Fish kills are events in the waterways that lead to hundreds of fish being killed at once. Through May and June, four weeks recorded four major fish kills that saw over 2,000 fish killed in County Antrim, Donegal, Antrim, and Burnfoot.
Chemical pollution, low oxygen, increased water temperatures, sewage spills, and discharge overflows were all cited by The Rivers Trusts as causes for the fish kill.
Armagh hasn’t been immune to these events, either. In October 2023, the source of pollution for the fish kill in Callan River was down to someone pouring slurry into the water. It was rightly met with outrage from the community and, unfortunately, just a fine for the offending party. Such headlines threaten both the local fish population and the popular pastime of fishing, so what are Armagh anglers to do?
A love of fishing
People love to fish responsibly in and around Armagh as the county has so many idyllic locations to spend a day as well as iconic fish like brown trout, rainbow trout, and salmon. It’s been found that some four percent of Northern Ireland’s population go angling or fishing each year, which makes for around 75,000 people casting out a line. Only helping the abundance of top fishing spots is the increased interest in fishing beyond the waterways.
We’ve had a whole host of fishing TV shows rise to prominence over the last decade or so, from British-led shows like Jeremy Wade’s River Monsters and Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing to American outings like Wicked Tuna. Online, entertainment platforms are teeming with fishing games. At the casino online, users can avail 100 free spins for the famed slot Big Bass Bonanza.
This slot swims in the same pool as Alaskan Fishing, the Fishin’ Frenzy series, and all of the other Big Bass games – like Big Bass Mission Fishin’. So, for anglers, playing these games and watching these shows may only amp up the desire to get down to a lake or river.
Fishing in the County
Source: Unsplash
Before you set out on a fishing expedition in County Armagh, it’s always good to check in on the news alerts put out by NI Direct and the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA). On the same page where you apply for your necessary fishing licences and permits, you’ll also see alerts. Right now, 27 of the 89 game waters within the Public Angling Estate have been closed due to zebra mussels.
In County Armagh, some of the finest places to fish include Clay Lake, Craigavon City Park, Seagahan Reservoir, Upper Ban River, River Blackwater, and Loughgall Lake. At the time of writing, Loughgall Lake and Clay Lake were the only ones listed on the government website as having restrictions, which were mainly due to maintenance around the water.
Those who want to take on the mighty pike have an abundance of options, but Clay Lake is certainly the most famed thanks to its particularly hefty pike – some of which weigh in at over 14kg. If you’re a DAERA permit holder, you’ll also be able to fish for salmon and brown trout on the right bank of the River Blackwater. If you’d like to test yourself against a myriad of fish, Loughgall Lake is the ideal place to go, where there’s everything from bream to roach, perch to pike, and tench to carp.
Even with the headlines of fish kills, anglers across County Armagh can still enjoy angling in many superb locations as the summer months fade into autumn.
