River Boyne Guide
The River Boyne rises in County Kildare and makes its way East for more than 70 miles, through Trim (County Offaly), Navan and Slane (County Meath) and Drogheda (County Louth), before entering the sea between the villages of Baltray and Mornington (just East of Drogheda).
The Boyne is famous for its Brown Trout fishing but it also gets a good run of Salmon and Sea Trout, especially in the summer months. The vast majority of the Salmon fishing is on the lower part of the River between Drogheda and Navan, and on the lower reaches of the Kells Blackwater (which is a tributary of the Boyne). You can get fish upstream of Navan, at Bective and Trim but they are not that plentiful.
The Grilse begin running in July and continue through until the end of August. The best of the Grilse fishing is from Oldbridge, upstream to Slane, with the best areas being, Oldbridge, Staleen, Crewbawn, Johnstons and the Scabby Arch. Slane to Navan also yields a decent number of Grilse each year.
The Boyne also gets a decent run of autumn fish through August and September, some of which can reach upwards of 20lbs. In low water conditions, autumn fish can back up in the stretches below Slane, giving excellent sport up as far as Navan on each flood.
The majority of salmon fishing on the River is controlled by Angling Associations, but there is some private water controlled by syndicates and individuals. All legal methods are permitted on the river, but spinning and bait are the most popular methods. The Boyne is not great for Salmon fly fishing, but there are still fish caught on the fly. It’s a big river so a 15 foot rod is recommended. Wading is possible in some stretches but you should check locally when obtaining your permit.
The River Boyne is an excellent Brown Trout fishery, with the average being about ¾lb, but with plenty of trout up to 6 or 7lb. It is a limestone river and has all of the associated hatches, such as olives, sedges and the mayfly Ephemera danica. The best spots include, the Navan area, at Kilcairn, Blackcastle and Dunmoe. There is also good trout fishing in the Stackallen area and downstream of Slane at the Scabby Arch, Crewbawn, Johnsons, Rossnaree and Staleen.
Drogheda and District Anglers Club
The club runs the Rathmullen and Mell Fisheries, which are both on the tidal water. The fishing starts at an area known as ‘Pass’, which is just over a mile below the Obelisk Bridge, near where the M1 motorway crosses the river, and extends downstream towards Drogheda. This is really good Salmon and Sea Trout water, especially in the summer months.
Drogheda and District also have fishing at McDonnell’s Fishery, just downstream of Newgrange weir; at Staleen and Donore on Fulham’s Fishery; and at Law’s Fishery. These fisheries produce plenty of Salmon, Sea Trout and Brown Trout.
Rossin, Slane & District Anglers Club
The club has three main fisheries between Drogheda and Slane. Taken together, these fisheries produce large numbers of Salmon, Sea Trout and Brown Trout every year. The club offers day tickets on all of this water.
Further upstream at Law’s and Johnston’s fisheries the Salmon fishing isn’t as hot but the Sea Trout fishing is very good and the Brown Trout fishing is excellent. The fishing on both of these fisheries is fly only from the 1st of June.
Marry’s Fishery
Marry’s Fishery starts at Marry’s Weir, just above the Curley hole, and extends for ½ mile. The fishery is run by a syndicate, and is very productive for Salmon and Sea Trout.
Ballinacrad Fishery
The Ballinacrad Syndicate Water consists of about two miles of single and double bank fishing at Dowth. This water holds Salmon, Sea Trout and Brown Trout throughout the season.
Slane Castle Fishery
Lord Henry Mountcharles has about 3.5 miles of double bank fishing from below Slane Bridge to upstream at Beau Parc. The fishing from the Castle Weir downstream to Scabby Arch is let to a local angling club whose membership is confined to anglers resident within two miles of the village of Slane. None of this fishing is available on day tickets.
O’Connor’s Fishery
Navan Angling Club
This club has about 6 miles of fishing on the River Boyne on either side of Navan. Upstream of the town, the fishing extends for about a mile on the right bank and for 21/2 miles on the left bank. This is mainly Brown Trout water, but it produces a few Salmon as well.
The stretch below Navan is about 2 miles of double bank fishing and includes quite a bit of the famous Blackcastle Fishery. It has another one mile stretch of the Dunmoe Fishery. Both of these stretches are very good spring beats and often produce 20lb+ fish. The Grilse fishing isn’t as good here but there is a good run of autumn fish on the back end. Many people ignore the excellent Trout fishing on this stretch as the Salmon fishing is so good.
Day tickets are available on all of this water.
Dalgan Angling Club
The Dalgan angling club water is not well known as a Salmon fishery but it does produce some fish. The Stretch is from Ballinter downstream to near Kilcarn (which is close by the N3). It also has trout fishing on the River Skane, which can be very good, albeit the trout are fairly small.
Bective Angling Club
Bective Angling Club has various stretches on the River Boyne from Lally’s Island, down past Bective Bridge and Assigh Bridge and almost to Ballinter Bridge. The club’s waters are private and there are no day tickets available.
Trim, Athboy & District Angling Club
The club has longish stretches on the Boyne from Scarriff Bridge (R156) downstream past the town of Trim to Lally’s Island. There are a few private parts on this water. Being quite a distance up the river, the club waters depend heavily on the flood waters to take the fish up. It’s really a spring and autumn Salmon fishery, which can be hit or miss.
The Brown Trout fishing is excellent on the club waters, with lots of fish at ¾ of a pound or better and some getting up to 2 and 3lb.
Visiting anglers are welcome and most seasons, club membership is open.
Longwood Angling Club
Longwood Angling Club has 6 miles of fishing on the Boyne between Scarriff Bridge and Leinster Bridge (just off the R160). It also has some fishing on the Enfield Blackwater extending from Johnstown Bridge down to the confluence with the Boyne. This is pretty much all Trout Fishing, with some decent sized specimens (up to 5lb).
River Boyne Tributaries
River Blackwater-Enfield
River Blackwater-Kells
River Borora
River Deel
River Knightsbrook
River Martry
River Mattock
River Riverstown
River Skane
River Stoneyford
River Trimblestown
River Yellow
River Boyne Neighbouring Rivers
River Dee
River Delvin
River Hurley
River White
Fishing the River Boyne
River Boyne Season
Salmon – 1st February – 15th September
Sea Trout – 1st February – 15th September
Brown Trout – 15th February – 15th September
River Boyne Methods
Bubble Fly
Fly Fishing
Shrimp and Prawn
Spinning
Worming
River Boyne Fishing Authority
To fish in Ireland you need a rod license from the appropriate fishing authority. You can find the details for the River Boyne at:
River Boyne Permits
As well as a rod license, you’ll need a permit to fish the River Boyne. You can get permits from any of the following distributors:
Anglers World
Unit C1, Balmoral Business Park, Kells Road
Navan
Email: info@anglersworld.ie
Tel: +353 (0)46 9071866
NAVAN & DISTRICT ANGLERS ASSOCIATION
East Coast Angling
Balmoral Ind Est, Kells Road
Navan
Email: eastcoastangling@gmail.com
Tel: +353 (0)46 9073377
NAVAN & DISTRICT ANGLERS ASSOCIATION
Gerry Lee
Loman Street
Trim
Tel: +353 (0)46 943 1487
TRIM, ATHBOY & DISTRICT ANGLING ASSOCIATION
Hayes Post Office
Navan
Tel: +353 (0)46 902 4187
BROADBRIDGE ANGLING CLUB
Joe Lenehan
Garlow Cross
Navan
DALGAN ANGLERS
John Murphy
39 Anville Cresent
Drogheda
Tel: +353 (0)41 983 4078
DROGHEDA & DISTRICT ANGLERS CLUB
Mr Eugene O’Connor
Ardmulcan
Navan
O’CONNORS’S FISHERY
Mr Jock Marry
Douth
Drogheda
Tel: +353 (0)41 983 8745
THE OLDBRIDGE FISHERY
Mr. Joe Enright
37 Fr. Paul Murphy Street
Edenderry
EDENDERRY AND CASTLEJORDAN ANGLERS ASSOCIATION
Mrs Ita Mc Donnell
Dowth
Drogheda
BALLINACRAD FISHERY
Paddy Connaughton
Raherny
Mulingar
Tel: +353 (0)44 937 4595
DEEL & BOYNE ANGLING ASSOCIATION
Richard Kelly
Carronstown
Ballivor
Tel: +353 (0)46 954 6119
LONGWOOD ANGLERS ASSOCIATION
Sean Monaghan
Kentstown
Navan
Tel: +353 (0)46 902 5179
HAYESTOWN ANGLING CLUB
The Sports Den
Trimgate St
Navan
Tel: +353 (0)46 902 1130
NAVAN & DISTRICT ANGLERS ASSOCIATION
River Boyne Clubs
Broadbridge Angling Club – River Boyne
Hayes Post Office
Navan
Tel: +353 (0)46 902 4187
The club has some water between Navan and Slane
Dalgan Anglers – River Boyne
Joe Lenehan
Garlow Cross
Navan
The club has water on the Boyne from Ballinter down towards Kilcarn (near the N3), and some trout water on the River Skane.
Deel & Boyne Angling Association – River Boyne
Paddy Connaughton
Raherny
Mulingar
Tel: +353 (0)44 937 4595
Drogheda & District Anglers Club – River Boyne
John Murphy
39 Anville Cresent
Drogheda
Tel: +353 (0)41 983 4078
The club has 1.5 miles between the M1 motorway crossing below Obelisk Bridge down to Drogheda. It also has fishing at Mc Donnell’s, Fulham’s and Law’s Fisheries.
Edenderry and Castlejordan Anglers Association – River Boyne
Mr. Joe Enright
37 Fr. Paul Murphy Street
Edenderry
Hayestown Angling Club – River Boyne
Sean Monaghan
Kentstown
Navan
Tel: +353 (0)46 902 5179
The club has some water near Dunmoe.
Longwood Anglers Association – River Boyne
Richard Kelly
Carronstown
Ballivor
Tel: +353 (0)46 954 6119
The club has 6 miles of fishing on the Boyne between Scarriff Bridge and Leinster Bridge (just off the R160). It also has water on the Enfield Blackwater from Johnstown Bridge down to the confluence with the Boyne
Navan & District Anglers Association – River Boyne
Diarmuid Maguire
Navan
Email: Info@navananglers.com
Web: Navan & District Anglers Association
The club has several stretches on the boyne, either side of Navan and several other fisheries on the Kells Blackwater between Bloomsbury’s Bridge and Navan.
Rossin, Slane & District Anglers Club – River Boyne
Drogheda
The club runs the Oldbridge Fishery at Oblisk Bridge, as well as Law’s and Johnston’s fisheries, further upstream.
Trim, Athboy & District Angling Association – River Boyne
Gerry Lee
Loman Street
Trim
Tel: +353 (0)46 943 1487
The club waters on the Boyne from Scarriff Bridge (R156) downstream past the town of Trim to Lally’s Island. There are some private fisheries on this strech as well. The club also has stretches on the Trimblestown River as well.