Fishing in Ireland | Coarse Fishing in Ireland
 
Ireland has some of the cleanest and most lightly-fished freshwaters in Europe. The Irish landscape is one of small fields and wild peat bogs, littered with loughs of all sizes and drained by many rivers; there are over 7,000 miles of riverbank for the coarse and pike angler. The scale of these waters varies dramatically.

Two of the biggest rivers, the Shannon and the Erne, each comprise huge systems. The Shannon contains in its course several massive loughs, such as Lough Ree which is eighteen miles long. The Erne also spreads into big networks of loughs, like Lough Oughter in County Cavan. But apart from these systems there are innumerable smaller rivers and loughs. What all of the waters, big and small have in common is their richness and their wealth of fish life.

Irish inland waters have retained their pristine quality. Ireland has never had a significant degree of heavy industry, and its inland towns are mainly small. It is still possible to find yourself in a corner of an Irish lough, sheltered by dense reedbeds standing in ten feet of clear water, and to feel that you are the first person ever to have fished that particular place.

This peace can be found on any one of the many types of Irish water. There are the big rivers, such as the Shannon, but there are also medium sized rivers like the Barrow. There are deep loughs dark with peat stain and there are crystal clear waters, such as Lough Annagbrnore in County Roscommon, where you may see the fish take your bait. Some of the biggest loughs are rugged and wild when stirred by the westerly winds which sweep over Ireland. But there are also small quiet loughs and miles of canal sheltered by stands of mature trees where the most delicate styles of angling can be practised in perfect peace.

Irish coarse fishing offers this solitude and tranquillity and it can also offer companionship to those who like to fish in company. But above all it offers superb fishing.