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One of the best wild brown trout loughs anywhere.

Some would say Sheelin is the best trout lough in Ireland. Some would say it is the best anywhere. The numbers tend to bear it out.

About Sheelin

A limestone lough on the border of three counties - the lake of the fairy pool.

Lough Sheelin (from Irish: Loch Síodh Linn meaning “lake of the fairy pool”) is a limestone freshwater lough in Ireland located in County Westmeath, County Meath and County Cavan near the village of Finea and the town of Granard, County Longford.

Some people would say that Sheelin is the best trout lough in Ireland, some might say it is the best anywhere, the statistics tend to bear this out. In a recent study the lough, which is only 4 miles long and 1 mile wide (4,654 acres), was found to hold over 100,000 fish over 8 inches of which 40,000 were between 2 and 4lbs. Now that is phenomenal. The average for the lough is 3lbs with fish up to double figures taken every year.
4,654
Acres of Wild Lough
100k+
Trout Over 8 Inches
40k
Between 2 and 4lbs
3lb
Average Trout
Why Sheelin Fishes

What makes Sheelin so productive?

As with many of the famous loughs, Sheelin lies on limestone giving the water a high pH. Alkaline water ensures fertility which means everything grows fast, there being so much to eat that the lough sustains a fish population way above what its size would suggest.

The lough doesn’t just hold trout. There are substantial pike and a large population of coarse fish which becomes important to the trout angler later in the season. And of course there is the fly population, which is plentiful – making Sheelin a top dry-fly venue. Then there is the Mayfly, which brings the lough to the boil.

The Season

Other parts of the fishery.

There is more to know about Sheelin than fits on one page - here is where to find the rest.
catch & release
Angling Regulations
Fund Raising
The Season

A year on the lough.

The season opens on the 1st of March and runs until the 12th of October. Every month brings its own hatches, its own water, and its own fish.

March

Opening of the season

March signals the start of the fishing on Sheelin. During this month fishing can be enjoyed in isolated areas of the lake. Given favourable conditions the trout can feed hard on fry and shrimps and some quite large trout can be caught. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced angler, our guides will ensure you get ample opportunities to catch these fish.

April & May

Olives, Buzzers & the Mayfly

These are probably the two most popular months on the fishing calendar. April signals the start of the olive and buzzer fishing. These sturdy little flies are a pleasure to fish whether wet in small sizes or dry on top of the water to many free-rising fish. May and the lough is alive with the largest mayfly hatch in Ireland. There is nothing as exciting as chasing a large wild trout with a dry mayfly imitation. The last week of May sees the murrough appear and huge fish can be caught - we fish till after midnight for these monster fish.

June & July

Spent Gnat & the Caenis

The first two weeks of June are regarded as the best for the spent gnat fishing, depending on weather conditions. Many people think that these two months are most difficult - how wrong can they be? Some mornings the lough experiences a magnificent hatch of caenis. This type of fishing is difficult, needs patience, but is hugely rewarding. From mid-June on, the lake gets good hatches of sedges and if conditions are favourable great fishing can be had.

August & September

Sedges, Daphnia & the Back End

In August time is spent sedge fishing, usually with dry fly. During this month the daphnia appear and a lot of trout move to deeper water to feed on this plankton-like organism. Pulling wet flies through these large schools of fish can be most exciting, where two or three fish on at the same time is not unusual. The back end is a noted time for catching large trout as they feed hard for the long winter ahead.
Get Involved

The lake's future depends on its members.

If you fish Sheelin, or if you simply care about Irish wild trout, the most useful thing you can do is join. Annual membership is €50 and goes directly into the stream enhancement and habitat protection work.

Become a member
Make a Donation
Lough Sheelin Anglers Trout Protection Association