River Maine

Nearest Town: - Cullybackey
Area/Length: - 6.5km
Species: - Salmon, Brown trout
Season: - 1 April–20 October
Methods: - Fly fishing, spinning and worm fishing, but spinning is not permitted in April, May and June
Daily Bag Limit: - 6 Brown trout. Salmon limits click here
Size Limit: - Minimum takeable size 23 cm
Other Restrictions: - No Sunday fishing
Licence: - Fisheries Conservancy Board Game Fishing Rod Licence
Permit: - Maine Angling Club Daily Permit at £4.50

Under an agreement with DCAL, the Maine Angling Club issues up to 12 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 a point a few hundred yards above Cullybackey to just beyond 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 permit before starting to fish.

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