Dollaghan

Dollaghan are a variety of brown trout (Salmo trutta) native to Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, and many of its tributaries. They are a potamodromous migratory trout spending much of the year in the lough, returning to the rivers in autumn to spawn. Dollaghan are much sought after by anglers in County Antrim due to their greater size in comparison to the non-migratory trout found in streams such as the Kells Water, Six Mile Water, Moyola River and River Main. They are often caught at in the dark in methods very similar to that of fishing for sea trout. Many anglers regard them as an elusive species and call them 'sea trout of lough neagh'. Their weight varies greatly - from small fish of aroiund 1/2 lb to large specimens of over 10 lb. There is generally 4 species of brown trout in Ireland. Dollaghan, Gillaroo, Sonaghan and Ferox. The Dollaghan is thought to have evolved from sea trout which were land locked many years ago.

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