Lanesborough is one of Ireland’s best-known coarse angling centres, with the River Shannon on the doorstep and Lough Ree just downstream.
The hot water stretch: just below the bridge, named after the warm water once released by the old power station. The bank has 60 angling stands, four of them for anglers with disabilities. Expect bream, roach, tench and hybrids; large bream fish best from late March to the end of May, and tench from May to October.
The Cut: downstream of Lanesborough towards Lough Ree, with an island in the middle of the river. Large bream, roach, hybrids, perch and pike, best from April to early June. Fishing can be especially good at night, as bream move to and from the lake.
Kilnacarrow: a quiet stretch about 3km upstream. Quality bream, roach, hybrids and some tench from April to October, with good roach fishing in winter and spring.
Lough Ree: pike over 20lb are taken on the lake. Lough Ree Access for All (book now) runs guided angling trips, and boats can be hired locally.
Licences: coarse fishing on the Shannon and Lough Ree doesn’t need a state licence, but check current rules with Inland Fisheries Ireland. On the lake, wear a life jacket and keep an eye on the weather.