Heading to the Erne again this weekend, and as all my previous visits have proved fruitless I'm hoping someone here will give me advice as to tactics, methods and patterns which might improve my chances.

I'll be in and around the area of Crevinishaughy island on the lower lough. Ive been going there for years, and up until resonantly ive just been course fishing. But for the last year or two my prefaired method of fishing is the fly, however lough erne (one of favorite places in the world) has proved to be my fly fishing nemesis.

Please help, I gotta break my duck this weekend

Bring a few wet mays, there is a good hatch of mayfly at the min and a few good fish coming off.

Just back from the lough today. A good hatch of mays coming off at Loftus and along the road shore. Great sport on wulffs although the fish were not big. Best about 1 1/2 lbs fell to Hogalley.

Boat had a few hitch hikers.


Decent fall of spent in the evening but no fish moving when we left.

Simon.

Crevinishaughy not one of the best trout holding areas, good for pike though, as you probably know

Nip across to Inishmakill, fish between the two arms of the island or along the west shore depending on the wind (of which there may be a surplus this w/e )

Or, if it ain't too breezy, go out to the appealingly-named Gay Island, just off Inishmakill; some good shallows on the south-west side if you can get a drift on or off it

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Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once - Lee Wulff

Thanks very much guys

Ill definatly give Inishmakill a go, as its not so far away. Unfortunately im usually limited to jetties or the odd time that I can wangle an old fletcher of the skiers (not the best fishing boat I realise). Fingers crossed though, this weekend the fletcher wont be in much use as theres 2 new ski boats to be played with.

Ive been going down to Crevinishaughy for 4 or 5 times a year for the last 15 years or so, with a group of friends who are there for the camping and wakeboarding, but I'll usually slide off and get a solid few days fishing in.

Taken a few decent pike over the years, and reasonatly a number of frisky Jacks on the fly, but the wild brownies have alluded me. Last time I was down was a sickener as it was the first time I had seen a large number of fish moving around and feeding in and around the eastern side of cleenishgarve island, they would come up to my dry fly and at the last moment turn away!! There must have been something wrong with fly choice, but going through my whole box made no difference!! talk about frustrating, it felt as though they were mocking me

Any recomendations for patterns? Ive plenty of wet mays of various sizes and colours, anything else?

woof.... very wet, and very windy.... sod it better get the wet weather gear out

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The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.
~ John Buchan

hi jonny,

i havn't been down to lough Erne this year, i have heard from people that the fish that are cuming to the surface are hard to catch, so your not alone there. stick to wet mayflies and you should get a fish.


You say you have to stay close to the shore.how
cum? do you not have an engine for the boat?

Why don't you go to Melvin, it is easier there. your a brave fisherman to tackel Erne when you have only started to fish fly for trout.

No boat Im afraid, I'd love one. When we go down we camp on the island, we would have one or two ski boats with us, as thats the real reason my mates go, im the lone angler, I sometimes get to use an old skiboat when the skiers arnt using it, but this time we are only taking the one, and its new and shiney, so looks like im sticken as close to the island as my waders will let me

Never fished Melvin, always ment to, Ive heard its good sport.

Its chucking it down here in Belfast, its going to be a very damp weekend. Just about to be picked up, hard to get motivated when its soo grey outside. But Im sure once i get my first sight of the erna as we pull in to eniskillen my mood will lift!!

YeHA

__________________
The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.
~ John Buchan

can you not hire a boat out? im sure you could get one somehow, the boat will help you a great deal to get closer to fish.

You should go to melvin; its a great experience for a beginner and you will catch fish..im fishing the melvin open comp in august, you should take a run down and you will get more knowledge.

I think that Sean Maguire from Garrison has a boat for renting on Lower Lough Erne. I believe he use the Garvary River slipway and might even have the boat tied up along the jetty.
regrads
Richard

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