Arradale House, Carrickmacross

Comfortable accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere, with scenic views of the local countryside.

Christine McMahon is your host at this family run Irish farmhouse set amidst the best bream and tench fishing on dozens of prolific lakes around Carrickmacross, Drumconrath and Lough Sillan. There is a large tackle room with bait fridge. Boat hire is available and a guided tour for first-time anglers is offered.

Arradale House provides 8 en-suite and 4 standard bedrooms all with TV and tea/coffee making facilities. There is also a TV lounge with open fire available for guests which is amply stocked with books, maps and local guides. Full Irish breakfasts are served in a spacious dining room and flexible meal times are offered. 

Fishing in Co Monaghan

County Monaghan, located in the northern part of Ireland, is a hidden gem for coarse fishing enthusiasts. With its abundance of lakes, rivers and scenic landscapes, it offers a variety of angling opportunities, yet remains largely unexplored. Carrickmacross and Castleblayney are certainly popular and provide great mixed coarse fishing, but other centres well worth fishing in are Ballybay and Clones.

Carrickmacross has reed-fringed quiet lakes brimming with tench and rudd to three-mile long loughs loaded with prime roach. The smaller lakes tend to produce larger fish, with bream to 10lb, tench to 6lb and rudd to 3lb - there are even some carp in the area. Lough Fea is a popular fishing spot known for its large bream, pike, roach and perch. Just a few kilometres north of Carrickmacross it has good access in a scenic fishing environment. Lisnashannagh Lake is a smaller lake with productive bream and roach fishing. Also close to Carrickmacross is Lough Avaghon, an easily accessible lake and a favourite among local anglers. It has good fishing for bream, roach, perch and pike.

Castleblayney is a town with a lake twice its size, Lough Muckno. This massive lake provides challenging sport from several very accessible stretches with stocks of bream, roach, hybrids, pike and perch. A huge amount of money has been invested here and Muckno now provides the best pleasure and match fishing access in Ireland. The lake has well-maintained fishing platforms and ample parking. White Island and Black Island, part of Lough Muckno are known for productive fishing spots, especially for bream, hybrids and roach. Boats can be hired locally for those wishing to fish further out on Lough Muckno or explore different parts of the lake.

Les Harris at Lakeside Angling in Castleblayney will provide good information, tackle and bait.
Address: Lakeside Angling, Main Street, Castleblayney.
Telephone: 00353 87 171 8572
https://www.facebook.com/people/Lakeside-Angling/100047637925536

Lough Egish, near Ballybay is a popular spot for bream, roach and pike with good access points. Lough Major and Lough Minor are two more lakes near Ballybay known for their roach, bream and pike fishing. The Dromore River system flows through County Monaghan and offers a network of rivers and smaller lakes known for bream, roach, perch, and pike.

Spring and Summer are the prime time for coarse fishing, with fish being more active in warmer waters. Pike fishing can be particularly productive during colder months. Wherever you fish in Ireland, the chances of catching fish are hugely improved by pre-baiting to attract fish into your chosen swim. Ideally this is done the evening before (or for a couple of days) using breadcrumb or local maize meal carrying particle baits such as sweetcorn, boiled wheat, hemp and pellets. Early morning and late evening are generally more productive as fish tend to feed more actively during these times.

For further tips and advice check out our YouTube channel - anglersworldlive