Spate · Limestone · North West / Sligo, IE

Ballisodare

The Ballisodare River flowing over a broad limestone riverbed with a riverside path, Co. Sligo, Ireland
Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade / Green Butt Copper Body Cascade · 10 / small tube
Marginallive now
Marginal — persistence required
River steady at a fishable height. A short window at best — fish the sure lies and move on.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.56 mLast reading 1d ago
  • Water temp14.4°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Cascade / Green Butt Copper Body Cascade
Cascade / Green Butt Copper Body Cascade10 / small tube
From the river-specific salmon pack.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.56 m
Last reading 1d ago
Water temp14.4°C
ClarityClear
Weather15°C
WindS 24 km/h
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent11.8 mm
Rain · ahead2.3 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
14°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Early morning and late evening are best by far. Low, clear water makes fish spooky in daylight. The first and last hour of light are worth more than the entire middle of the day.
Where
Fish are concentrated in the deeper pools and under any available cover. Focus on the deepest lies — pool hearts and tail croys. Approach very carefully, avoid silhouetting yourself against the sky. Dawn and dusk are your windows.
Method
Surface or just sub-surface. Consider a riffling hitch or Portland hitch to skate the fly across the surface — devastating in warm, low water. Alternatively, dead-drift a small fly upstream like a nymph.. Floating line. Tiny: size 12-16 singles or doubles, hitch tubes. Ultra-discreet presentation for spooky fish in warm, clear water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
The signs are strong. Water starting to fall after a rise — early stages of coming into shape. Still coloured but fining — improving conditions. 14.4°C — in the ideal taking range for autumn salmon. Conditions are moving in the right direction and should be fishable soon if not already.
Likely species
Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 11 Uhr

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Fly box · Atlantic Salmon
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Ballisodare Fishery — day tickets available
  • Good public access
  • State rod licence required.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Garavogue River
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87
Salmon · Sea trout · Brown trout
River Easky
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87
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Lough Gill & Bonet
9.0 km
86
Salmon · Sea trout · Brown trout
Drumcliff / Glencar
14 km
49
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Duff River
30 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Gallery · 2
  1. The Ballisodare River flowing over a broad limestone riverbed with a riverside path, Co. Sligo, Ireland
    The Ballisodare River over its limestone shelf, Co. Sligo
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

WFD ecological status Poor → Moderate corrected to EEA WISE 2022 (3rd RBMP) classification for waterbody IEWE_35B050100. Source: EEA WISE SWB_SurfaceWaterBody (discodata.eea.europa.eu), verified 2026-06-18. | Prior note: EPA WFD 2019-2024 — Poor ecological status; corrected (was Good) 2026-06-18. Source: EPA Ireland WFD 2019-2024 classification (catchments.ie / EDEN).

EPA (Ireland) · IEWE_35B050100

The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightLow But Fishable-0.7
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftFalling Slightly After Lift+3.4
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+3.5
Time in seasonLate Season+0.4
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base9.0
Will they take?Willingcaps the band

Fish should be willing to take — clearing, stained water.

Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
What would change the calculation
No prolonged stable spell before the current rise.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 March → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts