Stillwater · Sandstone · South / Cork, IE

Lough Bofinne

Lough Bofinne terrain map

A 25-acre stocked clear-water lake near Bantry, West Cork, with exceptional shore-angling facilities.

Fair · Trout
Perch Fry · 8-10_long_shank
Fairlive now
Murrough evening rise expected on Lough Bofinne
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. Hard work without breeze. Look for the dimples.
61% confidence

Lough Bofinne is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindS 40 km/hStrong breeze
Today's fly
Perch Fry
Perch Fry8-10_long_shank
Retrieve
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Strong breeze
S 40 km/h
N
S
from the south
Wave80 cm wave
Water temp16.5°C
Air temp17°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure991 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind driftS wind
Southern end

A southerly has held for 6 hours, running colder than the water (15°C air against 17°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered southern end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
The murrough is on. Sedge 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
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. 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

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

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 4 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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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
Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Single rod only
  • Fly, worm, or spinner only — no other methods
  • Day tickets €20–25
  • 4-fish limit
  • April–September season.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%

Conditions are away from Lough Bofinne's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Other water nearby · 5
About this water

A 25-acre stocked clear-water lake near Bantry, West Cork, with exceptional shore-angling facilities. Predominantly stocked rainbow trout with a population of native wild brown trout. Some pike, perch, eels, and rudd present incidentally. Single rod only; fly, worm, or spinner only.

  • Lough
  • Sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (strong) are not ideal for this water.
  • Murrough is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts