Damien Willis of loughfishingbuddies.com  studies the form on Lough Sheelin and reports:
Excellent spent gnat fishing is still to be had on Lough Sheelin. A good number of trout can been observed feeding on spent gnat late in the evening in calm slick conditions. The bright conditions this week coupled with the large amount of boats traveling on the Lough did tend to put the majority of fish down, only to appear again at dusk. A good angling ethic is advised for this time of the year as big Sheelin trout will only rise and feed if there is little disturbance on the water – extra caution is advised not to spook the trout. The may fly on Sheelin had been early compared to recent years and as the season draws to a close perch fry will begin to make their appearance around mid June and become an important food item on a trout’s menu. Sheelin trout can appear to feed exclusively on the shoals of small fry and the anglers attention is generally attracted to the scene of the action by a succession of noisy splashes. Bashing trout lash the fry with their tails in an apparent effort to stun the tiny fish. They then feed on the dead fry lying on the surface.

Damian Willis - Lough Sheelin Murrough at a glance
Lough Sheelin Murrough at a glance

Spent gnat
Spent gnat

Although May Fly is still present on Sheelin trout will often ignore them and feed on surface Sedges late in the day and into the evening. The first stage of the sedges life is the larva where it builds itself a protective case from lake or riverbed debris. It stays in this form for up to a year, before gradually changing into the pupae stage. Once mature, the pupa eats its way out of its protective case before swimming to the surface. The final stage is the adult sedge. Its main characteristics are its tent-shaped wings and long antennae. Although some species are active during the day time, most sedges hatch during the evening and at night time. Its when the adults return to the water to lay their eggs, often skittering across the water’s surface, that some truly heart stopping angling can be enjoyed.
May Fly Shorline Lough Sheelin
May Fly Shorline Lough Sheelin

Damien Willis
loughfishingbuddies.com