Managed rainbow and brown trout lake near Westport, County Mayo. IFI stocking programme. Day permits and season tickets available.
- Lough
- Sandstone
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
The daddy longlegs are on. Buzzer may also come into play as the day warms. Strong wind will make open-water drifting difficult. Look for sheltered bays and lee shores. The strong wind will be stripping terrestrials from bankside vegetation — beetles, ants, and hoppers concentrating against the downwind shore.
Where
Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A
Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Watch for Murrough towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.
Bank, sheltered shores
Strong wind makes boat fishing difficult — sheltered bank spots near lee shores will fish best.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Day tickets €20–30
- 3-fish limit
- Boats hire available.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%
Conditions are away from Ballin Lough (Westport)'s sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.
Other water nearby · 5
About this water
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Unknown
- Chemical: Unknown
Why this score
- Wind conditions (very_strong) are not ideal for this water.
- Daddy Longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 May → 31 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Ballin Lough (Westport)
Managed rainbow and brown trout lake near Westport, County Mayo.
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
The daddy longlegs are on. Buzzer may also come into play as the day warms. Strong wind will make open-water drifting difficult. Look for sheltered bays and lee shores. The strong wind will be stripping terrestrials from bankside vegetation — beetles, ants, and hoppers concentrating against the downwind shore.
Where
Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A
Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Watch for Murrough towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.
Bank, sheltered shores
Strong wind makes boat fishing difficult — sheltered bank spots near lee shores will fish best.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Day tickets €20–30
- 3-fish limit
- Boats hire available.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%
Conditions are away from Ballin Lough (Westport)'s sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.
Other water nearby · 5
About this water
Managed rainbow and brown trout lake near Westport, County Mayo. IFI stocking programme. Day permits and season tickets available.
- Lough
- Sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Unknown
- Chemical: Unknown
Why this score
- Wind conditions (very_strong) are not ideal for this water.
- Daddy Longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 May → 31 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts