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Fishery:
River Shannon,
Meelick Salmon Fishery, Co Offaly & Galway
OPEN SEASON TROUT:
March 1st - September 30th
OPEN SALMON SEASON: Meelick Salmon fishery is
closed in 2010.
CONSERVATION OF SALMON AND SEA TROUT
BYE LAW NO. C.S. 304, 2009 (Closed Rivers).
This
Bye-law prohibits the taking or attempting
to take by rod and line salmon and sea trout
over 40 cm in the rivers specified in the Bye-law.
NB: The only Rivers open to Salmon angling in the
Shannon Fisheries Region in 2010 are the River Mulcair and the River Feale
( including Brick & Galey)
and these are subject to quotas as part of the on-going
Salmon conservation measures. Limited Salmon fishing is
permitted in parts of the lower Shannon on a Catch and
Release basis, including Castleconnell Salmon Fishery -
see relevant Bye Laws and Fishery info. Closed rivers in the
Shannon Region are the Rivers Deel, Owenagarney,
Skivileen, Aughyvackeen, Doonbeg, Annageeragh, Inagh,
Fergus, Maigue and River Shannon (excluding Mulkear)
SPECIES: Salmon and Wild Brown
Trout averaging 8ozs to 2lbs
SIZE LIMIT TROUT: 8 inches River
Shannon Ref: Bye Law No: 817, 2007
DOWNLOAD SHANNON FISHERIES REGION CONSERVATION OF
SALMON AND TROUT BYE LAW 817, 2007
DAILY BAG LIMIT TROUT: Not Applicable
ANGLING METHODS: Trout - all legal methods
apply.
ACCESS: Access is via road on the Co
Offaly bank near Lusmagh outside Banagher and the Co Galway bank near Eyrecourt.
FACILITIES: Open bank fishing into fast steamy
water and pools, a boat offers a distinct advantage to access many
hidden waters inaccessible by land
ANGLING FEES: A Share Certificate from the North
Shannon Development Co-Operative Society is voluntary to fish the
Shannon at Meelick as it lies downstream of Banagher bridge. A Share Certificate can be purchased from most of
the larger tackle dealers which are advertised on this site.
SEE ROD FEES
FISHERY DESCRIPTION: Meelick is a known angling location
when the salmon are running and has some lovely varied and interesting
waters ranging from fast runs to glides and pools to slow deep
stretches. There are islands separating an Artificial cut on the Co
Offaly bank with the main River Shannon at Meelick on the Co Galway bank.
Both sides of the river have ideal waters for salmon and trout fishing.
It has a very small spring salmon run best time April into mid
May. Grilse, summer salmon arrive generally from mid June in normal
years and fishing is best up to mid July and its at this time that
anglers tend to fish the area. Runs are moderate and variable from year
to year. There are no official
catch statistics but feedback would suggest that up to a couple of
hundred salmon could be caught here on rod and line on a good year.
If you hit it right when fish are moving and you can expect to get a
salmon or two in a session. Worms, Fly and Spinning are best methods,
prawn and shrimp are prohibited as per ESB policy for fishing the
Shannon
SALMON FISHING CO OFFALY BANK: On the Co Offaly
bank access to the river involves a drive along country roads from
Banagher into Victoria Lock, a distance of about 4 to 5 miles. Bank
fishing is possible off the bank at the point of the Artificial Cut or
the CUT as its known locally. Other than this bank fishing is extremely
limited, a boat is required to get to all the known hotspots up and down
river. At the top end of the Cut is generally fast streamy water, flow
is controlled by sluices at Shaughnessy's Weir and flow rate
depends on the number of gates that are open at a given time. If water
levels get very low, the gates can be closed by the Board of Works, so
water flow will affect fishing prospects here, check conditions if you
have local contacts. When a few gates are open this is a salmon fishing
hotspot when the fish are running and bank space at these times is at a
premium and well competed for. Again to fish and explore all the pools
and runs along the river a boat is required. Boats are not generally
available for hire locally and visiting anglers are advised to enquire
locally to try and arrange a resident boat if possible (generally moored
in the canal adjacent to the mouth of the Little Brosna River),
otherwise you will have to be content to compete for the limited bank
space with other anglers.
TROUT FISHING CO OFFALY BANK: Trout fishing can
be good with dry fly in the summer months as the Croneen (lake trout
start to migrate) and also for local native stock. Native trout are
about 8 to 12 ozs with larger specimens possible to about 2lbs.
Generally anglers wade down the pools in chest waders using dry sedges
and wet flies, various olives. Due care should be exercised while
wading these or any local waters.
SALMON FISHING CO GALWAY BANK: Access is from
Banagher on the Eyrecourt road, about 6-7 miles by road from Banagher.
Follow the signs to Meelick or ask for local directions to Meelick
Church. This requires driving along about three miles of small narrow
country roads. At Meelick there is about 200 to 300 m of bank fishing in
total. The more upstream sections are the fast runs ideal for fly
fishing and spinning. You will need waders here to fish properly . Flies
such as Garry Dog and Hairy Mary are popular for salmon. Spinning a
brass or copper spoon or Flying C will work well. To access all hotspots
a boat offers a distinct advantage to get to those more hidden
waters of which there are many.
TROUT FISHING CO GALWAY BANK: Fast runs at
the upstream side of Meelick church and the far bank if you have a boat
to access the bank below the weir at what's called locally as the Queens
gap are good trout waters, producing trout averaging 8 to 12ozs
generally with fish to 2lbs possible. Wet flies, Olives and sedges
during the summer will work.
Please Observe Our Country Code and Fisheries
Laws.
Anglers are requested to always
observe our country code
Seek permission
from landowners before crossing private lands or property
Do not park cars in
fields except where permission is granted and it is safe to do so.
Leave no litter
Keep our
countryside clean
Normal access is
over footbridges and stiles or where public access is provided.
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