Spate · Granite Metamorphic · West / South Mayo

Bunowen River (Louisburgh)

No photos yet for 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.

Species

Closed season

Season reopens 1 June. File this water for the right month.

Closed — confidence not applicable today.
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
7°C est.ideal 1014°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature3730% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
7.1°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
9°C
Wind
W 28 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1008 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.2 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
17.3 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

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.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
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.
Directions
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.

  • Granite metamorphic
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 June → 30 September
  • Sea trout1 June → 30 September
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