Coarse
From Outdoor and Country Spotrs
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[edit] Pike Fishing
The Lower Bann river is a mixed fishery containing an abundance of fish stocks with large shoals of roach, slimmer bream, trout and salmon parr. This is the type of larder that produces large pike and this excellent food supply is maintained all year round.
Contact Gordon Nesbitt on 07595 219799 for specialist Pike fishing in the N. West area
[edit] AGIVEY BRIDGE
The banks of the Lower Bann at the Agivey Bridge are very angler friendly and there is superb coarse fishing to be had. The river slightly gains speed at the point and produces good bags of bream and hybrids which tend to be in the 4lbs to 7lbs+ range and are renowned for their fighting quality. The beat also has good shoals of skimmers, roach and hybrids with many specimen fish reported each year. Fish available are: bream, perch, gudgeon, pike, eel and trout.
[edit] MOVANAGHER CANAL
Situated off the Vow road, on the laneway to Movanagher Fish Farm (visitors welcome-Tel 028 2954 0533), this 10m wide and 3m deep canal produces excellent coarse fishing, especially when the Lower Bann is in flood. Access to the pegs is straightforward as the road runs along the canal’s entire length. There are also a number of pegs designed for the wheelchair bound angler.
Bream is the main quarry here, averaging 2-4lbs in weight, although roach are also plentiful in the 4-6oz range. Bags of Bream to 90lbs are recorded each year and Roach consistently yield bags of 7-22lbs. The best methods are considered to be pole, waggler and ledgering. In addition to Bream and Roach, Perch and Pike are also found in various parts of this canal. The best pegs are numbers 3-15 and 45 upwards
[edit] MOVANAGHER WEST
Situated about two miles form the town of Kilrea, just off the A54 road to Coleraine, and on the west bank of the Lower Bann, Movanagher West is a beautiful setting for 79 fishing pegs. Access can be difficult, with a 200-300m walk from the lay-by to the pegs. The fishing here is variable, but shoals of Bream, Roach and Hybrids are all common. Perch, Pike and Eel are also present. As a result pleasure bags of up to 100lbs are not unknown, particularly if feeder tactics are used. The maggot and castor are recommended in particular. However, this is mainly a summer venue as high water levels can make access to the pegs difficult.
[edit] PORTNEAL LODGE
This prolific stretch lies upstream of the Bann Bridge, Kilrea, and is conveniently adjacent to Portneal Lodge (Telephone 028 2954 1444). There are a number of custom built pegs here and access to the river is straightforward, with the fishing being highly recommended. The main species available here, which are found in good numbers, are Roach, Pike and Bream. As a result, pleasure bags of 100lbs+ are commonplace. Fishing is considered to be slow here during the summer, but autumn and winter sessions can provide good sport
[edit] PORTNA CANAL
This 100m long canal is a pikers haven. As soon as the Lower Bann reaches winter flood levels the pike take up residence and remain there throughout the winter months.
Larger Pike are mainly taken on ledgered baits, with rainbow trout being particularly recommended, while the jacks are mostly caught on spinners. Most recently, fly fishing has become a popular method of fishing for pike; successful fly patterns vary from angler to angler, but any fly with a touch of tinsel should work well. Other fish species found in the canal include Bream and Perch. Access to the canal is excellent, with parking being available within 10m of the canal
[edit] PORTGLENONE FOREST
Located in a beautiful wooded area of the Lower Bann, this facility was created in 1992 to cater for increasing numbers of coarse anglers. Access was improved by the creation of a road leading to the river and one mile of pathway along the bank. 89 competition-standard pegs were also constructed. Good fishing is to be had at this site all year round, although it can slow down at spawning time, with the main species being Roach, Skimmers and [Bream]]. At Ulster Coarse Fishing Federation and International events average bags are between 5-15 kilos, although this can be far exceeded during pleasure sessions, when 40kg bags are not uncommon. According to local experts, pegs 1-4; 15-25; 40-54; 82-89 are the best, depending on water flow and season. The pole/feeder are considered most suitable during the winter months and the slider during the summer. In addition to the coarse angling some good pike fishing is also to be had in this area.
