This lake is designated a Brown trout fishery and regularly stocked with good-quality trout. Good-quality wintered fish are available in early spring. Dead baiting for Pike from the carpark is permitted with barbless hooks.
The fishery is stocked regularly and has good-quality over-wintered fish available in early spring. Bags of large fish are frequent, and traditional Irish fly patterns, buzzers, and streamers are the most popular flies.

The presence of Zebra Mussels is still preventing the stocking of fish from Movanagher Fish Farm. For more information, please visit Zebra Mussels and impact on fish stocking in the Public Angling Estate.

Key Information 

Fishery Type Game
Species Brown Trout, Pike, Roach
Season Open 1st March
Season Close 31st October
Rod Licence 12 years old and over DAERA Game Rod Licence
Permit 12 years old and over DAERA Game Fishing Permit
Fishing methods Fly Fishing, Spinning and Worm Fishing. Bait fishing for Pike with barbless hooks or hooks with flattened barbs only and hook size 4 or greater. Dead Baiting for pike is permitted using 1 rod only and should be a minimum size of 100mm
Bag Limit 1 Pike (up to 4kg) and 4 trout (over 25.4cm) per day may be retained

Buy a DAERA Licence, Permit or Day Ticket

Car Parking Onsite Yes
Disabled Car Parking Onsite No
Fishing Stands No
Disabled accessible fishing stands No
Boats Allowed No
Boat Restrictions N/A

Click here for location on Google Maps

Directions

  • The ferry: linking Strangford and Portaferry, the ferry makes Lough Cowey accessible from Downpatrick. The lough is 24.85 miles from Belfast.
  • From Belfast: Travel eastwards on the A20 to Newtownards. Continue on the A20 through Greyabbey and Kircubbin, the lough is on the right near the main road, 2.48 miles before you reach Portaferry.
Local Council Area Ards & North Down
Nearest populated area Portaferry
Water Type Reservoir
Water Area / Size 18 Hectacres

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