Ireland's Fishing Paradise Is A Gorgeous Lake With Pristine Waters And Unique Trout

Featuring over 4,600 miles of coastline and a deep cultural connection to harvesting from the seas, Ireland is a renowned fishing destination. And, while the nation boasts plenty of shore fishing opportunities, Ireland is also home to some of the top brown trout fisheries in Europe. However, for a once-in-a-lifetime fishing experience, northwest Ireland must be explored. Here, lucky anglers can pursue two types of trout that can only be found natively at Lough Melvin, a 5,428-acre lake straddling County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and County Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland.

In many ways, Lough Melvin is a relic of the past, carved by the retreating glaciers of the last ice age and then filled with water over 13,000 years ago. During this transitional period, sonaghan and gillaroo trout took up residence in the lough. To this day, they remain genetically distinct and don't interbreed, an example of evolutionary isolation at its finest. Measuring 8 miles long and 3 miles wide, this freshwater lake is nestled between rolling hills and surrounded by lush fen-meadows and wetlands.

To fully experience Lough Melvin, you'll want to spend a couple days in one of the angling gateway towns — Garrison, Rossinver, or Kinlough — to prepare and explore the area. You can choose from a variety of homey accommodations, including Melvin Country House, which overlooks the lake and has provided housing for competitors in the annual Lough Melvin Open Trout Angling Championships. The lough is a few hours from Dublin International Airport (DUB), so international travelers will want to rent a car or arrange a private driver.

From the surface, you wouldn't guess Lough Melvin provides opportunities unlike anything you'd find at the best U.S. national parks for fishing, but looks can be deceiving. Featuring a gradient of golden scales and red spots, gillaroo trout have evolved with an especially muscular stomach for digesting snails. They don't grow very large and prefer to hunt in the shallows. Dotted with black speckles, sonaghan trout may look more common than gillaroo, but anglers say they put up a great fight. These crafty fish can reach up to 2.5 pounds and usually hunt for daphnia, tiny water fleas, in the open water. 

The lake is also home to ferox, a deep-water dweller that can weigh up to 15 pounds, and brown trout. Besides trout, Lough Melvin is equally famous for its Atlantic salmon, which run between February 1 and September 30. Adding to the bounty, arctic char also patrol the cool deeper waters, but they're not popular with anglers. In terms of seasonality, June and July are best for gillaroo and sonaghan, while April and May are the early trout period. 

Lough Melvin owes its incredible biodiversity to its clean, clear water. The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs specifically notes the lack of pollution, while Lough Melvin's classification as a moderately nutrient-rich lake keeps excessive algae growth at bay. In addition, the water owes its clarity to limestone found throughout much of the basin. As the water percolates through the limestone, it filters out minerals and other impurities, resulting in the ultra-clear lough. 

As Lough Melvin is divided between two different countries, you need to get licenses from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, or both, depending on where you fish in the lake. For instance, about one third of the lake is managed by the Rossinver Fishery, which offers the area's best fly fishing for salmon. If you want to fish here or for salmon in Garrison, you'll need separate permits from the Rossinver Fishery or from Garrison Anglers.

You can eliminate most of the permit headache by hiring a "gillie," the local term for a fishing or hunting guide. As can be expected from a place that's one of Rick Steves' favorite destinations in Europe, local guidance can turn an unsuccessful outing into something you'll never forget. And, while you'll find a smattering of advice on Reddit and local blogs, a gillie can help you read the lough in a way that's simply beyond non-local abilities. You'll find a list of local gillies at Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Although shore fishing is possible in some places around the lough, you really need a boat to get the most out of your fishing trip. You can rent boats in Rossinver, Garrison, and Kinlough, or rely on your gillie to make the arrangements. The boats themselves are absolutely beautiful, made of wood and lacquered in rich colors. Planning an extended trip? Make the most of your time by adding Pollaphuca Reservoir, Ireland's largest artificial lake with hiking, fishing, and mountain views to your itinerary.