Spate · Old Red Sandstone · South East / Waterford, IE

River Colligan

River Colligan terrain map

Rising in the Monavallagh Mountains and running about 14 miles south to Dungarvan Harbour, the Colligan is reputed to be one of the fastest-flowing rivers in Europe on its upper, whitewater-popular reaches.

Tomorrow · Closed season
Elk Hair Caddis
Forecast · Tomorrow
Closed season
Out of season. File this water for the right month.
50% projected
Today's fly
Elk Hair Caddis
Elk Hair Caddis
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Estimate
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp12.6°C
ClarityClearing
Weather15°C
WindN 27 km/h
Pressure1028 hPa
Rain · recent7.3 mm
Rain · ahead0.8 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 10–16°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.
Likely species
Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Aquatic beetles
  • Diving beetlesMost likelyLower confidence
    #8–10–12 · Adult
    Twitch a beetle pattern along weedy edges at dusk.
Gammarids
Molluscs
  • Pond snailsMost likelyLower confidence
    #10–12–14 · Adult
    Dead-drift or twitch a snail pattern near weed beds.
Oligochaetes
  • Aquatic wormsMost likelyLower confidence
    #12–14–16 · Adult
    Dead-drift a worm pattern deep - a year-round staple.
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 6pm

12pm(now) — Black Gnat

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 56%
Also:Autumn Needle Fly47%Iron Blue40%
Peak emergence window6 food groups active

Peak activity at 6pm — Caperer (Caperer, 9 food groups active)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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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 · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box

Boyne/Slaney summer grilse: fish lie shallow at the tail and neck of pools, so a single hook fished just sub-surface won't snag and covers a taking fish better than a treble. Keep dressing sparse — a small silver stoat, blue charm or Ally's shrimp style in a light build fits.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Managed by Colligan & District Angling Club
  • State rod licence required; confirm current permit arrangements locally.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Munster Blackwater
45 km
0
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Nire
21 km
Brown trout
River Bride (Blackwater)
26 km
Brown trout · Sea trout
Suir
30 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Owenacurra
43 km
Salmon · Sea trout
About this water

Rising in the Monavallagh Mountains and running about 14 miles south to Dungarvan Harbour, the Colligan is reputed to be one of the fastest-flowing rivers in Europe on its upper, whitewater-popular reaches. Better known for its grilse and autumn salmon runs than for spring fish, with the best grilse fishing in June–July and a main autumn run through September (fish to 16lb not uncommon). The sea trout fishing is excellent — among the best in the country by reputation — running from May to the end of July, averaging around 2lb but reaching 10lb, with night fishing the traditional method. Colligan & District Angling Club manages the fishery and has carried out extensive bank-side improvement work.

Hatches & food

No venue-specific hatch data yet; treat the flies above (from regional consensus) as a starting point rather than an observed hatch calendar.

Sea trout here

Reputed to be among the best sea trout fishing in Ireland — May to end of July, average 2lb, up to 10lb.

  • Old red sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature10030% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time8515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February → 30 September
  • Sea trout 1 May → 31 July

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsIrish Salmon Rivers Guidefive great salmon fisheriesConnemaraIrish fishing
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts