Lowland · Mixed · East / Louth-Monaghan, IE

Monaghan Blackwater

Monaghan Blackwater — A river runs through it
Fair · Sea Trout
Black & Silver Tube · 1-2 inch
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
River lifting fast on the rain. Wait for the rise to peak before settling on a beat.
65% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.93 mDropping after lift
  • Water temp13.3°C
  • ClarityClearingClearing
Today's fly
BS
Black & Silver Tube1-2 inch
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Falling
0.93 m
Dropping after lift
Water temp13.3°C
ClarityClearing
Weather11°C
WindN 18 km/h
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent2.1 mm
Rain · ahead3.4 mm

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

Water temperature for Sea Trout
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Sea Trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Good — water temperature is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Likely species
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 18 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 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 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
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Large Cinnamon SedgeHatch
2
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Fly box · Sea Trout
BS
Black & Silver TubeTop
1-2 inch · Tube
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
Medicine Fly
Medicine Fly
8-12 · Streamer
Slim and mobile — fished sunk through the pool when surface work is not producing. Consistently takes fish that will not come to the surface.
SF
Snake Fly (Black)
2-4 inch · Streamer
A mobile eel-like profile that undulates through deep pools — effective when sea trout are lying deep and not responding to conventional wets.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. Monaghan Blackwater — A river runs through it
    A river runs through it
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score · for Sea Trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow5522% weight
  • Clarity4518% weight
  • Feeding Time2513% weight
  • Pressure857% weight
  • Insect activity5412% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 March → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access