Ireland's second-largest lake and arguably the finest wild brown trout water in Western Europe — 44,000 acres of limestone-enriched water split between Upper and Lower Corrib by the narrows at Knockferry. Upper Corrib (from Oughterard west) fishes 7–10 days earlier than Lower; its shallow, island-studded bays produce superb duckfly from March, then the legendary mayfly from mid-May — dapping with live mayfly is the traditional method and still the most magical. Lower Corrib fishes later, holds the lough's largest average trout, and favours olives, sedges, and dapped daddy longlegs through summer. Ferox trout to double figures are taken by trollers each season. A guide who knows how to handle the boat and where to look for fish is worth every penny — the vast lough has moods and hazards that locals know. Access is excellent: Oughterard (the best-known centre), Cong, Cornamona, Headford, Knockferry, and Annaghdown all have piers and boat hire. Season: trout opens 15 February, salmon 1 February, both close 30 September. A 12-inch size limit applies.
- Free state water
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Conditions on the water
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
The brief
The plan
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Gosling on the bob and Hare's Ear Spider on the point.
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.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
What's on, when
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Top pattern + the box
Why today scores what it does
- Wind conditions (breezy) are not ideal for this water.
- Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
Where to launch
- OughterardLaunchNWPublic slip and the best-known boat-hire centre. Quick access to the limestone shelves of the lower lough.
- CongLaunchNTop of the lough where salmon enter via the canal from Lough Mask. Glassy in a southerly.
- CornamonaLaunchNWBeautiful upper basin. Stones, drop-offs, ferox water.
- InchagoillReference pointMid loughReference island. Drift the shelves on either side; deep basin to the north for ferox.
- AnnaghdownPike bayE shorePike bay. Drowned timber along the southern margin.
- GreenfieldsLaunchW shoreSheltered launch and reedy bay. Mayfly and pike in season.
Precipitation
On the lough
Lough Corrib, Ireland 
Lunch on the Corrib Terrain map
Who this water suits
- Experienced Wet-Fly Drifters With Boat Knowledge. Anglers Seeking Traditional Irish Limestone Lough Methods, Mayfly Dapping, And Wild Brown Trout Quality. Ferox Specialists For Deep-Water Hunting.
Lough Corrib, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedWhat this water is
Ireland's second-largest lake and arguably the finest wild brown trout water in Western Europe — 44,000 acres of limestone-enriched water split between Upper and Lower Corrib by the narrows at Knockferry. Upper Corrib (from Oughterard west) fishes 7–10 days earlier than Lower; its shallow, island-studded bays produce superb duckfly from March, then the legendary mayfly from mid-May — dapping with live mayfly is the traditional method and still the most magical. Lower Corrib fishes later, holds the lough's largest average trout, and favours olives, sedges, and dapped daddy longlegs through summer. Ferox trout to double figures are taken by trollers each season. A guide who knows how to handle the boat and where to look for fish is worth every penny — the vast lough has moods and hazards that locals know. Access is excellent: Oughterard (the best-known centre), Cong, Cornamona, Headford, Knockferry, and Annaghdown all have piers and boat hire. Season: trout opens 15 February, salmon 1 February, both close 30 September. A 12-inch size limit applies.
- Lough system
- Limestone
How to get to the water
Where the rules change
- Salmon1 February → 30 September
- Trout15 February → 30 September
Licences, sorteo, the rules
- Ireland's largest lough
- Open to all — no permit needed, just state rod licence
- Boats from Oughterard, Cong, Cornamona, Greenfields
- A guide who knows how to handle the boat and where to look for fish is worth every penny — the vast lough has moods and hazards that locals know
- Salmon licence additional.
Useful links
- Oughterard Anglers AssociationClear club-level Corrib match
- Lough Corrib Angling FederationOfficial federation page and strongest Corrib-wide club match
- Wild Lough Corrib TroutUseful advocacy/community presence rather than formal club
- Lough Corrib Angling Federation & HatcheryUseful supporting Corrib page focused on protection and hatchery work
Lough Corrib
Lunch on the Corrib
Damian Rafferty
Ireland's second-largest lake and arguably the finest wild brown trout water in Western Europe — 44,000 acres of limestone-enriched water split between Upper and Lower Corrib by the narrows at Knockferry.
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Gosling on the bob and Hare's Ear Spider on the point.
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.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
- Wind conditions (breezy) are not ideal for this water.
- Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Lough Corrib, Ireland Lunch on the Corrib Terrain map
- OughterardLaunchNWPublic slip and the best-known boat-hire centre. Quick access to the limestone shelves of the lower lough.
- CongLaunchNTop of the lough where salmon enter via the canal from Lough Mask. Glassy in a southerly.
- CornamonaLaunchNWBeautiful upper basin. Stones, drop-offs, ferox water.
- InchagoillReference pointMid loughReference island. Drift the shelves on either side; deep basin to the north for ferox.
- AnnaghdownPike bayE shorePike bay. Drowned timber along the southern margin.
- GreenfieldsLaunchW shoreSheltered launch and reedy bay. Mayfly and pike in season.
- Ireland's largest lough
- Open to all — no permit needed, just state rod licence
- Boats from Oughterard, Cong, Cornamona, Greenfields
- A guide who knows how to handle the boat and where to look for fish is worth every penny — the vast lough has moods and hazards that locals know
- Salmon licence additional.
Ireland's second-largest lake and arguably the finest wild brown trout water in Western Europe — 44,000 acres of limestone-enriched water split between Upper and Lower Corrib by the narrows at Knockferry. Upper Corrib (from Oughterard west) fishes 7–10 days earlier than Lower; its shallow, island-studded bays produce superb duckfly from March, then the legendary mayfly from mid-May — dapping with live mayfly is the traditional method and still the most magical. Lower Corrib fishes later, holds the lough's largest average trout, and favours olives, sedges, and dapped daddy longlegs through summer. Ferox trout to double figures are taken by trollers each season. A guide who knows how to handle the boat and where to look for fish is worth every penny — the vast lough has moods and hazards that locals know. Access is excellent: Oughterard (the best-known centre), Cong, Cornamona, Headford, Knockferry, and Annaghdown all have piers and boat hire. Season: trout opens 15 February, salmon 1 February, both close 30 September. A 12-inch size limit applies.
- Lough system
- Limestone
- Salmon1 February → 30 September
- Trout15 February → 30 September
Ireland's second-largest lake and arguably the finest wild brown trout water in Western Europe — 44,000 acres of limestone-enriched water split between Upper and Lower Corrib by the narrows at Knockferry. Upper Corrib (from Oughterard west) fishes 7–10 days earlier than Lower; its shallow, island-studded bays produce superb duckfly from March, then the legendary mayfly from mid-May — dapping with live mayfly is the traditional method and still the most magical. Lower Corrib fishes later, holds the lough's largest average trout, and favours olives, sedges, and dapped daddy longlegs through summer. Ferox trout to double figures are taken by trollers each season. A guide who knows how to handle the boat and where to look for fish is worth every penny — the vast lough has moods and hazards that locals know. Access is excellent: Oughterard (the best-known centre), Cong, Cornamona, Headford, Knockferry, and Annaghdown all have piers and boat hire. Season: trout opens 15 February, salmon 1 February, both close 30 September. A 12-inch size limit applies.
- Oughterard Anglers AssociationClear club-level Corrib match
- Lough Corrib Angling FederationOfficial federation page and strongest Corrib-wide club match
- Wild Lough Corrib TroutUseful advocacy/community presence rather than formal club
- Lough Corrib Angling Federation & HatcheryUseful supporting Corrib page focused on protection and hatchery work