Lough Gill (Irish: Loch Gile, meaning "bright or white lake") is a stunning freshwater lake situated primarily in County Sligo, with its eastern reaches extending into County Leitrim. Located just 3 km east of Sligo town, the lake stretches approximately 8 km long and 2 km wide, covering a surface area of 12.8 km². The lake sits at a surface elevation of 7 m above sea level and reaches a maximum depth of 31 m (102 ft). Fed by the Bonet River from the east and draining westward through the River Garavogue into Sligo Bay, Lough Gill is a naturally eutrophic lake set within a landscape of old oak woodlands and alluvial forests. Immortalized by W.B. Yeats in his poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," the lake is designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC 001976) under the EU Habitats Directive, reflecting its exceptional ecological value. For anglers, Lough Gill is one of Ireland's premier spring salmon fisheries — one of the few lakes in the country with a reputation built primarily around salmon — while also offering productive brown trout, sea trout, and coarse fishing opportunities.