Fisheries of Dundalk Salmon Anglers

Dundalk salmon anglers control the fishing on the lower half of the fane as well as controlling one fishery on the upper half. The association divides its fishery into 7 beats. 4 of these can be described as low water beats while the others fish best in higher water conditions

Beat 1: Lurgangreen to Mc Kennas Bridge

View from McKennas Bridge

This beat starts right where the river enters the tide out on blackrock strand. The river on this beat is heavily influenced by the tide. Much of it is shallow and slow flowing and quite featureless. From the sea up to the railway pool can hold large numbers of seatrout if runs are good. Best fishing is a night in low water conditions. The railway pool is the first recognised salmon pool on the river. It can hold numbers of fish in low water conditions. From the railway pool it is only a few hundred yards up to the end of the beat marked by McKennas bridge. This slow strect of water will always hold salmon and seatrout in low water conditions. This area is well developed with styles and fishing platforms. There is adequate parking just past McKennas bridge.

Beat 2: Mc Kennas Bridge to Derryhale Bridge

This beat can be accessed on the north bank from McKennas bridge. The first strech is know as the coursing field. This is a shallow strech which holds seatrout. The next strech is khown as the woods. This area is well developed with fishing platforms. There is a small tributary which enters the river here which is mark for development to enance its spawing potential for trout. This area holds seatrout and salmon. Bait fishing for seatrout can be productive during the day with the shade from the trees.



The Woods

The next stretch is known locally as the spud field. This is a prductive strech for salmon and seatrout also hold here. Past this the next are is known as the sallies. This is a shallow strech that hold seatrout. The next few hundred yards of water are generally unproductive until we come to the boiling pool. This is a quite deep pool and is considered an excellent salmon holding pool.



Boiling Pool

From here up to the derryhale bridge is all deep water and hold salmon in low water conditions. An area of note is the pylon pool which is marked by a bridge over a drain made by pylons. This beat is ended by the derryhale bridge which is a footbridge crossing the river for angler acces to fish both sides of the river

Beat 3: Derryhale Bridge to Craigs Pool

Derryhale Bridge

This is the most heavily fished stretch of river. Again much of it is characterized by deep holding water from the bridge up to the garden pool. It is possible to take a salmon anywhere here. Areas of note are the tractor pool which also can hold seatrout. Kittys pool as well as the flats a strech of 70 yards which in particular holds numbers of salmon. At the head of the garden pool is a weir built by the club which produces a fast flow down this pool. It can be worth a throw with the fly at certain times.


Garden Pool

From the garden pool up to craigs pool the water shallows up again. This area holds large numbers of seatrout and salmon. The area is popular for seatrout fishing at night. The burnt tree would be noted as one of the best lies on the river for seatrout and salmon. Craigs pool is a popular and productive pool. It has a nice run into it which can produce salmon on the fly with a little drop of water


Craigs pool in nice water

Beat 4: Craigs pool to Fane Valley Bridge

This is a short beat but is very popular and very productive. Most of the beat is shallow but contains 3 pools, Wood pool, Mill pool and dorins pool. This area is productive for seatrout at night and can produce salmon on fly with a little water or a wind on pools in lower water.


Millpool in full flood

Access around this area is on Craigs lane or at the salmon anglers car park located at fane valley bridge. This is generally considered the limit for low water fishing

Beat 5: Fane Valley Bridge to Swinging bridge

Swinging Bridge

This beat needs a little water for the fish to move up in any numbers. Directly above the bridge has been developed for disabled anglers. It is a club rule that this section is reserved for anglers with a disability. A couple of pools have been created here and will produce fish with a drop of water. A fish counter is also located at this strech. Above this is he pumphouse. This is a slow strech ecased by concrete walls and always hold salmon on highwater. The run into the pumphouse is a particulary good area for all methods. From here up to the swinging bridge is all fishable water.


Weir at Stephenstown

It consists of mostly shallow water running at even pace except a strech that runs between 2 weirs. It will all produce salmon and seatrout in cetain conditions. Ares of note are hestnut pool and fitzgeralds and around the weirs. At the swinging bridge its self there is a small pool created which will hold fish when water dropps off.

Beat 6: Swinging Bridge to Knockbrige

This is a long beat and the most interesting beat on the river. It fishes best in medium to high water conditions. All methods will have their day. The beat is dotted with pools, runs streches of fast water and slower flats. The first pool of note above the swinging bridge is the sleepers. This pool was created by the association and always holds fish in good water. The woods is a strech of river that is not healivly fish but has a few interesting runs where there is always the chance of a fish. At he top of the woods is kirks pool which is one of the best pools on this strech.


Kirks

There are a number of pools and streams for the next few fields all of which can produce fish. The next pool of note is the turn hole pool which cuts under a bank going round a bend. The next few hundred yards of river is very productive in good water conditions with McGeenys pool and the broad pool being favourite throws.


McGeenys Pool

From the Broad pool to to the bridge at knock bridge again consists of runs and streams which will produce fish when water conditions are good. Parking is a little limited for this beat but is not too far from salmon anglers car park

Beat 7: Mulhollands Fishery

This beat is located at ballintra inniskeen, a considerable distance from knockbridge. There is adequate roadside parking. The beat is only a few hundred meters long but consists of Mulhollands pool. A noted holding pool. High water suits this beat best and all methods produce results in the right conditions

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