Castlewellan Lake
Nearest Town: - Castlewellan
Area/Length: - 41.6 hectares
Species: - Brown and Rainbow trout
Season: - 1 March–31 October
Methods: - Fly fishing, spinning and worm fishing Fly fishing only from boats
Daily Bag Limit: - 4 trout per rod per day
Size Limit: - Minimum takeable size 25.4 cm
Boats: - Fishing from non-mechanical boats only, 8 am to dusk (maximum 10 boats at any one time; maximum 2 anglers per boat; no advance booking).
Licence: - DCAL Game Fishing Rod Licence
Permit: - DCAL Game Fishing Permit
Area/Length: - 41.6 hectares
Species: - Brown and Rainbow trout
Season: - 1 March–31 October
Methods: - Fly fishing, spinning and worm fishing Fly fishing only from boats
Daily Bag Limit: - 4 trout per rod per day
Size Limit: - Minimum takeable size 25.4 cm
Boats: - Fishing from non-mechanical boats only, 8 am to dusk (maximum 10 boats at any one time; maximum 2 anglers per boat; no advance booking).
Licence: - DCAL Game Fishing Rod Licence
Permit: - DCAL Game Fishing Permit
Disabled Facilities
A tarmac car park for disabled is provided beside the water and a quarry dust surfaced path surrounds the lake. A limited number of keys are available from Forest Service at Castlewellan Forest Park on 2nd January each year on a first come first served basis which permits access around the lake by car. Tel 028 437 78664. Wheelchair access to the waters edge is possible near the castle between the slipway and the boat jetty.
A tarmac car park for disabled is provided beside the water and a quarry dust surfaced path surrounds the lake. A limited number of keys are available from Forest Service at Castlewellan Forest Park on 2nd January each year on a first come first served basis which permits access around the lake by car. Tel 028 437 78664. Wheelchair access to the waters edge is possible near the castle between the slipway and the boat jetty.
This is a very popular fishery. It is stocked regularly with over 10000 brown and rainbow takeable trout. Water quality is good and lures are effective. Attractor patterns such as Butcher, Connemara Black and Dunkeld are popular. Spinning and worming are popular and effective.
The lake is one of the main attractions of Castlewellan Forest Park. Other facilities include a car-park, cafeteria, caravan, camping and barbecue facilities. There are also scenic walks of varying lengths and it is possible to visit the arboretum and the Annesley garden, where greenhouses are open to the public.
How to get there
Castlewellan lies on the main Downpatrick to Newry road (A25). The entrance to the forest park is signposted in the town.
From Newcastle, take the A50 northwards.
From Banbridge, take the A50 in a south-easterly direction.
Anglers using the forest car-park at Castlewellan have to pay the current forest car-park charges. There is a separate fee payable for launching a fishing boat