Fishing near Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland

Newtownabbey belongs to Newry Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland. About 63,860 people live here. First the close ones: Portmore Lough about 16 miles to the south-west, Lough Neagh about 21 miles, Lough Money about 25 miles to the south-east followed by Ushet Lough about 44 miles. The bank at Lough Neagh is easy going, which makes it the sensible first stop. Flat, standing water makes up the choice. Weed gaps are better than weed edges on a bright day. Whether they freeze depends on the winter. It varies enough that no rule of thumb holds. The first on the list, Portmore Lough, measures about 378 acres. County records name Atlantic cod, Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout and pollack among the fish present. Everything above falls under the one set of county rules. Local tackle shops know the levels better than any website. Start with Portmore Lough and work down the list as the season goes on....