For most of Ireland’s anglers, fishing is very much a spring and summer activity. You get to go out for the day, enjoy the sun, and hopefully only get the odd dousing of rain. Nice weather is, naturally, the preference, but fishing in the winter shouldn’t be shrugged off so easily.
It’s a very different challenge in the cold months of the year, and there are still plenty of fish to catch. Of course, the change in the seasons makes some of the usual fishing spots from earlier in the year unsuitable. Luckily, even in and around Dublin, there are plenty of great spots to cast out a line in the winter.
Great Spots to Explore
Being such a lush country, Ireland is teeming with great places to fish throughout the year, but some perhaps wouldn’t expect quite so many to have congregated around the nation’s capital city. Indeed, Dublin is a great place to fish, with one of the best spots being Dollymount Strand.
You’ll see Dollymount Strand loaded with people during summer weekends and on sunny bank holidays, with it being the closest large beach to the city, but beyond these days, it’s mostly empty – giving anglers free reign to cast a line. At night and with an incoming tide, bottom fishing can yield bass, flounder, and even dogfish.
If it’s trout that you like to fish for, the Courtlough Trout Fishery over in Balbriggan is a superb choice. The lakes are teeming with rainbow trout, it’s less than half an hour away from Dublin, and open for anglers during the winter. Anyone who enjoys a spot of fly fishing should certainly brave the crisp air and head to Balbriggan.
Tied to the River Shannon, the Royal Canal that flows through Dublin can also provide some fine fishing opportunities. On the way from the city towards the river, you could fish for perch, roach, and tench a bit past Leixlip, or hit the massive stretch to the Thomastown Harbour to try to catch some bream, perch, and rudd.
A Bit Cold to Brave the Waterways?
Angling has always been a fairly popular pastime across Ireland, but in recent years, it seems like more and more people are feeling inspired to cast a line into the waterways of the Emerald Isle. Some of this will be inspired by the prevalence of fishing in popular shows and games.
Among the collection of slot games found online, there are several fishing-themed games available. While the classics remain big hits, there are several new games swimming in to meet demand, including Epic Fish Adventure, Big Bass Halloween II, Book of Bass, and Big Bas Vegas Double Down Deluxe. These slot games offer fresh themes and updated visuals, keeping fishing fans entertained even when they can’t get out to the water.
Beyond the slots, TV has also welcomed back another hit fishing show to add to the likes of River Monsters, Extreme Fishing, Wicked Tuna, Deadliest Catch, Monster Carp, and many others. In stark contrast, though, this series isn’t about battling the toughest fish in the world or braving massive waves to earn a living.
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing opened its seventh season this year, and in the second episode of this highly anticipated season, the duo came to Ireland. In the episode, the two old friends make their way down the River Finn to catch Irish salmon, and it proved to be one of the best episodes of the season.
Fishing in the winter in and around Dublin is a unique and very enjoyable experience, and there are plenty of great places to set up your rod and camping chair. If it’s just a bit too cold, though, you don’t have to go far to find a whole heap of fun ways to enjoy fishing in a more passive way.
