Lough Corrib is renowned for the quality of its wild brown trout and there is no other lake in Europe to compare with it.  It is truly the envy of the angling world, and it is here on the shores of Lough Corrib that Derry Quay Lodge is situated in rocky bay know as Salthouse Bay and is credited with having some of the best brown trout fishing on the Corrib. Fly-fishing from a drifting boat is the angling method most favored for brown trout and in May dapping comes into its own with the hatching of the Mayfly. This lake is a predominantly rich limestone waters, producing wild brown trout averaging over 1lb. (0.45kg) to 3lbs. (1.36kg) with some to 10lbs. (4.53kg) caught on fly every season, Large Ferox trout from 10-20lbs. (4.53-9.07kg) are caught by trolling deep water or along the deep side of shallows. Trolling can take place throughout the season, but it's the high quality of fly fishing and dapping for which this lake is renowned.

Local anglers traditionally troll the briceen (minnow) from the start of the season on February 15th and net some fine bags of fish.  As the weather warms up, in March and April, the duck fly (a black chironomid) hatch peaks and trout can be taken on pupa and adult patterns.  You can still troll the lake successfully during this period as well as and traditional wet fly fishing with a team of flies is also very successful. Duck fly and Olive fishing continues through April.

By May 5th the Mayfly, for which Lough Corrib is famous, is the primary quarry of the trout.  Of there's a good breeze the fishing can be outstanding, especially with the dapped natural fly and there is always the chance that you could latch onto the trout of a lifetime.  Even salmon can find the mayfly irresistible.

The angler can fish chironomid pupa imitations in calm conditions, but traditional fly patterns in sizes 10-14 are much more productive with a nice breeze blowing and a nice rolling wave. Favourites are: Sooty Olive, Fiery Brown, Mallard & Claret, Connemara Black, Peter Ross, Bibio, Watson's Fancy and Coachman.

Depending on weather conditions, the lake olives hatch in late April. The trout again feed freely and can be taken on nymphs, dry-fly and wet-fly. Popular wet-fly patterns at this time are Greenwell's Glory, Sooty Olive, Olive Bumble, Invicta, Green Olive and Claret & Olive. The mayfly hatch begins around 5^th May and is undoubtedly the high point of the season, when anglers come from far and near to enjoy its delights. The mayfly fishing lasts for nearly a month. "Dapping" the natural mayfly is by far the most successful method and well over 5,000 trout are reported for the mayfly season every year.

After mid-June and into early July, the trout can be difficult to attract (probably because their bellies are full of mayfly!), but by mid-August they are back on the move again and a dapped daddy long legs is the most successful approach. Natural grasshoppers can also be dapped at this time and, with the onset of autumn and September, wet-fly fishing around the islands, along by the shore and across the various headlands will once more get a response from the trout. Recommended patterns are: Green Peter, Invicta, Black Pennell, Murrough, Bibio, Watson's Fancy and Sooty Olive.

Lough Corrib gets a good run of both spring salmon and grilse and trolling catches the majority of fish taken, but they can also rise to the dapped natural fly (mayfly, daddy or grasshopper). They can also be taken on the fly when they come into the fresh and favourite patterns are: Green Peter, Silver Doctor, Black Goldfinch, Black Doctor and Thunder & Lightning - sizes 8 and 10. If you intend fishing for salmon on this lake it is advisable to rely on the experience of the guide at Derry Quay Lodge because this is a vast expanse of water and only the local man will know where the fish lie.