As many of our members and boat anglers are aware the Corbet Lough fishery is not fishing as it should. While the associated environmental factors are not as severe as last season where we lost a substantial number of fish and needed to close the Lough to angling from mid-June to the end of August 2023 these same factors are still at play, in particular the explosion of an ‘Argulus’ parasite that we believe is the main contributing factor affecting our fish stocks and for the drop-off in angling, particularly Boat fishing at the Lough.
For some time now we have been monitoring our income from Boat fishing against our running costs and it has become apparent that to continue Boat fishing beyond the end of September would leave the Club substantially overspent beyond our allowable deficit amount set by the ABC Council.
To this end the Committee regrettably have taken the decision to close Boat fishing at the Corbet Lough from Saturday 5 October 2024. The last day’s Boat fishing is Friday 4 October 2024.
In light of the increasing financial pressures on the Boat fishing the Club will be reviewing our Boating operation at Club level and with the ABC Council in the hope that we can establish a new Business Plan for its continuation into the future.
The Corbet Lough will remain open for shore angling until the end of the season on 31 October 2024. Anglers wishing to purchase a Day Ticket for the Corbet Lough or the River Bann can do so from the Spar Shop and Petrol Station at Ballydown on the Castlewellan Road, Banbridge.