Stillwater · Mixed · Co. Fermanagh / Belcoo border, GB-NIR

Upper Lough MacNean

Wide view across the blue water of Upper Lough MacNean towards wooded shoreline and distant hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Upper Lough MacNean is a shared border lough on the Belcoo side of west Fermanagh.

Fair · Trout
Perch Fry · 8-10_long_shank
Fairlive now
Good drifting conditions on Upper Lough MacNean
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. Hard work without breeze. Look for the dimples.
54% confidence

Upper Lough MacNean is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSE 39 km/hFresh breeze
Today's fly
Perch Fry
Perch Fry8-10_long_shank
Retrieve
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Fresh breeze
SE 39 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
Wave80 cm wave
Water temp16.0°C
Air temp16°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1000 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Moderate freshness· 7 mm in 48h

Moderate rainfall (7mm) may bring some water movement. Watch for fish moving to new lies as water rises slightly.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
Spring to early autumn
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Muddler Minnow on the bob and Perch Fry on the point.
The plan
Plan A

With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Muddler Minnow on the bob and Perch Fry 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 Silverhorns & Longhorns 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 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
2
2
1
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Claret DunHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Lough Erne (Upper & Lower)
17 km
Brown trout · Pike
Lough Erne (Upper & Lower)
17 km
Brown trout · Pike
Pettigo Lakes
28 km
Brown trout
Assaroe Lake
29 km
Brown trout
Lough Doon (Leitrim)
29 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Wide view across the blue water of Upper Lough MacNean towards wooded shoreline and distant hills under a partly cloudy sky.
    Upper Lough MacNean, straddling the Fermanagh/Leitrim border, with the Cuilcagh hills beyond.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Upper Lough MacNean is a shared border lough on the Belcoo side of west Fermanagh. DAERA describes it as a wild venue holding brown trout alongside pike, perch, bream, roach and hybrids. It is not a neat stocked-trout fishery but a broad natural lough where trout are a secondary but still worthwhile draw.

Hatches & food

No venue-specific hatch data yet; as a mixed stillwater on this north-west limestone system, expect a broad diet of buzzers, small olives and caddis typical of the region's loughs — a general expectation only, not a confirmed hatch.

  • Lough
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (strong) are not ideal for this water.
  • Daddy Longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 March → 31 October
Related guides
Irish Loughs Playbooklough-style fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureConnemaraIrish fishing
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts