A managed stocked rainbow trout fishery near Balbriggan / Stamullen on the north side of Dublin — four spring-fed lakes of roughly four acres each, used regularly by IFI east-region winter trout reports as a year-round east-coast option. Fills a specific and useful role for the Dublin angler: close to the city, reliable, good for an hour's casting practice with a beginner, and a winter Saturday choice when the rivers are coloured. Not wild-trout country — a managed stillwater stocked with rainbows — but on a quiet weekday it does what it sets out to do.
Rules at a glance
- Permit required
Reasonable summer fishing likely at Courtlough Trout Fishery
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Courtlough Trout Fishery.
57% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 27 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
60 cm wave
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
16°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1022 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Year-round. Winter (Nov–Feb) excellent on sinking line and lure. Spring (Mar–May) and autumn (Sep–Oct) best for buzzer and nymph.
Where
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (12-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Midday in warm weather — switch to a fast-sink or Di-7 and fish boobies or blobs along the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (12-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Midday in warm weather — switch to a fast-sink or Di-7 and fish boobies or blobs along the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
Plan B
Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Bank
Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
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.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
- Terrestrials are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Courtlough Trout Fishery · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Courtlough Trout Fishery, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedCourtlough Trout Fishery · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A managed stocked rainbow trout fishery near Balbriggan / Stamullen on the north side of Dublin — four spring-fed lakes of roughly four acres each, used regularly by IFI east-region winter trout reports as a year-round east-coast option. Fills a specific and useful role for the Dublin angler: close to the city, reliable, good for an hour's casting practice with a beginner, and a winter Saturday choice when the rivers are coloured. Not wild-trout country — a managed stillwater stocked with rainbows — but on a quiet weekday it does what it sets out to do.
- Fishery
- Mixed
Courtlough Trout Fishery · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Courtlough Trout Fishery · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 January → 31 December
Courtlough Trout Fishery · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Day permits ~€20 (verify 2026 rate direct)
- Booking via fishing@courtlough.ie or 087-271-2704
- Barbless fly-only on certain lakes (varies by lake/day) — phone ahead.
Courtlough Trout Fishery · learn
Related guides
Learn-zone playbooks for this water
Related guides
Courtlough Trout Fishery
Terrain map
A managed stocked rainbow trout fishery near Balbriggan / Stamullen on the north side of Dublin — four spring-fed lakes of roughly four acres each, used regularly by IFI east-region winter trout reports as a year-round east-coast option.
Species
Reasonable summer fishing likely at Courtlough Trout Fishery
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Courtlough Trout Fishery.
57% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
W 27 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
60 cm wave
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
16°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1022 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
57%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp100%
A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Year-round. Winter (Nov–Feb) excellent on sinking line and lure. Spring (Mar–May) and autumn (Sep–Oct) best for buzzer and nymph.
Where
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (12-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Midday in warm weather — switch to a fast-sink or Di-7 and fish boobies or blobs along the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (12-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Midday in warm weather — switch to a fast-sink or Di-7 and fish boobies or blobs along the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
Plan B
Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Bank
Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
- Terrestrials are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
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.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Day permits ~€20 (verify 2026 rate direct)
- Booking via fishing@courtlough.ie or 087-271-2704
- Barbless fly-only on certain lakes (varies by lake/day) — phone ahead.
Directions
About this water
A managed stocked rainbow trout fishery near Balbriggan / Stamullen on the north side of Dublin — four spring-fed lakes of roughly four acres each, used regularly by IFI east-region winter trout reports as a year-round east-coast option. Fills a specific and useful role for the Dublin angler: close to the city, reliable, good for an hour's casting practice with a beginner, and a winter Saturday choice when the rivers are coloured. Not wild-trout country — a managed stillwater stocked with rainbows — but on a quiet weekday it does what it sets out to do.
- Fishery
- Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Unknown
- Chemical: Unknown
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 January → 31 December
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A managed stocked rainbow trout fishery near Balbriggan / Stamullen on the north side of Dublin — four spring-fed lakes of roughly four acres each, used regularly by IFI east-region winter trout reports as a year-round east-coast option. Fills a specific and useful role for the Dublin angler: close to the city, reliable, good for an hour's casting practice with a beginner, and a winter Saturday choice when the rivers are coloured. Not wild-trout country — a managed stillwater stocked with rainbows — but on a quiet weekday it does what it sets out to do.
Other water nearby · 5
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