Spate · Old Red Sandstone · South West / Cork

River Coomhola

River Coomhola terrain map
Terrain map

A West Cork spate river draining the uplands above Bantry Bay, running south through Kealkil to enter the Bantry estuary east of Bantry town.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.
50% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelLight rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp16.1°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp16.1°C
ClarityClear
Weather12°C
WindW 13 km/h
Pressure1027 hPa
Rain · recent6.3 mm
Rain · ahead2.8 mm

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

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Warm — slow
16°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
Good — water clarity is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 8 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
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.
  • South Western Fisheries District
  • Coomhola Salmon and Trout Anglers Association — daily and weekly permits available
  • Designated catch-and-release for 2026 under IFI conservation measures (verify before trip)
  • State rod licence required.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
About this water

A West Cork spate river draining the uplands above Bantry Bay, running south through Kealkil to enter the Bantry estuary east of Bantry town. Old Red Sandstone geology gives the water a peaty, amber character that clears quickly after rain. Sea trout and grilse run from June on high water. Not a large river by Irish standards, but genuine migratory fish use it, and the brown trout in the upper reaches are wild and willing on the dry fly through spring. Local club access. The Bantry Bay setting — mountains, sea inlets, southwest light — makes this worth visiting even on a quiet day. For 2026 this is a catch-and-release fishery under the Wild Salmon & Sea Trout Tagging Scheme — all salmon and grilse must be returned.

  • Old red sandstone
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyUnknown
  • ChemicalUnknown
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature5430% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon17 March → 30 SeptemberC&R
Related guides
Booking & contacts