“Delphi is an inviolable wilderness preserve”
NEW YORK TIMES

“Delphi remains an amazingly prolific fishery with an unusually long & interesting season… It offers an extraordinary variety of fishing”
TROUT & SALMON

Delphi Fishery

Delphi is one of the most famous salmon fisheries in the West of Ireland. Its wide variety of fly fishing, both on river and lake, its spectacular setting and its 170-year angling history, help to make it a special haven for fishermen.

Add in its unusually long season, its fantastic lodge and its highly successful salmon enhancement programme and you have one of the most sought-after spots in Europe for serious salmon anglers.

The number of fishermen is strictly limited to just twelve per day (or only eight in February and March). Fishing rotates between the river and lakes on a half-daily basis to provide maximum variety of scenery and opportunity. And, with very limited exceptions in the case of Doolough, all fishing is by fly only.

Spring salmon run into Delphi on any flood from January to June. Normally weighing between eight and twelve pounds, these big fish require dedicated pursuit. Be prepared to fish hard in bad weather over several days. With luck, you’ll land a fresh-run springer - a truly memorable experience for any angler.

Grilse and summer salmon arrive at Delphi from late May onwards, with the runs peaking in July. They normally weigh between three and six pounds. If the river is low, the lakes can provide the action. If the river is in flood, the chances of taking a lively, sea-liced four-pounder are excellent.

The Delphi Fishery used to be celebrated for its huge catches of sea trout. Sadly, stocks of these marvellously acrobatic fish have been seriously damaged in recent years by local salmon farming and its attendant parasites. But, from time to time, they are still encountered in the summer and can provide sport for beginner and expert alike.

To replace the missing sea trout, the Delphi Fishery has a major salmon enhancement programme, featuring the annual release of many thousands of extra salmon smolts. These extra fish, reared in Delphi’s own hatchery, are tagged prior to release and make the same journey to the north Atlantic as their wild cousins. Those that return are just as sporting and powerful as the wild fish; in fact they would be indistinguishable from them were it not for their clipped adipose fin.

The tagged salmon, which account for about 75% of the catch, must be killed (to assist research). But the wild fish must be released alive. And any sea trout caught must also be released alive.

See also Tackle & techniques