Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
This lake is the largest reservoir (5,000 acres) in Ireland and is 19 miles from Dublin. It has 50 miles of shoreline with many inlets and bays which offer the angler excellent game fishing. The lake is controlled and managed by the Electricity Supply Board and a permit for fishing is required.
Trout Angling
There is a small stock of wild brown trout in the reservoir. The E.S.B. annually stock the lake in the Russborough and Tulfaris areas with brown and rainbow trout averaging over 1lb. Some ferox trout to over 10lb have been recorded in the Vallymount area. There are good seasonal hatches of duckfly, buzzers and sedges with occasional falls of terrestrial flies during the summer.
Most anglers fish from boats using the launching facilities at Russborough, Tulfaris and Burgage Bridge. All legal fishing methods are permitted on the lake and an E.S.B. boat permit and number is required.
Regulations
Trout season: 1 March – 30 September
Bag Limit: Six Brown Trout per day
Trout Size Limit: Nine inches
The lake is open for coarse angling all year round except in the month of October.
White maggots only.
Permits
Members of the Dublin Trout Anglers Association or the Kilbride Angling Club have permission to fish the lake for trout. All other trout anglers require an angling permit from the E.S.B.
An E.S.B. coarse angling trout permit (including pike) is required to fish the lake.
Angling Permit Charges (rates may be obtained from the outlets below)
Season Adult
Juvenile (under 14)
Weekly All
Day Adult
Juvenile
Season Boat permit
Permits can be obtained from Charles Camping (Tel: 045 – 865351) in Blessington and from the following outlets in Dublin:- Rory’s, Southside Angling, Henry’s Tallaght Gun & Rod Shop and Angling & Shooting Centre. Boat permits are available from the E.S.B. Fisheries Conservation, Hydro Group, Ardnacrusha, Limerick (Tel: 061 – 345588).
Access
The no. 65 bus from Eden Quay in the City Centre stops at Blessington with a limited number of bushes going on to Ballymore Eustace (check with Dublin Bus for more details). Otherwise the most accessible way to get around the shores of the lake is by car. There are numerous car parking and picnic areas.
Trout Angling Clubs
Dublin Trout Anglers Association: Mr. Ronnie Miley, 4 Dodder Park Road, Dublin 14. Tel: 490 2163.
Kilbride Anglers Association: Mr. Des Johnston, 54 Avondale Park, Raheny, Dublin 5. Tel: 831 8786.
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board presents this web site as a definitive guide to salmon, trout, coarse and sea fishing in Monaghan, Meath, Louth, Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford.