Garadice Lough

Address

Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Fishery Information

Garadice Lough, also known as Garadice Lake or Lough Garadice, is a freshwater lake in County Leitrim, Ireland. It is located in the south of the county and now forms part of the Shannon–Erne Waterway. The lake is approximately 3 km wide from west to east and covers an area of 3.89 square kilometres. It has three islands, including Church Island and Cherry Island. The lake has a large basin located southwest of Church Island, where depths of 10-20 meters have been recorded.

What size do the fish go to?

Among the fish found in Garadice Lough are tench, roach, rudd, bream, hybrid, perch, eel, and pike. Large pike weighing 10 kg (22 lb) or more have been regularly caught here. The lake produces good numbers of small to medium-sized pike, but fish in excess of 20 lbs are recorded regularly.

What tactics work well?

For fishing in Garadice Lough, popular methods include using a long pole and groundbait feeder. The best baits to use are worm, caster, red maggot, and corn. Anglers who have pre-baited and stayed put on the swims for two days have enjoyed catching lots of bream, hybrids, roach, and tench. The deep water off Church Island in the middle of the lake can be productive, and the shallow bays towards Newtowngore produce good numbers of fish in the springtime.

What facilities are on site?

Most of the lake can be fished from the shore and can be reached by road from Haughton’s Shore, Garadice Park, and Church Shore. There is a boat slipway available at Haughton’s Shore harbour, and boats can also be launched from the shore at Garadice Park. In the immediate vicinity of the lake, there is direct access to the lake with several hundred meters of private fishing grounds. A fishing boat can be booked for an additional fee from “Garadice View Farmhouse.” Additionally, there are local tackle shops available, such as Angler’s Rest in Main Street, Ballyconnell, and Irish Bait & Tackle in Ardlougher.

Is parking available?

Access to Garadice Lough is facilitated by a good track along the bank with adequate parking close to most swims. When approaching the lake, from Ballinamore, take the Cavan road (R199) for about four miles, then turn right when you see a sign for a local church. After passing the church, turn left along a track that runs along the lake.