ESTABLISHMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES IRELAND - SEE PRESS RELEASE DATED JULY 1st, 2010

OPEN SEASON TROUT: March 15th to September 30th - Bye Law No: 817, 2007

SALMON: Salmon fishery is closed in 2010

SIZE LIMIT TROUT: 25 cm (10 inches ) Bye Law No: 817, 2007.

PERMISSION TO FISH:  Waters are leased from the ESB (Electricity Supply Board) to the Ormond Anglers Association - A Permit is required and is available at Open Season Sports Store, Pearse Street, Nenagh

ANGLING REGULATIONS: Please observe local Bye-Laws.

Bye Law Number 679, 1992 of the Fisheries Acts 1959 to 1991 prohibits the use or attempt to use all insect larvae and pupae, maggots, chandlers, casters or cor bait in angling for any kind of fish with rod and line on the Nenagh or Ollatrim Rivers or to have in possession on or near the said waters any insect, larvae and pupae, maggots, chandlers, casters or cor bait.

ACCESS: Access points to both rivers are signposted on all main roads in the catchment area and access to the rivers is very good at all bridges in the catchment. The ease with which the banks can be fished varies greatly. On the Upper River they are no more than a couple of feet above the water level while further down banks can be steep, up to 10-15 feet. Barbed wire fences can be a problem in places.

FISHING CLUB PERMITS: contact Ormond Angling Club.

FISHERY DESCRIPTION: The Nenagh River is 28 miles long,. It rises on the eastern slopes of the Silvermine Mountains in Co Tipperary and flows in a north westerly direction before entering Lough Derg at Dromineer. It has two main tributaries. The Ollatrim which is 18 miles long and rises in the Devilsbit Mountains and flows in a westerly direction. The other tributary is the Ballinotty River which rises in Toomevara and is considered to be a spawning stream only.

There is approximately 14 miles of trout fishing on the Nenagh River, measured upstream from Annaghbeg Bridge to near Sallypark and a further 9 miles on the Ollatrim from its confluence with the Nenagh River on the N7 Roscrea-Nenagh Road.

Both rivers are rain fed and spring fed. There is a number of springs feeding the system so rivers maintain quite good flow regimes in periods of low rainfall.

FISH STOCKS: 

The system holds two distinct types of trout

• Indigenous trout characterised, according to local lore, by the pale colour of their flesh and the other

• A migratory lake trout from nearby Lough Derg, distinguished by the golden yellow colour of the belly and deep pink flesh. The latter arrive in the system with the first summer floods, usually late June or early July and are on average much larger than the local trout..

The width of the river varies from 3 meters in its upper reaches to 20 meters further down river. Wading is necessary and body or chest wades would offer a distinct advantage, so come prepared.

FLY HATCHES: The river has all the usual fly hatches associated to limestone rivers even though this is not a true limestone system. These include Dark Olives, Iron Blue, Simulium and various diptera species, Mayflies (E danica), Pale Wateries, Pale evening duns and various sedges including Grey Flags and Mourrough Sedge. It is a river particularly noted for its mayfly hatch that can sometimes begin in late April with associated Spent gnat fishing. It has an abundant sedge hatch which local anglers refer to as 'rail ' fishing.

FLY FISHING: Fly fishing is best during the day in March, April and May using wetfly and dry fly as the situation demands. The Mayfly season can be particularly rewarding with fishing continuing into late evening. There is often a lull period in June but fishing improves in July with the big hatches of sedges at dusk. If these hatches coincide with a rise in water levels then the lake trout known as 'croneen' start running the river. These fish can give rise to spectacular sport and average about 1.5lbs with much larger fish encountered. The tactics most likely to succeed are to fish Blue Winged Olives and or Sedge patterns in the streams from dusk to about 11.30p.m. and then proceed to one of the long deep flats and fish sea trout type lure flies wet or a large dry sedge till about 1.30a.m. A favourite location for this type of fishing is the stretch known as the Violet Banks and the long deep flat above Ballyartella Bridge. Locals usually use green, brown or purple rails to fish the streams at dusk or a Red Spinner wet and a Pheasant Tail if Blue Winged Olives are hatching. For late night fishing on the flats Seatrout flies such as Butchers, Black Pennell, Peter Ross, Jungle Cock, Thunder & Lightning, Alexandra and Coachman on size 8 or 10 work well. Occasionally a Green Peter or Mourrough sedge fished dry will get results also. Late night fishing is usually best on calm , warm nights and continues right through to August. In September fishing largely reverts back to daytime hours and some very large trout can be taken, particularly on a dropping flood. Blue Winged Olives are also important in September.

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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