Fly fishing in Ireland – The 10 best spots

1. River Moy, Ballina, Co. Mayo

Ireland's most prolific salmon fishery comes alive with salmon from May onwards. Stand in the water at the famous Ridge Pool and marvel at the salmon leaping in the air just feet away from you. But you're not the only one watching, there's usually an audience leaning over the town bridge casting their critical eyes over the fishing taking place. Just make sure it looks like you know what you're doing.

And don't forget to visit during the Ballina Salmon Festival, held in July each year.

www.ballinasalmonfestival.ie

www.rivermoy.com

2. River Suir, Cahir, Co. Tipperary

One of Europe's finest wild brown trout rivers, the Suir meanders through the rich plains of Tipperary under the eye of the Galtees and the Knockmealdowns before reaching the sea in Waterford. Trout stocks are abundant but they are difficult fish to catch. However, a Suir trout on the dry fly is an Irish fly fishing treat.

www.visitcahir.ie

3. Blackwater River, Ballyduff, Waterford

One of Ireland's most celebrated salmon rivers, the Blackwater River flows through Munster to the tide at Cappoquin just past the Duke of Devonshire's Lismore Castle. It is a wide and meandering river that gets a large summer grilse run and there are a number of fine fisheries on the river reflecting its standing in Ireland.

www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net

4. Lough Corrib, Galway

Can there be anything more spectacular than trout fishing on Lough Corrib during Mayfly season? It's known as 'duffer's fortnight' when supposedly anyone can catch a trout, so voracious are they feeding on the mayflies, but trout fishing on this great lake is one of Irish fishing's most iconic places. They come from all around the world and as you sit in the boat with the waves softly lapping and the sun slowly setting you'll understand why.

www.sport.galway-ireland.ie/fishing-lough-corrib.htm

5. Killarney Lakes, Kerry

Moll's Gap and the spectacular scenery around Killarney is picture perfect, but how many people actually stop to try their hand at fishing the magnificent lakes of Killarney? How many more even realise that it's free? Just hire a boat and a guide and soon you will be into a salmon or a trout in idyllic surroundings.

www.fishinginireland.info/salmon/southwest/laune.htm

6. Lough Currane, Waterville, Kerry

Staying in Kerry, pass over Molls Gap to Waterville and Lough Currane where brown trout, sea trout and salmon await the lucky angler. For record fly-caught sea trout in Ireland, Currane is the place to catch them and fishing in this passionate angling area is a pleasure. Even better to make it during the annual Waterville Seatrout Festival held in July each year.

www.loughcurrane.com

7. River Nore, Kilkenny

A salmon river that had fallen from grace in recent years is now making a comeback with regular reports of 20lb+ salmon. 2009 saw the largest rod caught salmon in 20 years on the Nore, with the massive fish weighing 32lbs.

www.irelandflyfishing.com/fisheries.php?&fisheries_id=32

8. River Boyne, Navan, Co. Meath

One of the few Leinster rivers holding good stocks of trout, it is a fine river that is within easy commuting distance of the capital and its commuter belt.

www.fishinginireland.info/trout/east/meath/boyne2.htm

9. River Shannon, Killaloe, Co. Clare

If the thought of not being able to fly fish after the season ends drives you potty, consider then fly fishing for pike. Ireland has gained an impressive international reputation for the quality of its pike that can reach 40lbs+ and the River Shannon is a pre-eminent fishery for the fearsome freshwater predator.

www.fishinginireland.info/coarse/shannon.htm

10. Irish Sea, Wexford

One of the fastest growing areas of the sport, saltwater fly fishing has been massive for years in the States and Australia and is starting to gather a strong following now in Ireland thanks to the work and passion of Jim Clohessy. Based in Wexford, Jim is the leading expert on saltwater fly fishing in Ireland, preaching the delights of bass fishing from our coastlines to the interested masses.

www.bassfishing.ie