Things to see and do Ireland

Lough Owel

Lough Owel is located beside the N4, 4km North West of Mullingar. Access is provided at several locations. It has a high pH, mainly spring fed limestone lake with an area of approximately 1000 hectares. The water is very clear with visibility up to 7 meters. The lake has a large resident stock of wild brown trout with an average size of 2 lb. The wild fish in the lake are supplemented by a yearly stocking programme. Trout up to 6lbs are taken every year on the fly. Large hatches of Duck Fly occur from almost mid April to the end of the month. Fish can be taken with Wet Cell 11 lines, Sink Tip and intermediate lines that carry a team of size 12 flies. After the Duck Fly in early April, the sooty Olive and Sooty Olive Bumble fish best. Around the third week in May big hatches of buzzer occur along the Portloman shore. Fish can be caught on such flies as the OMBI (12), Fiery Brown (10) when the ribbed midges are on the water. Small hatches of May Fly occur at the Cornfield to Brabazon Bay. All patterns of May Fly work, but the Grey Gosling is exceptionally good as a nymph pattern. With a large hatch of natural May Fly a Green Drake is worthwhile. Lough Owel is famous for its large hatches of sedges towards the end of July to the middle of August – much to the delight of the fry fly enthusiast. There are several different species of sedges ranging from flies to 35mm in length to approximately 15mm all fished wet and fry including Green Peters, Cinnamon Peter, Black Peter and the Murrough. Dapping grasshoppers and daddy long legs in August/September can also yield good results.

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