The Drowes Salmon Fishery has a lot to offer the salmon and trout angler and is heralded by many as the top Irish Spring Salmon Fishery. There is also a healthy grilse run during the summer months and brown trout fishing can also be excellent from early summer. The fishery is based at Lareen Estate, through which the river flows from Lough Melvin. There is a fishery office and tackle shop on the Estate to which anglers should report at the start of their day, and is an excellent place to discuss tactics, latest catches, and likely spots. The shop can also issue state fishing licences. Boats and motors for fishing the fabulous Lough Melvin are available for hire.
Drowes River
The Drowes River has a wide variety of water suitable for fly fishing and other methods too. The river flows five miles down from Lough Melvin into the North Atlantic Ocean, and is the principal route for salmon and trout to access the lough from the sea. There are many miles of good double bank fly water, with deeper slower moving pools suitable for spinning and bait fishing. Access on the Drowes is aided by the provision of miles of wooden walkways and stiles along its bank, making fishing possible for the less able bodied.
Lough Melvin
Lough Melvin is the most important salmonoid fishery in the north west of Ireland. Melvin is eight miles long by two miles wide and covers an area of 2000 hectares. The lake is unique in that it holds a stock of four distinct species of trout. These are, common brown trout, sonaghan (salmo nigrippinis), gillaroo (salmo stomachius) and ferox (salmon ferox). These species are genetically distinct and can be readily identified by their colours, spotting patterns and shapes.
Wet fly fishing with a cast of three flies is the traditional method of trout fishing on Melvin. Some of the favourite patterns include Bibio, Sooty Olive, Claret Bumble, Golden Olive Bumble, Gorgeous George and Green Peter. Trolling with Rappallas, Tasmanians and Tobies is the preferred method for pursuing salmon and the large ferox trout of the Lough.
Accommodation
The Estate offers holiday cottages, close to the water’s edge, available for rent throughout the year. The cottages may be rented on their own or along with fishing.
Warum Sie hier angeln müssen
The Drowes Salmon Fishery has a lot to offer the salmon and trout angler and is heralded by many as the top Irish Spring Salmon Fishery. There are five miles of river with 70 named pools, and boats with motors are available on Lough Melvin for its four species of trout and salmon.
For Salmon, a 10′ 6″ Single hander handling a #7 line or more would be recommended as a good all rounder on the Drowes under most conditions. However with a little wind about a 14′ double hander handling #8 or 9 lines with an assortment of tips should be adequate to cope and should be considered especially for Spring conditions.
For Trout, a rod of about 8’6″ to 10′ in length handling a #5 or 6 line should be adequate to take fish on the Drowes. Small flies work well to about size 22 and recommended flies include the Duster the Badger & Black, Olives Blae Black etc.
The Drowes is a relatively narrow as well as shallow river and wading is not really encouraged or necessary. However one may find a pair of waders an asset in wet conditions and should not be left behind!
Please note that the 5 miles of river from Lough to Sea are all controlled by the Drowes Estate, and they do sell permits through other channels. So you may not have the entire river to yourself, and others may be fishing using other methods to yourself (eg spinning). However there is a great deal of bank and the estate will not over-sell rods, so there is plenty of room for all.
