Angling

View our Angling Rates and Fishing Methods or Call us on 022 27773 to discuss your visit.

Note : main fly lake stocked Oct 1st 2011 - all over 2lbs browns and  triploid rainbows

 

The main lake is Fly only and can be fished from the banks but is best fished by boat. The water is 8 - 11m deep in most places with very clear visibility. Experienced anglers will be challenged to seek the larger fish from these depths. The absence of over hanging tress and the still water also makes this an ideal location to introduce angers to fly fishing.

Boats suitable for up to two or three anglers can be reserved and hired (for use the main lake only) with life jackets. The wearing of life jackets is compulsory while in a boat.

The fish stock is both rainbow and brown trout varying in size from 2lbs to 15 lbs. The fish are breeding in the lake including the rainbows which is unusual and is a result of the very pure spring water, its condition and its depth. All fish feed naturally after being introduced to the waters. They are never artificially fed, but grow well from the abundance of natural feed from the insect and fly life in the limestone environs.

The fly selection at Ballyhass follows the normal seasonal fly life cycles with some added lures that work well in the still water. In spring dry fly fishing begins with emergers and the likes of small Klinkhammers and progresses to olives dabblers in early summer and the reliable Daddy long legs in August and September. In the late autumn and winter fishing is best with fast sinking lines such as the Di 7 with boobys and lures being very effective. All methods have their place at Ballyhass, but the clear water favours long leaders of fluorocarbon. All the usual gold heads, nymphs, and buzzers will work well at Ballyhass at all times of the year.

The tackle shop at Ballyhass has and wide selection of flies and specialist lines and fly tie materials. Advice is always on hand to assist you in your fly selection.

The upper lake can be fished from the bank with worm, spinners and bubble and fly. Worm bait is available from the Tackle shop. This lake has extensive fishing platforms and rain shelters and is a very safe environment for all groups. The lake is stocked regularly with fish up to 2 - 3 lbs. Fishing methods are confined to those permitted, and no ground baiting, no artificial baits such as power bait are allowed.

In general we strongly support a catch and release policy. On a Day ticket an angler can keep two fish up to 3lbs weight. All adult fish and all brown Trout are on a catch and release basis only. Once the bag limit has been taken the angler can continue to fish on a catch and release basis for the remainder of the period.