The permits you need to fish Lough Sheelin.

The bye-laws, permits and club rules that govern angling on Lough Sheelin. Read this before you fish.

Permission to Fish

You need a permit to fish Lough Sheelin.

This fishery is part of Inland Fisheries Ireland's 'Midland Fisheries Group' of managed waters. Anglers require a fishing permit to fish here. It's a simple online process or you can purchase permits locally. Follow the link below to the Inland Fisheries Ireland website.
Adult Annual
€45.00
Pensioner Annual
€25.00
Juvenile Annual
€10.00
Day Permit
€20.00
Visitors 21 Day
€25.00
Juvenile 1 Day
€5.00
The Current Bye-Law

Conservation of Trout Bye-Law No. 949 of 2017.

The Conservation of Trout (No. 8 or Limerick District) Bye-Law No. 949 of 2017 is the principal statutory instrument governing trout angling on Lough Sheelin. Signed by Minister of State Sean Kyne on 13 June 2017 and in operation from 14 June 2017, it applies to Lough Sheelin along with the River Shannon, Lough Derravaragh, Lough Owel, Lough Ennell, Lough Ree and Lough Derg. It revokes Bye-Laws 787/2003, 790/2003 and 817/2007.
Bye-Law No. 949, 2017 - Articles 3 to 7

What the bye-law sets out

When fishing for brown trout in Lough Sheelin (and the other specified waters), the bye-law prohibits:

3 (a)

for a person to take any brown trout of less than 36 centimetres in length, measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail.

3 (b)

for a person to fish with more than 2 rods at any one time.

3 (c)

to fish with more than 4 rods at any one time per boat where there is more than one person on board the boat concerned.

3 (d)

for a person to take more than 2 brown trout on any day.

5

It is prohibited to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, fish of any kind or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing, or attempting, in Lough Sheelin, other than during the period from 1 March to 12 October in any year.

7

Trolling is prohibited in Lough Sheelin from 1 March to 16 June in any year.

Additional Protection

A designated wild brown trout water.

In 2018, Lough Sheelin was given additional statutory protection under the Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-Law.
Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-Law, 2018

Managed exclusively as a wild brown trout fishery

Lough Sheelin is one of seven state-owned waters formally designated for the protection and management of wild brown trout stocks. The other six are Loughs Conn, Cullin, Corrib, Mask, Carra and Arrow.

The bye-law gives statutory status to the long-standing policy of managing these lakes primarily as wild brown trout waters. It also prohibits the introduction of fish species into the designated waters, addressing biosecurity, the spread of pathogens, and the threat of alien invasive species.

Sep 30th

to Oct 12th

Voluntary return at the back end of the season

The Board's policy is to ask anglers to voluntarily return all brown trout caught between 30 September and 12 October. The full statutory text is available from Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Club Rules

LSTPA angling rules.

Beyond the statutory bye-laws, these are the rules of conduct expected of every angler fishing under LSTPA permit.
LSTPA Angling Rules

Conduct on the water

Beyond the statutory bye-laws, these are the LSTPA's own conditions of fishing under a club permit:

I

Anglers can only fish one rod per angler.

II

Rods must not be left unattended.

III

All undersized fish must be returned to the water with as little injury as possible.

IV

Anglers who are found to have acted in an ‘unsporting manner’ may have their permit revoked.

Report

in confidence

Witness an offence on the lough?

If you witness anyone fishing outside of these guidelines or causing any other offence, please contact the LSTPA or Inland Fisheries Ireland in confidence. IFI also operates a confidential incident hotline.
Get Involved

The lake's future depends on its members.

Annual membership is €50 and goes directly into the stream enhancement, monitoring and habitat work that keeps Sheelin one of the top wild brown trout fisheries in Europe.