Lough Corrib is 42000 acres in size and stretches in length from within four miles of Galway city to within two miles of Maum Bridge. The lough is renowned for its brown trout and salmon fishing with the brown trout fishing usually good from the opening date of February 15th., and the salmon fishing for grilse usually best from around the end of the month of May. Each season, a number of specimen size brown trout are caught on the lough, and the record stands at 22 lbs. Brown trout wetfly fishing starts early on Corrib and fish can be taken anytime from the opening date. Most of the early season fishing though, is done by trolling spoons or the Lane minnow, a method which is very successful for taking fish from a pound in weight up to ten or fifteen pounds. From late March up to the end of the month of April is usually an excellent period for wetfly fishing, the duckfly hatches occurring as early as the middle of March and reaching a peak aroud the middle of April. The Olive hatches occur from late April onwards and fishing is best in the first few weeks following the start of these hatches. there are large hatches of chironomids on Lower Lough Corrib during the months of May and June and late evening 'buzzer' fishing can be excellent during the large rises of trout to these flies. The Mayfly fishing commences around the middle of May and lasts for up to three weeks, during which time dapping the natural Mayfly is best but trout can also be taken during this tiem on the wet and dry flies. Dapping the daddylongles or the grasshopper can be good from the middle of the month of July onwards and wetfly fishing can be excellent during the month of September. Some spring salmon are caught in Lough Corrib but the lough produces large numbers of grilse from the end of May to the middle of July, with catches tapering off after that, and improving again in September. The most successful method of catching grilse on Lough Corrib is by trolling spoon baits or by wetfly fishing, or by dapping the Mayfly or daddylonglegs. There are boats for hire at several locations around Lough Corrib, and boatmen are available at most boat stations around the shores of the lough. Angling on the Corrib is free. Note: There is a detailed angling map available for Lough Corrib and a copy of this map can be purchased from the Western Regional Fisheries Board, Weir Lodge, Earl's Island, Galway City, Ireland West Tourist Board, Galwy City and from selected fishing tackle shops in all the towns around Lough Corrib.