Fishing & accommodation in county Meath Ireland

Pike and Coarse Angling in County Meath Ireland

The Boyne Valley Fishery offers excellent opportunities for the coarse angler especially in Virginia and Bailieboro to the north-west, Collinstown and Delvin to the West and Enfield and Edenderry to the south-west. Limited coarse angling subject to certain conditions is also available in the off-season, on a small number of game waters controlled by Angling Associations on the River Boyne. There is something to suit every coarse angler in the Boyne Valley Fishery and the main species include pike, perch, bream, roach, rudd, hybrids, tench, carp, and eels.
These waters are generally under-utilised and can provide excellent sport for the visiting angler. generally there are no license or permit requirements for coarse fishing on these waters and generally the fishing is free. There are however a number of coarse angling laws with which the visiting angler should become familiar.

1. It is illegal to possess or use live fish as bait.
2. The only legal method to catch freshwater fish is by rod and line.
3. It is illegal to transfer live roach from one water to any other waters.
4. A person may fish with not more than two rods at any one time.
5. The conservation pike bye-law No. 667 prohibits (see detail here[link]).

The Boyne Valley Fishery coarse fishing venues are as follows:

• Bailieboro & Virginia Angling Centres I

  The towns of Virginia and Bailieboro Co. Cavan are located to the northwest of the Boyne Valley fishery and are surrounded by many quality fishing venues.

  Lough Ramor is the biggest lake in this area covering an area of 800 hectares. It is quite shallow at its southern end but depths in excess of l0m have been recorded off its western shoreline. The average depth in most of the fishable venues below Virginia, on the southern end of the lake is only two metres. This is an excellent coarse fishery and it regularly produces large catches of bream, roach, roach-bream hybrids, and some perch. Large pike have re-established themselves in the lake and many 201bs fish are frequently recorded. Virginia, Coronagh, Knocknagartan, the Nine-Eyed Bridge, and the back of the G.A.A. football field are; all notable venues on the southern end of the lake. Access at Knocknagartan is by way of a private road. Boats are available locally for hire.
  
  Contact: Gerry Murray, Virginia, Co. Cavan. Tel: 00 353 49 48185 . Raymond Arnold, Main St. Virginia, Co. Cavan. Tel: 00 353 49 47060
  
  The Ramparts River flows through Virginia and holds stocks of good sized bream as well as roach perch and pike. Access to this fishery is via the handball alley at the northern end of the town. A number of stiles have been provided to facilitate angling in this sheltered fishery.
  
  Nadrageel or Lackan Lakes are located to the north west of Virginia and about 2km north of Ballyjamesduff. These lakes which cover an area of approximately 100 hectares, with depths to 6m, are separated by a heavily reeded channel. This fishery holds good stocks of roach, rudd, hybrids, perch and pike. There are fishing stands on this lake and the best access is from the roadside.
  
  Cornaslieve Lough is a small lake located 3km north west of Virginia. It covers an area less than 2 hectares with depths to 3.5m. The western and eastern shorelines are tree lined and fishing is available from a small number of firm spots on the northern shoreline. This lake holds small numbers of bream, roach, hybrids and some notable pike. Access is across the fields and parking is difficult.
  
  Lisgrea Lake is situated approximately 4km to the north west of Virginia. It covers an area of 4 hectares with depths to 4m. There are a number of fishing stands on the southern shoreline. This lake holds an excellent stock of bream to specimen size (3.4O2kilos) and a smaller stock of specimen roach-bream hybrids (1.361 kilos). This water also holds tench and pike. The best access is from the road and there is limited car parking in a narrow lane nearby.
  
  The Gallon Loughs consist of Gallon lake to the north and Dargans Lake to the south. These lakes are located approximately 6km north of Virginia. Gallon lake covers an area of 2 hectares with depths to 4.5m. This lake holds a stock of good bream and roach-bream hybrids to specimen size. This lake also holds some pike, perch and roach. Access to this lake whose shoreline is heavily reeded is difficult.
  
  Dargans Lake is a small lake covering an area of 3 hectares with a maximum depth of 7m. This lake holds a fine stock of medium sized bream, roach, hybrids and pike. There are two fishing stands on the eastern shoreline and the northwestern corner of the lake has an open shoreline. Access is from the road at the southern end of the lake where a car park is provided.
  
  Galloncurra Lough is located 5km southwest of Bailieboro and covers an area of 7 hectares with a maximum depth of 4.5m. This is a superb fishing venue and holds an excellent stock of roach-bream hybrids to specimen weight (1.361 kilos). This lake, which has held the Irish roach-bream hybrid record on a number of occasions also boasts a good stock of bream and roach. Pre-baiting swims can produce the best results and redworm, brandling, maggot, caster and sweetcorn are all successful baits. There is also great pike fishing available with numerous fish over 2Olbs. being taken by anglers using a variety of methods. Ledgered dead baits and sink and draw methods have proved successful. There are a number of fishing stands at this venue and the best access is from the road at the western side of the lake, parking is on the lake shore in the new car park.
  The other lakes illustrated are for reference only and are not generally regarded as major fishing venues.



• Bailieboro & Virginia Angling Centres II

Mullagh Lough is located 2km west of the village of Mullagh and covers an area of 33 hectares with a maximum depth of 9.5m. This is a popular pike fishing venue and it holds a stock of good pike with bream and roach also present. The best access is from the northern and western sides of the lake and there is adequate car parking available.

Bailieboro Lough, also known as Town Lake, is located on the western side of the town of Bailieboro and covers an area of 9 hectares. Due to its location this lake is a popular fishery and it can provide good sport. There are a number of fishing stands in place to accommodate anglers. This lake is relatively shallow and holds stocks of pike, perch, roach, bream and some tench. Access is good on both the northern and southern shorelines and car parking is also available in these areas.

Galbolie Lough is located 3km north west of Bailieboro and covers an area of 4 hectares with a maximum depth of 6m. This lake holds stocks of bream, rudd, hybrids and pike. The best access to the lake is from the road on the northeastern shoreline but parking is difficult in this area.

Parkers Lake is located 4km north west of Bailieboro and covers an area of 6 hectares with a maximum depth of 6m. This lake holds a good stock of bream, as well as roach, perch and pike. It also holds roach-bream hybrids to specimen size. Once fish have been located the use of swim feeders and intermittent ground baiting can maintain the interest of the feeding shoal. There are a number of fishing stands to the south and south west of this lake and these greatly facilitate angling. Access, which is from the road, is assisted by a number stiles but please park with care in this area.

Castle Lake is located 3 km north west of Bailieboro and covers an area of approximately 20 hectares with depths in excess of 6m. This lake holds stocks of bream, roach, hybrids, perch, pike and eels. It can produce excellent catches of bream and an occasional pike. There are a large number of fishing stands on this water and there is access for disabled anglers. The best access is from the road at the northern end of the lake where there is also excellent car parking.

Drumkeery Lake is located 5km north west of Bailieboro and covers an area of 15 hectares with a maximum depth of l0m. This water holds stocks of bream, roach, hybrids, perch, pike and eels. This fishery produces some fine catches of bream and hybrids. There are also some very large pike in this lake. Access is from the road at the northern and north western end of the lake and car parking is difficult.

Skeagh Lake is situated 7km north west of the town of Bailieboro and it covers an area of approximately 50 hectares. Fishing is from a number of swims on the eastern shoreline. This fishery holds good stocks of bream, roach, pike and perch and access is from the road on the eastern side of the lake. Car parking is also available in this area.
The other lakes illustrated are for reference only and are not generally regarded as major fishing venues.

• The Upper Boyne Lakes

  The Dysart Lakes are located 4km southwest of Delvin and cover an area of approximately 12 hectares. Lough Analla is the largest of these lakes and a number of fishing stands have been provided to facilitate angling on these waters. Fishing is often difficult but the rewards can make the extra effort worth wile. These lakes hold large stocks of roach, rudd, tench, perch and are also noted for producing large pike. The best access to the lakes is from the road to the southwest the first turn left past Johnstown school. Car parking is also provided for in this area.
  
  The Ben Loughs are located north east of Fore and Lough Adeel which lies east of Collinstown are regarded as mixed fisheries offering both game and coarse angling. They are regarded primarily as coarse angling waters, which provide good quality pike fishing. However they do hold small stocks of good trout to 3-4lbs in weight. Access is difficult and permission to fish should be sought locally.
  The other lakes illustrated are for reference only and are not generally regarded as major fishing venues.




• Enfield and Edenderry Coarse Angling Centres
  
  Enfield and Edenderry: Coarse fishing in these areas centres on the Royal and Grand canals. Both of these canals hold excellent stocks of perch, bream, roach, tench and eels. There has been extensive development on large stretches of these waterways and there is good access for disabled anglers in some areas. Edenderry and Enfield Coarse Angling Clubs hold annual angling festivals and visiting anglers are welcome to participate. A calendar of events is produced annually by the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland. Access and parking facilities are excellent in both these areas and there is plenty of help and advice available locally.
  
  Useful contacts in these areas are:
  Brian O'Donohue, Baconstown, Enfield, Co. Meath.
  Tel: 00 353 405 41911.
  Pauric Kelly, 48 Fr. Paul Murphy St., Edenderry, Co. Offaly.
  Tel: 00 353 405 32071.

General Information:

Access to fisheries: Access does not imply a right of way and anglers should ensure that, they have the necessary permission to enter or cross private lands. Where possible anglers should walk along the river bank or lake shore.

Country Code: Anglers should ensure that gates are closed and that fences are not broken or damaged. Care should be taken with crops and livestock. Litter must not be discarded and no fires are allowed. Vehicles should be parked in designated areas and in such a manner that they do not cause obstruction.

Errors and Inaccuracies: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this leaflet is accurate, no responsibility will be accepted by the Fisheries Boards or the Boyne Fisheries Manager for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein.

Further Information: For further information please contact:
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, Marketing Angling Co-ordinator, c/o Navan Tourist Office, 21 Ludlow Street, Navan, Co. Meath. Tel & Fax: 00 353 46 73375.

Pike by law 667

A. The taking or killing by any person of more than one pike on any one day.

B. The taking or killing by any person of any pike exceeding 6.6Lbs (3kgs) in weight.

C. Any person having in their possession more than one whole dead pike or alternatively , more than 3.3lbs (1.5kg) by weight of pike flesh or parts.

 

Information provided courtesy of the Eastern regional fisheries board