Hi Folks,

I am going to be moving back 'home' to Northern Ireland in time for the new season. I'll be leaving my beloved Spey behind for a few years at least and wondered how much scope there was for river fishing for browns, primarily in the Belfast / Banbridge area - preferably fairly quiet and with a few reasonable fish?

Haven't stayed in Ireland for 18 years and when I lived there I mostly fished the Ministry waters on a junior ticket and cycled out to Stoneyford and Ballykeel Lougherne from my home in South Belfast. Had some great times, especially on the latter but have definitely fallen in love with rivers now. Know a few spots on the Lagan and presume they might be better now that the river has cleaned up?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have had a look online of course but recommendations would be appreciated from others' experience as its hard to get much of a feel from web pages, sometimes.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

There's some nice fishing for brown trout on the River Bann in Banbridge and it is cheap fishing. It also gets a good run of salmon at the end of the season. A day ticket is only a cuple of pound.

Neil

Banbridge Angling club have loads of great fishing on the bann from Katesbridge all the way to Lenaderg. Pop into Coburns (fishing shop in Banbridge) and William or Dominic will keep you right.

__________________
And when none bite, I praise the wise
Whom vain allurements ne'er surprise.

From Belfast i fish the River Braid its only a half hour up the road till Broughshane its a lovely wee river and gin clear,a day ticket costs a fiver from march till july i think then from july till the october its 12 quid. Am not sure if there is a season ticket or not but i could find out for you. It also gets runs of salmon and dollaghan. The other i go to is the river Kells 1/2hr up the road haven't fished it for the brownies tho just the dollaghan at night which is class.

Harrymca

Great!

Thanks guys, that'll be a start. In fact, since I have posted I am starting to remember all sorts of wee places! Like the river through Ligoneil (sp?) and so on!

Andy

And thanks Harry for the Braid suggestion too.

Just as an afterthought - are most of these places fairly quiet most of the time or do they get quite heavily fished (been a bit spoilt up here in the Highlands)!

Hi Andy,

Did you ever fish the crumlin river, only a fiver for the day.

Andy brown Trout ways i go through the week as i work shifts and there ain't anybody most of the times

Hi Andy

For the Lough Neagh Rivers closest you have as mentioned the Upper Bann at Banbridge, also lovely stretches in the Rathfriland Club waters.
Also the Blackwater River up through Blackwatertown, 6-mile town and Cloher.

The Upper Lagan is a peach through Dromore and near Donaghcloney.

You have the Clanrye through Newry which is covered by the Carlingford lights.

For seatrout/salmon spate rivers take the Banbridge to Castlewellan road towards the Mournes and you have the choice for the Money Carragh at Dundrum, the Shimna in New Castle or the Whitewater in Kilkeel.

Goodluck mate.

Brent.