Spate · Granite · West / South Mayo

Bunowen River (Louisburgh)

Bunowen River (Louisburgh) terrain map
Terrain map

A small south Mayo spate river rising in the Sheefry Hills above Louisburgh and dropping fast to enter Clew Bay west of the village.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Marginal — persistence required
River lifting fast on the rain. Cover the water properly, fish each lie once.
40% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • LevelHeavy rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp14.3°C
  • ClarityVery coloured
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Heavy rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp14.3°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather15°C
WindNW 30 km/h
Pressure1022 hPa
Rain · recent36.9 mm
Rain · ahead6.5 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
14°C est.ideal 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
Poor — water temperature is working for you, but water clarity is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 2 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
1
Sea trout runRun
1
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.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Ballinakill Fishery District
  • Daily and weekly permits available
  • Mostly fly fishing; some worm and spinning allowed on certain stretches
  • Sea trout must be released alive
  • State rod licence required.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
About this water

A small south Mayo spate river rising in the Sheefry Hills above Louisburgh and dropping fast to enter Clew Bay west of the village. Part of the Ballinakill Fishery District. Salmon and sea trout enter on summer spates from mid-June onwards; the river runs hard and clear briefly after rain and dries to a trickle when the weather is settled. Mostly fly water, with worm and spinning permitted on certain stretches. Sister river to the Carrowniskey just to the south — same Mweelrea-Sheefry catchment, same water-dependent character. The right water turns the Bunowen into a real fishery; without it, you walk. For 2026 this is a catch-and-release fishery under the Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme — all salmon and grilse must be returned.

  • Granite
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyUnknown
  • ChemicalUnknown
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature9330% weight
  • Flow4025% weight
  • Clarity1520% weight
  • Feeding Time5015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 April → 30 SeptemberC&R
  • Sea trout1 June → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts