Stillwater · Clay · Co. Down / Ards Peninsula

Lough Cowey

Lough Cowey near Portaferry, County Down, Northern Ireland -- a stocked reservoir fishery.
Fair · Trout
Spent Gnat · 12-14
Fairlive now
Good drifting conditions on Lough Cowey
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
57% confidence
What moved it
  • WindW 13 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Spent Gnat
Spent Gnat12-14
Upstream dry
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
W 13 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp12°C
CloudClear
Pressure1014 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
The murrough is on. Buzzer may also come into play as the day warms. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
52%
Cloud25%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
Lough Money
15 km
Rainbow trout
Movilla Trout Fishery
22 km
Brown trout
Castlewellan Forest Lake
30 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Hillsborough Lake
35 km
Rainbow trout
River Lagan
40 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Lough Cowey near Portaferry, County Down, Northern Ireland -- a stocked reservoir fishery.
    Lough Cowey, a reservoir and game fishery near Portaferry, County Down.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Murrough is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 March → 31 October
Related guides
Irish Loughs Playbooklough-style fishingSmall Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts