Ireland is home to one of the most popular sport fishing destinations in Europe and for good reason, too. The massive variety and quality of fishing has given the country an enviable reputation. 

The island of Ireland stretches just 500km in length and 300km in width, but with a ratio of 1:35 (water to land), it seems everywhere you turn, there’s an ideal location to be fished. 

Even the climate is kind to the angler, with temperate summers, mild winters and moderate rainfall throughout the year. And the warming influence of the North Atlantic Drift, which washes the south west coast, gives a milder climate than the geographical situation would indicate. 

The result is a fabulous mix of cold and warm water fish, capable of exciting both the specialist angler and casual fisherman on a family holiday.

Our Top 5 fishing tips are listed below as a starter for the fishing enthusiast:

1.  Rivers
Ireland’s most famous rivers and lakes in the Shannon, Erne and Lower Bann catchments are abundant in fish and offer picturesque locations where large catches of over 50kg are regularly made.          

2.  Lakes
It will be worth your while seeking out some of the country’s major lakes, such as Lough Ree, Lough Derg, Lough Ramor, Inniscara Lake, Upper and Lower Lough Erne, and the astonishing array of tributaries, rivers and branch waters that surround them.          

3.  Fishing Festivals
For match anglers, you'll find festivals at Portumna, Ballinasloe, Edenderry, Prosperous, Carrick-on-Shannon and Cavan to name just a few.          

4.  Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, Upper and Lower Lough Erne are excellent for bream as is the Fairy Water in Tyrone for roach.         

5.  Family Fishing
Killykeen in the Lough Oughter complex, Hope Castle at Lough Muckno and Lustybeg on Lower Lough Erne offer fishing and recreational facilities for the whole family