughs Conn and Cullin, the River Deel, which flows into Lough Con, is the best known fishery on the system with salmon and trout fishing available along several kilometres of its length. The Moy also has several other tributaries which offer excellent river fishing for brown trout with the best known of these being the Castlebar, Manulla, Gweestion, Glore and Pollagh Rivers. Other brown trout lakes on the system include the Castlebar Lakes (stocked and wild trout), the Callow Lakes and Lough Muck (Foxford area) which contain good stocks of wild trout, Lough Brohly (near Ballina) which is stocked and managed by a local community group and beautiful Lough Talt which nestles among the Ox Mountains and which holds a large stock of small brown trout.

The Co. Sligo part of the Region also has some excellent game fisheries, several of which are set in beautiful scenery. Beside Sligo town, Lough Gill is one of the few salmon fisheries in Ireland on which the angling season commences on New Year's Day and, indeed, Gill has produced salmon consistently on opening day in recent years. The lake gets a good run of spring salmon and fishes best in February and March with trolling artificial lures being the method used. Later in the season, the inflowing River Bonet can provide good salmon fishing in suitable conditions. Fishing on most of Lough Gill is free though part of the lake is controlled by the Sligo Anglers' Association and fishing on the River Bonet is also privately controlled. During the Mayfly season, the focus of attention on Lough Gill turns to fly fishing for trout and, in 1996, some excellent trout fishing was enjoyed on the lake which is now being developed by the Fisheries Board as a game fishery.

Further north in Co Sligo, the beautiful Glencar Lake and outflowing Drumcliffe River enjoy runs of salmon from 1 February with sea trout being available from July. Fishing on these waters is controlled by the Sligo and Manorhamilton Anglers' Association.

The Ballisodare River has recently been acquired by a local syndicate which is planning to develop the river for both local and tourist angling. This river enjoys a good run of salmon but angling spaces are limited at present and plans are being drawn up to provide a substantially increased number of angler spaces.

The best known fishery in Co. Sligo is Lough Arrow which has an international reputation for the quality of its wild brown trout though some hatchery reared trout are released annually into the lake in order to supplement wild stocks as spawning and nursery waters are limited relative to the size of the lough which extends over an area of 1,210 hectares. As with several fisheries in the Region, plans are underway to improve the spawning and nursery capacity of the system's streams with a view to increasing stocks of wild trout. As with all the larger loughs, the services of a local ghillie are recommended, particularly for first-time visitors. The season on Arrow extends from 1 April to 30 September and the lake is especially famous for its late evening fishing when large trout are taken on spent gnat during the Mayfly season and, later in the year, on the Green Peter.

Elsewhere in Co Sligo, fishing is available on several small lakes including Loughs Bo and Nasool (near Lough Arrow) both of which are stocked and managed by the Fisheries Board.

The beautiful and very rugged West Mayo also offers quality salmon and sea trout fishing in suitable conditions. The best known fisheries in this area are the Glenamoy, Owenmore and Owenduff Rivers which are essentially spate rivers. Fishing on the Owenmore and Owenduff commences on 1 February and, in suitable water conditions, both are capable of providing fish right through to the end of the season on 30 September. The Owenduff is entirely privately owned and managed and fishing for visitors is extremely limited. The Owenmore, however, is more accessible with a stretch of the river being managed by the Bangor Sporting Club though again, access for visitors is fairly limited. However, the club also controls Carrowmore Lake which is part of the Owenmore system and which has, in recent years, provided excellent salmon and sea trout fishing. This large lough may be fished from 1 January each year though, in practice, fishing rarely gets underway until March and the lake fishes best from then until early August though fish may be taken right up to the end of the season on 30 September. Further north, the Glenamoy is a very late river which gets a run of grilse from June and sea trout start to enter the system in July. Fishing on this river is available by permit from the Bangor Sporting Club.

The mountainous countryside in the Bangor District contains several small mountain lakes, all of which hold stocks of brown trout. Access is generally difficult but for the angler who really wants to ""get away from it all"" the effort may be well worthwhile as many of these lakes hold free rising brown trout which rarely see an artificial fly.

The Newport River flows through Newport town and drains Lough Beltra which has an international reputation for its spring salmon fishing and which has, until recent years, produced large catches of sea trout. Unfortunately, like many other West of Ireland fisheries, the sea trout stock has declined in recent years. Efforts are now underway to replenish stocks and it is hoped that the system can be restored as a top class sea trout fishery. The Newport River itself provides fishing for both spring salmon and grilse and fishing on the river, as well as on part of the lake, is controlled by Newport House Hotel which provides a full range of services for anglers. The eastern half of the lake is controlled by Glenisland Co-Op and fishing permits are generally available to visiting anglers.

The Burrishoole fishery comprises Lough Furnace, which is tidal, and Lough Feagh, which is a freshwater lough. This system is managed by the Salmon Research Agency and, like the Newport River/Lough Beltra system, sea trout stocks have declined dramatically in recent years. The system, however, continues to produce good salmon fishing with the season commencing in June. The Agency provides a full range of services for anglers and, for the non-angling partner or family members, a visit to the Agency's visitor centre is well worthwhile.

The Owengarve River, between Newport and Mulranny, is managed by the Newport Anglers' Association and gets a run of grilse and sea trout from June/July onwards although, sea trout stocks have been severely depleted in recent years. For the rainbow trout enthusiast, Ballin Lough (between Westport and Newport) is the place to fish. This small lake holds an excellent stock of rainbows up to5 lbs with most in the 1-2 lbs range. Clogher Lake (about two miles further east) holds a large stock of small but free rising brown trout.

Note

As a conservation measure, the killing of sea trout on the Newport River/Lough Beltra, Burrishoole and Owengarve systems is prohibited by law until further notice. Sea trout caught on these fisheries must, therefore, be returned alive to the water. No such restrictions apply in the case of salmon or grilse.

Beautiful Achill Island, which is well worth visiting for the quality of its scenery alone, has a number of trout lakes on which fishing is available to visitors. The best known lakes are Keel Lough, which holds a good stock of small brown trout and also gets a run of sea trout though killing of sea trout here is also prohibited for the present and, in the north eastern corner of the island, Lough Gall and Lough Nambrack, which are located side by side, both hold good stocks of sizeable brown trout. Enquiries regarding fishing on the island should be made to Achill Sporting Club c/o Valley House, Dugort, Achill.