TRAVEL: Gone Fishin'
Fishing Around Edenderry
GRAND CANAL
There are nine permanent match stretches of canal within 10 miles of Edenderry, creating a total of 225 permanent pegs and all of them available year round to visiting pleasure anglers. The towpaths are drivable and provide easy access at all times. Pole tackle has proven to be most effective with worm, caster, maggot, bread, corn and soft pellets. There is an excellent guide and series of maps available from Waterways Ireland. Expect bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, rudd, tench pike and perch, you might even catch a carp on this prolific canal.
Fishing Around Shannonbridge
RIVER SHANNON
At Shannonbridge there is an assortment of fishing spots from well known, well used pieces of bank, to backwaters rarely tackled by anyone. Having a ‘holiday banker’ is always handy and the renowned hot water stretch at the power station can be depended upon to produce fish, particularly big tench and hybrids. A particularly productive and comfortable spot is a large cut-off from the main river called Cappaleitra, upstream of Shannonbridge. A bread feeder is always going to outscore pole or float gear on this part of the river and you will need 5lb main line, hook lengths of at least 2lb and hook size from 14 to 10 with baits to match. Expect bream, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike.
Fishing Around Banagher
RIVER SHANNON
Banagher is a great base to explore the Shannon while catching bigger-than-average fish of all species. A good starting point is Bullock Island, upstream of town, or you can try the town section for quality roach. The small public marina in Banagher is stuffed full of fish in spring and is a perfect spot for a spell of after-dinner float fishing in the evening. Expect bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike.
Sheebeen
RIVER SHANNON
This section is popular for match fishing in April and September when big shoals of roach appear prior to spawning, but there is good year-round sport with roach, hybrids and bream. This is a deep backwater off the main river that must be tackled with long pole or feeder gear. Expect bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike.
Meelick
RIVER SHANNON
There is fast water holding lots of summer fish below Meelick Weir that often produces big fish, including some great pike. Another good spot is at Victoria Lock (below the lock on the left) where pole or a bread feeder will tempt scale-perfect roach and bream. While some of the largest tench, bream and hybrids, are often caught in the backwaters of the ‘pump house’, and ideal spot for pleasure anglers who want nothing more than to fish at their rod end for a chance of catching something spectacular. Expect bream, skimmers, roach, hybrids, tench, perch and pike.
Fishing Around Shannon Harbour
RIVERS SHANNON & BROSNA
A quiet holiday spot with one guesthouse, a pub and some terrific doorstep fishing for quality fish on the Shannon’s backwaters, along the fast-running Brosna or the quieter banks of the Grand Canal. There’s great fishing for anglers willing to spend a day foraging for fishing spots. A good starting point is where the Shannon and Brosna meet. There is room for a three anglers on the point dividing the two rivers. Expect bream, roach, hybrids, rudd, tench, perch and pike.