Mayfly and olive hatches are exceptional, and the wild browns run to specimen size — fish that test the nerve as much as the skill. The surrounding hills give it more shelter than most loughs its size, so it goes on fishing through a moderate breeze that would shut down more exposed water. The mayfly from the middle of May is worth building the year's calendar around.
Duckfly typically start in mid-April and run for about three weeks, best in the evening from around 19:30, followed by a big lake-olive hatch over the weed through the first half of May. Ephemera danica mayfly usually run from early May into June across the lough and shore drifts, with a smaller Murrough (great red sedge) hatch around late May to early June bringing trout on from about 23:00. Caenis hatch heavily from mid-to-late June in calm sheltered bays at first light, and summer sedges carry the fishing from around 22:00 through June to August.
- Lough system
- Limestone