Fishing in Co. Louth

Louth is Ireland's smallest county, tucked into the northeast corner where the land narrows between the Irish Sea coast and the border with Northern Ireland.

The fishing here splits fairly cleanly between a coastline that draws sea anglers and a handful of rivers draining inland toward the Boyne system — modest in scale, but worth knowing if you're in the area. The coast gets the most attention.

The beaches along Louth and into neighbouring Meath are notably shallow, which makes them challenging but not without reward — flounder show up along the shoreline, and bass have been caught with some consistency, though results vary and the fishing can be tough.

Cooley Point has produced tope. Clogherhead has hosted organised sea angling events and is a recognisable mark for local anglers.

Pollock and mackerel are present in the area, and the sea fishing here requires no licence for most species — Inland Fisheries Ireland and Citizens Information are the places to check current rules on protected species like bass.

Inland, the Dee and the Fane are the rivers that matter most. The Dee holds good stocks of native wild brown trout and sees hatches of mayfly, olives, and sedges — the kind of river where a well-presented dry fly in late spring earns its keep.

The Fane is worth knowing too. Both rivers are controlled fisheries, so a local permit is needed on top of any State licence requirements for salmon or sea trout; check with the relevant club or Inland Fisheries Ireland before you go.

The Glyde and the Mattock are part of the same northeast river network, smaller and quieter, draining the low drumlin country.

Mentrim Lough offers a more sheltered option — a secluded lake with fishing docks, though water levels can run high and it's wellies-on territory in wetter months.

Louth doesn't demand a long trip on its own, but if you're moving through the northeast — or based around Drogheda — there's enough here to fill a few days without repeating yourself.