Tyrone: A Truly World Class Angling Experience

Experience the magic!

There is something magical about fishing in Tyrone - the stillness, the sights, the sounds and smells of the rivers and lakes, the friends you make and of course the anticipation of the catch.

Why not ...
Go angling for salmon, pike and trout on the Foyle System - Europe's premier game angling experience.

Land a pike on a gentleman's country estate

Try something different - "dollaghan" or eel on Lough Neagh the largest fresh water lake in the British Isles.

Get a little bit of local knowledge and sharpen your angling skills with the help of professionally trained locals.

Sample a flavour of Tyrone and put locally caught fish on the menu on a night out at one of our many high quality restaurants.

Game Angling On The Foyle
The Foyle system, an area of approximately 3,670 square kilometers provides sport for a broad range of anglers. From the wild brown trout angler after a spot of dry fly fishing on some of the smaller rivers feeding the Foyle system, to sea trout anglers that can get cracking sport out of good runs of sea trout from mid July onwards on most of the Foyle rivers. Salmon anglers on the Foyle system enjoy healthy runs of larger salmon moving into the system from August onwards, and over recent years salmon of 20lb+ have been landed.

For further information on the Foyle contact
The Angling Manager
The Loughs Agency
22 Victoria Rd
Londonderry
Tel:+ 44 (0) 28 7134 2100
Email: general@loughs-agency.org

Pike Fishing At The Abercorn Estate
The Abercorn Estate has on offer some of best pike fishing in Ireland. Its 3 lakes are in pristine condition and are fished on a very infrequent basis - to allow the minimal amount of disturbance to the aquatic life & habitat. A 32lb fish is the largest pike caught on these waters in recent years. The best time of year is between April and October.

Pike fishing, however, can be enjoyed on the lakes at Baronscourt throughout the year at a charge of £15 per rod per day. Boats are available for hire for £20 per day. Please note that the Estate operates a strict catch and release programme in order to conserve fish stocks.

Finally the estates 3 lakes also have excellent stocks of roach, perch, and bream - all easily caught using simple 4 metre whips, 12 metre poles, feeder or waggler , while salmon fishing is available on the Sna beat reported as the best beat on the Foyle system.

For further information
Tel: +44 (0) 28 8166 1683
Email:info@barons-court.com
Web: www.barons-court.com

Dollaghan & Eel On Lough Neagh & Its Tributaries
Legend has it that during a fight with a Scottish giant, Finn Mc Cool an Ulster tribal chieftain and commander of the King of Ireland's warriors scooped up a huge clod of earth and flung it at his fleeing rival. The clod fell into the sea and turned into theIsle of Man. The hole it left filled up with water and became Lough Neagh.

The lake is an excellent location for the water sports in general including water skiing, jet skiing, speed boating, wind surfing and canoeing while 65 miles long shoreline has many little hidden harbours and beaches. However as the largest fresh water lake in the British Isles, (covering an area of 153 square miles) Lough Neagh has been synonymous since earliest times with fishing. The lake, the rivers flowing into it and the small lakes surrounding it all offer fine fishing. Salmon, pollen, perch, bream, roach and Dollaghan (Lough Neagh trout) are among the species to be found and provide a range of challenges to all sorts of anglers.

What exactly is dollaghan?
They are a wild brown trout native to Lough Neagh; they spend most of their adult lives feeding in the lough, which is essentially an inland fresh water sea, and run up the in-flowing rivers to spawn from around July onwards.
For further information
Tel: + 44 (0) 28 8676 6727.
Email: tic@cookstown.gov.uk

Out with the locals -The National Angling Guides Association
TheNational Angling Guidesare professionally trained individuals with the local knowledge of lakes and rivers to help maximise your chance of a rewarding catch.

Who are Members of the NAGA?
Experienced game anglers and angling guides who have achieved the Level 3 National Angling Guides Certificate awarded by the Open College Network. Most of the members are also Level 2 Game and Coarse Angling Instructors.

Professional Angling Guides
The National Angling Guide Certificate is a Level 3 Qualification accredited by the Open College Network NI. It was designed and written by Michael Shortt of Fishteach to meet the need for professional guide training in the UK. Michael had worked with Dr Ken Whelan in the development of Failte Ireland's angling modules within their Marine and Countryside Programme but recognised the need for a similar qualification within the UK education system. The Guide Programme was submitted to the Open College in early 2003 and accredited in August of that year.

What is the L2 Game Angling Instructors Certificate (GAIC)?
Awarded by 1st4sport Qualifications to anglers who have achieved the standards required by the assessors of the Game Anglers Instructors Association (GAIA) and the Salmon and Trout Association (S&TA) in their ability to instruct and coach game angling. The qualification includes: excellent casting technique and the ability to recognise faults in their clients' casting and to be able to correct and improve, child protection and safety issues. The qualification requires 6 months of study and practical coaching sessions, which involves planning, delivery and evaluation in a set time frame.

All our Members are qualified in:
The history of game angling; The role of the guide; First aid; Risk assessment; Weather effects; Tackle; Safety; Boat handling; Child protection; Hydrology; Fresh water ecology; Entomology; Knots Fish biology; Pollution; Fishing in rivers and Loughs; Topography;
Angling legislation and the governing bodies

For further information contact
Tom Woods
NAGC. GAIC. APGAI (Ireland). PAA.
190 Aughafad Road
Clogher, Co. Tyrone, BT76 0XE
Tel: + 44 (0) 28 8554 8659
E-mail: tomsangling@yahoo.co.uk
Web: www.nationalanglingguides.com

Lionel Knobbs
NAGC. GAIC. PAA.
Angling Manager
Loughs Agency
22 Victoria Road
Prehen, L'Derry
Tel: +44 (0) 28 7134 2100
Email: general@loughs-agency.org
Web: www.nationalanglingguides.com

Sample A Flavour Of Tyrone With Fish Served On A Dish
Many local restaurants offer a unique experience, combining innovative ideas with traditional fare and modern surroundings. Why not complement your visit to the river banks and lake shores of Tyrone by spending a great night out at one of our restaurants and trying one of the many great fish dishes on offer .

For further information
Tel: +44 (0) 28 8776 7259
Email: info@flavouroftyrone.com

MYTHS & LEGENDS- THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY?

"The Salmon of Knowledge"
Finn, the greatest and most skilful warrior ever known, had as a young boy been forced to flee his home after his father was killed in battle. One day Finn encountered a wise old man. For seven years this old man had been trying to catch the sacred Salmon of Knowledge, because it had been foretold that the first to taste this salmon would possess all the wisdom of the world. That day the old man caught the salmon and set Finn the task of cooking it warning him that he was not allowed to taste the salmon but should give the first piece to him. Finn agreed and began cooking the salmon over an open fire. When Finn went to turn the salmon over to cook it on the other side, he burnt his thumb on its hot scales and immediately stuck his thumb into his mouth to cool it. Of course, when he did this he tasted the salmon and so possessed all the knowledge in the world. Ever after that whenever Finn wished to solve any problem, all he had to do was to suck his thumb!

Other Contacts

Flavour of Tyrone
Killymaddy Tourist Information Centre
190 Ballygawley Road
Dungannon
Co. Tyrone BT70 1TF
Tel: +44 (0)28 8776 7259
Fax: +44 (0)28 8776 7911
Email: info@flavouroftyrone.com
Web: www.flavouroftyrone.com

Sperrins Tourism Ltd
The Manor House
30 High Street
Moneymore
BT70 45 7PD
Tel: 0044 (0)28 8674 7700
Fax: 0044 (0) 28 8674 7754
Email: info@sperrinstourism.com
Web: www.SperrinsTourism.com

Cookstown Tourist Information Centre
Burnavon Centre Burn Road,
Cookstown ,BT80 8DN
Tel: 0044 (28) 8676 6727
Email: tic@cookstown.gov.uk

Omagh Tourist Information Centre
1 Market Street, Omagh BT78 1EE
Tel: (028) 8224 7831
Email: tourism@omagh.gov.uk

Strabane Tourist Information Centre
Abercorn Square, Strabane BT82 8AN
Tel: (028) 7188 3735 (Seasonal)
Tel: (028) 7138 2204 (All Year)
Email: tourism@strabanedc.com