Flies

Early Season

This is the period from about mid-March to the end of April.

The trout are mainly interested in a diet of fresh water louse and freshwater shrimp but even light hatches of small Chironomids (Midges) or Olives will encourage fish to feed close to the surface.

The fly patterns most likely to interest trout during this period are Fiery Brown 5 Olive, Peter Ross, Soldier Palmer, Bibio, March Olive, Green Olive, Mallard and Claret, Duckfly, Blae and Black. Claret Dabbler and Golden Dabbler. Of these the Sooty Olive is probably the most effective of all and a Fiery Brown is especially useful in an area where trout are found to be feeding on freshwater shrimp.

Mayfly Season

Lough Conn has one of the longest mayfly seasons of any water in the country. The fly starts to hatch about 20 May and the hatch continues almost until the end of June. The fly hatch all over the shallower areas and bays but the most prolific hatches take place north of a line from Castlebill to Rinmore.

At this time, wetfly fishing becomes very exciting but the trout may also be taken on dry fly. Dry flies most likely to be effective are Yellow Fan Winged Mayflies and Spent Gnat imitations.

The Fan Winged Mayfly is fished either as a dropper (well oiled) or, alternatively, a cast may comprise just two of these flies cast in front of the drifting boat and fished dry.

In suitable wind and weather conditions, in late May and right through June the Mayflies (Gnats) return to the water to lay their eggs. The trout prey heavily on them as they sit trapped in the surface film. The artificial flies most likely to take trout at mayfly time are Green Peter, Mayfly (Hackled), Fan Winged Mayfly, Bibio, Watson’s Fancy, Teal and Yellow, Olive Bumble, Cock Robin, Claret Bumble, Invicta, Green Dabbler, Golden Dabbler, Claret Dabbler and Spent Gnat.

Late Season

Trout fishing on Conn slows down in early July but picks up again in August and, depending on conditions, can be very good from then to the close of the season on 10 October.

All the sedge patterns - Green Peter, Murrough, Brown Sedge - work well as do the Black and Peacock Spider, Bibio, Sooty Olive, Coch-y-Bundhu, Olive Bumble, Watson’s Fancy, Black Pennell, Golden Olive, Invicta, Connemara Black, Claret Dabbler and Golden Dabbler.

Fly Sizes

The fly sizes fished on Lough Conn vary from size 8 to size 12, but size 10 is the most popular and useful size.

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