Lough Currane

Lough Currane is one of Ireland's most celebrated wild fisheries — a 2,500-acre Atlantic lough at Waterville on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, where salmon and sea trout run straight from the ocean into some of the most dramatic scenery in the country. Situated on the Ring of Kerry and backed by the mountains of the southwest, this is a water with real heritage and serious fish.

What makes Currane exceptional is its geography. Salmon and sea trout travel just 500 yards up the short Waterville River from Ballinskelligs Bay to reach the lough — which means the fish that anglers encounter are fresh from the Atlantic, powerful and silver-bright. At five miles long, two miles wide and reaching depths of 60 metres, the lough can hold large numbers of fish, but it is unquestionably a water that rewards local knowledge.

Salmon fishing opens on the 17th of January, making Currane one of Ireland's earliest-opening fisheries. Spring fish averaging around 10lbs arrive through February, March and April — heavy, cold-water fish that test tackle and angler alike. June brings the first significant grilse runs, with fresh fish averaging 5lbs arriving in numbers when conditions are right. The season for salmon runs to the 30th of September, and fish are present throughout, distributed across bays, rocky headlands and the many islands that break the open water.

Sea trout are arguably Currane's defining species. Regarded by many as the finest sea trout fishery in Ireland, the lough produces specimen fish in good numbers every season — and all sea trout fishing is now catch and release only, a reflection of the conservation commitment that protects this resource. The sea trout run typically begins in May, with larger fish entering early, and activity builds through June, July and August. Classic wet flies fished on the drift — Bibio, Black Pennell, Mallard and Claret, Watson's Fancy, Claret Bumble — account for the majority of fish.

Lough Currane is fundamentally a boat fishery, and the tradition of guided drifting defines the experience here. Local ghillies — some from families who have worked this water for four generations — hold boats across the wind lines that bring fish to the surface, positioning anglers on productive lies around islands, underwater rock structures and exposed headlands. Visiting anglers who fish without a ghillie are at a significant disadvantage; with one, the experience is transformed.

The fishery is free to access and no permit is required beyond a state salmon licence, though membership of the Waterville Fishery Development Group is strongly recommended. Boats can be hired from local operators based in Waterville, which offers a good range of angler-friendly accommodation. Currane's famous guests over the years have included Charlie Chaplin, a regular visitor to Waterville, and the lough retains that sense of a destination worthy of a proper trip.

Based on 0 reports, these conditions consistently produce the best fishing on Lough Currane:

Flies and methods reported most successful by the community.

Lough Currane's reputation as one of Ireland's finest sea trout fisheries depends on sustainable fish stocks. All sea trout fishing is strictly catch and release — handle fish carefully, minimise time out of water, and use barbless hooks where possible. Follow all IFI regulations regarding salmon bag limits and mandatory catch returns. Respect the lough's habitat and shoreline. The long-term health of Atlantic salmon and sea trout populations on the Iveragh Peninsula requires collective responsibility from every angler who fishes here.