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.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Willie Gunn · 8-12
Marginallive now
Marginal — persistence required
Low and clear — careful approach country. Hard going on bright water. Favour cloud and shadow.
80% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelLight rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp18.1°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Willie Gunn
Willie Gunn8-12
Regional salmon default — river-specific evidence is thin.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp18.1°C
ClarityClear
Weather17°C
WindW 28 km/h
Pressure1004 hPa
Rain · recent2.4 mm
Rain · ahead2.9 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
18°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.
Why this works
Water at 18.1°C — above the atlantic salmon caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Likely species
Mayflies
  • Blue-winged oliveMost likely
    #16–18 · Dun
    Duns are up; a sherry spinner fall may follow.
  • Large dark oliveAlso possible
    #14–16 · Emerger
    Dead-drift the emerger — it's sitting in the film.
  • Iron BlueAlso possible
    #16–18 · Dun
    Cold, grey day — the dun sits long. Good dry-fly water.
Caddisflies
  • Satin sedgeMost likelyLower confidence
    #12–14 · Egg-laying
    Skitter it at dusk — this one's fished, not dead-drifted.
  • Net-spinning caddis (S. Europe)Also possibleLower confidence
    #12–14–16 · Pupa
    Widespread riffle net-spinner; evening emergence.
  • GrannomAlso possible
    #14–16 · Pupa
    Pupa first, then dries as the adults come off.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

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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 · August 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
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
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
Water here around 18°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
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
  • Temperature2730% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time5015% 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