Lough Melvin

Lough Melvin is a beautiful unspoilt lough famous for the diversity and number of salmonids that inhabit it. The lough has salmon, char as well as gillaroo, ferox and sonaghan strains of trout.

Salmon are caught right throughout the season. Spring fish can be caught all season, with grilse being caught from May onwards.

The early runs of salmon, averaging around 8lbs, are fished for by trolling in February and March. Salmon running from early April travel directly up the Lough or along the southern shore. This late spring run normally tails off in late May when the grilse start to run.

The best period for fly-fishing for salmon is from the later part of April until late June. Favourite flies include the Shrimp fly in all its most popular forms, i.e. Curry’s Red, Faughan shrimp, Bann Special etc. Other effective flies are Silver Doctor, Thunder and Lightning, Jock Scott. In warmer weather a yellow fly is often used. Many salmon are caught by design or by accident on Trout flies. The Rossinver fishery can arrange accommodation and Ghillies if required.