Wild brown trout in the small rivers are plentiful and the angling season is from March to September 30. May to late September is peak time with late evening the best time for fly.

There are two distinct types of fishing: the acid streams of the west characterized by their relatively small trout (0.25-0.75lbs) and the limestone rivers of the east containing much larger fish. The western streams are generally headwaters of salmon and sea-trout fisheries which are normally privately owned. Fishing for brown trout in these systems if not normally permitted in order to preserve sea-trout stocks.

The eastern rivers drain into the large lakes and hold large trout, many between 3-6lbs Ideal waters for quality brown trout include the Clare and Robe rivers, the Cong Canal, the Keel river, the river Suck and some of its tributaries (such as the Shiven, Island and Killian rivers), the Castlegar and Bunowen rivers. Other excellent rivers include tributaries of the River Moy: the Clydagh, Castlebar and Manulla rivers, Gweestion River, Pollagh River, Glore River and Trimoge River, Sonnagh, Mullaghanoe and Owengarve rivers.

River Moy

There are presently ten fisheries on the river which let fishing, extending from Bartragh Island in the estuary upstream to a point about 2 miles above the confluence of the Gweestion River, near Swinford. The rest of the river, together with its tributaries and loughs, is free fishing.

The main channel is 62 miles long and enters the sea at Ballina. With its tributaries, it drains a catchment of 806 square miles, stretching from the Ox Mountains in the east to Castlebar in the south and Loughs Conn, Cullin and the Nephin Beg range of mountains in north Mayo.

The Department of the Marine purchased the former Moy Fishery Company and operates draft nets in the tidal waters and salmon traps at the top of the tide in Ballina.

The Moy is probably the most prolific Salmon River in the country. It would be impossible to obtain exact figures for rod catches, but the following figures of reported rod-caught fish gives some idea of how many fish the river produces.

Reported River Moy Catch
Salmon: 1988 - 5,000, 1989 – 11,075, 1990 – 6,294

A major arterial drainage scheme was carried out on the river between 1960 and 1970. The drainage works had a devastating effect on the natural character of the river and most of the famous old pools and famous fishing sites were destroyed. It is remarkable that the drainage works did not appear to have a long-term detrimental effect on the potential of the river to produce salmon. This has remained as good as ever. Regretably, the fish have to be fished for in aesthetically less pleasing surroundings. The banks are high and difficult, much of the river is wide, canal-like and featureless and the natural pool – stream sequence is missing. Nevertheless, it still holds enormous numbers o salmon and gives joy to thousands of anglers every season.

It is said the fresh salmon run the Moy every month of the year. Certainly, if conditions are right – mild weather and the water not too high – salmon can be taken from opening day, 1 February, at Ballina (behind the fish traps), Mount Falcon (Coolcronan), Cloongee (the Cross River), Armstrong’s Fishery, at Pontoon Bridge (between Lough Conn and Lough Cullin and probably one of the best lies of all), on the Clydagh River and the Manulla (Ballyvary) River. If conditions are not suitable, the fishing picks up as soon as they improve. A run of small spring fish, known as ‘Black Backs’ runs in April and the peak of the spring fishing is between 1 and 20 April. The grilse begin running in early May, with the peak of the run being from about 20 May to 20 July.

Low water tends to prevent fish from running past the traps in Ballina in August, with the result that there is a big build-up of fish in the estuary. The first good flood in late August or September brings more fish up river and can give excellent back end fishing with plenty of fish of 7-9 lb.
The average weight of the spring fish is 9 lb and the best fish in the last ten years was 38 lb and was taken in 1983. The grilse range from about 3 to 7 lb and the sea trout average ? lb.

All fishing methods are allowed on most of the fisheries, except natural shrimp. The latter bait is not allowed on a number of fisheries by popular demand, but there are others that still permit its use.

Popular artificial baits include the Stucki spoon, Swinford spoon, Devons and the Flying ‘C’.

Most of the fisheries have stretches suitable for fly fishing. A wide range of flies is used, including some local patterns. The most popular are Silver Doctor, Black Doctor, Hairy Mary, Blue Charm, Blue Badger, Foxford Shrimp, Munro Killer, Thunder and Lightning, Logie, Dunkeld, Claret Shrimp, the Goat and the Moy Garry Dog.

The sea trout fishing is mainly confined to the estuary, where it can be very good from April to September. Boats are available for hire. Up river, there is limited night fishing in July in the vicinity of Foxford.