Coarse angling in the south west of Ireland is centred on the River Lee system and anglers are required to buy a permit to fish on the central sections of the system (Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid lakes). Permit fees are very affordable with the revenue being reinvested in the fishery for the benefit of anglers.
Inniscarra is host to a number of international competitions this area offers excellent bream, rudd, bream-rudd hybrid angling.
Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid Hotspots
- Dripsey Arms: West of Griffen’s Garden Centre.
- Rooves Bridge: The small bay 600m East of the bridge
- The Caumruad: An easily accessible shallow, weedy area. Beside the main road east of Carrigadrohid village. The stretch here has been developed into the Coachford Greenway – see below.
- Carrigadrohid: Fish both banks upstream of Castle Bridge. This section varies in water depth and fishes best when the water is high with minimum flow. For your own safety listen for the hooter which is sounded when water is being released from the dam.
- Dunisky: 7 km from Macroom on Cork Road.
- Farranvarrigane: 3.5 km from Macroom on Cork Road.
- New Bridge: 1 Km downstream from bridge.
Coachford Greenway
The Coachford Greenway is a multi-purpose amenity for everyone to enjoy, providing cycling, walking and angling for all. The walkway which has National Trails status was developed with the angler in mind providing access to the water whilst preserving the natural beauty of the fishery. Available to the angler is a 2.8km stretch of bank accessed from a single carriageway road with regular parking bays and access points. A world class angling venue the Greenway has already hosted both senior and junior world championships. The Greenway section of the reservoir has depth ranges from 6 to 9 metres at 30 metres out from the bank
Please note Innisleena is no longer suitable for fishing.
Anglers should note that there is no access to the reservoir via the Walshestown / Castleinch carpark except by landowner’s consent. IFI no longer maintains the former carpark and no liability shall be accepted by IFI for any loss or damage howsoever caused in any circumstances to vehicles (including contents) or injury to persons using the car park.
Permits
Buy online: https://permits.fishinginireland.info/
Permits are also available from the following:
- IFI Macroom
- Murrays Tackle shop, Patricks Street, Cork
- Cathleen’s Shop, Coachford
- Mary Anne’s Pub, Masseytown, Macroom.
The ESB amenity officer is Dan Riordan and he can be contacted on 087 7506605
Fishery regulations
- All fish caught must be returned to the lake.
- Restricted fishing areas: 150 metres from dams; within station grounds or its environs.
- ESB or IFI Macroom shall not be liable for any injury loss or damage to any person or property whatsoever or howsoever arising either directly or indirectly from the issue of a permit.
- All methods of legalised baits may be used.
- Anglers must respect the rights and property of landowners whose land they may have to cross or whose lands they may occupy when fishing.
- The unauthorised lighting of fires, the breaking of hedges, or any other damage caused by a permit holder while fishing the Board’s waters will be treated as an offence against the Board’s conditions.
- Anyone found breaking the Boards regulations or conditions may have his permit withdrawn for the remainder of the current season and may also have a permit withdrawn for a subsequent season should the breach occur at the end of the current season.
- In the interest of safety, only bank fishing is allowed.
- Angling Returns to be submitted to ESB
