The Best Places To Go Fishing In Northern Ireland

Fishing is a popular pastime in Northern Ireland, with a range of great areas for visitors to cast out on. From trout fishing to having a go at landing some dogfish, there are beautiful waters aplenty to wet the appetite of even the most amateur of anglers.

Lough Melvin

Lough Melvin sits in County Fermanagh and lies close to the famous Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark. The remainder of the Lough exists in Ireland, County Leitrim and cuts across the Irish border. As one of the best locations for salmon and trout fishing, its shores are busy all year round. Trout is especially popular and the Lough has gillaroo, ferox and sonaghan trout species’ arriving in early June onward. The Lough has a large population of Atlantic salmon which are in season from February to September, with a limit of two salmon per year for anglers. You can apply for a permit at Rossinver fishery, on the Southern section of the Lough depending on the season and further information on the Northern Ireland district is available here.

Lough Melvin and Marble Arch Caves, 43 Marlbank Rd, Legnabrocky, Florencecourt, Northern Ireland, UK + 44 28 6634 8855

1. River Foyle

Natural Feature

Every year, salmon, grilse and sea trout arrive in thousands from the Atlantic into the River Foyle, which reaches across County Derry and Tyrone in Northern Ireland (and County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland). Due to its popularity, you can obtain a season game licence or short-term licence from the Loughs Agency, usually a week or three day pass, but you may qualify for a free pass if you hold a permit elsewhere. The permit is great value for money and covers multiple fishing posts along the river and some reservoirs in Northern Ireland.