the lower bann and bush

The lower Bann drains the 250 square miles of Lough Neagh and all the salmon entering the huge system pass through it on their way upstream. In contrast to the Foyle, much of the river is slow flowing but at certain points there are weirs and lock gates which create holding pools for the fish. Most of the fish are caught between mid-June and the end of September. The river gets a small but significant spring run and fish are caught from 1st March to the middle of May when the first of the grilse appear. The Bush has always been a noted salmon river and regularly provides around 500 fish per season to the rod angler. The best of the fishing is again from mid-June to September for grilse from 3Ib to 7Ib, and there are always some fish up to 13Ib or 14Ib.