Game Angling

Angling is the art or sport of fishing with a rod and line and either a fly or bait, where the object is to have fun catching fish not necessarily to be eaten. To my mind, fishing is a catch-all term which includes angling, but which also implies that the object is to catch fish for food rather than for sport. There are an amazing 365 lakes in Cavan, one for each day of the year and the Shannon and Erne rivers. Famous for coarse and pike fishing, there are many fine and game angling river stretches and wild brown trout lake fisheries in County Cavan, including the very famous Lough Sheelin brown trout fishery.

Most angling centres run angling festivals and competitions throughout the year for the match angler. There is no licence or fee required to enjoy coarse fishing in County Cavan. There is a licence requirement when fishing for trout at any of the game fisheries.

 Annagh Lake

Annagh Lake is near Butlersbridge and is managed by the Butlers bridge Trout Angling Co-op Ltd. It is stocked mainly with Rainbow Trout annually. Bank fishing is not allowed and there are 8 boats available for hire. There are good hatches of duckfly and sedges during the angling season and traditional fly patterns will suffice.

(Season: 17 March to 30 September.)

 Lough Acurry (Grousehall)

On the Cavan Baileboro road, this fishery is controlled by the Laragh Anglers. There is a stock of good wild Brown Trout which is supplemented annually with some hatchery reared fish. Fishing is from a good bank. The fish can be hard to entice but the best of the fishing is in the summer evenings where sedge patterns including the Murrough. Trout to over 5 lbs. are reported annually.

(Season: 1 March to 30 September.)

River Erne, Belturbet
The river upstream of the town bridge at Kilconny to the Railway viaduct is developed for Brown Trout fishing by the local Trout Angling club. There are good variety of fly hatches and wet and dry patterns will produce some fine fishing.

(Season: 1 March to 30 September.)