Glebe Cottage Fishing

The Fermanagh Lakes are an angler's heaven. If you can't catch a fish here, you must have been one in a past life. The best time for salmon is February to mid-June; for trout, mid-March to June or mid-August until late September. As for coarse fishing, about a dozen species await your line in the area's lakes and rivers. If you've left time for advance planning and consultation, contact the Fisheries Conservancy Board, 1 Mahon Rd., Portadown BT62 3EE (tel. 028/3833-4666). For on-the-spot info, tackle, and bait, try Trevor Kingston, 18 Church St., Enniskillen (tel. 028/6632-2114). For locally arranged game fishing, call or drop in on Melvin Tackle, Main Street, Garrison, County Fermanagh (tel. 028/6865-8194). All necessary permits and licenses are available at the Fermanagh Tourist Information Centre

County Fermanagh

Ballinamallard River / Riversdale

Location: 1-mile stretch of bankside fishing in pleasant woodland. A32 north from Enniskillen for 5m towards Irvinestown, entrance at Kilgortnaleague bridge.

Variety of fish: pike and roach.
Permit: Castle Archdale Marina, Lisnarick.
J A Knaggs, Main St, Ballinamallard.
Mahon's Hotel, Irvinestown.
John Ruddy, Castle St, Irvinestown.

Cam River / Cladagh River
Mchugh's Bank

Location: 80-yard stretch. A4 and A509, 8m south of Enniskillen (signposted Cam river). Bankside fishing only. The river banks, upstream and downstream, have good access and are available with riparian owners' permission.

Variety of fish: bream, eel, perch, pike, roach, rudd.
Permit: (all Enniskillen) Home, Field & Stream, Church St.
Mullen's Pet & Shooting Supplies, Sligo Rd.
Richardson's, East Bridge St and at the Lakeland Visitor Centre, Shore Rd.
Other outlets: Erne Marine, Bellanaleck.
Post office, Bellanaleck.
N A Ensor, Aghnacarra House, Carrybridge.

Colebrook River

Location: 2-mile stretch. A34 and B154 north-west of Lisnaskea (signposted). Excellent coarse fish water. Bankside fishing only.

Variety of fish: bream, eel, perch, occasional pike, roach, rudd.
Permit: S Dowler, Main St, Lisnaskea.
N A Ensor, Aghnacarra House, Carrybridge.
Maguiresbridge Post Office.

Crom Estate

Location: two islands at Newtownbutler, Upper Lough Erne. Sixteen pegs on Inisherk Island and four pegs on Derryvore. Bankside fishing only. Day ticket 2.50(pounds) in advance: Sharon Sey, Gate Lodge, Crom Estate, Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh BT92 8AP. Tel: (0136 57) 38825. Anglers fishing Derryvore will have to hire a boat from the estate - 3(pounds) per day. Estate open weekdays from 8 am, weekend from 9 am.

Variety of fish: bream and roach.
Permit: at the gate lodge.

Killyfole Lough / Mill Lough

Location: A34 south-east of Lisnaskea for 3-l/2 miles, then B36 due east for 6 miles. Reservoir close to road. 56 acres. Fishing from shore only. North and south sides of reservoir safe for wading but north-west comer has a waming notice posted. Fishing near the treatment plant is not permitted.

Variety of fish: perch and pike.
Permit: S Dowler, Main St, Lisnaskea.
N A Ensor, Aghnacarra House, Carrybridge.
Maguiresbridge Post Office.

Lough Erne (Upper And Lower)

Location: 50 miles long and up to 12 miles wide, the lough has held two 5-hour world match records.

Variety of fish: bream, eel, perch, pike, roach, rudd.
Boat hire: Mrs R A Graham, Manville House, Aughablaney, Letter or Tel: (0136 56) 31688;
Lough Eme Hotel, Kesh Tel: (0136 56) 31275;
Castle Marine, Castle Archdale Marina Tel: (0136 56) 28097;
The Carlton, Belleek Tel: (0136 565) 282/285;
Carrybridge Hotel & Marina, Lisbellaw (01365) 87148/87282;
and the many cruiser operators around the lough.
Permit: (all Enniskillen) Home, Field & Stream, Church St.
Lakeland Visitor Centre, Shore Rd.
Mullen's Pet & Shooting Supplies, Sligo Rd.
Richardson's, East Bridge St.
Kesh: J E Brimstone, Main St.
Lough Erne Hotel, Main St.
May Fly Inn, Main St.
F A Moffitt, Main St.
Post Office, Main St.

Other outlets: The Carlton, Belleek.
J A Knaggs, Main St, Ballinamallard
Lough Navar Forest Office.
Manor House Hotel, Killadeas.
Melvin Bar, Garrison.
P F McGovem, Melvin Villa, Garrison.
John Ruddy, Castle St, Irvinestown.
Alex Shields, Legg House, Roscor.
Castle Archdale Marina, Lisnarick.
Erne Marine, Bellanaleck.
Post Office, Bellanaleck.
S Dowler, Main St, Lisnaskea.
N A Ensor, Aghnacarra House, Carrybndge.
Post Office, Maguiresbridge.
Liz Cadden, Lusty Beg Island.

Macnean Loughs (Upper And Lower)

Location: east and west of Belcoo. The south-western tip of the lower lough is in the South, and the Fermanagh side of the upper lough, to the west of Belcoo, is privately owned and in the North! However, access is readily available to both loughs.

Variety of fish: pike, eels, hybrids, perch and roach. Notable for pike
Permit: nearest seller is Peter Catterall, Corralea Forest Lodge, Belcoo.
Enniskillen: Home, Field & Stream, Church St
Lakeland Visitor Centre, Shore Rd.
Mullen's Pet & Shooting Supplies, Sligo Rd.
J E Richardson, East Bridge St.

Other outlets: Erne Marine, Bellanaleck.
Post Office, Bellanaleck.
Melvin Bar, Garrison.
P F McGovem, Melvin Villa, Garrison.

Scolban Lough

Location: A47, 3 miles east of Belleek (signposted) 171 acres. Main quarry pike (up to 20 lb) and an abundance of perch and roach. You can fish from a motorboat. Shallow areas in the lough are unmarked so be careful. Any game fish taken should be retumed unharmed to the water, unless you hold a game rod licence and permit.

Variety of fish: eel, bream, perch, pike, roach, rudd.
Boat hire: The Carlton, Belleek and Mrs R A Graham, Manville House, Aughablaney, Letter.
Permit: The Carlton, Belleek.
Alex Shields, Legg House, Roscor.