The village of Shannonbridge is an old and long established angling centre located on the banks of the Mid River Shannon in Co Offaly, about half way between Lough Derg to the south and Lough Ree to the north.

WHERE TO FISH 

First time visitors to Shannonbridge are faced with the question of where to fish, as there is such a choice of angling waters. On this guide there is a total of 12 angling hotspots described, extending from Clonmacnoise on the River Shannon to the north of Shannonbridge, downstream through Shannonbridge village as far as  Shannon harbour near Banagher, a total distance of about 14 miles. The guide covers the Lower River Suck  which flows from the west through Ballinasloe to its confluence with the River Shannon a short distance below Shannonbridge village. But don’t forget there are other neighbouring angling centres of which Shannonbridge serves as a good base, Athlone is 15 miles to the north and Banagher 8 miles downriver to the south, Ballinasloe to the west  covers about 8 miles of mainly slow moving and quite deep, meandering but often very productive waters on the lower River Suck system.

As with much of the Shannon and its tributaries, there are many ‘hidden’  waters inaccessible by road which have barely seen a boat, let alone an angler. This is what makes the area so unique and interesting as anglers who like to explore such ‘hidden’ waters do so fishing from boats and cruisers. For those more adventurous anglers willing to explore these extensive waters, boats are available for hire in the village.

Pike

Perch

Bream

Roach

Tench

Rudd

Hybrids

Clonmacnoise R. Shannon

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Devenish Islands R. Shannon

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Cappeleitra Backwater

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Long Island R. Shannon

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Shannonbridge Bay

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Moran’s Island

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Shannonbridge Hot Water

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Eammon’s Stretch R. Shannon

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Mickies Backwater R. Shannon

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River Suck Creggan

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River Suck Correen

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River Suck Culliagh

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(Pictured: Cloghan Lake courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/cloghanlakefishing/)

Clonmacnoise R. Shannon

Clonmacnoise is four miles upstream of Shannonbridge and has a famous monastery ruins over looking the River Shannon. There are open bank stretches upstream of Clonmacnoise on either side of the river. The west bank is called Clonoun stretch and the east bank is the Camus stretch.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: Clonoun with an access road from Cornafulla School on the Athlone Ballinasloe road provides access to a long ribbon of river fishing on good banks within a short walking distance. The Camus stretch shares much of the Clonoun stretch on the eastern side.

TO GET THERE: Clonoun Stretch: From Shannonbridge Take the Ballinasloe road out of Shannonbridge for about 2 miles. Turn right for Athlone. Continue on this road for about 5 miles until you join the main Ballinasloe/Athlone road and then turn right, pass Connaughton’s pub and turn right. After a further mile take a right at the junction and continue for 2 miles where you will meet the river. Clonmacnoise Monastic settlement with round towers is located on the other side of the river a short distance downstream.  Camus Stretch: From Shannonbridge go past Clonmacnoise and take the first left turn. This is the funeral route which passes by the cemetery. Take the next branch to the left after passing the cemetery and this opens up a wide selection of bank side fishing in Camus Callows within a short walking distance.

Cloghan Lake (Loch Clochan) Put & Take Fly Fishery

Loch Clochan is situated 2km east of Cloghan village on the northern side of the R357 or approximately 15 minutes from Laurel Lodge B&B, Shannonbridge. The lake covers an area of three-and-a-half hectares and has depths of up to two-and-a-half metres.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: As a ‘put and take’ Trout fishery under the control of the Cloghan and District Anglers Club, membership is open to all for a small fee per year. Members are entitled to fish Loch Cloghan at a reduced rate per day. For non-members a daily ticket can be purchased, with a reduced rate for juvenile anglers.

The lake is stocked regularly and the average fish size is three quarters of a pound but it is not uncommon to catch fish up to two pounds. Fly fishing from the bank or stands is the only method permitted and there is a bag limit of three fish per rod, per day. The size limit is twelve inches. Best returns are got on Nymphs and Muddlers and there is a hatch of May flies on the lake.

The open season is between 1 May and 12 October, from 8am to 10pm.

Membership can be obtained from Paddy Barry of Castle St, Cloghan village.

Devenish Islands R. Shannon

Clonburren Callows is  about two miles upstream from Shannonbridge on the west bank and Devenish Island is a well known angling stretch along here. Remember that this is callow land flooded in winter and generally only used for one hay crop. Talk to the farmers if you meet them and they might direct you to the most recent producing swim. Access to the opposite bank is difficult but if you have a boat there are a few productive bays.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: This is an open bank venue with access off the Shannonbridge – Athlone  road

TO GET THERE: From Shannonbridge take the Ballinasloe road for about  2 miles. Turn right in the direction of Athlone. Continue for about 3 miles, turn off at Falty old school house and soccer pitch and drive behind a hill range on your right for over a mile until you get to the end of the hilly area. The road tends to sweep around the hill here. There is a track straight ahead which brings you down to into 20 yards of the river. The Cappaleitra stretch can be accessed by taking a right off this track.

Cappeleitra Backwater

Cappaleitra is a backwater off the Shannon about a mile north of Shannonbridge village. It is a stillwater of about one mile in length and is a spawning ground for coarse fish.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: There are four means of land access. One can access the western side of the river by taking the access road to Devenish Island and continuing around the sandhill. Take the first left off this road and park beside the first sheds on the left hand side. To access the eastern bank continue on the track to Devenish Island and take the track road to the right. This also gives access to the Shannon downstream of Devenish. A boat opens up all the options and allows one to troll, moor and fish or get you to your swim quickly.

TO GET THERE: There is access to the mouth of Cappaleitra. See directions above.

Long Island R. Shannon

Long Island is an island over a mile long that runs upstream from the bridge in Shannonbridge and ends below the mouth of Cappaleitra Backwater varying from very shallow water at the village end with depths of about 8 feet after a hundred metres and slowly graduating to depths of 18 feet at the northern end. The protective shoulder of Long Island creates a backwater and resting spot for bream, rudd, roach, tench, perch, pike. Fish from a short shoreline towards the red marker.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: There is access by land by crossing the village bridge and using the stone flight of stairs at the end of the bridge. To access it by boat,  travel up the main River Shannon and come back downstream into the back river west of Long Island.

TO GET THERE: At Shannonbridge village as above.

Shannonbridge Bay

There are a number of favoured swims within a few hundred yards of the village bridge. Upstream on the village side is a small popular bay and it has been fished  from many angles. A favoured swim is to walk around to the top of the bay and fish a few rod lengths out facing towards the bridge and slightly in off the flow.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: This is an open bank venue. The bay is upstream of the bridge, parking in the village is suggested.

TO GET THERE: Proceed to the village bridge.

Moran’s Island

The river flows in a sweeping bend in the shape of a question mark around Moran’s Island away from the man-made Cut and back again. Along this route, it links up with the River Suck less than a mile downstream from Shannonbridge village. Another good hotspot can be accessed by crossing over the stile at the end of the jetty and continuing down to the end of the field where the pipe from the water treatment discharges into the river. You can fish this from both sides with results. The river starts to wind below this pipe and there are some good producing pegs before you reach ‘The Cut’.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: There is a productive bay located on the west bank. Here access by boat  is one the best options. There is a deep section of river where the River Suck meets the River Shannon and this can be fished from a moored boat, from all three sides of Moran’s Island or from the mainland. You can reach the upper part of the bay across from Moran’s Island by using the stone steps on the western end of the village bridge and walking downstream into the next field just before where the sweep of rushes are located which protects most of the bay from the land angler. Past these rushes and before the mouth of the River Suck are some productive pegs. The River Shannon swings around Moran’s Island and flows for about a mile towards the Power Station passing good swims on the western bank along the way. Using boat access there are a few swims downstream of Moran’s Island. There is lots of open bank fishing available but requires a boat to explore it all.

TO GET THERE: Access is from  Shannonbridge village – seek local directions from Eamonn McManus at Laurel Lodge B&B.

Shannonbridge Hot Water

The Hot Water stretch although limited in area is often a very productive stretch located at the outfall to  Shannonbridge power station flusher. This stretch holds most coarse fish in abundance and attracts plenty of pike also in pursuit of the fodder fish present. Try the canal stretch, the point where the hot water joins up and close to the embankment down from the car park. Remember these are wild and very strong fish so do adapt tactics to suit. Like all the other swims pike abound,  so come prepared with suitable pike gear as the stretch produces large pike from time to time.  Anglers often report snatch takes while coarse fishing here.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: This is an open bank venue. There is a railway bridge across the Shannon. During development works some years ago the ESB deepened a channel.  Take note of the short shallow canal beside the car-park and down to the river, this canal was used to ferry machinery before the bridge was built. Also please note that the field downstream from the Hot Water Stretch is private land and is presently closed to fishing. Do not enter the field without express permission from the local landowner.

TO GET THERE: From Shannonbridge village take the road towards Cloghan and note where the railway goes under the road. Turn right immediately past this and continue down the road keeping the railway lines to your right hand side. You will meet  a gate with an overhead barrier a few hundred yards in the road. Open and close the gate and drive down to a small car park where the hot water flows out from the power station.

Eamon’s Stretch R. Shannon

Eamon’s stretch derives its name from the owner of the adjacent land, Eamon McManus who owns Laurel Lodge guesthouse on the Cloghan road and caters for angling guests and owns this website.  There is a very productive bay located a short distance down from the Hot Water Stretch.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: This is an open bank stretch a few hundred yards downriver of the Hot Water Stretch. Access to this stretch is via the road leading to the Hot Water described below. Be careful if cattle are in the field and it is best to leave your car parked safely outside the fence. Better still access it from a boat for more flexibility.

TO GET THERE: From Shannonbridge village take the road in the direction of Cloghan and note where the railway goes under the road. Turn right immediately past this and continue down the road keeping the railway lines to your right hand side. Turn left at the entrance gate to the hot water and follow the track opening one gate. Close the gate and drive over towards the next fence and use the rough track located there to take you into Eamon’s Stretch.

Mickies Backwater R. Shannon

Below Clonfert on the left bank is the lovely ‘Mickies Backwater’ which is like a sausage attached onto the River Shannon is linked by an inlet about five yards wide. This is a popular spawning ground and although part of the river it fishes like a Stillwater or lake, try fishing from the downstream side, best swims are just below the mouth.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: These are open bank swims.

TO GET THERE: From Shannonbridge take the Cloghan road out of the village for about 5 miles until you meet a Football Pitch at a crossroads. Turn right here along a track adjacent to the pitch. Continue down the track, park the car and walk for a few hundred yards to the backwater.

River Suck Creggan

Creggan Ford is on the River Suck, situated about two miles upstream from Shannonbridge. The river is quite deep with depths averaging from fourteen to eighteen feet. A clean bank and river bed provides the ideal location for ledger fishing for pike. A weed cutter may be useful to clear bank swims during the summer.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: This is an open bank venue.

A permit is required for the River Suck. This can be bought online.

TO GET THERE: From Shannonbridge take the Ballinasloe road for about two miles. Turn left opposite Clonfad Church and Kenny’s Shop. Follow the main track for nearly three miles and watch out for a two storied house neatly covered in ivy. Enquire here how to get to the river which can be accessed at the rear of the house. Walking distance to river is about two hundred yards.

River Suck Correen

The road from Shannonbridge crosses the River Shannon and leads to Ballinasloe over about eight miles. Likewise the River Suck takes a more lazy course between Ballinasloe and Shannonbridge south of the roadway. Five tracks provide access to or near the River Suck of which Correen Ford is one . The Suck is a fine river varying in depth from 20 Foot to 14 Foot . There is a good stock of pike in the river so pike gear may be required. For example eight anglers from Cullingworth were fishing a favoured swim between Correen and the boathouse at Culliagh a few years ago. They had arrived on Saturday and started feeding their swims. By Wednesday morning they reckoned that they had about 5,000 fish feeding in their swims. Suddenly not a bite and everything went dead. The leader read the situation well and told the group to get their pike rods working. In a short space of time they had landed thirteen pike mostly in double figures and four weighing 16 pounds each. The biggest of all tipped the scales at over 28 pounds. They carefully released them further downstream and continued with their coarse fishing.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: Access is very easy to open bank fishing on a mostly clean bank.  There is very adequate public car parking at the end of the track.

A permit is required for the River Suck. This can be bought online.

TO GET THERE: From Shannonbridge take the Ballinasloe road for about 3 miles until you come to a sign post for Correen. Turn left here. Continue along the track (about 2 miles) to the dead end and car park adjacent to the River.

River Suck Culliagh

Culliagh is a stretch on the River Suck locally known as Culliagh Boathouse on account of a small  old boathouse located beside the river here.

FACILITIES AND ACCESS: This is an open bank venue adjacent to the boathouse. There are other sections also which can provide fishing. The track you drove down continues past the boathouse for some distance and leads to known hotspots. Many access stiles and footbridges will facilitate along the way. However there is still a walk of about 200 yards to get to most swims. A weed cutter attachment for your landing net handle may be a  useful item in your tackle-box to clean a bank swim when you arrive.

A permit is required for the River Suck. This can be bought online.

TO GET THERE: From Shannonbridge take the Ballinasloe road for about five miles. Look for a sign to the left for Culliagh. This is a couple of miles beyond the sign for Correen Ford. There is a track which leads down  to the river, a distance of about  three miles  Look out for the small boathouse and there you are ! Happy Fishing !

Source: https://fishinginireland.info/pike/shannon/shannonbridge/