Where to Fish in Southern Ireland - Sligo

The Southern Ireland Where to Fish A to Z


Coarse Fishing | Rivers | Stillwaters / Loughs



There is a heck of a lot of good fishing in Sligo and some of the locations have been featured below but there is more, much, have a look at this link which describes a few more option including information about fishing the upper reaches of the famous river Moy most of which in Sligo is free to fish, would you believe it?

Sligo and District Game Angling Guide


Rivers Game


Ballisodare River


Ballisodare Fishing Club has the fishing in this stretch of river just 2.5 miles long from the junction with the river Owenmore and Arrow river.

The season runs 1st April to 30th September a measure introduced to conserve springers. Day tickets are available split between the river above the falls and the falls pool.

All legal methods are allowed including prawn.

One of the pricier beats I have found in S Ireland but but 2,000 fish p.a. from 2.5 miles of water - bargain at 100 euros. Book early, call 071 913 0513 or 086 251 5064.

Google Map top of the beat at the junction Owenmore 54.190496, -8.483655

Checked 06/07/19

Drumcliff River


The Drumcliff River flows from Glencar Lough running out to sea under the road bridge on the N 15 at Druncliff.

An attractive river, it has good runs of salmon and sea trout given a spate to draw the fish on. All legal methods allowed from the N15 road bridge but fly only from the bridge to the sea, a short mostly todal stretch.

GoogleStreetView-Drumcliff-River

Google Street View Drumcliff River middle reaches


The fishing is run by Sligo Anglers Association call *353 (0) 71 9168404. Or try Barton Smith in Hyde Bridge in Sligo.

Google Map Ref Drumcliff Village 54.328391, -8.500969

Checked 12/08/19

Easky River


A relatively small spate river some 12 miles long flowing through Lough Easky to the sea at the Village of Easkey. The river has some good runs of salmon and sea trout from June, just add a spate and the fishing is on.

Easky Angling Association has 7 miles of watter, double bank. Day tickets are such a bargain for a lovely git of productive water, from;

Fenney's Filling Station in Drumore West just 6 / 7km up the R297 from Easky or Barton Smith, Hyde Bridge in Sligo.

Fortland Estate has the lower 3 miles which runs through attractive woodland with 20 named pools. They allow 12 rods per day, there is a resident ghillie. Single handed or short doubles recommended. To book call 083 8032350.

Google Street View river Easky

Google Street View The Easky looking upstream from Easky Bridge


Checked 12/08/19

Garvoge River


The Garvoge river is the lower part of the river Bonet flowing from Lough Gill to the sea at Sligo town. The river is very much managed by 2 large weirs in Sligo creating big slow water up to the lough, it is alos very much an urban water.

Google Street View Garvoge River Sligo

Google Street View Garvoge River, Hyde Bridge next to Barton Smith Tackle


The river has good runs of spring fish from the start of the seas, grilse in the summer and a back end run as you might expect from reading about L Gill and the river Bonet. There is some good sea trout fishing around Victoria Bridge.

Forom the picture you can see that there are good walkways here which extend for some way upstream. There are several more stretches and while it is not mentioned they might be very suitable for disabled anglers to access the river, worth asking around

Checked 12/08/19

River Bonet


The River Bonet flows into L Gill from the south side after wandering down from the hills from Glenade Lough through Manorhamilton and Dromahair.

Google Street View River Bonet

Google Street View River Bonet


A very productive river with good runs of spring fish March into May followed by grilse in July and August. The river also enjoys a good back end run of salmon. Sea trout appear in the summer months and when the salmon fishing is dour there are some very good brown trout to have some fun with.

The river is split between 6 angling groups:

Manorhamilton Angling Club have the rights from just below L Glenade to Gortgarrigan Bridge; Dromahair Lodge has 9 miles of water; Stanford Inn has a double bank beat, call *353 71 916 4140; Dromahair Anglers Association have .75m upstream of the town. There is also a syndicate beat and Sligo Anglers have the last stretch befor the river enters L Gill, it is slow and deep- not very good.

Visitor tickets are available for 4 beats (excludes the syndicate and Sligo beat). Try Barton Smith Tackle on Hyde Bridge in Sligo. Call *353 71 914 2356.

Google Map Ref 54.272357, -8.474175

Stillwaters / Loughs


Lough Gill


At 6.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide Gill is a big water. Known more for it's salmon fishing, Gill gets a very good run of spring fish from the start of the season on January 1st and fishing lasts until May which pretty much ends the salmon fishing for the year. This is good timing as the trout come on from then. Good trout too in the 1lb average range. There is a May fly hatch from mid May to mid June when fishing can be very good. Best spots Holywell to Church Island and Aughanore Rock.

There are some very good pike but I think this is just for Sligo Anglers Assocition Members

Permits and further information from; Sligo Anglers, Barton Smith, at Hyde Bridge in Sligo call *353 71 914 2356.; Doherty's House of Value, Wine Street, Sligo. Tel: (071) 9171900 Google Map 54.271661, -8.478675.

Sligo Anglers Association have boats on L Gill for salmon and brown trout. The also have 2 boats on Glencar Lake which fishes from 1st Feb for salmon, has good runs of sea trout and wild brown trout. Call 086 6062073. Google Map 54.339010, -8.378464

Google Street View Glencar Lough

Google Street View Glencar Lough


The club , I note, has a lively competion scene, active in fishery maintenance and have an open water swim in September (maybe not for me then I prefer a perfectly good boat for my fishing)

Google Map Reference 54.248177,-8.391892

Checked 09/08/19

Lough na Leibe


Ballymote Angling Club runs Lough na Leibe as a trout fishery stocked with brown trout and rainbows. 2 fish limit, fly spin float fishing a worm allowed.

For more informatiom on this club have a look below at the Coarse Fishing section.

Checked 12/08/19

Lough Talt


Is a 200 acre lake in the Ox Hills which holds numbers of brown trout averaging about half a pound with the occasional pounder. Easy access right next to the R294. Traditional wet flies 3 fly cast seems to fit the bill. Fishing is free but boats can be hired from the Talt Inn

GoogleStreetView-L-Talt

Google Street View Lough Talt near the Inn


Google Map Reference 54.087230, -8.924507

Checked 12/08/19

Easkey Lough


Lots of small trout plus sea trout in August, finnock of about .75lbs, plus a few bigger fish. There are also a small number of salmon. Fishing is free off charge. Bank fishing only with easy access as the main road runs along one side. Steep banks so go easy wading as these wild loughs can drop off very quickly. Both ends look to be shallower with an inflow and out flow stream. These can be good spots when the salmon are running, just watch for a spate. Off course the more inaccessible far bank is reconned to be best, if you are a mountain goat.

Google Map Reference 54.163232, -8.849186 the out flow into the Easky River.

Checked 12/09/19

Coarse Fishing

Not a lot of coaerse fishing in Sligo but there are some location offering good pike others where tench, bream and roach in good amounts can bagged. Have alook at this Link:

Coarse Fishing in Sligo


Ballymote and District Angling Club


Ballymote AC offer day and week tickets to visiting angler on some prime coarse and trout fishing waters. They have fishing in a variety of loactions from Lough Arrow to the Owenmore river.

For a full run down try this link:

Ballymote AC Waters


Google Map Reference 54.090308,-8.517178

Checked 12/08/19

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