Days Out NI
Fishing & angling Enniskillen

Lough Erne Angling

Two vast connected loughs around Enniskillen, rated among the finest coarse fishing waters in Europe and a serious game fishery too.

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By permitDay ticket or permit
Day ticketBeginners welcome
EnniskillenFishing & angling
Get directionsOfficial website
Day ticketDay ticket
FreshwaterTrout & coarse
Beginners OKKids welcome
Licence + permitBefore you fish
On siteParking

Lough Erne Angling — Two vast connected loughs around Enniskillen, rated among the finest coarse fishing waters in Europe and a serious game fishery too.

  • Licence & permits: DAERA rod licence (coarse or game as appropriate), plus a permit for waters that require one. Check nidirect for current rules.
  • What you can catch: Bream, roach, hybrids, perch, tench and pike; wild brown trout, salmon and stocked trout on the Lower Lough.
  • Beginners & kids: The Upper Lough's bank pegs suit beginners; Enniskillen tackle shops and guides can set you up. No single hire hut on the bank.
  • Cost: Rod licence plus any permit; check current prices on nidirect.
  • Booking: No central booking. Buy licence and permit in advance; book a guide or boat locally if you want one.
  • Facilities: Bank pegs and stands at various points; tackle shops, guides and boat hire based in and around Enniskillen.
Plan your visit

Coarse fishing on the Upper Lough

The Upper Lough is the star for coarse anglers. Its weedy, reed-fringed bays hold bream and roach in real numbers, along with hybrids, perch and tench. There is no close season for coarse fishing, so you can go year-round. From November to March pike shoal up and spread through the lough, giving good sport for predator anglers. This is where beginners do well: pick a sheltered bay, fish a simple feeder or float, and the bream are forgiving.

Among Europe's finest coarse fishing Bream, roach, hybrids, perch, tench and pike Wild brown trout and salmon on the Lower Lough Bank pegs friendly to beginners Tackle shops and guides in Enniskillen
Good to know before you go:

Each spring the Waterways Ireland Classic and other festivals bring hundreds of match anglers from across the globe to Enniskillen for the coarse fishing.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🎣Your rod & tackleSome fisheries hire gear — check first if you’re travelling light.
  • 🪪Your rod licence & permitMost NI freshwater fishing needs a DAERA rod licence plus a permit — sort it before you go.
  • 🧥Waterproofs & warm layersYou’re at the water’s edge for hours — dress for it whatever the forecast.
  • 🥪A flask and a pieceThere’s not always a café on the bank, so pack your own.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Type
Coarse and game fishing area across two large loughs
What you can catch
Bream, roach, hybrids, perch, tench and pike; wild brown trout, salmon and stocked trout on the Lower Lough
Licence & permits
DAERA rod licence (coarse or game as appropriate), plus a permit for waters that require one. Check nidirect for current rules
Beginners & kids
The Upper Lough's bank pegs suit beginners; Enniskillen tackle shops and guides can set you up. No single hire hut on the bank
Cost
Rod licence plus any permit; check current prices on nidirect
Booking
No central booking. Buy licence and permit in advance; book a guide or boat locally if you want one
Facilities
Bank pegs and stands at various points; tackle shops, guides and boat hire based in and around Enniskillen
Address
Upper and Lower Lough Erne, around Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
Questions

Before you go

What licence or permit do I need?
DAERA rod licence (coarse or game as appropriate), plus a permit for waters that require one. Check nidirect for current rules
Is it OK for beginners and children?
The Upper Lough's bank pegs suit beginners; Enniskillen tackle shops and guides can set you up. No single hire hut on the bank
How much does it cost?
Rod licence plus any permit; check current prices on nidirect
What can I catch?
Bream, roach, hybrids, perch, tench and pike; wild brown trout, salmon and stocked trout on the Lower Lough
Do I need to book?
No central booking. Buy licence and permit in advance; book a guide or boat locally if you want one
Getting there

Lough Erne Angling is at Upper and Lower Lough Erne, around Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around EnniskillenSee what else is close by More fishing & angling across NIFisheries, loughs and sea marks
The story

About Lough Erne Angling

Lough Erne is two great loughs joined at Enniskillen, and it is one of the reasons anglers travel to Fermanagh from all over Europe. The Upper Lough is a maze of weedy, reed-fringed bays packed with bream, roach, hybrids, perch and tench, and it hosts big international coarse matches. The Lower Lough is bigger, wilder water that holds wild brown trout, salmon and pike. You can fill a net from a bank peg or troll open water for a springer.