The Strule River is one of Northern Ireland's best for salmon and trout on the fly. The Strule is a major tributary of the Mourne, which merges with the Foyle and reaches the ocean at Derry/Londonderry. The Strule is known for its rich fishing opportunities, particularly for salmon, brown trout, and sea trout. The river varies in accessibility - its upper reaches are relatively easy to wade, while the lower stretches can be rocky and deep, requiring chest waders. The majority can be fished from the bank too.
The Rash Estate beat lies just below Omagh where the Ferry water meets the Strule. with the confluence of the Camowen and Drumragh a few miles upstream. Salmon and sea trout run around thirty miles upstream to reach the Rash Estate, at which point the various groynes, pools and confluences cause them to pause to re-gather their strength en route to their redds further upstream. Aside from migratory fish there is an excellent head of brown trout too. At the Estate the river meanders for over two miles through perfect meadows and the famous oxbow lake near to the iconic Cappagh Church.
The river at Rash Estate has been little fished over the last few years, remaining the preserve of friends and family, and this is a rare and exciting opportunity to fish this wonderful and totally unspoiled rural beat. Improvements have been made over the years to the banks including groynes to create more pools, and a new fishing hut is planned for this year.
The beat is located around thirty miles south of Derry/Londonderry and just to the north of Omagh, just off the Beltany Road. Your Guide will make contact with you before your fishing day and agree a meeting point and other logistics for the day.
The river is also home to a variety of wildlife, due to the variety of habitats including ancient woodland, bogs, species-rich grasslands, and hedgerows. You can find bluebells and wood anemones in spring, while summer brings butterflies, moths, and damselflies. Birdwatchers can spot species like spotted flycatchers, bullfinches, and reed buntings, while winter sees flocks of fieldfares and redwings. Lucky visitors might even catch a glimpse of kingfishers, otters, and red squirrels.
Please note that because this is single bank fishing only, there is a chance there may be other anglers on the opposite bank, however this is a very long beat and therefore there will be plenty of water for everyone.
Why you need to fish here
The river at Rash Estate has been little fished over the last few years, remaining the preserve of friends and family. The resident brown trout provide sport throughout the season and migratory salmon can be prolific notably in the summer months. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to fish this wonderful and totally unspoiled rural beat. Improvements have been made over the years to the banks including groynes to create more pools, and a new fishing hut is planned for this year.
