Stillwater · Limestone · Midlands / Westmeath, IE

Mount Dalton Lake

Mount Dalton Lake terrain map

A small twenty-acre lake in the grounds of Mount Dalton near Rathconrath, stocked as fingerlings that grow on naturally to a pound and a half to three pounds on the rich feeding.

Closed season · Trout
Perch Fry · 8–10 long shank
Closed season
Season reopens 1 May. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.

Mount Dalton Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindN 15 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Perch Fry
Perch Fry8–10 long shank
Retrieve
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze
N 15 km/h
N
N
from the north
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp11.1°C
Air temp6°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1010 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

How to fish it · for Trout
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

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · November highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
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.

Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point
Black buzzer, orange thorax
Not in this water's box
#10
How to fish it
Intermediate line · let the breeze drift the team, then hang it 15–30 s

Fly recommendations

Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.

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Ranked for today
Trout fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 5
River Brosna
20 km
0
Brown trout
Riverstown River
21 km
0
Brown trout
Lough Ennell
10 km
Brown trout · Pike
Lough Owel
12 km
Brown trout
Lough Derravaragh
19 km
Brown trout
About this water

Lake olives, sedges and chironomids hatch here, and the terrestrials blow on in numbers, so it is nearly always worth a visit. Midland Fisheries Group permit; boat and fly only, and the boat wants booking ahead through C. Gibson Brabazon, down the private avenue off the Mullingar–Ballymahon road.

Hatches & food

A small rich Westmeath limestone lake with reliable lake olive, chironomid and sedge hatches plus heavy terrestrial falls — enough natural feeding to grow fingerling browns on fast to good condition.

  • Lake
  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score
  • winter conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 May → 12 October
Related guides
Irish Loughs Playbooklough-style fishingSmall Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsFly Fishing for Beginnersnew to fly fishing? start here
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Mount Dalton Lake is a lake in Midlands / Westmeath, Ireland. Its recorded elevation is about 90 m above sea level and the catchment geology is limestone. The species listed for this water is brown trout. The trout season is recorded as running from 1 May to 12 October. Core methods listed: loch-style wet fly from the boat; buzzer/chironomid fishing; dry fly to lake olives and terrestrials. Boat fishing is recorded as available. Nearby waters in our listings include Lough Ennell at 10 km, Lough Owel at 12 km and Lough Derravaragh at 19 km.