Fishing near Limekiln Cottage
The abundance of sea, game, and coarse fish in the Shannon region
have made it one of Ireland's premier angling areas.
The first salmon of the year has been produced by the River Shannon
15 times over the past 18 years, on January 1st.
Our trips to Limekiln always include fishing, either on the Shannon—only
5 minutes walk—or on the many nearby lochs and rivers.
A few miles North of Limekiln Cottage is the seven mile long Lough Allen,
the headwaters of the Shannon, which
flows about 130 miles to Limerick.
The Shannon, as it flows through Battlebridge (within sight of the cottage), is loaded with roach during
the Spring. Below the lock at Battlebridge the pace of the water slows,
and the river becomes home to bream and rudd.
Go closer to the source of the Shannon at Dowra village
at the opposite end of Lough Allen, and the river is 20 metres wide,
slows down, and is home to fine bream, roach, numbers of hybrids and lots of pike.
Most rivers and lakes have good access, with styles, footbridges, and fishing stands.
- The River Shannon has a good run of both spring salmon and grilse, and brown trout are widely dispersed in the rivers and lakes of the region.
- Tench to 6lbs are common around the Boyle River, and the head of roach is excellent, with mixed bags to 80lbs. Also perch, pike, and bream.
- Lough Derg (at 32000 acres the largest lake on the Shannon) has the world record rod-caught pike of 90.5 lbs, and is still a superb pike fishery. It's also great for brown trout.
- A state licence isn't required for coarse fishing, trout fishing, or for for pike fishing (though there is a statutory limit on killing pike: one per day, per person, max 3kg).
- A state license is required for salmon angling (available for the full season, 21 day, or one day).
At the right are the grandchildren of the cottage's owner during their last visit.