The unexpected rise in the number of trout catches in Lough Derg has left local anglers baffled about where the fish have suddenly come from. In previous years, the lake has been too polluted for fishing. "Nobody knows where these trout have come from. It takes fish a while to grow," said Mr Paddy Mackey, secretary of Save Our Lough Derg (SOLD).
Improved water clarity on Lough Derg has been attributed to the presence of zebra mussels, a non-native species of fresh water mussel. "The water clarity has improved and maybe this means that fish can see the mayfly a little better," said Mr Joseph O'Donoghue, chairman of the Lough Derg Anglers' Association. Another reason for the trout boom may be the fish stock boosting programmes in the lake by Mountshannon and Scariff angling clubs.