Limestone · East / Meath

Boyne

The River Boyne flowing through open countryside near Navan, County Meath.
Contributor photo

River Boyne near Navan

Olliebailie - CC BY-SA 4.0

Premier eastern river for both salmon and wild brown trout — the Boyne has recovered well but remains a system where conservation-focused fishing is essential.

Poor · Atlantic Salmon
Closed season
Out of season. File this water for the right month.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.
What moved it
  • Level0.67 m
  • Water temp12.6°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.67 m
Water temp12.6°C
ClarityClear
Weather14°C
WindNW 15 km/h
Pressure1023 hPa
Rain · recent7.5 mm
Rain · ahead1.1 mm

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

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Ideal
12.6°Cideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
Spring run from March; grilse from June; main run summer through September. The Boyne is recovering from historic depletion — fish carefully, release everything.
Where
Beats from Trim through Slane to the tidal limit. Heads and tails of named pools; many stretches fish through Boyne Anglers club water.
Method
Spring: tube on a sink-tip swung deep through the main pools. Summer and autumn: small doubles on a floater across-and-down. Catch-and-release on most beats.
Kit
12 to 13 ft #8 double-hander on the bigger water; 11 ft switch on smaller beats. Floating line plus fast-sink tip. 10 to 12 lb fluoro tippet.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 10 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • **2026: SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING CLOSED on the Boyne as of 3 April 2026.** Stocks at 10% of Conservation Limit
  • Brown trout fishing remains open per standard South Eastern district rules
  • Multi-beat river — enquire with Trim/Athboy Anglers, Slane Castle, and other local clubs/operators
  • State rod licence required for trout.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Kells Blackwater
15 km
Brown trout
Kells Blackwater
15 km
Brown trout
Athboy–Tremblestown River
16 km
Brown trout
Nanny & Delvin Rivers
17 km
Brown trout · Sea trout
Stoneyford River
21 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 6
  1. The River Boyne flowing through open countryside near Navan, County Meath.
    River Boyne near Navan
  2. The River Boyne flowing broad and calm through Trim, County Meath, on a winter morning.
    The Boyne River at Trim
  3. The River Boyne running through the Slane area of County Meath in early spring.
    River Boyne near Slane
  4. The old mill weir on the River Boyne at Stackallen, County Meath, white water over the stone sill.
    Mill and weir at Stackallen
  5. The River Boyne in the foreground with Trim Castle on the far bank, County Meath.
    Trim Castle and the River Boyne
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Premier eastern river for both salmon and wild brown trout — the Boyne has recovered well but remains a system where conservation-focused fishing is essential. Limestone-enriched with excellent mayfly and olive hatches. Slane Castle water is famous for its prolific hatches and historic fishing. Spring salmon from March through May (when season opens). Summer grilse and good sea trout in the estuary. Catch-and-release for all salmon. A river that rewards both conservation-conscious salmon anglers and wild-trout enthusiasts.

  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

WFD ecological status Good → Moderate corrected to EEA WISE 2022 (3rd RBMP) classification for waterbody IEEA_07B042100. Source: EEA WISE SWB_SurfaceWaterBody (discodata.eea.europa.eu), verified 2026-06-18. | Prior note: EPA WFD 2019-2024 — Good ecological status; corrected (was Moderate) 2026-06-18. Source: EPA Ireland WFD 2019-2024 classification (catchments.ie / EDEN).

EPA (Ireland) · IEEA_07B042100

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
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon_closed_2026 → _closed_2026Closed
  • Sea trout_closed_2026 → _closed_2026Closed
Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Booking & contacts