A southwesterly has held for 9 hours, running colder than the water (3°C air against 9°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered south-western end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.
Start with Buzzer patterns (12–14) on a slow, natural presentation — check locally for the preferred method. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Slow down everything. A booby on a fast-sinking line, left static, can pick up deep fish.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.
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A good match for North Woodburn Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
DAERA specifically notes that the fish can feed well in colder water temperatures, which makes this a useful winter-shoulder option compared with some brown-trout venues. It is best treated as one part of the wider Woodburn/Copeland reservoir cluster rather than as a standalone destination fishery.
North Woodburn is a rainbow-trout water in the Woodburn group above Carrickfergus.
A southwesterly has held for 9 hours, running colder than the water (3°C air against 9°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered south-western end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.
Start with Buzzer patterns (12–14) on a slow, natural presentation — check locally for the preferred method. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Slow down everything. A booby on a fast-sinking line, left static, can pick up deep fish.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Fly recommendations
Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
A good match for North Woodburn Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
DAERA specifically notes that the fish can feed well in colder water temperatures, which makes this a useful winter-shoulder option compared with some brown-trout venues. It is best treated as one part of the wider Woodburn/Copeland reservoir cluster rather than as a standalone destination fishery.
North Woodburn Reservoir is a reservoir in Co. Antrim / Carrickfergus hills, Northern Ireland. It sits at about 232 m above sea level. The species listed for this water is rainbow trout. The trout season is recorded as running from 1 February to 31 December. Best window recorded for anglers: Late winter to autumn. Core methods listed: bank lure fishing; cold-weather searching with streamers. Nearby waters in our listings include Middle South Woodburn Reservoir at 1.0 km, Lower South Woodburn Reservoir at 2.0 km and Copeland Reservoir at 6.0 km.
