Spate · Limestone · North West / Sligo

Ballisodare

Ballisodare terrain map
Terrain map

Short but productive limestone-influenced spate river near Sligo with good clarity.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade / Green Butt Copper Body Cascade · 10 / small tube
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
River steady at a fishable height. A patient day. Cover water properly.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.63 m
  • Water temp17.7°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
0.63 m
Water temp17.7°C
ClarityClear
Weather13°C
WindNW 22 km/h
Pressure1024 hPa
Rain · recent14.0 mm
Rain · ahead6.6 mm

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
17.7°Cideal 1014°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of 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
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 6 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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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 · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
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
About this water

Short but productive limestone-influenced spate river near Sligo with good clarity. The Falls at Ballisodare are a natural bottleneck where salmon congregate before running upriver — a dramatic and productive fishing location. Grilse from June with the falls pool being the most famous beat. Also holds brown trout and sea trout. Fish it as it rises and falls — the window opens quickly after rain and closes just as fast. For 2026 the Ballisodare is open with a harvest surplus under the Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (S.I. 129/2026): harvest to 31 August under tag and the bag limit, catch-and-release from 1 September. Harvest status is reviewed annually.

  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyModerate
  • ChemicalUnknown
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 heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperaturelive gauge readinggauge
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 March → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts