One of Ireland's finest limestone loughs — shallow, clear water that seems to magnify every insect life. Exceptional mayfly and olive hatches. Known for holding specimen-sized wild brown trout that test your skills and your nerve. Relatively sheltered by surrounding hills which allows consistent fishing even in moderate breeze. The mayfly hatch from mid-May is worth planning your year around.
Rules at a glance
- Free state water
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
48% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
6°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Mayfly mid-May through early June is what you plan the year around. Evening sedge through July on warm calm nights. Clear water means accurate casting matters more here than wind handling.
Where
Shallower bays and rocky points where food concentrates. Arrow is small enough to fish bay-to-bay in a session — the south end and the western shore reward time.
Method
Drift the shallows in light wave with team wets. Switch to single dry — spent drake or Grey Wulff — when fish settle on the mayfly. Evening sedge: cast tight to weed margins.
Kit
10 ft #6 boat rod, floating line, 4 to 5 lb fluoro — the clarity wants finer tippet than Mask. 12 ft tapered leader.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Gosling on the bob and Hare's Ear Spider 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (breezy) are not ideal for this water.
- Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Lough Arrow · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
Best for
- Experienced Dry-Fly Anglers. Evening Rise Specialists.
About this water
Lough Arrow, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedLough Arrow · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
One of Ireland's finest limestone loughs — shallow, clear water that seems to magnify every insect life. Exceptional mayfly and olive hatches. Known for holding specimen-sized wild brown trout that test your skills and your nerve. Relatively sheltered by surrounding hills which allows consistent fishing even in moderate breeze. The mayfly hatch from mid-May is worth planning your year around.
- Lough system
- Limestone
Lough Arrow · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Lough Arrow · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 February → 30 September
Lough Arrow · permits
Licences, sorteo, the rules
Permits & access
Free state water
State rod licence required for trout / salmon as applicable.
- No permit — state rod licence only
- Boats available
- A guide who knows how to handle the boat and where to look for fish is worth every penny — the lough has moods and hazards that locals know
- C&R strongly encouraged.
Lough Arrow · sources
Useful links
External · open in a new tab
Booking & contacts
Lough Arrow
Google Places
One of Ireland's finest limestone loughs — shallow, clear water that seems to magnify every insect life.
Species
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
48% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
W 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
6°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
60%
Cloud100%
Wind30%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Mayfly mid-May through early June is what you plan the year around. Evening sedge through July on warm calm nights. Clear water means accurate casting matters more here than wind handling.
Where
Shallower bays and rocky points where food concentrates. Arrow is small enough to fish bay-to-bay in a session — the south end and the western shore reward time.
Method
Drift the shallows in light wave with team wets. Switch to single dry — spent drake or Grey Wulff — when fish settle on the mayfly. Evening sedge: cast tight to weed margins.
Kit
10 ft #6 boat rod, floating line, 4 to 5 lb fluoro — the clarity wants finer tippet than Mask. 12 ft tapered leader.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Gosling on the bob and Hare's Ear Spider 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (breezy) are not ideal for this water.
- Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Free state water
State rod licence required for trout / salmon as applicable.
- No permit — state rod licence only
- Boats available
- A guide who knows how to handle the boat and where to look for fish is worth every penny — the lough has moods and hazards that locals know
- C&R strongly encouraged.
Directions
About this water
One of Ireland's finest limestone loughs — shallow, clear water that seems to magnify every insect life. Exceptional mayfly and olive hatches. Known for holding specimen-sized wild brown trout that test your skills and your nerve. Relatively sheltered by surrounding hills which allows consistent fishing even in moderate breeze. The mayfly hatch from mid-May is worth planning your year around.
- Lough system
- Limestone
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 February → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
One of Ireland's finest limestone loughs — shallow, clear water that seems to magnify every insect life. Exceptional mayfly and olive hatches. Known for holding specimen-sized wild brown trout that test your skills and your nerve. Relatively sheltered by surrounding hills which allows consistent fishing even in moderate breeze. The mayfly hatch from mid-May is worth planning your year around.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts