River Maine

Nearest Town: - Cullybackey
Area/Length: - 6.5km
Species: - Salmon and Brown trout
Season: - 1 March to 31 October
Methods: - Fly fishing, spinning and worm fishing, but spinning is not permitted in April, May and June
Daily Bag Limit: - 4 Brown trout. Salmon limits click here
Size Limit: - Minimum takeable size 23 cm
Other Restrictions: - No Sunday fishing
Licence: - DCAL Game Fishing Rod Licence
Permit: - DCAL Game Permit & Maine Angling Club Daily Permit
Maine Day Tickets are as follows:
From 1st April to 31st July - Adults £10, Juvenile £2
From 1st August to 31st October - Adults £20, Juvenile £3
Only 20 day tickets are available to the public and all tickets are half price to DCAL Permit Holder

Under an agreement with DCAL, the Maine Angling Club issues up to 20 daily permits to people wishing to fish on their stretch of the river. This extends (with a few exceptions) to about 6.5 km of fishing from both banks of the river from Hillmount weir upstream to a point approximately 2 miles above Dunminning Bridge The river varies greatly over this comparatively short length with interesting pools and runs available for both fly and worm fishing. Spinning is not permitted in the months of April, May and June. There is an excellent head of hard fighting native brown trout which average 0.5 kg. There is also the added attraction of dollaghan (big Lough Neagh trout) up to 2.25 kg and salmon in the later months of the season. Dollaghan offer excellent sport with suitable tactics(on a dropping spate) and in low water fish well at night. Daily permits (except Sunday) can be obtained from the Bridge Garage Cullybackey. The day permit distributor is normally closed on bank and public holidays but opens until 10 am to sell permits to visiting anglers. The responsibility rests with the angler to ensure that he or she is in possession of a licence, permit and ticket before starting to fish.

Cullybackey is on the B62 Ballymena to Kilrea Road, 4.8 km from Ballymena.