An 18-hectare upland reservoir on the moors above Ballymoney, at the head of the River Bush, with free-rising brown trout.
Altnahinch Reservoir (PAE) — An 18-hectare upland reservoir on the moors above Ballymoney, at the head of the River Bush, with free-rising brown trout.
Altnahinch holds a native stock of free-rising brown trout, supplemented with takeable trout, and browns of a good size have been taken here over the years. It fishes well to small attractor wet flies: patterns like the Bibio work early in spring, with sedge patterns coming into their own later in the season. The banks are solid, which makes shore fishing comfortable. Boats are not allowed. The bag limit is four stocked trout per day, minimum length 25.4cm, and the season runs from 1 March to 31 October.
DAERA supplements the native brown-trout stock with takeable fish and publishes annual stocking figures on its website.
Altnahinch Reservoir (PAE) is at Altnahinch Reservoir, Altnahinch Road, near Ballymoney, Co. Antrim. Tap below for directions.
Altnahinch is a remote upland lake sitting at the head of the River Bush, ringed by forest and open peaty moorland above Ballymoney. It holds a native stock of free-rising brown trout, topped up with takeable fish, and it is prized for classic wild-lake fly fishing. The solid banks make it a shore-fishing water. This is a trip for licensed anglers who want quiet, open hill country rather than a managed family fishery.