Limestone · North West / Leitrim-Fermanagh, IE

Lough Melvin

Photo of Lough Melvin
Tomorrow · Closed season
Czech Nymph
Forecast · Tomorrow
Closed season
Out of season. File this water for the right month.
40% projected
Today's fly
Czech Nymph
Czech Nymph
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.96 m
Lifting fast
Water temp10.5°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather8°C
WindN 41 km/h
Pressure981 hPa
Rain · recent22.3 mm
Rain · ahead5.9 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
11°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
All day — lough fishing is best in a good wave. Early morning and evening can produce in calm conditions.
Where
Work the drift lanes from the upwind shore across the productive zones. Cover bay edges, underwater reefs, and any areas where the bottom shoals.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
10 ft #7/8 single-hander, floating line, 10–12 lb fluoro leader. Boat seat and waterproofs for the drift.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Chironomids
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 13 Uhr

12 Uhr(now) — Iron Blue

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 21%

Peak activity at 13 Uhr — Iron Blue (Iron Blue, Weather boost)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Green PeterHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2
DuckflyHatch
2
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Border lough (Leitrim/Fermanagh)
  • State rod licence
  • Unique conservation importance — three genetically distinct trout races.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Erne (Ballyshannon)
12 km
0
Salmon · Sea trout
Drowes
14 km
0
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Duff River
19 km
0
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Erne Estuary
12 km
Brown trout · Sea trout
Lough Gill & Bonet
25 km
Salmon · Sea trout · Brown trout
Gallery · 4
  1. Photo of Lough Melvin
    Lough Melvin
  2. Broad view of Lough Melvin from the R281 at Bomahas, open water stretching to distant hills.
    Lough Melvin from the R281 at Bomahas
  3. The western end of Lough Melvin near Kinlough, open lough water with meadows and Garrison across the water.
    The western end of Lough Melvin
  4. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

WFD code normalized 2026-06-18: IE_NW_35_160 → IENW_35_160 (EPA national format → EEA WISE euSurfaceWaterBodyCode; same water body, now joinable to WISE). Status confirmed against EEA WISE 2022 (3rd RBMP). Source: discodata.eea.europa.eu. | Prior note: EPA WFD 2019-2024 (lake layer) — Lough Melvin: Moderate ecological status. Re-tagged 2026-06-18 from IEUKGBNI1NW353504076 (a river/stream water body, not the lough) to the lough's own EPA lake water body. Source: EPA Ireland WFD 2019-2024 classification (catchments.ie / EDEN).

EPA (Ireland) · IENW_35_160

Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature10030% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time5015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February → 30 September
  • Trout 15 February → 30 September
Related guides
Irish Loughs Playbooklough-style fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureAtlantic Salmonsalmon tactics
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations
  • Garrison & Lough Melvin AA
    Members only: no day tickets, join the club to fish here