NORTHERN REGIONAL FISHERIES BOARD - COARSE ANGLING.

The angler visiting the Cavan Monaghan & Leitrim area of the Northern Region will find among the unique drumlin landscape here a rich variety of waters which offer unlimited opportunities to pursue a variety of coarse fish species.

The River Erne rises near Lough Gowna on the Longford - Cavan border. The main river emerges from Lough Gowna and flows north to the intricate lake system which forms Lough Oughter lying in the Cavan/Belturbet/Killeshandra triangle. Here it is joined by the waters of the Annalee flowing in from the east where the angling centres of Cootehill, Ballybay and Shercock are located. The Cullies River system on which the well known angling towns of Carrigallen and Arva are to be found also joins it here east of Killeshandra. The main river exits Lough Oughter and continues in a northerly direction to Belturbet and on to Upper Lough Erne on the Cavan/Fermanagh border and via Lower Lough Erne to the sea at Ballyshannon.

The Woodford River system (now known as The Shannon - Erne Link) on which the angling centred of Ballyconnell, Ballinamore and Keshcarrigan are located joins Upper Lough Erne on the western shore north of Belturbet where it forms the Cavan/Fermanagh border.

Joining the Quivvy waters on the eastern side of the catchment where it meets Co. Fermanagh is the River Finn system on which is located the long established angling centre of Clones.

Between the Villages of Kiltyclogher in north Leitrim and Blacklion in west Cavan are the waters of Lough McNean Upper which flow to Lough Erne via the Arney River (Co. Fermanagh) and which contain large stocks of coarse fish which are fished for.

Most of the lakes and stretches of rivers nestling among the drumlins (small hills) have good stocks of Bream, Roach, Rudd, Pike, Perch and Eels. Many also contain Roach x Bream and Rudd x Bream Hybrids and some contain Tench to specimen size. In recent years pilot stockings of Carp have taken place in selected waters which it is envisaged will provide a basis for Carp Fisheries in the future.

There is a water here to suit all tastes. The angler seeking large open waters with the promise of outstanding bags of Bream and Roach can choose from the wider stretches of the River Erne or large lakes such as Gowna, Oughter, Garadice, Sillan, Upper Lough Erne, Lough McNean or Assaroe Lake at Ballyshannon in Co. Donegal.

Those in search of somewhere more intimate and secluded will find many smaller lakes and stretches of rivers which have plenty of fish to keep them occupied.

Specimen hunters in search of large Tench, Bream and Pike will find many waters where their efforts will be rewarded. This is an unexplored aspect of Coarse and Pike angling in the Upper Erne and recent surveys have revealed waters with specimen sized fish which rarely see an angler.

The angler whose main interest is the pursuit of Pike will find the species in most waters in the Upper Erne. Specimen sized fish are generally found in the larger lakes and wide deep river sections but the smaller waters may also contain worthwhile fish and should not be ignored. Anglers are reminded of the laws with regard to the taking of Pike and are encouraged to return all Pike to the water, in the interests of conservation

The specialist match angler is offered many opportunities to participate in the numerous three and four day angling festivals organised by the local angling and tourist associations.

The Principal Festivals are:-

BALLYBAY CO. MONAGHAN MAY & SEPTEMBER

BELTURBET CO. CAVAN JULY

CLONES CO. MONAGHAN AUGUST

ARVA CO. CAVAN SEPTEMBER

COOTEHILL CO. CAVAN SEPTEMBER

In addition two major international angling festivals take place in the Upper Erne.

THE KING OF CLUBS BENELUX APRIL

THE BRITISH KING OF CLUBS SEPTEMBER

Many of the local clubs and associations also organise one day open events and impromptu events for visiting anglers. Details of all the principal events are published in the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland (N.C.F.F.I). Calender of Events.

The visitor to the various angling centres will find all the services and information necessary are readily available. The Board as part of its service to the angling tourism industry has published a series of Four angling maps which cover the coarse fishery in the Upper Erne.

It has also published a comprehensive angling guide to the Erne and other cross border catchments entitled Angling Over The Border in Ireland. The maps and guide are available through newsagents, tourist information offices and the Board's offices in Ballyshannon and Cavan.

The visitor to Co. Cavan can choose from a variety of accomodation to be found in Arva, Ballyconnell, Bawnboy, Belturbet, Blacklion, Cavan Town, Cootehill, Gowna , Shercock and Kilnaleck.

In Monaghan the noted angling centres are Ballybay and Clones.

County Leitrim offers Ballinamore, Carrigallen, Keshcarrigan and Kiltyclogher.

The Bord Failte guide to approved accommodation has full details.

The reopening of the Shannon Erne Link (referred to above) which allows navigation from the Shannon at Leitrim Village to the waters of the Erne as far upstream as Belturbet will enable the boat based angler to access many of the fisheries on the main river systems.

Along the way it traverses a variety of fisheries including L.Scur, St.Johns Lake, Garadice Lake and Upper L.Erne.

Fisheries Board contact numbers:

Northern Regional Fisheries Board.

Head Office Ballyshannon Phone 072 51435

072 52053

Fax 072 51816

Cavan Office Corlesmore Phone 049 37174

Fax 049 37193