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Map of Beat 3

The beginning of this beat flows through the ancient oak trees of Erriff Wood. It is another two rod beat. It can be accessed by car and there is car parking at both the top and the middle of the beat. The Bridge Pool at Erriff Bridge is a wide deep pool at the bridge becoming shallower from the middle downstream. Like all the pools on this beat it is best fished from the left bank and anglers should not be tempted to walk out on the sill of the bridge where the water is shallow as it drops off into several feet of water very quickly. In spate conditions the fish drop back to the glide at the tail of the pool.

The Horse Shoe is a relatively new pool that was created several years ago - it has a stream flowing from the top of the pool across towards the far bank. It is a good holding pool for summer fish and the occasional Spring salmon has been taken there. The Oaks is the next stretch further downstream and it is not as productive possibly because it warrants more attention from anglers in the right water conditions. Paddy Stick's is the pool below the next bend and it holds mainly grilse although it was a great sea trout pool in the past. The High Bank is mainly a high water pool that runs close to the road it is a difficult pool to access.

Gowlans is a long pool situated in the middle of the beat - it holds both Spring fish and Grilse and can be fished in both high and low water. It low water it fishes best when there is a strong upstream wind and small flies such as a Black Pennell or Mallard and Claret fished on a floating line work well. The Tawnyard potholes are a series of small pools downstream from the confluence of the Owenduff River (which drains Tawnyard Lough) with the main river. They fish best on a falling spate but the last pothole which is deep holds summer fish even in low water.

Probably the most famous pool on this beat is the Schoolhouse Pool - it is a long deep relatively narrow pool and both Spring fish and grilse are taken here both in high and low water. It is not sheltered and benefits from an upstream breeze. Downstream of the confluence of the Gowlan Stream is a relatively straight stretch of water where two new pools called Mike's Pools were created by the late Michael Tolan some ten years ago. Prior to this it was a straight featureless stretch of water. The pools hold summer fish and fish best on a falling spate.

 
 
Enquiries to James Stafford, Manager, Aasleagh Lodge, Leenane, Co. Galway.
Phone: +353-95-42252. Fax +353-95-42361.Email: erriff.fish@iol.ie Websites :www.aasleaghlodge.ie / www.errifffishery.ie