Lough Conn has always enjoyed a reputation as one of the iconic places to fish in the West of Ireland. At close to 14,000 acres, it’s a big area of water with a north to south stretch of 9 miles, and shore-to-shore widths anywhere between 2 and 4 miles across.
A typical limestone water, Lough Conn’s shoreline of rocks and stones gives it the appearance and atmosphere of a mountain lough. The traditional method of fishing these big Irish loughs is always from a boat. Fishermen visiting Lough Conn are warmly welcomed, and local hotels and guest houses will always recommend reliable boats and skilled boatmen with local knowledge of the best fishing.
The beautiful wild Conn trout run up to 5lb, though most fish netted will be more like 1 to 2lbs with larger specimens proving much tougher to catch. When there are hatching flies on the water, fish moving in or near the surface film are taken by casting a team of wet flies ahead of a boat drifting on the wind. The best trout fishing spots are in Lough Conn’s shallow areas, and the best of these are found towards the northern end. Some larger trout can also be taken on heavy sinking lines cast a good distance from the boat when the fish are feeding closer to the bed of the lough.
Lough Conn late-spring salmon run from the end of March, with a run of grilse following in May. In most years, salmon can then be caught up until July. Trolling is the main tactic, and baits such as Devon Minnows and Spoons account for the majority of salmon catches. During June and July, salmon can also be taken on the fly, frequently by trout hunters, and a few more fall to salmon anglers fishing the shore with baits and worms. The Conn salmon are known to stick to their traditional favoured spots in the lough, so using a local boatman is by far the best way to track them down.
On current estimates, Lough Conn yields a seasonal return of around 8,000 trout catches, and something like 400-500 salmon. Occasional good-sized sea trout (around 15 inches) are also caught, though, sadly, the beautiful and once-common char disappeared from Lough Conn in the 1990s. Good fishing is also to be had on the nearby River Moy, famed for its salmon, with bass, mullet and sea trout all available in the estuary.
Apart from great fishing, Lough Conn also has good kayaking facilities and is the perfect base for exploring some of the walking trails through Mayo’s stunning mountain and moorland scenery. Horse riding is available too, and many golf courses and beautiful unspoilt beaches can be found nearby. The renowned Foxford Woollen Mills are in the local area, as is the town of Castlebar, which houses the Country Life section of Ireland’s National Museum. The excellent beaches and breathtaking mountains of Achill Island are only slightly further afield.