Angling

Cam Lough (Crooked Lake), the largest lake in the Ring of Gullion, is a disused reservoir and a premier coarse angling location.  Unpolluted water and low levels of nutrients contribute to the diverse aquatic plant life of the Lough whilst the banks are home to a variety of nesting birds amongst the marsh and scrub cover.

Length: 1.75 miles long
Species: Well stocked with small to medium pike.  Bream, roach and perch also.
Season: All year.
Method: All lawful methods for coarse fishing.
Bag/size limit: None.
Boats: Allowed.  Over 15bhp require a permit.  Under 15 bhp contact Newry & Mourne District Council.
Licence: Contact Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission on 028 7134 2100 or buy online at www.nidirect.gov.uk
Permit: None required.

An excellent coarse angling location which has previously hosted the World Angling Championships.  Newry Canal is located on the eastern edge of the Ring of Gullion.  Completed in 1850 to increase the ship handling capacity of Newry, the canal has, in the past, been an important navigation route into Newry Port and the canal network with in Ulster.  It is still in use today albeit non-commercially.  Victoria Sea Lock at the southern end of the canal has recently been restored to its former glory.

Summer algae improves roach and bream catches while large pike are to be caught in winter.

Length: 3.55 miles long
Species: Bream, rudd, pike, perch, eel and trout.
Season: All year.
Method: All lawful methods.
Bag/size limit: None.
Boats: Not permitted.
Licence: Contact Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission on 028 7134 2100 or buy online at www.nidirect.gov.uk
Permit: None required

The upper and lower loughs offer excellent trout fishing as well as being important habitats for wildlife.  The Upper Lough is an attractive upland types lake with clean unpolluted water containing water plants such as Common Reed, Water Horsetail and White Water Lily.  The Lower Lough is surrounded by an extensive fringe of reed swamp and scrub woodland with Alder and Willow.

The loughs are stocked 2-3 times per year and are easily accessible with parking and picnic areas available.
Area: 49 acres
Species: Trout.
Season: 1 March – 31 October.
Method: Fly and worm only.
Bag/size limit: 2 fish per day, 9-10 inches long.
Boats: Allowed.  No restrictions.
Licence: Rod licence is required.
Permit: Day permit available contact Newry TIC

This trout fishery is adjacent to the Cashel Loughs on the the outskirts of Silverbridge.  It is stocke 2 times per year and parking is on the road verge.
Area: 2 acres
Species: Trout.
Season: 1 March – 31 October.
Method: Fly and worm only.
Bag/size limit: 2 fish per day, 9-10 inches long.
Boats: Allowed.  No restrictions.
Licence: Rod licence is required.
Permit: Day permit available contact Newry TIC

Trout fishing is also available at Mullaghabane Lake.

In summer of 2006 Oriel Angling was awarded a contract by the South Armagh Tourism Initiative to survey the angling potential of a series of lakes in the south Armagh area. It was known for some time that appreciable stocks of both coarse and game fish were present in these waters but little quantitative information existed regarding their angling potential or their biological status. The main purpose of the survey was to advise the SATI on how these waters might contribute to sustainable tourism in the south Armagh area. Oriel Angling Report