Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles (388 km²) and the heart of the Six Counties. Shallow and eutrophic, it supports the famous dollaghan (Lough Neagh lake-run brown trout), which enter the tributary rivers (Ballinderry, Moyola, Blackwater NI, Six Mile Water) from July through October. Open-water trout fishing on the lough itself is challenging owing to scale and exposure — most serious anglers target the dollaghan in the tributaries during the run. Pike and coarse fish are plentiful. Commercial eel fishery is the traditional industry. Boat fishing by local arrangement; most fishing effort is bank-based in the feeder rivers.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
31% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 25 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
July–October (dollaghan run in tributaries); May–June (trout on the lough)
Where
Work Bibio on the bob and Peeping Caddis on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Work Bibio on the bob and Peeping Caddis 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — at anchor
Windy conditions suit anchoring in productive areas rather than open-water drifting.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
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
6 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.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Lough Neagh · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Lough Neagh, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedLough Neagh · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles (388 km²) and the heart of the Six Counties. Shallow and eutrophic, it supports the famous dollaghan (Lough Neagh lake-run brown trout), which enter the tributary rivers (Ballinderry, Moyola, Blackwater NI, Six Mile Water) from July through October. Open-water trout fishing on the lough itself is challenging owing to scale and exposure — most serious anglers target the dollaghan in the tributaries during the run. Pike and coarse fish are plentiful. Commercial eel fishery is the traditional industry. Boat fishing by local arrangement; most fishing effort is bank-based in the feeder rivers.
- Lake
- Mixed
Lough Neagh · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Lough Neagh · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 March → 31 October
Lough Neagh · permits
Licences, sorteo, the rules
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- DAERA rod licence required
- Coarse fishing permits available
- Dollaghan catch-and-release strongly encouraged — this is a unique endemic form.
Lough Neagh
Google Places
Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles (388 km²) and the heart of the Six Counties.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
31% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
W 25 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
41%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp25%
Conditions are away from this venue's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with mixed skies.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
July–October (dollaghan run in tributaries); May–June (trout on the lough)
Where
Work Bibio on the bob and Peeping Caddis on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Work Bibio on the bob and Peeping Caddis 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — at anchor
Windy conditions suit anchoring in productive areas rather than open-water drifting.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- DAERA rod licence required
- Coarse fishing permits available
- Dollaghan catch-and-release strongly encouraged — this is a unique endemic form.
Directions
About this water
Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles (388 km²) and the heart of the Six Counties. Shallow and eutrophic, it supports the famous dollaghan (Lough Neagh lake-run brown trout), which enter the tributary rivers (Ballinderry, Moyola, Blackwater NI, Six Mile Water) from July through October. Open-water trout fishing on the lough itself is challenging owing to scale and exposure — most serious anglers target the dollaghan in the tributaries during the run. Pike and coarse fish are plentiful. Commercial eel fishery is the traditional industry. Boat fishing by local arrangement; most fishing effort is bank-based in the feeder rivers.
- Lake
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 March → 31 October
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles (388 km²) and the heart of the Six Counties. Shallow and eutrophic, it supports the famous dollaghan (Lough Neagh lake-run brown trout), which enter the tributary rivers (Ballinderry, Moyola, Blackwater NI, Six Mile Water) from July through October. Open-water trout fishing on the lough itself is challenging owing to scale and exposure — most serious anglers target the dollaghan in the tributaries during the run. Pike and coarse fish are plentiful. Commercial eel fishery is the traditional industry. Boat fishing by local arrangement; most fishing effort is bank-based in the feeder rivers.
Other water nearby · 5