Introduction
The brown trout is a native Irish species, and the most widely distributed freshwater fish in Ireland. It thrives in rivers of all types, from small mountain streams to broad limestone rivers. Its main requirements are clean water and swift runs over gravel in which to spawn. Ireland has for centuries offered ideal habitats for the brown trout.

Open Season
Most brown trout fisheries open between February 15th and March 1st. Most close on September 30th with some exceptions which close on various dates between September 15th and October 12th. Clubs may have their own regulations on opening and closing dates.

Irish Trout Rivers

Irish trout streams vary greatly in character and appearance. The gradient of a river, its mean depth and the geology of the countryside through which it flows determines to a large extent its productivity, including the stock of trout, and their average size.

Irish Limestone Rivers

Limestone rivers provide the cream of fly-fishing for Irish trout. They vary from powerful watercourses over fifty yards wide to little brooks. Most are surface fed, with a small proportion of their water coming from springs. A few, such as the Tar in County Tipperary, are spring fed and these are jewels, especially in May and June when their crystalline streams reveal golden gravels and the fresh green of ranculus fronds. They offer many possibilities for the fisherman: fast bubbling runs; deep pools with crease lines of current where discriminating trout lie in line astern; technically challenging slick glides. These rivers can hold heavy stocks of beautifully coloured fish. The average size is probably about twelve inches but a surprising number hold trout to eighteen inches (3lbs) and every year trout over 5lbs are taken.

Irish Wet-fly Rivers

Ireland has many wet-fly streams. Their distinguishing feature is a combination of steep gradient and flow regime. Their streamy water is interspersed with shorter glides and pools. These waters tend to be moderately alkaline, or neutral, and therefore not as rich as limestone-based streams. However, what the trout lack in size they make up in numbers. The invertebrate fauna in such rivers can be significant and trout of at least 3lbs are always possible.

Upland Streams

Moorland rivers are often highly acidic. They are usually fast, boulder-strewn, and lack defined pools of good size. The trout are generally small, averaging seven or eight inches in length, but a deep pool at the base of a waterfall can hold good fish of 2lbs or more.
The small stony rivers of the north-west, west and south-west offer fish of only five or six inches long and a half-pounder is rare.

The Mayfly

A number of Irish rivers, for example Lough Key, Lough Arrow, Lough Gara & Cavetown Lake, are all the in near vacinity of Boyle town, have hatches of Mayfly. The best of this fishing is associated with Limestone rivers. Spent Mayfly usually fall in the evenings and this is the time when some of the biggest wild trout in Limestone rivers will rise to a dry fly. Every year wild fish over 5lbs are caught from Irish rivers by anglers fishing with spent Mayfly patterns.

The Evening Rise

The evening rise is particularly important for the dry-fly angler on limestone rivers from about the end of June. The daytime rises usually diminish during the summer months but there is compensation in the hours of intensive sport from early evening to eleven o'clock or beyond. The rise begins with trout moving to small fly such as Pale Wateries from about 6pm; then the Blue Winged Olive appears and can bring up heavy fish which feed into dusk. Finally the sedge species hatch and the trout rise to these until after midnight on some rivers in July. Very good fish may be taken during that last phase of the evening rise.

Best Times to Fish in Ireland

In general, April is the earliest month when trout can be observed taking duns in any of these rivers, and then for only a short period from about noon to early afternoon. In May and the first half of June trout can be feeding at the surface for most of the day, although spasmodically at times. In late June, July and August, especially in limestone rivers the best rises usually occur in the evenings or early mornings. By September the fly hatches are often light but they can persist all day and provide fishing for much of that time.

Access to fishing areas in Ireland

Irish waters are usually reached by passing through farmland and anglers are normally allowed this access by courtesy of local farmers. They will give a warm welcome but please respect their property; leave no litter and close all gates.

Safety

Some Irish inland waters are very large and become dangerous in high winds; they may have reefs or rocky shoals which can be hazardous even on a calm day. It is essential to be familiar with such waters and their hazards before going afloat unaided; a ghillie or guide should be hired for the first few days of the trip. A lifejacket should be worn by each angler in the boat.

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