Watershed Fly Fishing specialises in fly fishing for pike, trout and perch on the mighty River Shannon including its tributaries and surrounding loughs. Watershed is owned and run by Johannes Bulfin, who has fly fished this area since his childhood, and few know it better.
Trout. Johannes offers walk and wade fly fishing for trout on the tributaries of the Shannon. The Little Brosna and Camcor are fabulous rivers that tumble down from the mountains, offering lots of runs, riffles, glides and pools that harbour trout. Trout fishing is best in the warmer months from May to September.
Pike. Fly fishing for pike on the Shannon and Loughs Derg and Ree is done via Johannes' modern well equipped boat with outboard. There are also specimen perch, and Johannes is developing a reputation for catching these large predator on the fly. Pike fly fishing is year-round, although the cooler months are best from October to May. Perch fishing if often better in the summer.
Options. All in all, there will always be fishing options in this area irrespective of the season, weather, water conditions, or target species. All that is required is for you to put yourself in the hands of your guide who will strive to ensure you have a memorable day.
Your day will typically start with a meet at a point close to the chosen river or lough, at around 09.00. You will enjoy 8-9 hours of guiding, with a break for lunch either in a nearby hostelry (of which there are many) or on the riverbank. All fly fishing tackle is provided.
Finally, it is worth pointing out that your guide ties some of his more specialised flies himself, based on many years' trial and error, so be sure to ask what is in his fly box.
Why you need to fish here
The Shannon catchment is very beautiful - this is verdant rural Ireland at its best. Aside from the breathtaking scenary, there is an enourmous range of fishing options. The River Shannon itself is one of Ireland's major rivers and home to truly enormous pike and trout. The tributaries of the Shannon are smaller and become progressively faster and more tumbling as they reach into the foothills of the Slieve Bloom mountatins. This is wild brown trout fishing just how it should be. The loughs especially Derg and Ree are host to very large pike and perch.
As well as the fishing, there is a deep history on display through monastic sites and fortifications along the river banks and on many of the islands. The Shannon callows (an area that floods in winter) provides a very rich eco-system for waterfowl and birds of prey. Mammals such as foxes, otters and fallow deer can on occasion be sighted with an early morning start.
