Home Pike fishing around Mullingar Angling Centre

    Pike fishing around Mullingar Angling Centre

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    Mullingar is a very busy and well established major Game and Coarse angling centre located in Co Westmeath in the Irish Midlands – and lies about 80 kms to the north west of Dublin. It is surrounded by some of the countries prime angling waters, including the Midland Trout Loughs.

    Multyfarnham village which is a neighbouring centre located 13 kms North of Mullingar in Co Westmeath  and lies about 90 kms from Dublin. This is regarded as a self catering holiday centre suitable for angling tourists.

    WHERE TO FISH  

    This guide covers the River Inny and Brosna systems, which consist of lakes and rivers, many renowned for coarse and pike fishing. Ballinafid Lake and other fisheries such as Lough Derravaragh in the system produce specimen fish. A few fisheries are wheelchair friendly i.e. Slevin’s Lake and the Royal Canal is suitable with easy bank access.

    A recent survey of the River Inny catchment has shown some excellent stocks of Pike, Bream and Hybrids in sections south of Derravaragh.

    Fishery Click Below
    Pike
    Perch
    Bream
    Roach
    Tench
    Rudd
    Hybrids
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    P
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    P
    P
    ****
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    P
    N/P
    *
    N/P
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    P
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    *
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    P
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    Slevin’s Lake

    Slevin’s lake is approximately 40 acres in area, located very close to Mullingar town. Species include Bream and Tench predominantly. Other species present are Rudd, Roach, Perch and Hybrids and Pike.
    A permit is required and can be purchased online.

    FACILITIES AND ACCESS: There is an access road into Slevin’s Lake , a car park capable of accommodating about 15 to 20 cars and 2 buses, a double fishing stand for disabled anglers and 12 other regular stands of International standard. There is a small inner concrete car park dedicated to disabled anglers which has wheelchair access via a concrete path to the stand. Other anglers can currently access the lake by walking a short distance to the 12 stands located on the Northern shoreline. Unfortunately litter has become a problem on this lake and we request anglers to take litter home and report any illegal dumping to Westmeath County Council. Tel: 044 93 32000 or 044 93 32177.

    TO GET THERE: Slevin’s Lake is located about 3 kms to the north west of Mullingar town . From Mullingar it is situated off the R394 Mullingar/Castlepollard road.

    Lough Derravaragh

    Lough Derravaragh is located about 14 kms north west of Mullingar. Multyfarnham village is in close proximity off its southern shore and Castlepollard lies to the North East. Castlepollard is also a recognised angling centre offering facilities for visiting anglers. Should anglers wish to stay on this side of the lake, Castlepollard has plenty to offer.

    This is a long narrow Lough nearly 5 miles (8 kms) in length and an area of over 2700 acres (1080 hectares). The Northern part of the lake is wide and shallow with depths graduating from 1.5 meters at the margins to about 6 meters at the centre of the lake. The southern half of the lake narrows into a long deep neck with depths up to 20 meters at its southern most end.

    It is regarded as a mixed fishery as it also supports brown trout population but is better known for its very good pike fishing.  The southern part of the lake is best for pike particularly around Clinton’s and Donore. While a boat offers a distinct advantage the southern neck of the lake at Crookedwood allows for excellent shore fishing subject to permission by local landowner.
    A permit is required and can be purchased online.

    FACILITIES AND ACCESS: Public access is at a number of points around the lake which include Clintons, Collure and Whitehall. At these points anglers have direct access to the lakeshore where a boat can be launched. particularly at Donore accessible through Multyfarnham.

    BOAT HIRE: is available from the Donore Caravan Park at the Multyfarnham end of the lake. Contact Paul Smith.

    Doolin Pond

    This is a muddy pond which tends to weed up at times and has soft banks and reeded margins. It   can produce  good Rudd fishing (small fish), Roach and some Carp up to 8lbs.
    A permit is required and can be purchased online.

    FACILITIES AND ACCESS: Anglers can fish off a stand but requires a walk of 150 meters from the public roadway.

    TO GET THERE: From Mullingar take the Rochfordbridge R400 road. Turn left at Gaybrook cross. Turn left again up a bog road. The entrance to the Lake is located opposite Woodville House & Restaurant.

    River Inny

    The River Inny is over 50 km in length where you can expect very good fishing for Roach, Bream and Pike The section described here is from upstream of  Lough Derravaragh into Lough Iron and finally into Lough Ree. The River varies in depth from approximately 1.5 metres to over 3 metres in normal water levels.

    The best fishing stretches are at (a) Coolnagun (b) Inny Bridge (c) Ballycorkey Bridge. Lough Iron is fringed with dense weed beds and holds large Pike. There is no public access to the Lough except from the River Inny itself, a boat is required. Angling access is provided at the Bridges and in most cases extensive bank fishing is available up stream and down stream from these Bridges. There is a large stock of Pike in many locations throughout the length of the River with numerous hot spots. Fish of over 10 kgs are caught each season, the norm would be under 4 kgs.

    A permit is required and can be purchased online.

    Royal Canal

    There are coarse fish in all sections of the Canal. There are good stocks of pike, some to double figures. Noted areas around Mullingar are Kilpatrick’s Bridge, Ballinea Bridge, the Harbour at Pipers Boreen.  Fishing can be especially good in the harbour areas. Around Ballinea Bridge is generally a good stretch.

    Useful Angling Publications: “Waterways Ireland Angling guide” which is available free of charge from Waterways Ireland, see www.shopwaterwaysireland.org/index.php/waterways-ireland-angling-guide.html#

    Individual guides are on their website at: www.waterwaysireland.org/index.cfm/section/article/page/Angling

    This is highly recommended as the best source of all information you will need, including ‘where and how to fish’, species distribution, best tactics and access points with full supporting map systems.

    FACILITIES AND ACCESS: Access is generally excellent. At Kilpatrick’s Bridge there are suitable stands available for disabled anglers. A map of the Canals may be obtained from your local Tackle Dealers in Mullingar, Use the local contacts list right and check the Services Finder for Co Westmeath and Mullingar

    TO GET THERE: Ask for local directions from the town at your local tackle shops or obtain a map locally, or purchase the Guide recommended above to access all the various points and best fishing spots.

    Date of Contribution: August 5th, 2002

    Andy Clements:   Evesham , UK  Tel  44 1386 4108  Email [email protected]
    provides some practical hints and tips to those interested in fishing the Royal Canal in this area

    ” Three notable areas always worth a try around Mullingar .

    1) At the new bridge on the outskirts of Mullingar when approached from Ballymahon. Try the town side of the bridge along the main channel from the bridge to the bowl for good size Tench and plenty of them. Red maggot and a little groundbait work well . Also the bowl area for Tench and plentiful Pike.

    2) In town at the old harbour . Head out of town toward the N4 taking signs for the hospital. After crossing the canal turn left into the hard standing area of the harbour . It’s a large rectangular harbour area with the main channel running across the top at around 20yds. Some very large Roach here on the edge of the channel on a feeder rig , you may think they are Hybrids but I can assure you they’re not ! . The main harbour area itself has a deep hole on the inside far right as you approach , worth trying for Tench if you can forget about the Roach .

    2) Behind the Pewter factory . Head away from Mullingar towards Dublin on the N4 . About a mile or so out of town the road becomes a dual carriageway . Stay in the right hand lane , you’ll see the factory on the right. Turn right before the factory and follow the lane to cross the canal . After crossing the canal enter the towpath on your left .
    Anywhere from 20 to 200 yds along is good for bigger than average Tench . They sometimes take a little while to get going but when they do its worth it !
    Also worth a try about half way between the bridges towards Dublin is a mini harbour area with a floating boat shed , stories of some really big Tench from here .

    A note for the Bream heads , we’ve never caught so much as a skimmer in five years from the Royal , perhaps we’re using the wrong bait !

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