ANGLINGIRELAND

adriany · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 361

Foyle System

The Foyle system is truly massive comprising some 900 miles of waterways including the prolific river Mourne. The system is second to none being regarded as one of the best salmon fisheries in Europe. Prodigious catches in the tens of thousands of fish were taken by the nets and I wonder what the future holds for the Foyle now the drift nets are gone. Most of the fishing is done in the tributaries. You will need a Lough Agency of the Foyle and Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission licence to fish on the Foyle system issued by the Fisheries Conservation Board for Northern Ireland, call 02871 342100. Prices are Game License £16 per season, £8 for £14 days £3.50 for 3 days and £2 for under 18s. (course fishing licenses are £16 per season and £2 for under 18s).

River Derg

Ardstraw Angling Club have 3 miles double bank of the river Derg, a medium sized river which has a good stock of brown trout as well as very good runs of salmon and sea trout. The salmon and sea trout fishing is best after May and while the grilse and sea trout will run in most conditions the salmon fishing is best on a falling spate. Sea trout average about 1.5lbs, salmon about 8lbs and trout come in at about 12ozs. You can use fly, spinner or worm. The club issue 15 day tickets per day for the stretch from Ardstraw Bridge to Crewe bridge which cost £10 per day. Tickets from NM Fishing Tackle near Sion Mills, call 02881 659501 and Mourne Valley Fishing Tackle, Newtonstewart, call 02881 661543.

Castlederg AC have 20 miles of salmon sea trout and brown trout fishing from Border Bridge near Lough Derg to Sparmount. There is no limit to the number of tickets issued. Tickets are £15 per day or £20 for the week and can be bought from H Eirwin, Castlederg, call 02881 671050.

Burn Dennett River

Dennet AC have 15 miles of fishing for salmon sea trout and brown trout on this medium sized river. Best known for its sea trout which peak in May and June it also fishes well for trout and grilse in a falling spate in June and July and gets a run of salmon averaging 15lbs from September. Tickets cost £5 per day from Roy Mcbrine in Donemara, call 02871 358024.

Glenelly & Owenkillew Rivers

The Glenelly and Owenkillew Fishing Association have beats on both of these medium sized rivers known for their salmon and sea trout. The brown trout are small, sea trout average about 1.25lbs and salmon average about 6lbs. The sea trout fishing is best June and July while grilse and salmon arrive from June onwards with the best fishing in August to October. There are several options for day tickets: David Campbell has 5 day ticket available on the Glenelly at £10pd and unlimited day ticket during the week and 5 at the week end for the Omagh Anglers water, call 02881 661543; CA Anderson & Co have unlimited permits Mon to Fri and at the weekend for the Omagh Anglers water, call 02882 624311; Gabriel Treanor has 6 day tickets for the Blakiston House water which extends to 1.5 left bank fishing on the Owenkillew at £10 per day call 02881 648543.

River Mourne

Abercorn Estate Fishing, the Mourne recorded over 16000 fish running the river in 2004 which is on a par with some of the great rivers. Abercorn Estate has 4 beats with 20 named pools including the famous Snaa pool. Call 028 81661683 for further details and bookings.

Sion Mills AC have a 6k stretch of the lower river from just above the tidal reaches of the river. Permits cost £15 per day for adults and £7 for juniors, which is a bargain for this highly productive river.

Ballinmallard a small trout river with occasional salmon flowing into Lough Erne. The trout average about half a pound but as the river is a nursery ground for the Lough Erne trout the fishing changes from August when the bigger fish from the lough run upstream to spawn. The river, all but 1.5 miles under the DCAL permit, is controlled by the Ballinmallard Angling Club who issue permits from the Spar store in Ballinmallard, call 028 6638 8136.

Blackwater, rising near Clogher and flowing into Lough Neagh, the Blackwater offers very good trout fishing as well as salmon and dollaghan. The tributaries also offer trout fishing with the Ballygawley river producing good trout to 1.5lbs and the Torrent providing a great chance at the dollaghan. Some of the water around Blackwatertown is covered by the DCAL permit but the rest of the river and tributaries as under the control of several clubs: Clogher to Favour Royal, Clogher & Dist AA, Famers Maxol garage, call 028 8554 8232; Favour Royal to Caledon, Aughnacloy & Dist AA, Salley's Filling Station, call 028 8555 7306; near Blackwatertown, Armagh Fisheries, GI Stores Armagh, call 028 3752 2355.

Faughan River the River Faughan Anglers Company lease the rights to 30 miles of the river and its tributaries, 2 miles of which are tidal stretches near Londonderry, call 01504 267781 for more information.

Londonderry

Binevenagh Lake a man made lake at the summit of Binevenagh Mountain stocked with brown trout. Permits from DCAL, call 028 902 58863

Cashel Lake near Dungiven is fed by water from the river Roe and stocked with rainbow trout to 12lbs. day tickets available for Fri, sat and Sun only cost £21 for 5 fish then C & R with barbless hooks, C & R £12, open 10am to dusk. call 028 777 42159.

Donnybrewer trout Fishery near Eglington stocked with fish from their own fish hatchery which assures anglers that they will be into quality trout averaging 2.7lbs. There is a tackleshop and tackle can be hired. Call 07754030009.

Moorbrook Lodge Trout Fishery near Castlerock consists of 5 lakes: The Cove which up to 10.5 feet deep (closed March to October because it hold brown trout) its about 1 acre in size stocked with brown to 9lbs and blue and rainbow trout to double figures; Island Lake, up to 18 feet deep, is stocked with blues, golden and rainbow trout to 20lbs; The Wee One is about 15ft deep and stocked with blues, golden and rainbow trout to double figures; The Meadows, 12 ft deep, gin clear, stocked with blues, golden and rainbows; Hawthorn, 20ft deep, holds blues and rainbows. All of the lakes hold perch and roach giving great sport to fry imitations in Autumn. The fishery opens all year except Christmas and New Year day, 10am to dusk or 11am. Permits cost from £10 for 4 hours catch and release to £25 for 5 fish followed by C & R. Call 028 708 49408.

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