Small Hotels & Angling Pubs
Fishing and having a pint go hand-in-hand. And there’s nowhere better than Ireland, especially when you are on a week’s holiday where combing the two becomes an entertaining art form.
I’ve cried with laughter, made a mad attempt at Irish dancing, sang along with the crowd and served behind the bar when the landlord gave up and went to bed – and never missed a day’s fishing.
It seemed a good idea to break away from the normal style of concentrating on one water and instead to mention a handful of the most popular places to stay and perhaps one outstanding water. By the way, apart from Church View House, which I have visited several times, it has been my pleasure stay at all of those accommodations featured.
Ballyconnell, County Cavan and the Angler’s Rest
What more could you want? Francis McGoldrick is a former Ireland match fishing international, he competes in all of the major festivals; he has a fishing tackle shop adjoining the pub, has boats for hire and obviously has a wealth of angling information and where is fishing well. On the other side of the coin, his wife Pauline ensures everyone is comfortable and she is a wonderful cook with a quick smile.
The very first time I stayed I couldn’t help noticing that Pauline was expecting a baby and as cheerful as ever while serving dinner. The next morning Francis was going fishing with me and a pal and at breakfast found himself serving the rashers – Pauline had gone to hospital in Enniskillen during the night.
Francis insisted on coming fishing and we drove across the border into Fermanagh and fished Trory Shore. Francis excused himself at lunchtime, driving off shouting: “I’d better get over to the hospital and see if everything is right”.
Two hours later he was bank on the bank, fishing away and now the proud father of his first son. Anyway, you can imagine the commotion in the bar that night.
Last year we fished on Cuillaghan Lake. Access isn’t the easiest but you will get good directions and you can borrow a boat for the day (no charge) and the effort will be worthwhile with lots of roach and hybrids, plus a good chance of some decent bream if you bother to prepare a swim. Feeder fishing is the best method here and you can choose between red maggot, corn and worm as hookbait.
Others waters nearby are: Killywilly Lake, Long Lake, Woodford River, Derrycassan and a dozen more within 15 minutes.
Arvagh, County Cavan and the Breffni Arms Hotel
The angling headquarters for several major festivals, notably the King of Clubs and the Stena Challenge and annually there is probably more money presented here than at any other single premises in Ireland. You will discover a day-long buzz in the bar even when match fishing brigade are absent and once again it is largely down to the family owners Eamon and Philomena, together with staff who have been looking after customers for a long time.
Fishing-wise Arvagh has to be one of the most central locations, midway between Carrigallen and Gowna, plus a couple of large lakes of its own that have great stocks of bream and roach.
“Rosduff Shore on Gowna is a big favourite with pleasure anglers looking for a good mix of bream, roach and hybrids that can be caught on most methods”, Eamon told me. “The truth is that pleasure anglers can fish away for days without seeing another fisherman and being disturbed”.
Belturbet, County Cavan and Church View House
Not a pub but within a 100 years walk of a couple of decent bars serving a good pint. Maura Hughes (and he mother before her) has cared for anglers since the early 1970’s and the house is perfect located in a quiet corner off the mains square in Belturbet.
The River Erne is within walking distance and then if you head off by car there are lakes in all shapes and sizes. Last year the river produced a number of 9lb bream to anglers who pre-baited and it could work for you. Angling maps are provided and then you can try famous spots such as Bakersbridge, Butlersbridge Flynn’s Pass and the lakes that give rise to this vast network of waters.
Ballinamore, County Leitrim and the Commercial Hotel
Fred Walsh is the “man about the house” and the family member anglers see more of because his duties involve running the late bar. It is a lively main street pub in Ballinamore Town and the are always a few people having a drink, a game of cards or watching football and hurling on the big screen TV.
Anglers who have brought all of their fishing kit will be delighted to know there is private off-road car parking at the back with the usual bait fridges and tackle facilities.
There is water galore around the town and several lakes – Bolganard, Drumlonan, Corgar and Drumlaheen – with specimen size bream or tench. For those among us who enjoy instant fishing with plenty of bites from roach, hybrids and perch, there are dozens to choose from.
Garadice Lake is very popular but my choice is Lough Scur near to the village of Keshcarrigan is a favourite of mine and the pump house section is probably the most consistent bank.
Bawnboy, County Cavan and the Keeper’s Arms
Holiday anglers have always been a big part of the BB business at the Keeper’s Arm in this tiny village and pub owner Sheila McKiernan has trawled most of Britain looking for new customers. Every winter for many years she spent three or four winter weeks attending angling road shows and everyone who came to stay found outstanding fishing.
Brackley and Bunerky lakes are the nearest good fisheries and more often than not the first-day venue where willing roach and hybrids get everyone into the mood. Mind you there are plenty of bream but they are much more likely to appear at dawn and dusk. Another “must fish” venue is Derrycassan which is reached along a small lane at Kilnavart Church on the Ballinamore road. But don’t worry about finding these places for Sheila will give you a quick spin around the best by car.
Drumlish, County Longford and Melview House
Angling guests at Melview Lodge get more monster catches than any other guesthouse. Your host is Kevin Lyons and he is fanatical about catching fish and he is raring to go when he gets first-time visitors and proving to them, time and again, that Ireland’s bream population is alive and thriving.
This is total fishing. Kevin has three boats that are available free of charge to anyone staying, he has plenty of boat storage, a mini-tackle shop and inside the house he operates a bar if you don’t fancy going into town.
There is only one way to find out where and when he catches his fish, for only the customers get to know that and even they are sworn to secrecy – but that’s nothing wrong with that in such a lake-rich country. However, much of his fishing comes from the Longford size of Lough Gowna and the Shannon’s famous Inner Lakes.
By Dave Houghton 2010
Courtesy of Angling Times
