Having fished for brownies for 20 years I was looking to branch out and have a crack at a few sea trout. I have fair knowledge of what tactics and fly type having fished at night for dollaghn which seem fairly similar. What I really need is some info on location; I’m living in Belfast at the moment and was looking for somewhere no further than an hour or so away. Ps first time on a forum so take it easy on me. Thanks

Hi

Try the whitewater or shimna rivers down in newcastle/kilkeel. About an hour away and meant to be great fishing. Where do you fish for dollaghan?

H,
Although I live in North Wales, my birth home is Kilkeel and the old man has moved to Newcastle, lived there for around 10 years.

I'm back a few times a year complete with rods & reels and tried all the normal spots except for the lower reaches of the Shimma when it enters Newcastle town itself. I have long suspected that the estuary stretch below the town library to be an ideal spot for slob trout and sewin (sea trouth) muddling around before starting the run. Any views, advice, comments welcomed.
Thanks
John

If you are in Norn Iron... you need to be following Andy Elliott - he is positively cleaning up on the coastal sea trout at the moment... his best season ever and this is his pattern of the year View topic - BugBeel Step by Step - Discussion forum and board - Global FlyFisher

Cheers hutchy
I am originally from Crumlin so most of the dollaghn fishing was on crumlin river. Have had a some success but a lot of blanks, the best a 4lb five years ago. Was thinking about giving six mile a blast but have heard it get very crowded at this time. Have you ever fished crumlin

Thanks john, but you never said if you had any luck on the shimna.

Haven't fished the crumlin no- looks a nice river. Seen around cidercournt etc. and looks good. Sixmile is great fishing. SOme huge fish in it and a lot of 4lb plus fish. But yeah around dunadry it can get v. crowded. Doagh bridge etc. may be better.

Hi Guys,

Have a some great days on Shima each time I'm back but always for browns - there was a growing head of wildies to around 1/2lb, both on DCAL day ticket stretch (although I believe limited ticket) and then on the Shima's own waters as a guest.

What has always intrigued me though is the estuary where Shima heads through Newcastle central and into Dundrum Bay. Whereas there are obviously tides and sands to contend with it seems to cry out as ideal slob trout/sea trout water - any advice appreciated.

Also my father speaks of fishing the Burren and Trassey many years ago, one is a trib of Shima so must be very small and the other is just to the north of Newcastle - wWhat we/I could do with is some info on rivers around NI
Thanks
John

I know the shimna and whitewater in kilkeel get great runs of sea trout and are going quite well this year. The salmon forums is prob. a better place to ask about this though

Have fished around Dunardy a few times early in the season, a lot of small browns and one around the pound mark. Not sure where the doagh bridge is. Do you head to ballyclare and turn off to the left for doagh.Who owns the fishing rights.