MOUNT DALTON.

This week’s special feature really is the jewel in the Crown of Westmeath. It’s a cracking little 9 hectares trout fishery known as Mount Dalton. The Lake is stocked yearly with quality brown trout but also has a huge head of wild fish, which are some of the most beautiful coloured trout in Ireland. The lake is very rich in food, including snails, stickle backs and has a nice sedge hatch late in the evening. Dragon fly are also in abundance and the trout thrive very well on all this natural food. Access to the Lake is by Private Avenue and there are two boats for hire, which must be booked prior to fishing Mount Dalton. Full day is €30 with half day €15. A very dark sedge will work well as evening falls, and day time anglers have success with small Claret type flies. Fry imitations will work well when fish are feeding hard on sticklebacks.

On the last few trips to Mount Dalton I did an evening with Thomas McMullan of Maxol Oil. We boated some nice fish including a beauty well over 1lbs in weight. A great fish for Mount Dalton. Thomas had his catch on the dry fly and was a great take. That evening the lake went flat calm and it was unbelievable to see so many fish rise in the calm conditions. On Sunday last I once again teamed up with Thomas and his angling pal Mark Jones. What a hard days fishing. Very windy and bright. None of the bigger fish rose on the day and we managed 6 small trout on wets and dry fly. It was tough going and my arms are still aching. Mount Dalton is by oars only and boat engines are not allowed.

The Lake is located just about 8 miles from Mullingar on the Mullingar /Ballymahon Road near the Village of Rathconrath.

For boat hire please contact Gibson Brabazon on 044-9355102.

For guiding service on Mount Dalton contact Mick on 087-2797270.