Lowland · Mixed · Co. Armagh / Lough Neagh Tributaries, GB-NIR

River Blackwater (NI)

The River Blackwater flowing near Maghery, Northern Ireland, close to Lough Neagh
Today · Closed season
Black & Peacock Spider
Forecast · Today
Closed season
Out of season. Try elsewhere.
45% projected
Today's fly
Black & Peacock Spider
Black & Peacock Spider
Conditions on the water · Today
Live gauge
Level
Rising
1.05 m
Lifting fast
Water temp15.2°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather15°C
WindN 37 km/h
Pressure1001 hPa
Rain · recent1.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

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

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Ideal
15°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Likely species
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 11:00

12:00(now) — Black Gnat

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 46%
Also:Cinnamon Sedge33%Heather Fly32%Pale Watery25%
Peak emergence windowWeather boost10 food groups active

Peak activity at 11:00 — Black Gnat (Black Gnat, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

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 · Brown Trout
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. The River Blackwater flowing near Maghery, Northern Ireland, close to Lough Neagh
    River Blackwater at Maghery, Northern Ireland
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 0 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time80 × 13%10.4
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity80 × 12%9.6
Conditions total= 88
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 March → 30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts