Where to Go Fishing in Northern Ireland - Co Down

The Northern Ireland Where to Fish A to Z





DAERA Public Angling Estate Fisheries


Significant amounts of water are under the management of DAERA. You will need a DEARA Rod License and a permit to fish these waters. It is a fantastic gift to anglers in Northern Ireland offering access to salmon, sea trout, brown trout, stocked fisheries, coarse fishing, all for a one off season ticket which is not expensive and comes with great concessions for youngster, disabled and older folk.

Follow this link to find what is available in Co. Down:

Link to DAERA Public Water Estate Fisheries County Down

Coarse Fishing | Game Fishing 


Game Fishing


Ballydugan Lake


Belfast AA have the fishing on this water which is a good coarse fishery although it does hold trout. The coarse species are perch, roach, eels and lots of pike with some good doubles. Fishing is C & R only with barbless hooks.

Day tickets from the Lakeside Inn.

Google Map 54.312541, -5.756635 Post code BT30 8HY

Checked 07/05/19

Ballygrangee Fishery


A 2.5 acre fishery stocked with rainbows and coarse fish. From what I can find it is a C & R fishery, fly or bait. Full or half day tickets, under 10yo fish free with a paying adult.

There is a lodge offering a free cuppa and toilets. Call 028 4278 8883.

Google Map 54.559672, -5.576867 Post Code BT22 2ES

Checked 08/05/19

Ballylough


Ballylough, a good sized water, is owned and managed by Castlewellan and Annsborough Angling Club (CAAC). The club has carried out a major redevelopment of the fishery installing a safe walkway and improving the boathouse.

The lough is stocked several times a year with rainbows and brown trout of 1.5 to 2lbs. There are roach and while the lough is fly only people fishing for roach can bait fish using size 14 hooks for now.

The improvements have made access much safer and better especially of anglers with mobility problems.

Membership open to people living within a 10 mile radius. Day tickets available from Paula's Shop, Stables Hotel and Hillyard House in Castlewellan.

Google Map 54.270519, -5.909013 Post Code BT13 9EW

Checked 07/05/19

Banebridge Angling Club


Banbridge AC have fishing on Lough Corbit and on the river Bann.

River Bann fishing consists of a stretch from Katesbridge to Lenaderg. The river has good stocks of brown trout going to the 1 to 1.5lbs range. They also have runs of dollaghan and salmon later in the season, fish to about 6lbs.

Day tickets from The Anglers Rest in Corbet, call 028 4067 1515, and the Boat Attendant at the Lough Corbet, call 028 4062 5036 or 075 9102 7557.

Katesbridge Google Map 54.301467, -6.142651 Post Code BT32 5NF to Google Map 54.373474, -6.288618 (approx)

Checked 08/05/19

Bridgewater Fishery


Located near Donghadee the fishery is 5 acres, bank fishing for rainbows in the 2 to 8 lb range. Open all year.

Call 028 9188 3900

Google Map 54.634057, -5.573485 Post Code BT21 0NO Checked 08/05/19

Checked 08/05/19

Corbet Lough


Located 3 miles from Banbridge Lough Corbet is 70 acre stocked mostly with rainbows although there are some naturally breeding brownies and over wintered fish. Fly fishing, best flies are Ace of Spades, Montana Viva in the early part of the season and Hoppers and sedges from June onwards, GRHE works well at any time. 2 fish limit fishing ceases when the second fish is taken but you can fish C & R up to that point. All brown trout C & R. Season 1st March to 31st October.

Fishing is from bank or boat. There are 6 boats plus a wheelyboat available. There are also 3 platforms set aside for disabled anglers. Blue badge holders or DAERA Disabled License holders can fish worm from 1st July.

There is a lodge and toilets on site.

Permits The Anglers Rest in Corbet, call 028 4067 1515, Cockburns Tackle in Banebridge and the Boat Attendant at the lough, call 028 4062 5036 or 075 9102 7557.

For membership enquiries go to: http://banbridgeanglingclub.co.uk/index.php/membership/

Corbet Lough on the A50 at Google Map Reference 54.338598, -6.185850 Post Code BT32 3RU

Checked 08/05/19

Dundrum Angling Club


Dundrum AC have the fishing on the Moneycarragh river, a short river that holds wild brown trout and gets good runs of sea trout from June to Septemeber and a small run of salmon back end of the season. Flly, spinning, worm.

They also have rainbow and brown trout fishing on Dundrum Dam. Google Map 54.255607, -5.851295 Post Code BT33 0SY

Membership is restricted to people living in the area but day tickets are available, call the secretary on 028 437 51398.

Google Map 54.258820, -5.842102 Dundrum

Checked 07/05/19

Gilford Angling Club


Gilford AC have the fishing on Kernan Lough and on the river Bann.

The Bann fishing goes from the Laurancetown Bridge to Knockbridge. Good brown trout fishing but in the lower slower reaches suits coarse fishing better. From August onwards there is a run of salmon and dollaghan.

Kernan Lough, near Banbridge, a 28 hectare lough open 1st March to 31st of October run by Gilford AC who stock the lough annually with rainbows of about 1lb which grow on well producing fish to 6lb every year.

Fly and spinner is allowed and boats for members only. Best flies are Viva, Mallard and Claret and GRHE. The club has installed good ramp access from the car park to platforms designed to accommodate disabled anglers. Day tickets, fly fishing only for visitors, from the Spar shop in Gilford, call 028 3883 1087 or Moffats Newagents .

Google Map Reference 54.359300, -6.326300 Post Code BT63 6BU

Checked 10/05/19

Newry and District Angling Club


Newry And District Angling Club have a rainbow trout fishery, McCourts Lake near Pontzpass and fishing for wild brown trout and, in the summer, some salmon and sea trout on the river Clanrye.

Membership of the club is very reasonably priced either full which includes McCourts Lake or river only. Membership from Newry Angling Centre. Reductions for juniors and students.

Day tickets are available from Newry Angling Centre; MCA Boats, Craigmore in Newry, the SPAR in Pontzpass.

McCourts Lake Google Map 54.282356, -6.393941 Post Code BT 35 6RD

Checked 10/05/19

Rathfriland Angling Club


Rathfriland AC has fishing of the upper Bann for brown trout, pike and perch and rainbow trout, brown trout, pike and perch on Drunlough Lake. Membership is inexpensive. Day tickets available from McA Tackle and Boats in Nerwy.

Google Map 54.224414, -6.167449 Post Code BT34 5EA. Drumlough Lake

Checked 10/05/19

Shimna River


Shimna Angling Club have an arrangment to fish the Shimna with DAERA. The river has good stocks of wild brown trout plus salmon and sea trout. All salmon C & R. Day tickets are available:

6 for the DAERA stretch. 8 reduced rate for DAERA Game Season Permit holders (2 specifically for disabled anglers). 4 reduced rate weekly tickets for DAERA Season Permit holders.

Permits from The Four Seasons in Main Street, Newcastle, call 028 4372 5078

Checked 07/05/19

White Water Kilkeel AC


Have the fishing on the White Water and Kilkeel rivers which has some small trout and occasional salmon but best known for sea trout which average 3.5lbs. The best fishing is in September and October.

Day Tickets from Rafferty's Garage on Newry Rd and Tac-Amo on Drummananmore Rd both in Kilkeel. 3 Day tickets from each outlet daily, no advance purchase. Kilkeel river C & R only.

Google Map Reference 54.061499, -5.995918

Checked 10/05/19

Coarse Fishing

Ballydugan Lake


Belfast AA have the fishing on this water which is a good coarse fishery although it does hold trout. The coarse species are perch, roach, eels and lots of pike with some good doubles. Fishing is C & R only with barbless hooks.

Day tickets from the Lakeside Inn.

Google Map 54.312541, -5.756635 Post code BT30 8HY

Checked 07/05/19

Ballylough


Ballylough, a good sized water, is owned and managed by Castlewellan and Annsborough Angling Club (CAAC). The club has carried out a major redevelopment of the fishery installing a safe walkway and improving the boathouse.

The lough is stocked several times a year with rainbows and brown trout of 1.5 to 2lbs. There are roach and while the lough is fly only people fishing for roach can bait fish using size 14 hooks for now.

The improvements have made access much safer and better especially of anglers with mobility problems.

Membership open to people living within a 10 mile radius. Day tickets available from Paula's Shop, Stables Hotel and Hillyard House in Castlewellan.

Google Map 54.270519, -5.909013 Post Code BT13 9EW

Checked 07/05/19

Polehill Carp Fishery


Located near Newtonard there are 4 well stocked lakes on a 9 acre site. The lakes hold tench, bream, silvers and carp averaging 2 to 4lbs with some going up to 9lbs.

The fishery has a number of pegs suitable for wheelchair users as well as double pegs for family groups.

Open 9am to dusk. Permits in advance from Belfast Angling Centre or McKees Angling Centre in Bangor.

Call 028 9145 4983 or 028 9031 3156

Google Map 54.593996, -5.636779 Post Code BT23 8RN

Checked 10/05/19

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