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How to source lob worms

Lob worms can be dug from sandy and muddy beaches when the tide is at its lowest point. However this can be backbreaking work, often with very little reward.  On the rare occasions when I have managed to be at a beach when the tide was out and geared up to look for lob worms it has been very satisfying to get my own fishing worms. Mostly, time and the tides dictate that I buy my fishing worms from a reputable supplier such as Leansmount Worms.

The fishing worms come in their own breathable bag where they can be kept for at least a week if kept cool. I keep mine on the floor of my garden shed where they will be cool and out of the rain. When I am travelling or fishing I keep the fishing worms in a cooler box with bottles of frozen water that I have put in the freezer for a few hours. These bottles are blue in colour, square of shape; purpose made and are often used for picnic baskets.

I buy my lob worms by number – usually 100 at a time but 50 if I am short of cash or if is close to the end of the fishing season when I know I won’t get a chance to use them. I find the lob worms work best when fishing for cod, bass, flounder, dabs and whiting. I use a fine wire Aberdeen hook for catching these fish.

100 lob worms can be bought from Paul Downing of Leansmount Worms.

Leansmount Worms seller of fishing worms in NI and the UK provides the following information to our customers.

Upper Bann River – closest town Portadown in County Armagh.

The best place to fish on the Upper Bann is  Point of Whitecoat to Lough Neagh, a 16km stretch. It is a well-known coarse fishery and you can fish all year round. There is a lovely path along the boulevard on the west bank from Point of Whitecoat to the boathouse. There is a footpath from the boathouse through Shillington’s Stretch often used by pleasure anglers.

You can also gain access along a lot of the east bank downstream of Portadown. Five fishing areas have been developed by arrangement with the landowners. They are Hoys meadow, Portadown park, Boulevard, Irwins Quay and Milk Quay. You may be able to gain access to other parts of the river by private arrangement.

What type of fish are in the river?

Pike, bream, roach and perch are all found there. It is coarse fishing and the daily bag limit is one pike per person and four coarse fish per day. All pike weighing 4kg (8.8lb) and over and coarse fish longer than 25cm must be returned to the water.

Can I fish from a boat?

No you will share the river with canoes and boating enthusiasts so fishing from the river bank is fine but no boat fishing is allowed.

What type of fishing bait can I use?

Fishing worms and maggots are acceptable bait. You can get your worms for fishing from Paul Downing of Leansmount Worms on 0771 391 6029

Do I need a licence or permit?

You will need a DCAL coarse fishing rod licence and a DCAL coarse fishing permit.

How do I get to Hoy’s Meadow?

Heading out of Portadown by Bridge Street take the A3 towards Craigavon. After crossing the Bann Bridge take the second left into Watson Street. You can reach the car parks and amenity area by going through the tunnel under the flyover.

How to I get to Portadown Park (opposite Hoy’s Meadow)?

You head out of Portadown by Bridge Street and take the A4 for Dungannon. Go under the flyover and pass a factory on the right hand side. Take the second right into Woodside Green. This leads to open ground and playing fields by the river. There is parking available.

How to I get to Boulevard?

You take the A3 from Craigavon into Bridge Street in Portadown. Cross the Bann Bridge and take the first left in Bridge Street South and continue about 275m to the car-park on left. You can also walk there using the path to the boathouse at the end of Portmore Street.

How do I get to the country areas of Irwins Quay and Milk Quay?

You take the B2 signposted ‘Lough Neagh’, off the A27 to Craigavon. You can fish on two places on the east bank.

You need to dress appropriately for fishing. This does not mean spending a lot of money on the latest gear but it does mean thinking about what you are going to need. As Hemingway said in The Old Man and the Sea “Anyone can be a fisherman in May”. In other words it’s easy to fish in good weather but not so easy when it’s cold rainy and stormy.

So be prepared. That’s what the Boy Scouts have advised for over 100 years and it is still good advice today. Yes it’s fun to be spontaneous to grab your fishing rod and go but it’s no fun to fish in the rain when you know your water proofs are at home in the wardrobe. Nor do you want to wear clothes that scare the fish by giving away your position.

Clothes for fishing:

Wearing layers is always a good idea when you are fishing in the UK because this allows you to adapt to changing weather conditions. Even on a good day it is likely to be colder in the early morning than later in the day.

• A cotton t-shirt and shorts in all but the coolest weather.
• A long sleeve cotton turtleneck or t-shirt as this will protect your chest from the wind.
• Long underwear that will absorb moisture. Even if you don’t wear them fishing they are useful for the drive home if your jeans get wet.
• Shorts with pockets in case it’s a warm day.
• Jeans or khakis because they are comfortable, break the wind and keep the sun off.
• Long sleeve cotton shirt for warm weather as it will protect you from the sun.
• Long sleeve wool shirt for cold weather.
• Fleece pullover as they are warm comfortable and lightweight.
• Hoodie for the same reason and they will keep your head warm.
• An impermeable rain jacket as these are the only things that work in really wet weather. Waist high is the best for wading.
• Waterproof trousers are also useful. The over-trousers from fishing stockists will also keep you warm.
• A bin liner that can be made into a poncho if you forget your water proofs.
• A good hat to protect from the sun and the rain.

Finally pack a waterproof foul weather bag with extra warm clothes and a change of dry clothes.

Visit our shop for fishing worms

Why can I fish at certain times and not others?

In order to protect fish during the breeding season there are restrictions as to when you can fish.

When can I coarse fish in the Anglican region?

You can fish  for coarse from 16^th June until the 14^th March of the following year. This applies to most waters in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads however there are a few exceptions namely the Louth, Fossdyke, Horncastle, North Walsham and Dilham canals

 Can I fish for eel?

Yes you can fish for eels in some waters but not with a hook or other metal implement attached to a line.

Can I fish for trout?

You can fish for brown trout and rainbow trout in rivers from 1^stApril to the 29^th October of the following year. This also applies to brown trout in unenclosed still waters. You can fish for brown trout in enclosed still waters all year round.

 When can I fish for salmon?

You can fish for salmon and migratory trout between 1^st March and 28^th September of the following year. You cannot fish for these between 06.00 on Sunday to 24.00 on the following day.

When fishing for salmon before 16 June, you may only use artificial fly or artificial lure.

What fish I take from the water?

Salmon cannot be taken before the 16^th June and any caught must be returned to the water with as little injury as possible:

You can take:

• two grayling of between 30 and 38 cm per day
• one pike of less than 65 cm per day
• fifteen common bream, silver bream, , common car, rudd,  barbel, chub,  crucian carp, dace, perch, pike, roach, smelt or tench of less than 20cm per day.

These restrictions also apply on all the waters in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.

There are no restrictions on the number of other coarse fish you may take.

How can I avoid foul hooking?

Foul hooking is more likely to occur if you have too many rods or are too far away from your rods which prevents you from taking immediate action if you do catch a fish.

Why can’t I fish with whatever I want?

Some fishing practices can harm fish and other wildlife for example, lead weights can poison swans and other wildfowl; some fishing baits and methods can remove the option of returning fish alive.

What baits, lures and weights can’t I use?

Any form of gorge bait (a piece of stick/bone hidden in the bait parallel to the line)

Any form of lead weight attached to a fishing line other than those of 0.06 grams, or less, or of more than 28.35 grams.

Crayfish of any species whether alive or dead when fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in any waters, as this can spread disease.

Do not use any fish for as live bait unless the fish are retained at and used only in the water from which they were taken. Or alternatively you have obtained the Environment Agency’s consent to introduce live bait at another water.