Athy is a well-established and fully serviced angling centre with everything in place to ensure that the visiting coarse angler enjoys a successful fishing experience. The town has a wide range of very affordable accommodations that can service the needs of coarse anglers with many offering, drying rooms and tackle and bait storage facilities. The local Athy and District Coarse Angling Club which is based in the town welcomes all visiting anglers and is happy to provide visitors with all the necessary assistance that they require. Fishing on the River Barrow is free but membership of the club is available should anglers wish to support the local club. Becoming a member of the club will allow visitors to fish the marina which is located along the towpath below the town. Annual membership of the club costs just €25. Club membership also provides additional benefits including access to club events and competitions, expert advice and insurance cover. A visit to the towns tackle shops which offer a full range of coarse angling tackle and bait as well as the best real time advice is a must for any angler visiting the area.
Red Maggot works well for dace on the River Barrow
The town of Athy has the reputation of being one of the Barrows top coarse angling centres and has welcomed visiting anglers from at home and abroad for decades. There is quality angling available within the confines of the town with big perch and hybrids to specimen size being taken annually. There is excellent all year round fishing in Athy, on the main river when water conditions are favourable during summer and autumn and on the canal and in the marina when water levels are high in the winter and early spring. Fishing in the town of Athy regularly produces good bags of dace, roach and skimmers as well as perch and hybrids to specimen size. Bream and tench can also be taken when conditions are right. Local hotspots include the rowing club, the swimming pool stretch, the floating jetty, the ‘lawn’ and the Marina.
The Rowing Club
The Rowing Club stretch is located on the R417 opposite the old bachelor’s factory. This slow flowing stretch is approximately 6 to 7ft deep and contains good stocks of roach, dace, perch, hybrids and skimmers. Pole, feeder and waggler all produce results from this stretch and specimen perch are a distinct possibility.
The Rowing Club Section upstream of Athy, a great fishing location.
It is recommended to start the swim off with 2 large balls of ground-bait and particles and this should then be kept topped up with the feeder. This stretch usually fishes best in late spring, summer and autumn. There is good car parking at the old factory and across the road beside the rowing club.
The Swimming Pool
The Swimming Pool stretch is directly opposite the rowing club and can be accessed via Woodstock Street. Drive past swimming pool, passing under the barrier and you will arrive on to the river bank. You can park your car beside you should you wish to do so. This slow flowing stretch is approximately 6ft to 7ft deep and contains good stocks of roach, dace, perch, hybrids, skimmers and bream. Pole, feeder and waggler all produce results from this stretch and specimen perch and hybrids are a distinct possibility. It is recommended to start the swim off with 2 large balls of ground-bait which should then be kept topped up with the feeder. This stretch usually fishes best in late spring, summer and autumn.
The Floating Jetty
The Floating Jetty is located immediately below Crom Abu Bridge in the town and can be accessed from the car parks in the town centre. A long term car park costing circa €2.50 for the day is available close by. Anglers can expect to fish into approximately 6ft of water at this location. Bream, dace, perch, roach, rudd, hybrids and tench can all be taken at this spot. Pole and waggler will produce good results at this location.
Crom Abu Bridge with easy access to the Floating Jetty in the town centre
‘The Lawn’
‘The Lawn’section in Athy is one of the most famous coarse angling locations on the River Barrow. It is located in front of the Dominican Church and can be accessed via Duke Street or William Street off Crom Abu Bridge. Anglers will be fishing into approximately 6ft to 7ft of water at this location and can expect to make contact some nice bream and hybrids. In addition to quality bream and hybrids, anglers will have the opportunity to catch many other species including dace, roach, rudd, perch and tench on this section. Pole, waggler and feeder will all produce results here.
The Marina
The Marina is a man-made lagoon that was initially developed as a boat mooring. It located along the tow path (left side) downstream of Crom Abu Bridge. Coarse fish seek refuge and protection here when water levels are high in the River Barrow. Under the right conditions, the Marina holds huge stocks of bream, dace, perch, roach, rudd and hybrid. Tench can also be taken here. The Marina is a spring, winter and high water venue that fishes very well in January, February, March, November and December. It is reckoned to be one of the top winter coarse angling venues in Ireland. In summer and low water it can be very weedy and the majority of fish can be located in the main river. All coarse fish species can be found in the marina during the right conditions. Big perch and pike are especially attracted to this location and many close to specimen size are taken annually. Pole, whip and waggler are effective at this location for general coarse fishing and best baits are maggot, worm and caster. Big perch can be targeted by jigging small rubber lures. Evening fishing can produce some very good bags at this venue.
Fishing in the Marina is controlled by the Athy and District Coarse Angling Club and a permit is required. Permits can be purchased at the outlets below at €10 per day or club membership can also be purchased. Parking is available in the town car parks.
Permits
Club memberships for Athy & District CAC and permits for the Marina (2011 Prices: Membership: €15 OAP’s & juniors, €30 seniors, €40 family, Day Permits €10,) are available from the following outlets
- Griffin Hawe, Tackle Shop, 22 Duke Street, Athy, Co. Kildare.
Tel: 059 8631221 - Murphs Fishing, 92 Tullow Street, Carlow R93 K5Y3. Tel: 059 9132839
- Athy Plant Hire, Woodstock St, Townparks, Athy, Co. Kildare.
Tel: 059 863 4602
Local Club Contact:
Mr Des Bridgette, Chairman, Athy and District Coarse Angling Club
